Download copy: Safety and User Guide. - Quick Tips
- Getting Started
- Carrying Positions
- Additional Information
- Additional Support
Posh Papoose® Ring Sling Quick Tips - Spread out fabric over shoulder – not bunched by your neck.
- Spread out fabric across back. Fabric should not be twisted.
- Rings at armpit level.
- Fabric not twisted as it passes through the rings.
- Side rails high and tight for comfort and safety.
- Carry baby’s body at your chest/ribcage level, close to your body.
- Sling should be tight.
- You can tighten entire sling easily by pulling on the tail end of the sling, but for fine tuned tightening, pull gently but firmly just below the rings.
- Use the tie provided to shorten sling by tying to the rings.
- No objects in sling besides your child. No fabric should cover or block baby’s airway.
- Switch sides often to minimize back fatigue.
- When your baby is outgrowing the infant positions, it may take some time to get comfortable with a new position.
- Large infants may be most comfortable in a Upright Tummy to Tummy with their feet sticking out.
- Babies will get warm in the sling. Don't overdress them. If it's warm, you might remove their socks.
- Nurse your baby in the sling so they will develop positive association with it and the sling will acquire your scent and become familiar and comforting, even if someone else wears it.
Cradle Carry Quick Tip Baby should lie at an angle with head higher than body. Head near rings. Body resting towards outside rail. Baby shouldn’t be deep in the sling. Body shouldn’t be bent in half. Head should not be bent forwards. Inside rail should be high, creating a pouch for baby. Tight side rails. Upright Snuggle Quick Tips This is the easiest and most comfortable way to wear a newborn or young baby. Baby upright with head resting sideways on your chest. Gently bend baby’s arms and legs in towards her body.You can cross baby's legs and fold them up in front of the body when placing baby in the sling. Inside / bottom rail about 1/3 up the front of the baby's body, between baby’s body and yours. Top outside rail behind baby’s head, providing support. Tighten outside rail for safety.Your silhouette should look like you're pregnant, with the baby's body at your belly and head resting on your chest. Larger babies can have their legs out, wrapped around your waist. Bottom rail would go to about their ankles. Hip Carry Quick Tip No straight legs! Wrap child’s legs froggy-style around your waist with bottom sling rail under child’s knees. Baby’s bottom should be lower than knees. High & tight top rail across child’s shoulders. Important Safety Tip Baby’s head & neck should NOT be bent forward with chin resting on chest. This can block airflow and possibly cause baby to suffocate. Make sure that nothing is blocking the airway and that your baby is breathing regularly and comfortably at all times.
Getting Started Please read our safety guidelines first! You may wish to gently wash sling with unscented detergent before use. Air dry or tumble dry low. Steam iron, if desired. 1. Inspect the Posh Papoose® Baby Sling
Make sure sling is in good condition before each use. Check for holes, tears, loose or missing stitching, & other signs of wear & tear and do not use if you see anything that could compromise the safety of the sling. Contact us with any questions or to request a repair. 2. Threading the Posh Papoose® Baby Sling
You can start by threading one corner of the tail end of the sling up and behind both rings, then down over the top ring and under the bottom ring. Then thread the remaining opposite corner the same way, so that all the fabric is threaded through the rings. Make sure it doesn’t twist as it passes through, especially the outside edges. This will allow you to adjust each side rail independently of the other easily. Make sure you can tighten each edge or "rail" independently. You should be able to follow the edge of the sling as it passes through the rings and hangs down. Use your eyes or trace the edge with your fingers to make sure. Tighten and loosen the tail a few inches in both directions through the rings before you put it on. This is to ensure you have threaded it without twisting and will allow you to adjust it while you're wearing it.
An alternate way to thread the silng is to loosely pleat the tail like you're making a fan before passing through the rings, making sure each outside edge remains on the outside and doesn't twist. My own method is to fold in the outside edges and make big pleats from each side towards the center; the I hold the entire folded tail and pass it through the rings. Then I spread out the outside edges over the rings and make sure they are not folded or twisted. Pull the tail through so that about 20" hangs below the rings, or so that all sections of the looped sling are even.The tail should hang to about your hand or fingertips, but you can loop it up to the rings using the Velcro(R)-fabric loops on the pocket hem. If you are tall or large, then you will want less tail hanging down to start.  3. Putting on the Posh Papoose® Baby Sling & proper positioning Extend one arm and slip the sling over that arm, over your head, and onto the opposite shoulder. The shoulder pad should be cupping your shoulder, with most of the pad behind your shoulder, and the tail of the sling should hang down your front. For example, if you extend your right arm, the shoulder pad and rings will be on your left shoulder. Fabric should not be gathered next to your neck. Sling should be spread out and untwisted around your back and waist. Rings should be in a "corsage" position in the hollow below your collarbone and at or above your armpit.  4. Safety check You should now have a pouch across your front. In the cradle position, make the sure the back rail of this pouch section is pulled up evenly with the front part or even higher, so that the baby will have a safe hammock-like pouch. It should be coming across your chest, not hanging loosely at your belly. This keeps baby secure & comfortable. You should be able to adjust the front or back by gently tugging on either side of the tail below the rings. In the Upright Inward-facing tummy-to-tummy position, have the inside rails up about 1/3 of the baby's body. You need some room in the back to pull up the sling to behind the baby's head, but the baby needs to be in a pouch so s/he is secure. Do not pull on the string ties near the pockets to tighten the sling. They may cause a rip in the fabric. Be sure to read our entire Safety Guidelines before using the sling. 5. Adjusting the Posh Papoose® Baby Sling
- To tighten: With the sling threaded properly, (not twisted or bunched as it passes through the rings) you should be able to tighten either side rail independently by pulling on the fabric on the tail on the side you want to tighten. You can pull firmly but gently just below the rings to tighten either side. Our batting is soft and will go through the rings a little ways. The outside rail can support the back of the baby's head when tight. If the rails are too loose, the baby can fall out. You can tighten both sides at the same time simply by pulling down on the entire tail of the sling. If you find that you cannot tighten the sling enough to take up the slack, especially in the top rail, you can mail it back to us and we will remove a few inches of the padding.
