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ring sling with overlapping pleat shoulder

CheckoutRemaining points: 0, for in-stock fabric slings/accessories sewn and sent the week of May 12-16 (What are points?)
Next scheduled renewal: May 16, 12pm Eastern time.

faq about my slings and services:

Can you make my sling with a closed tail/padded rails/other features like another sling I saw? Will you make me a pouch sling or a mei tai/ABC?

In a word, no. There are a lot of slings on the market right now, each with its own special features. I make my slings using my own design, and respect the work that others have done in designing theirs. I am willing to customize some features of your sling, like the fabrics, length, and addition of pockets and such, but I am not comfortable making direct copies of other peoples' work. If you want a sling that is just like XYZ's sling, you should order one from XYZ. I'm not saying this to be difficult; I am disappointed when someone copies my designs, and of course need to respect others' ideas myself.

As for other features that may not be a direct copy (like padded rails or different shoulder styles), I prefer not to do these simply because I don't have the practice necessary to do them professionally -- that is, I might be able to wing a hotdog or gathered shoulder, or stuff some padding into the edges, but it wouldn't look half as good as those done by seamstresses with more experience, and I'd prefer that the slings I sell look as nice as they should. I'd recommend looking at different WAHMs who specialize in those features and commissioning a custom sling from them.

If you are interested in a padded sling, you can try these sellers. As for pouch slings, I do not have much experience making them for others, and could not guarantee correct sizing, which is of the utmost importance in a pouch. I would recommend checking the sellers here. I am also not an expert on mei tais or ABCs; these companies are a better bet.

What's the difference between a padded sling and an unpadded one?

Most of the slings you can find in retail stores are heavily padded. These include the NoJo (aka Dr. Sears Original Baby Sling) and the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder, as well as the Heart to Heart sling. They have a thick pad sewn in at the shoulder, and thick padding in the "rails" (the edges of the sling), and usually a "closed" tail (which means it's sewn into a strap or tube instead of having the fabric loose and draped). They work well for many parents, but if the size is not correct, it can be difficult to adjust the sling to fit -- the padding keeps a too-large sling from being tight enough, and if the sling is too small, the closed tail becomes the part in the rings, which can be unsafe and uncomfortable.

An unpadded sling is just that -- no padding. Many people find that the padding makes little difference when the shoulder is comfortable for them (after all, the same amount of weight is on your shoulder whether there's padding there or not), and I found an unpadded sling far easier to adjust, as both edges can be fully adjusted independently and as tightly or loosely as needed (for nursing, quick ins and outs, etc).

There are also "lightly padded" slings, which combine a thinner layer of padding in the shoulder and sometimes the rails, and which can provide the best of both worlds. The new MayaWrap lightly padded sling is one of these -- it has a completely unique design that makes it very easy to use and extremely comfortable. If you think you might want a padded sling, I would recommend that one without hesitation.

How long can I use a sling?

Most slings have a stated weight limit of 35 lbs. Most fabrics and rings will hold much more weight. However, many parents find that by the time their child reaches 35 pounds, the child is more interested in walking than in being held, and that the parent's body is no longer cooperating with a one-shoulder carrier. So while you *can* use a sling for as long as your child and your body will let you, you will probably find yourself reaching for a carrier that goes on two shoulders (a wrap or mei tai) once your child is 25-35 lbs, depending on your physique. For reference, once my daughter Sophia wass 3 years old and weighed about 32 lbs, I could still carry her for limited periods (2 hours or so) with a ring sling, but I found a mei tai to be much more comfortable for longer-term wearing. Then again, she rarely wanted to go in the sling by that age, unless she was tired, so my "babywearing muscles" weren't getting the regular workouts they used to! Your child, of course, may vary.

What fabric should I buy?

This is the question I get most frequently. The answer depends on what you're looking for in a sling, your climate, and your own personal tastes. I can't account for the latter, but can help with the first two! Please see the descriptions within each fabric in my catalog -- I have tried to be as specific as possible in the long description (from the main pages, click the thumbnail picture, the item's name, or the [more] in the brackets).

If you would like to send fabric to me, please see the fabric FAQ I wrote for my sling sewing page.

It's very hot where I live. What fabric do you recommend?

My three top picks are Solarveil, linen and linen blends (cotton or Tencel), and Tencel. Solarveil is great because it has UV-blocking properties, and its open weave keeps you about as cool as you can be while wearing a baby right next to your skin. It's also best for water use, whether wading or showering. Linen is made from flax, an ancient fiber, and wicks away moisture, while breathing nicely through the weave. Tencel is a man-made fiber, but is natural in origin, being made from wood cellulose. Its fibers wick moisture the way linen does, but it resists wrinkling and is much softer and drapier than linen, as well as being thinner (though still quite strong). It is not suitable for water use, as the fibers weaken somewhat when wet. My personal preference is for Tencel or linen/blends as an everyday sling, and Solarveil for prolonged outdoor and water usage.

What rings are better, nylon or aluminum?

Both nylon and aluminum rings have been safety tested by their manufacturer, SlingRings, and are made specifically for use in baby slings. Personally, I prefer the look of the aluminum rings -- they are more streamlined and feel more "classy" to me. However, they are a little harder to adjust, due to their smaller gauge; of course, that also means they slip very little, if at all. They do not heat up appreciably when left in the sun, as aluminum has a very low thermal conductivity (they don't retain heat well). The nylon rings have a more baby-sling look to me. They are somewhat easier to adjust, but this also means they are slightly more prone to slippage in thinner fabrics. Aluminum and nylon rings weigh approximately the same, and both are fine in the washer and drier -- just put a pair of socks over them if you're worried about the finish or the noise. The color on the aluminum rings will not chip off. It is anodized on, and has become part of the aluminum the rings are made of. On darker colors, there will occasionally be two tiny patches of plain metal; this is where the rings were held during the anodizing process. It is not an individual flaw, but an artifact of the manufacturing process, and your sling can easily be threaded so that the patches don't show.

I'm having a boy/girl. What color should I get?

For me, a sling is less baby-clothes and more mommy-accessory. Most of my own slings are dark blue, because I usually wear jeans and the rest of my wardrobe skews blue. I would kindly suggest that you look in your closet, see what colors you usually wear and pick a sling based on that, rather than the baby's sex. You may find that, like me, you wear your sling pretty much all the time you're out, whether the baby is in it or not (walking around at the park, etc.).

What size should I get?

Please read through the sling size page.

Will you prethread my sling? Are there directions included?

I prethread all slings before mailing them, making sure that the fabric is spread out well in the rings. All slings come with a comprehensive guide to wearing, including step-by-step directions for the most popular positions. (You can see them here as well.)

Can I send you a wrap to be made into a sling? How does that work?

Basically, you send me a wrap (or have it sent to me, either second-hand or from a retailer), and I cut it to size and put pleats and rings on it. I can either hem the other portion (if applicable) or make two slings and/or accessories (depending on its length). If two portions are done (either made into slings or hemmed) I can send each to a different person, since shipping is built into the price of the redo.

Please see the sling/wrap redo section for much more information!

How long a wrap should I send you to have it redone as a sling?

Please read here for much more information.

about the slings | using your sling | products | shopping info | your account | faqs | about sbp