Linen may just be the best sling fabric there is. Before cotton was widely cultivated, linen was the go-to fabric for just about everything -- daily wear, bedclothes, accessories... if it was sewn, it was made with linen. It's strong, supportive, long-wearing, and is especially terrific for hot climates, since the fibers tend to wick moisture away and allow it to evaporate, rather than holding it in place as cotton tends to do. While it may feel a little stiff when you first open the package, it gets softer with every washing, so I recommend washing it before using it for the first time. Its reputation for wrinkles is deserved, but that rumpled look is, after all, quite sought-after these days, and it can be smoothed out with a quick ironing if you're so inclined. Softened, but not pre-washed. I find them quite supportive in a single layer.

Recommended from newborn to around 30 pounds; the fabric will certainly hold up to at least 35 pounds, but becomes less comfortable for long periods of time with increasing weights. I have used one with my three-year-old, who weighed about 32 pounds at the time, and it was fine for periods of up to 30 minutes, which is generally all a toddler will want for that up-and-down stage. Click each thumbnail for a larger image; you can cycle through them by clicking the left or right hand side of the image.

Following the 2013 color trends from Pantone? I've got several of their hot picks in stock -- from spring green ("tender shoots") to red hots ("poppy red"), French blue ("dusk blue") to navy ("monaco blue"), and have emerald and African violet as well.

Dusty pink (pink with very slightly orange undertone)	Red hots (cinnamon hot candy red)	Coral pink (light orangy pink)	Tangerine (like the fruit)	Citron yellow (bright yellow with slight green tinge)
Emerald green (vibrant, blue-toned green)	Spring green (very bright, cheerful green)	Seagrass (blue-toned green)	Ocean turquoise (light turquoise)	Pool blue (more blue than turquoise)
French blue (dusty sunny sky blue)	Navy blue	African violet (ligher pinkish purple)	Royal purple	Oatmeal (bleached and undyed linen crossweave)
Nutmeg orange/brown	Chocolate brown (scrumptious!)	Midnight black (deep black)	Storm gray (medium gray, light graphite)

Washing tips: This fabric can be machine-washed in cold water and tumble-dried on low. Your sling is cut a several inches longer than specified to accommodate the expected shrinkage. I recommend washing before wearing to remove residues left from fabric manufacturing, and to soften the fabric; while it is initially quite crisp, machine washing and drying will soften it considerably. Linen is prone to wrinkling if left crumpled in a heap, but a few minutes with an iron on low heat should be sufficient to remove wrinkles.

*As always, the color on your monitor may differ from mine. I have done the best I can to color-correct the photos for my monitor, but if you use an older laptop, the colors will likely appear darker and less saturated than in reality. If the accuracy of color is absolutely vital to you and you are not sure you're seeing the correct color, please email before ordering, as I do not provide returns or exchanges for color.