How to make a sling with your own hands for a newborn

What slings can you make yourself?

Any woman, even a novice needlewoman, can make a simple sling for carrying children at home. It won’t take much time to make, but you can save a decent amount of money.

Varieties:

1. Scarf. This is a simple carrier in design, which is represented by a large piece of fabric. You can tie it in different ways.
2. Model with rings. This is an ideal DIY sling for newborns from 0 to 6 months. When carrying older children, the load will fall on one shoulder, so it makes sense to choose a different model.
3. Sling pocket. The model is very easy to use; it comes with a bag slung over the shoulders. The disadvantage of this option is that the harnesses are not adjustable.

This is a simple design that is easy to do yourself

For newborn children (up to six months), only two models can be used: a scarf and a version with rings.

On a note. When making a carrier for newborns, it is important to properly think through the design in order to fix the position of the child’s spine.

Choosing fabric for a sling

The first requirement for the fabric from which you will sew the sling: it must be 100% natural. And also dense and elastic. It is better to have two sides so that the folds of the sling have the best appearance.

What fabric is best to use to sew a sling with your own hands?

As for colors, the choice is yours. The main thing is that the sling pleases you and your baby and is unique and original.

To make a sling with your own hands, choose a fabric that is dense, elastic and, of course, natural.

What baby carriers can and cannot be made from

The most important thing when making a sling yourself is the choice of material. Important Requirements:

• strength;
• should not stretch much;
• natural composition.

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To make a sling, you can buy a ready-made piece of fabric; sometimes it is more advisable to use materials and available tools at home:

1. Sheet. It can only be used as a carrier during warm periods and at home. The material will not ensure the anatomically correct position of the child's spine.
2. Stole. Used both at home and outdoors in the autumn-spring period.
3. A cotton scarf measuring 150*100 cm. It could even be a diaper. In Africa, such carriers are called kanga.

On a note. You cannot use old things to make a sling, as the material loses its strength and elasticity over time. Such a carrier can become dangerous for the child.

You should not make your own baby sling from a knitted scarf. As a rule, they are narrow and easy to stretch.

You cannot take scarves of standard sizes (up to 100*100 cm). Woolen items are not suitable as they will be too scratchy. Silk items will not provide reliable support; the baby will slide in them.

What kind of sheet can be used to make?

It is better to buy a ready-made sling, of which there are now a huge number. They are distinguished by the quality of materials and ensure the correct position of the child, which is especially important during the formation of the skeleton in the first years of life. But if you don’t have it at hand, and you need to go somewhere urgently, then an ordinary sheet can come to the rescue.

The main requirements for fabric are that it must be made from natural materials, durable and non-stretchable . It is better to give preference to sheets made of cotton or linen; chintz and calico are also suitable. Contact of a child's skin with synthetic materials can cause irritation and allergic reactions. It should be remembered that it is better to use such a sling at home, and go outside with it only when necessary and in the warm season.

Choosing material for a sling

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Before starting to make a sling at home, special attention is paid to the type and quality of the fabric. In order not to provoke the development of allergies in a child, choose its natural composition without the addition of synthetic threads:

• linen;
• cotton;
• wool.

When choosing fabric, they are guided by the season when they plan to carry the child in a sling:

1. For summer time, buy chintz. The finished structure is reinforced with special frames. Without additional sealing, such things are used only for newborn babies with low birth weight.
2. To make carriers that will be used during the off-season, purchase calico or denim.
3. For winter, the carrier can be made of wool or a mixed material. The sling scarf can be made from thin fleece.

You can make a sling that is thinner for summer and thicker for winter.

To make slings, twill (a mixture of cotton and linen) and knitwear are purchased.

On a note! To prevent the product from shrinking, when using it, wash the piece of material before cutting and sewing.

Sew my sling

To sew a May Sling, you will need fabric, padding polyester and the desire to create an original carrier for your baby. When choosing a material for this type, it is worth considering not only its color, but also its texture. Choose thick denim, jacquard, corduroy (for winter) and thick linen (for summer).

Cutting fabric is easy. You will need fabric about 90 cm wide and about 200 cm long. We cut out two pieces 35 by 45 cm for the future back, upper straps 200 by 20 cm in the amount of 2 pieces, lower strap 160 by 15 cm. It is better as a seal use padding polyester.

Then we assemble the future sling: first, pin together the seams with tailor’s pins. If you don't have them on hand, you can make basting stitches. We sew the back, laying padding polyester. From the wrong side we sew all the straps along the length, then turn them inside out. We insert padding polyester into the straps for softness and sew them up at the ends. That's it, the main part of the work is done, you can start assembling the sling. There are a few tricks to remember - first, iron the fabric well to straighten the seams. Secondly, so that the padding polyester inside does not slip or clump together, it is worth stitching the strap with a decorative seam.

