Wearing your Tentoes.com ring sling
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General Soft Carrier Wearing
Before using your new carrier, hold your baby in your arms the way they like to be held. Notice how you naturally support their head and body according to their physical ability and personal preference. The fabric of your soft carrier should mimic the way you carry your baby in your arms. Keep this in mind as you wear your baby in your soft carrier.
Gentle reminders
Always check your baby carrier for wear and tear before use. Do not use a carrier with an uncooperative child. Use common sense when choosing what activities to do while carrying your child. Put an arm around your child when bending over. Remember that you are carrying extra weight and adjust the way you move, bend, etc. accordingly.
Your baby's knees should always be positioned above their bottom. Do not spread a newborn's legs away from their body if they are not comfortable doing so on their own. A newborn baby’s neck and head should be supported in such a way that keeps their airway straight and the area around their nose clear. As the caregiver, you are responsible for the comfort and safety of your baby, check on them regularly even if they are sleeping in the carrier. Do not leave a baby unattended with a carrier.
Tentoes Ring Sling Wearing Instructions (download PDF)
Constructed to automatically form a pouch for your baby, Tentoes ring slings are simple to use. With a little practice you will soon learn to easily and quickly place your baby comfortably and securely in your ring sling. Your initial attempts will be more successful if your baby is rested and fed before you begin.
Threading your Tentoes.com ring sling
The first time you use your ring sling you will need to thread it if it is not already threaded. It should also be unthreaded for washing. Chose which shoulder you will wear the sling on. If unsure, more people tend to wear slings on their right shoulder, you can always try it both ways. Hold the unthreaded sling by the rings with the fold towards the shoulder you plan to wear your sling on.
With the rings held in that hand, pick up the folded end of the sling in the other hand. Gather the end of the sling into a bunch and pull straight up through both rings. Pull about 12 to 16 inches of fabric through the rings and then fold over the first ring and thread back down through the second. You are now ready to wear your sling.
To thread the sling for use with a toddler, you may prefer to open the tail to it's full width before threading. This provides a wider "seat".
Putting on your Tentoes.com ring sling
Hold the shoulder of the sling in the hand of the shoulder you will wear it on with the the opening towards the middle of your body. Put your other arm and head through the loop so the fabric sits easily over your shoulder to evenly distribute the baby's weight. Seat the rings the hollow under your collarbone with the pleats cupping your shoulder. The fabric across your back should lay wide and flat. The layers of fabric form a pouch in front of you. The bottom of the pouch should fall above your waist for newborns and between waist and hip level for older babies. Smooth the inner fabric against your body toward the rings and ease it through the rings. You can put your bent arm into the pouch of fabric to test how much room there is. It's better to be a little loose before you put the baby in.
General techniques
Choose your carrying position according to your child's age, level of head and body control and preference. Open the fabric layers and put the child feet first into the sling in the position you choose, then tighten the outer edge of the ring sling. Always support your child's weight when putting them in the carrier until you are certain they are securely in the carrier.
Tummy-to-Tummy Carry
For the tummy-to-tummy carry, hold your baby on your shoulder in burp position and guide the feet of the baby straight down into the sling. Some babies will automatically fold their legs under their bum. You can help by reaching in from underneath with your other hand. Snug the outer edge of fabric around the baby's head for support. This carry is ideal for newborns. The upright position is good for easy breathing and digesting, and for kissing the top of your baby's head.
Side Saddle Carry
As babies get a little older and more curious they often enjoy being able to see out. Hold your baby with their head on the ring side and their feet pointed across your body. Lower them into the sling in a sitting position. This allows them to see out or turn inward with full support from the sling.
Hip Carry
The hip carry is convenient and comfortable for carrying your toddler because it allows you to rest much of the child's weight on your hip. You can either put the baby in with feet enclosed in the fabric on either side of your body or seat the toddler with feet hanging out the bottom on either side of you. A restless child will be more secure if you pull the fabric up around their arms and tighten the outer edge of the sling. Make sure there is plenty of fabric up under your child to form a pocket for their bum, keeping their knees bent on either side of your body.
Taking your baby out of the ring sling
To take your baby out of the sling, simply reverse how you put them in. Supporting your baby's weight with one arm, gently tug upward on the rings to loosen the fabric just a bit. Slide your baby up and out of the sling. Babies that can stand can be removed from the sling by allowing them to stand on a safe surface and pulling the sling up over both of you.