cxd How to Wear

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How to Wear

Remember: No baby carrier, including a sling, is entirely secure without proper use and common sense. Please employ both while your child is in any kind of sling.

*** How-to videos are now temporarily available below, and on YouTube.
Search under username "KissedBabySlings". Our new, high-quality instructional DVD will be available in May 2008.***

When you purchase one of our slings, you will receive a detailed, illustrated instructions booklet, and as of June 2008, an instructional DVD!

If you have purchased a cxd baby sling and are still having trouble wearing it and finding comfort, please do not hesitate to ask your local retailer/distributor for help, or contact us.

© 2007 cxdbaby.com. All rights reserved.
No photos or text may be copied or distributed without prior written permission from cxd baby.

Ring Sling | Pouch Sling | Mei Tai

> Ring Sling:

1- Correct Positioning:
On Shoulder | On Back | Baby's Chin

2- The Basics of Sling-Wearing:
Assembling sling | Wearing on your shoulder | Tightening and loosening | Using Differential-colour threads

3- The Six Positions (videos with instructions):
Note that in all of these positions, you do not need to support Baby with your hands.
Positions that allow you to easily breastfeed are marked with an asterisk *.
> The Chest-to-Chest Hold (Facing In)*
> The Cradle Hold/Reclining*
> Side-Sitting*
> The Hip Hold
> The Piggyback Hold
> The Kangaroo Hold (Facing Out)

4- (At Least) Eight Other Uses for the Sling:
1- Seat "harness" for sitting at the table on parent's lap
2- Hands Free aid for stabilising sitting or standing
3- Blanket/Surface for lying down
4- Shawl
5- Bib/Wipe/Cover-up
6- Shopping cart handle cover
7- Carseat strap/Carrying aid
8- Toddler "harness"

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1- Correct Positioning

CORRECT head positioning of child in sling: chin up so that child breathes comfortably	INCORRECT head positioning of child in sling: chin tucked down so that child breathes into his chest
CORRECT positioning of fabric on wearer's shoulder: Slightly off-shoulder, so that the weight is centred on your joint, not on your flesh/muscle, or on your neck.	INCORRECT positioning of fabric on wearer's shoulder: On the flesh/ muscle, with fabric digging into wearer's neck.
CORRECT positioning of fabric on wearer's back: Flat and spread out, without twisting or bunching up
In case of fabric slippage, you have two options:
The Tuck Method: Lift baby's body and tuck the sling tail under the entire body (not just under one leg), so that his weight sits on the fabric and prevents it from moving.	The Tie Method: Take the sling tail and tie a loose knot just under the rings, so that the knot will meet the rings and slide no further.

2- The Basics of Sling-Wearing

"Assembling" the Ring Sling:

Step 1: With the wrong side of the fabric facing you, fold in both sides of the sling tail, toward the centre.	Step 2: Fold fabric over itself on each side, accordion-style, so that you now have four layers on each side, meeting toward the centre.
Step 3: Slide your accordion-pleated fabric through both rings, and pull about 1/3 of the tail length through.	Step 4: Split the rings.
Step 5: Pull the tail back over the top ring, and under the other ring.	The assembled sling. Flatten and adjust the fabric through the rings so that there is little twisting. This will ensure smoother sliding of the fabric.

Wearing the sling on your body:

Step 1: Slide sling over your non-weight-bearing arm, with tail hanging down and label in front, facing away from you. For example, a right-handed person wearing sling on the right shoulder would slide sling onto the left arm.

Step 2: Slide sling over your head and hang it diagonally on your body, like a shoulder bag worn diagonally.

Step 3: Adjust sling length to make an adequate "pocket" for your child's body.

Adjusting the sling's size:

To tighten the Ring Sling: Grab tail of the sling and pull down. If your child is in the sling at the time, it helps if you support your child's weight with one arm while tightening the sling.

To loosen the Ring Sling: Lift the top ring and pull the fabric through. If child is in the sling at the time, it is important to always support your child's weight with one arm while loosening the sling.

Adjusting the upper and lower "rails" separately:
On an unpadded Ring Sling such as ours, you can adjust the upper and lower parts of the sling (along the child's back and bottom, respectively) separately. Do this simply by pulling down or loosening the side of the sling tail that corresponds to the rail.
For example, in the photo above, the right side of the sling tail adjusts the upper rail of the sling, behind Baby's back, while the left side of the tail adjusts the lower rail of the sling, under Baby's bottom.

