Putting on your sling-Hold the sling in the left hand, holding the rings so the shoulder pad is to the left of your hand and the rings to the right. Put your left arm through the sling and bring it over your head so the shoulder pad is resting on your right shoulder. Spread the fabric on the sides of the shoulder pad out so that it fans across your shoulder. Make sure the rings are below your shoulder where you would wear a corsage. The tail of the sling will be hanging down in front alongside your right arm.

The sling can be worn on either side of your body-simply reverse the directions!

     

Adjusting your sling-When adjusting the sling to fit, you need to be sure to have at least 6-8 inches on the tail end. If you don’t have enough fabric on the tail end you need a bigger sling. PULL on the tail end to adjust the length of the sling. By pulling individually on each corner of the tail end, you can adjust the tension on each rail of the sling to provide just the right amount of support for your baby. Try this first without a baby in the sling to see how it works. Pull one corner to see what rail it adjust and then practice. It is harder to adjust with a baby in the sling, so support the baby’s weight in one hand (under bottom) while pulling on the tail corner until the tension is just right.

     

Re-threading the tail through the rings-If you ever need to re-thread the tail, please follow these directions to provide a safe “deep” pocket for your baby. Fold the tail section directly in half. Fold the tail into several attractive pleats to take up the fullness in the width of the tail. Thread the tail portion through the two rings in the pillow end holding the pleats in place. Then thread the pleated portion over the top of the first ring and under the second ring. If you bought a sling with a hidden panel of clip and ring, these should thread through easily, but once you pull the fabric tight, they will not be able to pass through the rings. We ask that you check to make sure you have 6-8 inches on the tail for security reasons. If this sling is too small for you please contact New Little Blessing for an exchange in size.

Safety Suggestions: This baby sling is not a restrictive carrier and you must pay attention to your baby and the position he is in.

MAKE SURE your baby is securely in a pocket formed by the sling.

ALWAYS keep at least one hand free to control your baby’s movement to keep your baby safe and secure.

ALLOW your baby’s natural weight to keep him safely in the sling. Don’t lift him up or hold him in a position where he might fall out of the top, bottom, or side of the sling.

For safety reasons, WE DO NOT recommend carrying your baby on your back in this sling.

How To Wash Your Sling:

Your sling was pre-washed to minimize shrinkage. Machine wash light colors in warm water on gentle cycle. Do not use bleach! Wash darker slings with like colors in cold water on gentle cycle. Tumble dry on low setting. REMOVE PROMPTLY.

Sling Positions:

Learning to use a baby sling is on ongoing process. As you find out what positions are comfortable for you and your baby you will develop your own particular “sling” style. It is best to start using your baby sling right from the start.

  

Reverse Cradle Position

The photo above shows the best position for small babies and newborns who can’t sit up or hold their heads up yet. The nice deep pocket holds your baby very securely and offers gentle “curved” support to properly support the baby’s spine. This is very similar to the way your baby was held in the womb...and your baby will love it!

Review instructions for putting on the sling. Make sure the sling is tightened so that the pocket formed is above your waist and the slack is out of the back rail, but there is enough slack in the front rail to put the baby inside. Hold the baby cradled in your arms on the same side as the rings. Pull the front rail under baby and slip baby inside in a semi-sitting position. Pull the fabric under and around baby. Tighten the front rail of the sling (by pulling on the fabric of tail nearest your chest) so the baby’s head is supported.  

Cradle Position-shown in photo above

Hold baby cradled in arm. Hold sling by shoulder pad, with rings facing forward and tail hanging down in opposite arm. Pull sling over your head and arm cradling baby until shoulder pad rests on opposite shoulder. Find the bottom rail of the sling and pull the fabric along baby’s body. Pull the rail (edge) of the sling completely under the baby. Keep pulling the fabric along baby’s body so that it’s evenly spread. Make sure that the fabric goes around both sides of baby’s body so that there is fabric between your stomach and baby’s bottom.

For smaller babies, the feet should be inside the sling. For larger babies, the feet can hang out the end of the sling, but the sling must cover baby’s bottom and back of knees so that the baby’s weight is supported.

Tighten the edge of the sling that is supporting baby’s bottom. Keep tightening until all of the slack is out of the bottom rail. Now that baby’s bottom is safely supported in the sling, use the arm that was tightening the sling to support baby’s head outside the sling. While baby’s head is supported outside the sling, remove your elbow and arm from the sling and cradle baby’s head outside the sling. Tighten the top rail (edge) of the sling by pulling on the fold of fabric that is closest to your chest. Keep pulling until baby’s head is supported. The best position for baby’s head is on the padded rail of the sling.

Kangaroo Position-shown in photo above

Review instructions for putting on the sling. Make sure the sling is tightened so that the pocket formed is above your waist and the slack is out of the back rail, but there is enough slack to put the baby inside. Hold baby with back to your chest and legs higher than bottom. Fold baby’s legs up “Indian-style”. Slip their bottom in the sling and pull the front rail around their legs. Tighten the front rail of the sling by pulling on the tail portion closest to your chest. Make sure the back rail is tight as well. Don’t try this position until your baby can hold his head up. This works great for walks or doing light housework. Your baby will like it because he can see what is going on while he is in the sling!

Classic Tummy to Tummy Position-shown in photo above

This is a great way to hold your older baby! To safely carry your baby in this position you must form a deep “seat” for your baby to sit in. Instead of creating a wall around your chest, spread the top and bottom rails apart so that when your baby is put in, the bottom padded edge should come firmly up around the legs to hold your baby securely in place. Be sure to allow your baby’s bottom to settle securely in place. You must always keep a hand on baby in this position because baby is not tied in and can wiggle out the bottom. The top rail of sling should be at least under you older babies armpits or higher.

  

Older Babies and Toddlers Hip Carry-shown in photo’s above

Hold baby/toddler on your hip. Hold sling in opposite hand by shoulder pad with rings facing forward and tail hanging down. Put sling over baby’s head and your head letting it come to rest on the opposite shoulder. Get your arm through the sling too. Spread the fabric of the sling out along baby’s back so that the lower rail goes under her bottom and the upper rail on her back. Pull the bottom rail completely under baby’s bottom, thighs and to the back of her knees. Spread the fabric of the shoulder pad out so that it cups your shoulder and the rings are just below shoulder in corsage position. Pull the fabric up high on baby’s back. For toddler’s it should reach the armpits. For baby’s, their arms can be inside and top rail of the sling should go to their upper back or neck. Tighten the front and back rails of the sling so baby is held tightly against you. Lift baby’s knees above her bottom, this will “seat” her securely in the sling.

Breastfeeding in your sling

To nurse your baby in the sling it is easiest to rotate your baby’s position so the head is opposite the rings. This allows the sling to support the baby’s weight like a “hammock”. You can pull the edge of the sling up to offer as much coverage as desired. You will want to cradle baby’s head in your arm either outside the sling or inside to keep a good latch-on. The sling takes the weight off your arms to allow you to relax and enjoy being with your baby!

Once your baby is finished nursing you have several options. If baby is sleeping, you can tighten the sling to support baby’s head and then carry the baby around in a cradle position. You can loosen the sling and turn baby into a tummy-to-tummy position, or try to take off your sling without waking the baby!

Complete Instructions accompany each sling!