Baby Wrap: Front Carry

The front carry begins with the Basic Wrap. Using this wrap you can wear baby away from or towards you with their legs and arms either in or out. To take baby out of this carry, leave the wrap on and simply reverse the steps.

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Hold baby high on your shoulder and slip their feet into the cross one at a time.


Keep one hand on the baby at all times.


Spread the crossed fabric out between baby's legs and over their back. Small babies may feel more secure with the fabric completely covering their head. To nurse discreetly, spread the fabric out enough to cover your chest.

You can stop at this point if you wish . . .


or pull the waist belt over baby's feet and create an extra pouch for their bottom. You may even wish to tuck their feet in.


Using the same procedure baby can face away from you. As an option, feel free to pull down the belt and tuck baby's legs inside. *Any time you wear your baby facing away from you, be sure to rotate baby's hips away from you. This will relieve any pressure put on baby's spine and mimic the natural curve of baby's body.*

Baby Wrap: The Basic Wrap

The basic wrap, also called the front wrap cross is the beginning steps of several different wrap carries.

Find the center of your wrap and place it over your stomach like you would wear a cumberbund . . .


Cross in the back and bring forward over your shoulders . . .


Tuck each side underneath the waist . . .


Cross them . . .


and tie the ends behind your back.
The baby will sit in the "X".

Ring Sling: Tummy to Tummy

Your baby will be in the perfect position to hear your breathing and your heartbeat in the tummy to tummy position.
Babies with reflux or colic may appreciate being upright in the tummy to tummy hold.


Hold baby up high on your shoulder and use your opposite hand to help slide baby into sling.


Position the bottom rail behind baby's knees and the top rail around it's shoulders. Tighten the bottom rail by pulling on the outside edge of the fabric. Baby's bottom should be lower than it's knees.

Optional:
A small or sleepy baby may like to have it's feet in the sling. Simply tuck the bottom rail under the baby's feet and continue with these instructions.


Tighten top rail by pulling on the inside edge of the fabric. Baby should be tight against your body.


Baby is ready to go!


If your baby needs a little more support, is tired or nursing, you can pull the top of the sling up to support it's head.

Ring Sling: Hip Carry

Good for babies with good head and neck control, this hold is just like carrying your baby with your hands. And yet, you can go hands-free! Save yourself some energy and use the hip carry.


Put on your sling and hold your baby on the same hip you intend to carry them on.


With that same arm, lift baby high onto your shoulder and with the opposite hand, pull the pouch of the sling away from your body.


Grasp baby's feet with the same hand and slide baby down into sling slowly.


Use both hands to spread the pouch fabric over baby's bottom. Make sure the inner rail, or the edge of the fabric closest to your body is under baby's knees and settle baby's bottom so it's lower than its knees.


Grasp the top edge of the fabric that's behind baby's back with one hand, and use the other hand to tighten both the top and bottom rail of the sling's tail.

Ring Sling: The Kangaroo Carry

The kangaroo carry is excellent for babies with good head control. With baby's legs crossed in front of their body it works well to imitate the womb and helps rid baby of gas. Colicky babies or babies with reflux may especially like this hold as it puts comforting pressure on their abdomen.

Pull the inside rail snugly against your body by pulling on the outside edge of the fabric. This will create a pouch for baby to settle in.


With baby's back high against your chest, cross baby's legs . . .


and slide baby in to the pouch you've made.


Support baby with one hand and use your free hand to tighten the top rail by pulling on the inside edge of the fabric. Pull tightly and make sure baby is confined in the pouch.


All done!

Ring sling: the Cradle Carry

Especially easy to learn, fast and simple, this carry is perfect for preemies, newborns and sleepy babies. It also works great for nursing.
These instructions will work with baby's head on either the right or left side.


Put sling on and tighten the inside rail by pulling on the outside edge of the fabric. Make sure the rail is snugly across your chest. This will create a pouch for baby to lie in.


Hold baby across your body. With opposite hand pull the outside rail out and slip baby into the pouch, bottom first.


While supporting baby with one hand, settle the baby into the bottom of the pouch. Make sure baby's head is supported by the sling.


Hold onto baby with one hand and with the other hand pull the inside edge of the fabric across your body to tighten the outside rail.


That's it!

Ring Sling: Threading Your Sling and Putting it on

1. I like to hold the rings in my non-dominant hand with the tail of the sling in the other hand.


2. Slip your hand through the rings and use your opposite hand to help gather the fabric into your fist.


3. Transfer the gathered tail back into your dominant hand.


4. Thread the gathered tail fabric through both rings.

Spreading the fabric


5. Find one edge of the fabric and pull it out to
the side.


6. Continue pulling the fabric out, working your way around to the opposite edge until it resembles the picture above. Grasp the tail of the fabric and pull the loose fabric through.

Putting Your Sling On

Hold your threaded sling in the hand opposite to the shoulder you want the rings to rest on.

Slip the sling over your head like so.

Spread the fabric out along your back. This will help distribute the weight of the baby evenly.

Spread the pleats over your shoulder. Pulling on the tail fabric on the outside of the tail will tighten the inside, or top rail of the sling, making a pocket for baby to sit in. Now you're ready for the baby.