We attach two identical straps to the back, which will be folded up, and attach them at an angle of 45 degrees. We apply a shorter strap to the lower part of the back and also carefully sew it on. Iron the finished product again. For convenience, it is worth sewing a pocket in which you can put napkins or a bottle of water. You can make a snap-on pillow so your baby can sleep while walking.

Rules for making a sling with rings

Apgar scale for newborns - scores at birth, table

To sew a sling with your own hands for a newborn, you will need a rectangular piece of fabric (200-240 cm long, 80 cm wide) and 2 metal rings. The pattern is a rectangle of the required size.

Model with sewing rings

A short master class on how to make a sling for a newborn baby with your own hands:

1. The length of the flap for the product is selected depending on the height and physique of the parents. The larger the mother, the longer the piece of material should be.
2. 3 edges are overcast.
3. The rings are threaded through the material.
4. The threaded rings are secured in a fabric loop. The free edge is sewn with 3 lines to the main fabric.

When using a model with rings, the entire load will fall on 1 shoulder of the mother

If you want to make the model more stylish, you can add folds to the shoulder.

Option with rings, but without sewing in

You can make a baby carrier without sewing. To do this, one end of the fabric is threaded through 2 rings at once. Measure approximately 40-45 cm of fabric and thread it into one of them. The short edge of the fabric is placed on the shoulder, and the long edge is wrapped around the body. Then, with this edge, first both rings are threaded, and then one of them.

Differences between a sling scarf and other carriers

The easiest way is to sew a sling scarf with your own hands for newborns. This is just a piece of fabric that needs to be correctly calculated in accordance with its dimensions. Other models need to be tried on.

Other benefits:

• the child can take different positions (sitting, lying down);
• allows you to tie in different ways (horizontally, vertically, sideways, behind);
• takes up little space in the bag, can be used as a regular stole;
• looks stylish and feminine with dresses, T-shirts or other clothes.

When choosing or making a sling scarf, it is important to choose the right length of the product.

The scarf can be tied so that the child is behind

Selection of materials and tools

To make a scarf carrier, you need to choose the right fabric. It should be a strong, dense material that does not stretch. To complete the product, you need to purchase a piece of material 5 m long and 70 cm wide.

On a note. To more accurately calculate the length of the fabric, you need to add 0 to the Russian size of the mother’s clothes on the right. Also take into account that after washing the fabric can shrink, so you can add 3-5%.

Sewing recommendations

The direct process of sewing a sling scarf is very simple:

1. Decorate the ends of the fabric cut. They can be made straight, rounded or cut.
2. Finish all edges to prevent them from fraying.
3. If the sling is made of several parts, then all butt seams are made with double stitching.

After such simple measures, all that remains is to learn how to tie a sling correctly so that it guarantees the baby the correct position and securely fixes it.

Making a sling from a sheet with your own hands

A more reliable design of the sling involves the use of rings - here the risk of untying the knots is completely eliminated. Metal rings are most often used, but wooden or plastic rings can also be used. In this case, you need to check their strength.

Important! The diameter of the rings should be about 10-15 cm.

They are sewn to the fabric on one side. Since a significant part of the load will fall on the rings, special attention should be paid to the quality of the thread and seams. This causes fewer problems when using a sewing machine. So:

Using the rings you can adjust the height . A baby in a kangaroo can be in an upright position or lying on his back. You can carry it this way until you reach the age of three. Such a device can be decorated with embroidery to your liking, making it unique and inimitable.

If it is not possible to purchase rings, then you can make a sling in the form of a tube. Structurally, both options are almost identical, but in the second case it is sewn for a specific person and cannot be adjusted to size . In this case, the opposite ends of the sheet are sewn together. Again, special attention should be paid to the quality of the seams and thread.

The resulting kangaroo is worn over the shoulder, and the child is placed in the resulting pocket. Its position can be adjusted within a small range by turning the fabric on the shoulder. The main disadvantage of this option is that it is impossible for both parents to use if they are of different heights and builds .

Source

Why sew a sling yourself?

Since children need constant tactile contact with their mother, they recommend carrying the newborn in your arms. Using a sling, you can combine communication with your child and doing some things, for example, shopping or an evening walk.

While in the sling, the baby not only has contact with the mother’s body, he is given a light massage, his spine takes the most comfortable position, and the mother does not feel the same discomfort as from being carried in her arms. In a sling, the baby will not miss feeding, as he will be close to the breast.

The cost of the finished product is relatively high; making it yourself allows you to save money. It is also much easier to choose the desired color than to find such a finished product. Scarf slings look very stylish and feminine, and can later be used as stoles.

