Rocking the Ring Sling

Ring Slings are some of the easiest and most versatile carriers there are.

 

(ok, so thats just my opinion, but I bet a few people agree with me.)

They can hold a newborn squishie up on mama's chest or keep a wiggly toddler tight on mama's hip.  Many people can nurse in a ring sling.  Some even back carry in a ring sling.  The tail can be nursing cover, sun sheild or blanket.  And the best part is they come in every color of the rainbow and every pattern imaginable so you can pretty much gaurentee that you can find one that suits your personality and style.  From fun and silly patterns to elegant silks, ring slings rock.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here are just a few ages and stages enjoying some ring sling snuggles.

Snuggly 2 year old

Oscha Starry Night Nebula dyed Blue Ice

You can see that the way a ring sling is tightened strand by strand allows for completely individualized fit.  Whether you are wearing a tiny new squish, a wiggly new walker or a tired toddler, a good supportive ring sling is a great option. 

Hiking with a 15 month old

AnnaCarrieBaby water ring sling

20 month old gets tired of walking at the Tulsa State Fair                  Giving mama hugs.

Bristol Looms Peacock (handwoven)                                                  Natibaby Africa

Two month old squishie goodness!                       I don't want my picture taken, I just want my mama.

Oscha Braid Obsidian with lambswool                   Natibaby Mossy Forrest - Hemp/Cotton blend

 

Tiny Newborn love! (2-3 weeks old)
Hopp Timbuktu

Notice baby is close enough to kiss, neck supported and feet out.

Airway is unobstructed and face is visible.

Newborn C shaped spine is fully supported through strand by strand tightening.

 

Sleepy two year old at the Oklahoma Aquarium

Bristol Looms Peacock (handwoven)

(totally successful transfer out of car seat and into the ring sling without waking her, a definite victory)

 

Somer Johnson is a Babywearing enthusiast and Momma to E, a bundle of energy. She is a Babywearing Institue Scholar working towards her certification. She is also addicted to cloth diapers and makes and sells wool dryer balls as SomerKnits. Occasionally she also carves out some time to knit, spin or weave - her main pre-baby passions.

Babywearing Institute - Houston TX

After a couple months of intense fundraising, including multiple days of holding a group garage sale in hundred degree weather, we finally got our pay off.  In mid-august, Ashley, C.j. and I all went down to Houston to take a 4 day Babywearing Institute class.

Our instructor, Angelique, was awesome.  We spent four somewhat long and intense days in a room full of 8 women and a varying number of babies/little ones (in august.  in Houston) but all for the love of babywearing.  And it was totally worth it.  

The first two days covered basics but it wasn't just how to wear or even just how to teach a basic carry.  We delved in to so much more than that.  We also broke up in to pairs and worked on not just mastering particular carries, but also teaching them.  

The second two days we covered a number of advanced topics, from back wearing to special needs.  We learned a lot from our instructor but also from our classmates.  We talked about physical development milestones and what is actually happening inside a baby's body and how the ways we babywear can affect that.  

Now that the three of us have completed the classes we are classified as Babywearing Institute Scholars Beginning & Advanced.  As soon as we each complete and pass our exams we will move up to Certified Babywearing Educators.

Because I cannot find my camera cord, I can't share all the "real" pictures I took, but here are a few of cell phone selfies.  :-)

Ashley and I both traveled to Houston without our little ones so we used these fantastic weighted dolls we made.  I must say, I wish I had made a weighted doll sooner!  Despite being slightly more difficult than an live child, which really just makes you work that much harder and get that much better, they are perfect for practicing with.  I really felt like I was able to try everything without worrying about if the baby was tired of being messed with and I was able to practice things multiple times.  Most of the time a live child will get irritated with that.

Occasionally we borrowed a real baby for a bit.  If you are in BWATulsa you may recognize this particular squish.  She even took a sweet nap on me for a bit.

We did everything from your basic Front Wrap Cross Carry to the Wiggle Proof back carry to ring slings, as show here.  We used long wraps and short wraps.  In fact, I personally have a new found love for shorty wraps because of a few carries we tried, one I am going to have to explore in more detail at some point.  

This was our little group, just the right size.  As you can tell, there might also have been some bonding and silliness between lessons.  

Somer Johnson is a Babywearing enthusiast and Momma to E, a bundle of energy.  She is also addicted to cloth diapers and makes and sells wool dryer balls as SomerKnits.  Occasionally she also carves out some time to knit, spin or weave her main pre-baby passions.