Babywearing is a choice, but correctly babywearing is a decision you must take to follow through with your choice. Using your ring sling for the first time can be very tricky, especially because you won’t be able to tell if the baby is uncomfortable. Make sure you consider safe ways to wear a ring sling before starting a beautiful bonding journey with your baby. Check out our essential ring sling instructions to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for both you and your little one.
We’ve compiled tips and tricks to ensure that you and your baby have a safe and comfortable ring sling experience.
Easy Breathing
Your baby must breathe easily. To ensure that your baby’s airway is unobstructed, consider the following points.
- Face should be visible: Your baby’s face should always be visible to you. This ensures that your baby receives fresh air and that the fabric doesn’t obstruct his or her breathing.
- Chin off chest: You should make sure your newborn’s chin isn’t pressed towards the baby’s chest. A baby’s windpipe is the size of a drinking straw, and pressing the chin against the chest can easily obstruct breathing.
Body Positioning
The position of your baby is very important for a safe baby-wearing experience.
- Close enough to kiss: The baby should be close enough to kiss and visible to you.
- Knees higher than the bottom: Ensure your baby’s knees are kept higher than their bottom and their legs form an M position.
Body Positioning of Newborns
- Fabric: Ensure that the fabric extends up to the nape of the baby’s neck and provides adequate support for the back.
- Limbs: Ensure that the baby’s arms are positioned inside the sling. If the base of the sling is wide enough, the legs can also be kept inside.
- Head: Ensure that the fabric supports the baby’s head to prevent it from moving.
Body Positioning of Infants and Toddlers
- Fabric: The fabric should extend up to at least the baby’s shoulder blades.
- Limbs: The baby’s arm can be inside or outside, but the legs should be out and in an M position (with knees higher than the bottom).
- Head: The head should be supported but allowed enough freedom to move.
Some Comfort Tips
- The fabric of your ring sling should be tight so that the baby is snug against you. Ensure that the baby isn’t leaning away from you or slumping.
- The fabric should be taut and provide your baby with sufficient back support.
- Spread the fabric out on your back to prevent it from becoming twisted or bunched up.
- Begin wearing your ring sling with the rings positioned high on your shoulders so that they settle into the correct position after tightening.
- Alternate between your shoulders if you plan on using the sling for an extended period of time.
Your sling should hold your baby close, mimicking how you would hold them in your arms: high and pressed against you. Follow these tips to maximize the benefits of your ring sling. In this ring sling instructions, you’ve learnt a few ways to use a ring sling safely and comfortably, it’s time to babywearing!
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