Ring slings are one of the simplest carriers out there: no dangling straps, no knots to tie, no buckles to deal with- just throw it on, tighten and go. That is, once you get the hang of it! Despite the ease of use that ring sling fans rave about, I think these basic slings are probably the most discarded carriers around. They are the carrier you found at a thrift shop, or read about in the Dr. Sears book, or that got passed down to you by some well-meaning friend who never showed you how to use it. You put it on, your baby sank to the bottom of it and started to scream and you decided you aren’t a ring sling kind of parent. Well, maybe that wasn’t you, but it WAS me, back in 2002 when I was a new mom to my son Jack. I bought a Nojo sling because it was the “Dr Sears sling.” I was so excited to bond with my new baby and get things done, but I couldn’t figure the darn thing out!
Flash forward a bunch of years, and I’m a huge fan of ring slings (and baby carriers in general!). But though I know they are simple to use once you get the hang of it, it’s always helpful to have really good instructions. Especially when you’re a new mom and are functioning with no sleep ! That’s why I love these simple and easy-to-use photos from Sakura Bloom. They demonstrate good positioning for both your baby and your older baby/toddler while wearing your ring sling. Enjoy!
