How to Make a Baby Sling

The practice of baby wearing goes back thousands of years and has continued to be practiced in cultures around the world. It is also enjoying a renewed popularity among many new parents in Western countries. Baby slings and wraps are an essential part of this tradition that benefits both the baby and the parents and caregivers. While there are many baby slings and wraps on the market, making a homemade baby sling allows parents to save money while personalizing the baby sling to the needs of their baby and their lifestyle. Two of the most popular types are ring slings and pouch slings.

EditSteps

Making a ring sling

1. 1
   Select the fabric for the sling. Choose a fabric that is soft, flexible and likely to keep baby comfortable. For the purposes of this article, the fabric measurement is 2 1/2 yards, 2.28 meters.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Hem three sides of the material by folding 1/4-inch (6.35mm) of the edge of the fabric onto the wrong side and sewing a line of stitches to secure. Leave one short side un-hemmed.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Pleat or fold the un-hemmed end of the fabric lengthwise. This can be done several ways. One of the easiest is to fold the material back and forth along the long edge like a fan, making the folds slightly bigger than the diameter of the rings.
   
   
   
   • To ensure that they don't unravel during the next step, secure the folds by taping the fabric together or running pins or a loose stitch through the folded fabric.
4. 4
   Feed the folded or pleated edge through the two rings. Fold it back onto the fabric, wrong sides together.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Secure the end back onto the fabric with two straight lines 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) apart. This end will be kept at the shoulder of the wearer and allow the rings to bear the weight of the baby in the sling, so additional lines of straight or zig-zag stitching can be added to ensure the stability of the sling, if needed.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Prepare the sling for the baby by feeding the hemmed edge through both rings, coming up from the wrong side of the fabric, and then threading the end back through the bottom ring only. The sling will be worn around the body and over one shoulder, with the rings at the shoulder, forming a pocket for the baby. The tail of fabric that was just fed through the rings can then be pulled to tighten the sling the desired amount to secure the baby in position.
   
   
   

Making a pouch sling

1. 1
   Select the fabric for the sling. Choose a fabric that is soft, flexible and likely to keep baby comfortable. For the purposes of this article, the fabric measurement is 2 yards, 1.83 meters.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Cut the fabric in half lengthwise. Each of the resulting pieces will make one pouch sling.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Round off the short edges of the fabric. To make these symmetrical, fold the fabric in half lengthwise and then width-wise, so that the four corners are together. Starting at the bottom (folded) area, mark a small arc to the top edge, as if making half of a smile, ending 2 to 3 inches (5cm-7.5cm) shorter. Cut along this line. This will round off all four corners with the same cut.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Sew the rounded edges together with the right sides together. This seam will be weight bearing, so it should be strengthened. This can be done with extra rows of stitching, a zigzag stitch, surging or by employing a French seam (by folding the seam to the side and sewing it onto the fabric.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Hem the long edges by folding the edge down 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) onto the wrong side and sewing a line to secure. Turn the sling right side out.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Wear the sling by folding it in half lengthwise, with the hemmed edges together, and putting the head and one arm through the center. It should be draped over one shoulder like a sash with the edges up and the seam in the front. This makes a pocket in which to place the baby.
   
   
   

EditTips

• When choosing a fabric, a solid fabric with some elasticity is best for providing both support and comfort. Avoid fabrics with too much elasticity, such as jersey, as they will not provide the needed support and will stretch out with wear.

EditWarnings

• Slings can pose multiple suffocation hazards to infants younger than 4 months old. Care should be taken to ensure the baby's mouth and nose are visible to the sling wearer and not covered by the sling's fabric. Additionally, the infant should be positioned in such a way as to avoid a curled chin-to-chest position. In young infants, this position restricts the airway, limiting the baby's supply of oxygen. A safe position is one where the sling wearer can place at least two fingers between the baby's chin and chest. Sling wearers should check the baby often during wearing, to ensure that proper positioning is maintained.

EditThings You'll Need

• Fabric: Ring sling-2 1/2 yards, 2.28 meters; pouch sling-2 yards, 1.83 meters
• Chalk or fabric marker (for pouch sling only)
• Scissors
• Masking tape or straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Thread to match fabric
• 2 large nylon or aluminum rings (between 2 to 3 inches (5 -7.5 cm) in diameter) (for ring sling only)