Differential-colour thread feature: One "rail" of the sling is trimmed in a thread of contrasting colour. This allows you to differentiate between the upper and lower rails, when you want to adjust them separately.

3- The Six Positions
(* indicates easy breastfeeding position)

Chest-to-Chest Hold (Facing in)*:
1- Place baby in the burping position on your non-wearing shoulder, and gently guide baby's feet, then body, into the pocket of fabric formed against your abdomen.
2- Tighten as necessary.

The top of sling should be pulled up to baby's underarms, or up to his neck, if he does not yet have head support.
If you will be placing baby's legs entirely inside the sling, the bottom of the sling should form an adequate pocket under baby's body. If baby's legs will be outside the sling, the fabric should be adequately under his bottom, to the back of his knees.

Cradle / Reclining Hold*:
1- From the Chest-to-Chest Hold, gently pivot and guide baby's body into a sideways reclining position.
Baby's head can be in either direction—away from the rings, or near the rings (away from the rings is a more open fit; near the rings makes a tighter fit).
2- Tighten as necessary.

The top of sling should be pulled up behind baby's neck. Baby's feet can be entirely in or out, and the bottom of the sling should be adequately under his body.

Side-Sitting*:
1- From the Chest-to-Chest or the Cradle Hold, gently guide baby so that he is sitting upright and sideways, with feet out. This hold allows baby to sit with you, without feet wrapped around your body, or digging into your lap.
2- Tighten as necessary.

The top of the sling should reach up to baby's underarms—or behind baby's neck if he does not yet have head support—and the bottom of the sling should be adequately under his bottom.

Hip Hold*:
1- From the Chest-to-Chest or the Side-sitting position, gently guide baby to your hip, and place him so that his legs are straddled one leg in front, one leg in back.
2- Tighten as necessary.

The top of the sling should reach up to at least baby's underarms, and the bottom of the sling should be adequately under his bottom.

Piggyback Hold:
1- From the Hip Hold, loosen the sling slightly (while holding on to baby with one hand)
2- Gently slide baby and sling to your back. Leaning over slightly while manoeuvring baby will aid you.
3- Tighten as necessary, making sure that rings are comfortably placed. If not, lift baby's body slightly and support with one hand, and re-place rings by sliding sling.

The top of the sling should reach up to at least baby's underarms, and the bottom of the sling should be adequately under his bottom, to the back of his knees.

Kangaroo Hold (Facing Out):
1- Lift baby with his back to your chest (facing out), and fold his legs lotus-style. Place him gently into the pocket of fabric formed against your abdomen.
2- Tighten as necessary.

The top of the sling should reach up to at least baby's underarms, and the bottom of the sling should be adequately under his bottom so as to form a complete pocket.

Removing Child from the Sling:
1- With one hand supporting baby, loosen the sling.
(For the Piggyback Hold, support baby with one hand, loosen the sling, then lean forward in order to bring baby to the front first, before proceeding with step 2.)
2- Lift baby's body out and away from the fabric.

4- (At Least) Eight Other Uses

^ Back to Top

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Pouch Sling: Almost as great as a Ring Sling—without the hardware!

Four Other Uses for the Sling:
1- Seat "harness" for sitting at the table on parent's lap
2- Aid for stabilising sitting or standing
3- Blanket / lying surface
4- Toddler "harness"

Mei Tai: A Four-Strap Carrier for Two-Shouldered Wearing

Other Uses for the Mei Tai

I found it tricky at first, but boy does my baby like it now! When I am out, if he gets tired I just put him in the cradle hold and he goes right to sleep! The sling is also great as it is so small and easy to pack. I will be travelling next week and am definitely taking it with us!!!
—J.E., Vancouver, British Columbia

Read what people are saying about cxd baby!

Step 1: Slide sling over your non-weight-bearing arm, with tail hanging down and label in front, facing away from you. For example, a right-handed person wearing sling on the right shoulder would slide sling onto the left arm.	Step 2: Slide sling over your head and hang it diagonally on your body, like a shoulder bag worn diagonally.
Step 3: Adjust sling length to make an adequate "pocket" for your child's body.