Help: Ring Sling positioning...PIP (a lot of them) (title edit)

msdonnas

I am new to this and trying to get the sling down for fast errands (because everyone raves about them). Can you ladies (and gents) offer any advice, particularly actually how to do anything? I think in the hug hold his legs need to be higher, but I tried and tried and couldn't get them higher, he would just slide back down. 

X is almost 7 weeks old and 13 pounds--big baby. 

I put a blanket to keep his head more upright, in the other pictures I tucked the end into the ring so that you could see the side. 

 

I didn't move him between these two, it is just a different angle in the mirror. His leg doesn't look bent enough to me. 

   

 Before the blanket

 

Front Carry. He was super happy about and looked cute, but it started to hurt my back really soon, so I don't think it was right. 

 

This is what it looked like inside of the pocket from my view. Are this feet correct?

lizardknitter

Totally lurking your post... I have the same questions except that my DD is 6 weeks old.  And how do you do the front carry?  My sling didn't have instructions for that.  Looks comfy for LO.

Thanks for posting this! 

KelliLynee

Can you make the pocket deeper to put his bottom into? I can't tell that well from the pictures, but make sure there is fabric between you & him, it will create a seat for him and should help get his knees up a bit higher. 

KatieB19

Have you tried the hug hold with legs froggied in?  You can do legs in really until they begin pushing up to stand with their legs (about 8 or so weeks for us), and it may feel more secure.  With my LO, it was also hard to pull the fabric up knee-to-knee in the legs out position when he was small because he simply couldn't straddle me enough yet.  You have to create a deeper pocket so his butt is lower than his knees -- and you may end up with knees in your ribs until he's a bit bigger. 

For the front carry, I think he looks fine in the pocket -- he will let you know if he's uncomfortable .  I can't tell from the pictures if your sling has a padded shoulder, but if it doesn't, spreading the material over your shoulder (like a cap sleeve) will help distribute the weight better across your back.

BTW: I love the first pic you have of the front carry!  So cute  

Sinafey

You definitely need more of a pocket.  I'd recommend trying to have him legs in, froggied.  I know others say that you can do legs out pretty much from the get go, but I always had a hard time with it and didn't feel comfortable with LO's legs spread wide enough to have a proper pocket.  You want him to be in pretty much the same position he naturally curls into when you hold him upright against your chest.

If he refuses to let you have his legs in then try to spread his legs further apart so he's straddling you, then grab the bottom rail and pull it under his knees while you left them up above the level of his bum.  You need to have some fabric up between you two for a secure pocket.

If you google "zolowear ring sling videos" they have some great ones. 

msdonnas

I will try to get more of a pocket. He hates legs in and tries to stand, which he is sometimes successful at, so I don't like putting his legs in  (and why I stopped using the mei tei for now--his legs don't spread far enough and he stands if they are in).

msdonnas

lizardknitter:

Totally lurking your post... I have the same questions except that my DD is 6 weeks old.  And how do you do the front carry?  My sling didn't have instructions for that.  Looks comfy for LO.

Thanks for posting this! 

My midwife showed me the front carry because he was getting pissed at always being against me. I just hold him in one arm in that position sort of (with the sling on that shoulder already and the inside edge against me and tight) and then fold his legs and pull it over him making sure his bottom is the lowest point and that his back is in a straight line with his neck. She made it look so easy, but it took me a lot of practice to even get him in and I am not sure it is right To be fair, she carried three kids until they were like 5, so she has lots of practice. 

Lisa102304

I am no expect, but it looks like he is too low on the front carry - that may be why your back started hurting.

drea_raye

I don't know if it is the same for a sling as a woven, but in te woven te thing that helped me figure out how to get a better pocket was a suggestion I read to tuck the fabric into LO's pants... now I don't actually tuck it (since he is usually wearing a onesie, no pants,) but it gave me a better idea of how much fabric I want between us.

Love the look of ring slings! I am really tempted by them, even though I think the uneven weight would be bad on my not so hot back...