Cradle hold:

Best for newborns and small babies with little or no head control. Also great for nursing.

1. Decide which side you want baby's head to be on.


2. Make a pouch on your front with the sling, being sure that the inner edge of the pouch is tight and pulled up toward your chest.


3. Cradle baby in the arm of the same side you want their head to be on. If you want baby's head on the right, cradle her in your right arm as you would if you weren't wearing the sling.


4. Open the sling with your other hand and slip baby into the pouch.


5. Tighten the sling as needed.

Snuggle hold (chest-to-chest):

1. For a newborn, make a pouch on your front with the sling. For others, be sure the bottom/inside edge of the sling is against your body with as little slack as possible (see Hip Carry).


2. Hold baby on your shoulder (like you might for burping) opposite the rings.


3. Slide baby into sling keeping one hand on her and the other to adjust the fabric around her.

For smaller and/or younger babies, their feet will probably stay inside the sling hugged against you like a tree frog. Cute!

If baby falls asleep, she can be eased into the cradle hold. For larger and/or older babies let their legs come out of the bottom of the sling and straddle you. Be sure the fabric is up high enough on baby's back to keep her secure.

Front-facing hold:

This hold works well when baby wants to see what you are seeing.

1. Make a pouch on your front with the sling.


2. Hold baby against your chest, facing outward.


3. Set her in the sling making sure that her feet stay inside the fabric, rather than stick out at the bottom.

This position is best with baby's legs crossed in front of her. It is better to keep one hand on her for this hold in case she flexes her legs suddenly as if she were jumping.

Side-sitting hold:

1. Put baby in the sling with her head on the same side as the rings.


2. Place her in the same position as the cradle hold, only sit her upright so she can look around.

Football hold (used primarily for nursing):

This hold is great for nursing after a c-section since it keeps baby off to your side instead of against your tender tummy.

1. Put the rings higher on your shoulder than you normally would.


2. Place baby in side-sitting hold except place her head further away from the rings.


3. Once baby is in the sling slide the rings down below your shoulder while supporting her with your other hand as she shifts around to your side. The aim is to get baby's head in the right nursing position. If the rings are on your right shoulder, baby should end up on your left side to feed off of your left breast.

Hip carry:

This hold is for babies with head/neck control and toddlers. Baby sits in the same position as the snuggle hold, only her legs straddle your hip.

1. Hold baby facing you on the side opposite the rings.


2. Slide her legs inside the sling so that they come out at the bottom. Toddlers will need to help you by bending their legs to get them up over the fabric. The fabric should be snug behind her knees with her bottom sitting lower than her knees. Her legs should straddle your hip as though you weren't using the sling.


3. Pull the fabric up around her back either over her shoulders to contain her arms or just under her armpits to have her arms free.

An alternative to getting a toddler into the sling is to have them stand in front of you as you squat down while sliding the fabric over their head and into place.