A baby sling is one of the oldest and most practical pieces of baby gear in the world, and one of the most rewarding things you can sew. A simple length of cloth frees your hands, supports your baby snugly, and keeps your little one warm, secure, and close to your heartbeat. Long before pushchairs and clever plastic carriers, parents everywhere wrapped their babies and carried on with the day, and a well made baby sling does exactly that for you now.
Why Wear Your Baby?
Carrying your baby in a sling has lovely, practical benefits. It frees both your hands for the shopping, the housework, or an older child. It soothes a fussy baby, who settles to the warmth, smell, and gentle movement of being held. It strengthens the bond between parent and child, and it is just as wonderful when dad takes a turn. Many parents also find that the gentle daily exercise of carrying helps them feel stronger after the birth.
Babywearing Safety First
Before we talk styles and stitches, please read this part carefully, because a baby carrier is one make where getting it right truly matters. The simplest way to remember safe positioning is the TICKS rule, used by babywearing educators everywhere:
- Tight: the sling should hug your baby close, with no slumping or sagging that lets the chin drop.
- In view at all times: you should always be able to see your baby’s face just by glancing down.
- Close enough to kiss: baby should be high on your chest, so you can tip your head and kiss the forehead.
- Keep the chin off the chest: leave at least a finger width under the chin so the airway stays open and clear.
- Supported back: baby should sit in a natural position with the back supported, knees a little higher than the bottom, never curled so the chin presses down.
A few more important points. A newborn airway is delicate, so never let fabric cover your baby’s face and check often that the nose and mouth are clear. Bag style and deep pouch slings that let a small baby curl chin to chest have been linked to safety incidents, so favour an upright, well supported carry that keeps baby high and visible. A homemade sling is only as safe as its construction, so the load bearing seams and any rings must be sewn to take far more than your baby’s weight, and you should test the finished sling thoroughly with a heavy bag before you ever use it with your child. Always follow the current babywearing safety guidance for your country, and if you are at all unsure, choose a commercially tested carrier. This article is general information to help you sew, not a substitute for professional safety advice.
Choosing Your Sling Style
There are several classic styles to choose from. Each has its own character, and the best one for you depends on your baby’s age, your build, and how you like to carry. Here are the most popular, and the ones worth approaching with caution.
Asian Style Carriers
The mei tai is a square of cloth with a wide, padded strap at each corner. Two straps go over your shoulders and two around your waist, and it can carry baby on the front or the back. It is a handsome, comfortable style, and it is wise to sew a softly padded headrest into the top edge to support a sleeping baby’s head. The Korean podaegi is a long band joined to a quilted rectangular panel that wraps warmly around you both, while the Japanese obi style uses long straps threaded through loops and suits a back carry. Across all of them, a padded headrest and well supported, open joints should be your first priority.
The Wrap
The wrap is the simplest idea of all: one long length of fabric, usually two to six metres, that you tie around your body and baby. It is wonderfully versatile, working for a front, hip, or back carry, and it moulds closely to a small baby. A soft woven wrap fabric with just a little give is the most comfortable and the most secure. Practise your wrapping and tying with a doll or a bag of flour first, until the hold feels firm and snug every time.
The Ring Sling
A ring sling is a length of cloth, around two and a half metres, sewn firmly to a pair of strong rings at one end. The rings sit on your shoulder, the fabric wraps around you both, and the loose end threads back through the rings so you can adjust the fit snugly. Baby’s weight tightens the hold, so it does not slip. Use a breathable, non stretch woven fabric for a ring sling, and proper weight rated aluminium sling rings made for baby carriers, never craft or curtain rings. The shoulder seam that holds the rings is the most important seam you will ever sew, so reinforce it heavily.
The Pouch Sling: A Word Of Caution
A pouch sling is simply a tube of fabric worn over one shoulder. It looks tempting because it is so quick to make, but it is the style most associated with safety warnings, because it can let a small baby settle into a curled, chin to chest position with the face turned in. If you make one, use it only for an older, sturdy baby, keep the carry upright and the face clear and visible, and never use a loose, cradle style pouch carry with a newborn.
What You Will Need To Sew A Sling
A sling is a short shopping list, but every item earns its place:
- Sling fabric: a sturdy, breathable woven such as a medium weight linen, a linen cotton blend, or a proper woven wrap fabric. Non stretch for a ring sling; a little give is fine for a wrap.
- Aluminium sling rings rated for baby carrying, if you are making a ring sling.
- Strong thread: a good quality heavy duty polyester thread for the load bearing seams.
- A sewing machine that can handle several layers, a sharp needle, and matching thread for topstitching.
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A Few Sewing Tips For A Safe, Comfortable Sling
- Pre wash and dry your fabric so the finished sling will not shrink or distort.
- Sew every load bearing seam, and especially the ring shoulder seam, with several rows of stitching, and a stitched box with a cross through it where the fabric wraps the rings.
- Finish all raw edges neatly so they do not fray with washing and wear.
- Keep the fabric smooth and untwisted where it crosses your shoulder, so the weight spreads comfortably.
- Test the finished sling with a heavy weight, tug hard on every seam and ring, and inspect it before each use.
Make It Your Own
Once you understand the basic styles, half the fun is making the sling yours. Add a softly padded headrest, a little shoulder pocket for wipes, or a pretty reversible fabric. Choose a print that makes you smile, since you will wear it often. For more makes for the little ones, browse our sewing for children posts and our library of free sewing patterns, and enjoy those precious months with your baby snuggled close.
More Baby Sewing From So Sew Easy
If a new baby is on the way, a handmade sling is a beautiful start, and it is even lovelier as part of a little set. Here are some of our most popular baby makes to sew alongside it:
For even more, try our baby kimono onesie, a burp cloth, a changing mat, the cutest baby shoes, or a roomy diaper bag to carry it all.
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