Advantages and disadvantages

Each carrying option has both advantages and disadvantages. With the help of the mobility of such a device for children, you can always be with your little one. The advantages of carrying bags include:

• The ability for a child to feel his mother’s warmth and heartbeat, which calms him down and gives him the opportunity to fully develop without emotional turmoil due to the absence of his mother nearby.
• The opportunity to do household chores and have free hands, while the baby will be nearby.
• The ability to combine a carrier and a stroller while walking. If the baby starts crying, you can take him out and distract him.
• All devices for carrying children are designed taking into account the structural features of their body, so being in them does not cause discomfort, they are safe for the child if they were initially chosen correctly.

The disadvantages include the following:

• There is a lot of stress on mom, her back muscles and spine.
• It’s uncomfortable to use some options in the summer when it’s too hot for the baby. He may sweat, which increases the risk of catching a cold, or have difficulty breathing if the carrier is not the right size for him.
• It is not always possible to hide a child from the outside world, especially if he is tired and wants to sleep. People, cars, sunlight - all this will disturb the baby, irritate him, which will cause severe crying.
• Some types of carriers are designed for a very short period of use and will not be affordable for families with an average budget.

The development of new options for transporting newborns and older children allows parents to gain greater freedom, and children not to be separated from them even for a minute when it is especially important for them.

How to use a homemade sling

After making a carrier with your own hands, it is important to use it correctly.

Carriers with rings are worn as follows:

1. Throw it over the shoulder so that the rings are below its level.
2. The free edge is passed into both rings, then into one for fixation.
3. The edges of the canvas are pulled apart to make a cradle, and the child is placed there.

Before putting your child in a scarf, you need to practice tying and securing the product.

Modern slings for carrying children are not only comfortable, but also stylish devices. Mothers do not need to pull strollers, while the child remains nearby. In order not to spend a lot of money on purchasing a sling, you can do it yourself, even without knowing how to sew.

Kinds

There are many options for carrying bags. However, they are all divided into several types. These are baby carriers, baby carriers and baby carriers. Let's talk about each of them in more detail.

Cradles

This type of carrier is perfect for use in the first six months of a baby’s life. Its main advantage is that mom can always rest a little by placing the cradle on any surface. Such a thing is also necessary for those parents who spend a lot of time on the road. The carrycot can be installed in the back seat of the car and secured securely. In addition, the carrying cradle easily fits into any stroller model, which is also very convenient.

In each of the proposed options, the baby will feel cozy and comfortable.

The carrier should have a solid insert that is located under the baby's back. This is required in order to prevent unwanted curvature. This insert can usually be removed during washing. When purchasing a cradle, you should also check for a protective canopy. This detail will protect the child from insects, prevent solar radiation, and also protect from gusts of wind and rain.

The portable cradle can have additional side inserts, which provide even greater protection and correctly fix the child’s position. Carrycots can be not only summer, there are also insulated winter models.

Bags

A carrying bag gives you the opportunity to actively and efficiently use your time. It allows you to take even long walks without leaving your baby. Warm versions of portable bags for newborns are in particular demand. The reason is that such a bag can be used in any weather, whereas transporting a child in a stroller simply will not work. In the cold season, this model is both a cozy cradle, a walking stroller, and a warm sleeping place.

The bag has a hard and durable bottom, thanks to which the child feels very comfortable.

The main advantages of this type of carrier are its light weight and comfortable handles. They are usually made from waterproof and durable material that can be washed without any problems. Another undeniable advantage is the presence of a shoulder strap, which allows you to throw the bag over your shoulder, thereby reducing the load on the mother’s spine.

The carrier bag, like the cradle, can be placed in the stroller if desired. This variety can be used for both newborns and older children.

Backpacks

Baby carriers are no less popular than cradles and bags. In turn, backpacks can be of several types: slings, kangaroos and ergo-backpacks.

The most comfortable of the above is a sling. Moreover, it has a positive effect on the child’s physical condition. The sling absolutely accurately copies the position of the mother's hands and is safe for the baby's back. This portable backpack can be used from the first days of the baby’s life.

Using a sling, mom can feel comfortable and free anywhere, and can also walk long distances.

Most young mothers pay attention to the appearance of the carrier. Guided by this criterion, many choose kangaroos. However, it should be remembered that this device does not provide the necessary support.

A child sitting in a kangaroo actually hangs on one strap, which puts additional stress on the spine. According to the recommendation of orthopedists, you can carry your baby in a kangaroo after he is six months old.

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Ergo-backpack is the latest development that makes it possible to carry your baby in three positions - on the back, in front and on the side. In addition to the fact that using an ergo-backpack is convenient, it also prevents unnecessary strain on the child’s back. The backpack is equipped with a wide belt, making it easy and comfortable for parents to carry their baby. It is worth noting that this carrier backpack is usually made of natural cotton. The ergo-backpack comes with instructions that describe options for its use.

Doctors recommend using such carriers from 4 months to 3 years, and the baby’s weight should not exceed 16 kg.