Instructions
The Nurture Sling
can be worn with baby in front, side or back position.
All-in-all there are at least 8 different carrying
positions available.
Fold
the sling in half with the seam/round pocket on the bottom.
Put the fold over arm and head. The seam/round pocket goes
low on the front near your hip. Remember to keep the fabric
wide on your shoulder and back so the weight is evenly
distributed. The sling can be worn on either side. Some
people prefer to gather the material onto the shoulder.
Some prefer to leave it flat. The just open the sling and
put the baby in. Always make sure that you are supporting
your baby with at least one arm until your baby is placed
safely inside the sling and you are certain the sling is
positioned right.
From here you can easily choose to carry the baby in the
following four positions; Cradle, Tummy²
,
Baby Back and Joey.
Cradle(1+2)
1.-Baby lying down, in nursing position. Bottom or feet go
in the deepest part of the sling.
There is a full view with lots of things to see, but your
child can also choose to just look at you and limit his/her
stimuli from the "outside world" when tired or
overstimulated. When placing a baby in the sling always
make sure that the baby’s chin is not resting against
his/her chest as this may hinder airflow.
2.-The child can be carried in this position lying down on
the opposite side as well, a position great for nursing
mothers with a larger bust. You can adjust where the
seam/round pocket is, depending on how you are carrying
your baby and how big your baby is. This position when
carrying an infant is only recommended when
nursing.
Tummy²
3.-With
baby lying against your chest, tummy to tummy.
Lower baby into pouch with feet tucked in, (for feet out
see hip carry which can be done carrying centred on the
body) then adjust sling to support his/her back and head.
Make sure baby’s chin is not pushed against his/her chest.
Your sling must fit nice and snug to do this carry safely.
Baby
back
(For babies only)
4.-Your
child is lying down in cradle position but moved around to
your back. Move the sling from cradle position around to
your back, make sure that your baby is safely and correctly
positioned in the sling and that he/she can't fall out in
any way, remember to ensure baby’s head is not pushed
against his/her chest. (This is a great position for
sleeping babies when you need to get some housework done,
note that leaning forward whilst carrying like this may not
be safe).
Joey
5.-Your
child is sitting up in the sling, feet in front/under,
facing out just like a joey! Start in cradle position and
then gently re-position your child turning him/her facing
out. You can then move the legs from the one side to more
in front, cross-legged even. Your child should be old
enough to support his/her head and to sit up with some
support.
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Hip, Side and Back- for older babies who can hold their
heads up;
Slide your baby/toddler in under the sling (holding on
firmly).
Put him/her with the legs apart, just as you would carrying
on your hip.
Now open the sling and sit him/her into it, making sure the
fabric surrounds the child's bottom, pulled up to the
knee-fold, and that there's no way to slide through to the
ground.
Hip
6.-Your
child sits on your hip.
The side/hip position takes a bit more practice, but it's
well worth the effort.
(It's not that hard when you actually do it.) Let the baby
slide down inbetween you and the sling, with the legs
around you, then pull the sling out for the baby to sit in.
Thats it! Remember to pull up the fabric to support their
back and to give them nowhere to go if they decide to push
back off you.
Side
7.-Your
child moves from hip position to both legs on your one side
towards you back. Your child's upper body will be lying
down as in cradle but his/her legs will dangle between you
from the kneefold down. (This is a great position for older
children when they want a nurse or sleep and no longer fit
lying down in cradle).
Back
8.-
Your child sits as in hip position but is then moved onto
your back, piggyback style! When the toddler is safely
seated in the sling carefully slide him/her from your hip
around you onto your back. The backposition suits toddlers
very well and gives you free arm movement and more space
than the front and side/hip-positions. It is easier on your
back and you can always just slide the sling back around
for a nurse or a cuddle. (You can also slide newborns lying
in cradle position around to your back, see baby back.)
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Breast-feeding
To
breast-feed in cradle position, simply pull down the fabric
between you and baby, on the side the sling is carried on
and uncover your breast. You can gather up the fabric that
sits on your shoulder or even flip it over once to have
your baby brought up a little higher. If your child is big
enough to comfortably do so you can also rest their head on
the outer fabric’s edge (the hemmed seam) for support. When
nursing a new-born is might be easier to simply hold them
up with one arm to get them to the right nursing height.
Remember to never bring your breast to the baby - always
bring your baby to your breast.You can pull up the piece of
fabric that is facing out for extra privacy and to limit a
curious child’s “outside” stimuli if they are restless
feeders. Other suitable and easy positions for when
breast-feeding are Hip, Side and Tummy².