Beginner BabyWearer Help!

[MayasMama88]

Hello all! Ever since my DD was born I've wanted to wear her so we can be close at all times. I received two ring slings, but for some reason I can't seem to get the hang of either of them! And they seem hot!! One has metal rings, and the other has plastic, but for some reason I can't get either of them to cinch tightly around my baby (who is now 9 months old, BTW). The strap always seems to get stuck and I can't pull it any tighter. I've mostly been using a baby carrier, but sometimes I'd like to be able to have her on my hip so we can face eachother and talk and what-have-you. Any suggestions? Are Hot Slings better? Thanks in advance!

[staceychev]

I think it's a matter of personal preference, but I like ring slings better. I've never been overly crazy about pouches. I have a Maya Wrap ring sling and it is hard to adjust sometimes, but that's mostly because I did a crappy job threading it through the rings after the last time through the washing machine! DH is much better at it with his engineering personality, but I keep forgetting to ask him to re-do it for me. I do find that I can adjust both sides separately by grabbing different sections of the fabric, if that makes any sense, and wiggling it through.

Oh, and you are leaving her legs out, right? At this point, she's old enough to sit on your hip with her legs dangling and the sling supporting her from the things up to the neck.

[Nicole730]

Do you put your arm b/w her body and the sling and hold her tight while you adjust it? I usually do that with DD in an almost hip carry, her legs dangle out the bottom. Also, make sure the ring is just below your shoulder. So sometimes holding her, you have to slide the ring back up where it is supposed to be and then tighten again. Make sure you pull across the whole length of the ring, different parts will tighten different parts of the sling on her.

[laurashum]

You Tube is the easiest place to start. Just type in ring sling under the search and there are lots of videos of women showing you how to use the slings. You may be having trouble threading the sling. I know there is a specific way to put the fabric through the rings so that it moves through easily and you can adjust the upper rail or the lower one.

I have use hotslings before as well. I felt very confined in them. You can't change the size at all which makes shifting the baby around or shifting the sling around to adjust their weight easily.

My babies were big so having a sling that I could loosen or tighten was much easier for me to use. Try watching the videos, they were a huge help for me as a visual learner!

[MayasMama88]

Thank you all for your quick responses! Well, I guess I've been doing it right for the most part. I do let DD's legs hang out the bottom, and she sits at my waist on top of my hip. I think maybe I just need to adjust each side of the fabric like you guys said instead of expecting the whole thing to automatically adjust simply from pulling straight down on the strap.

[Lauren710]

Try pulling out and away from you a little bit to adjust it, too. If memory serves, I usually pull away more than straight down, but it's autopilot at this point and I can't remember *exactly* how I do it. I'll have to throw a sling on and figure out what I do.