Ring Slings are baby carriers made out of a length of cloth, with one end having two rings sewn into it. The Ring Sling wraps around your body, from the shoulder to the hip, then back up to the shoulder, threading the loose end the rings, and pulling it secure.

This is a great video from Zolowear, a company that makes quality Ring Slings, about how to thread and put on your ring sling

Your baby sits inside the pocket that is created in the fabric. His weight tension on the fabric, and the sling is locked into place. Because you can adjust the length of the sling by threading fabric through the rings, the Ring Sling is a one size fits most baby carrier.


A variety of feature options are available through different manufacturers, including padding on the shoulder, padding on the sides or “rails”, pockets sewn into the tail and more. Some Ring Slings have curved seats sewn into the body of the sling. The sling style is most similar to the rebozo, a traditional Mexican baby carrier which uses a knot instead of rings.

Ring slings can be used from newborns through toddlers. A sling is very convenient, given the number of hold positions you can create using a sling, and, because they roll up so small, it’s easy to tuck inside your diaper bag or purse.

See complete instructions for nursing with a sling at Mamma’s Milk
You’ll be able to nurse quite privately in a ring sling, and that’s one of the reasons why this style of baby carrier is such a favorite of mom’s with newborns who nurse frequently throughout the day. The Mamma’s Milk website has very thorough demonstrations of nursing techniques you can use when wearing a sling, showing several different holding positions, like the Cradle Hold, Tummy To Tummy and Hip Position. Scroll to the bottom of the linked page to view.

The TaylorMade Water Mesh Baby Sling is made of 100% polyester athletic mesh and barely absorbs any water. It can be easily adjusted when wet, and also dries quickly if you only want to take one sling with you to the beach and be able to use it about town afterwards. One of our moms uses this carrier in the shower, so she can safely shower with her baby without worrying about having a dropping accident or having to tote a babytub around on her travels.

The Clene OnBoard SportsBaby infant carrier is designed for active moms and dads who are looking for a baby carrier that can go from the water to a walk. SportsBaby is made out of neoprene and antimicrobial foam, so you can walk into the pool or ocean worry free. Once you’re done hanging out in the water, your carrier will quickly dry and there’s no fear of lurking bacteria or icky smells from being soaked. The fabric will help regulate your baby’s body temperature, and it’s flexible so that he can move and stretch. The carrier comes with adjustable nylon webbing straps and climbing-grade buckles; it will carry a child from 10 – 35 lbs.

Flickr: finally, perla accepts the moby; molly, day 146

The Wrap style of baby carrier is also known as a Wraparound or Simple Piece Of Cloth (SPOC). It’s the simplest form of baby carriers: a long piece of fabric that you wrap around you to wear your baby on you.

A wrap is one of the most versatile baby carrier types, as there are so many different ways you can tie it. With the various wrap tying techniques, you can cradle carry, front carry, back carry and hip carry. And a wrap is great to use while you’re breastfeeding, both for hands-free breastfeeding and for privacy. Generally, most new parents learn one or two positions first that work best for them, and then add more positions as the baby grows and as they get more confident tying the long piece of cloth.

If you haven’t seen a someone tying a wrap before, take a look at this video by Juansan76 to see how you can quickly tie the piece of cloth into the basic front carry positions.

How you tie your wrap will determine how your baby’s weight is distributed. Each carrying position and/or tying method may distribute weight differently across the back, shoulders, hip and waist. That makes the Wrap a great baby carrier for people who may have a physical problem, and for pregnant moms that are still carrying toddlers. The wide material spread over both shoulders helps distribute your child’s weight evenly across your body.

Wraps are available in many fabrics, but there are two main types to keep in mind: Stretchy Knits and Woven. The stretchy knits allow for a snug hold on the baby, and newborns love to be cuddled close in a cradle hold using a stretchy wrap. The woven wraps are good for heavier babies, like toddlers or preschoolers, where you want to create a tighter tie, for instance, in a back carry position.

The Wrap style of baby carrier is highly recommended for premature infants. Parents of preemies are often prescribed to practice “kangaroo care”, as skin-to-skin contact has been shown to increase birth weight. A wrap does not put extra material or padding between you and your baby. Your baby hears your heartbeat, feels the warmth of your body, and experiences your rhythmic movement within the cuddly nest created by the wrapped fabric.

Wraps are generally one size fits all for the wearer, with extra lengths of fabric being tied up or hanging free. The wrap is long enough to adapt to your growing baby, and most models will hold up to 45 lbs, however most people feel comfortable carrying up to 35 lbs.

Here is another video by Juansan76, who is showing us how she puts her 22lb. son into the front carry position