- To loosen: Lift up on the rings with one hand and pull on the body of the sling with your other hand
- To shorten: If the tail of the sling hangs too low, you can shorten the sling by simply looping the Velcro® tie to the bottom to the rings.The tie is sewn to the pocket seam. Do not pull on this tie, or it may come off or cause a rip in the fabric.
- Always make sure both side railings are high enough and tight, forming a secure pouch so that baby doesn't fall out! If front rail is loose and you bend forwards, baby could fall out. If back rail is loose or not high around the baby’s body, baby could slip through. If it's too loose, you and your baby also won't be comfortable, and it can strain your back.
6. Placing baby in the Posh Papoose® Baby Sling When using your sling the first few times, or trying a new position, please try on a couch or a bed the first few times. Baby will get warm in the sling, so don’t overdress. If it’s cold, wear sling under your jacket. - Try starting with the rings a little higher than the "corsage" position so that when you tighten it, the rings will end up at your armpit level.
- Make sure both side rails are high, forming a pouch.
- Open up the pouch. Place the baby upright and against your chest near the shoulder opposite the rings in a burping position.
- With a newborn or young baby, fold or bend the arms and legs inward gently and comfortably.
- Then slide the baby into the sling into your desired position.
- To remove or adjust baby, slightly loosen sling if necessary and reach in with two hands and place baby back into the burp position over your shoulder, and remove or adjust as needed.
- Re-tighten sling if you are repositioning the baby. Keep one hand on baby until you feel comfortable and confident.
7. Advanced You can hold the baby securely against your chest with one arm while adjusting & tightening sling around baby. Sometimes you may need to shift the sling around the baby to get proper fit.
Carrying Positions Cradle Carry (Newborn - Infant) Pull up inside rail, close to your body and form a pouch for the baby. Holding baby facing you, you can let your baby "stand" and get settled or fold in baby’s legs and place baby’s bottom in sling first. Then position body in an upright, inward-facing tummy-to-tummy position. Pull up top rail behind baby's head. Then recline body slightly, at a 45-degree angle, with head towards the rings. Body should be resting towards the outside edge of the sling. Adjust rails so inside rail is safely encasing the baby's body and the outside rail is high and tight, not slack. Baby’s body should not be bent in half or too deep in the sling. Make sure baby’s neck is aligned with spine. Head should not be bent forwards and baby’s chin should NOT be on her chest, since that can block airflow. Baby should look comfortable and be able to breathe easily.
  Cross Cradle Carry (Newborn - Infant) Same as Cradle Carry, but reversed with baby’s feet near the rings and head opposite the rings. (A) Make sure rails are high and tight around baby and that baby’s head is not crunched forward. To breastfeed in this position, turn baby’s body tummy to tummy with you, lower sling rail and nurse. Baby's feet can either be in or out of the sling. If you are going to stand or walk around while nursing, then make sure baby's bottom and body are safely contained within the sling by (E) positioning, adjusting and tightening the bottom rail. You may use tail of sling for additional nursing coverage if desired. When baby has finished nursing, return baby to cradle position, pull up rails and tighten for safety.
  Breastfeeding Positions (Newborn and up+) To nurse in a CRADLE CARRY: While seated, loosen & slide sling to your side. Position baby for nursing. When done, readjust baby and sling to preferred position and tighten. See photos below. If your young baby falls asleep while nursing, make sure baby is nestled safely in a pouch and tighten the sling around the body and you're good to go. You can use the tail of the sling for shade or coverage, just make sure baby can breathe unbostructed.
Older babies and toddlers can nurse with their legs and feet extending out of the sling. If you are going to walk around, make sure their bottom and body is contained within silng and tighten. If you'd like nursing coverage, you can simply position the tail of the sling for discretion. No need to purchase a separate nursing cover up. To nurse in a FOOTBALL HOLD, simply loosen the sling a little bit, and while you support the baby, move the baby's body to your side so baby can nurse in the side-held, football position and re-tighten for support and comfort.  Upright Chest Snuggle / Inward-facing Tummy-to-Tummy (Newborn and up+) This is the easiest position to start with and is most comfortable for both a young baby and for you. New babies like the swaddled feeling and can enjoy your heartbeat. Place baby upright, tummy to tummy with you, over the opposite shoulder from the rings. Pull the inward/ bottom sling rail up a little bit so that it will come up about 1/3 of the baby's body, to baby's knees or mid-section. Gently cross, fold, or bend the baby's legs inward. Imagine what body position she or he had in the womb. Hold your baby in this position and slide him or her into the silng by settling the tushy into the pouch. Arrange the baby's arms and legs so they are inward and comfortable. Tighten top and bottom rails, making sure bottom rail is well under the baby for safety. Tighten fabric across baby’s back. Position top rail behind baby’s neck and head for support and tighten side rail. Baby’s head should rest on your chest. (Your heartbeat will be soothing and calming.)The baby should be tightly bound by the sling, head supported, resting at your tummy to chest area. From the side, you should look pregnant. If the baby hangs too low, your lower back will be strained. If the baby is too loose, it's not secure, neither of you will be comfortable and the baby won't be secure. Make sure the rings are at your armpit level, just below your deltoid / shoulder muscle. From here, you can adjust the baby into either a Cradle Carry by tilting her body towards the rings, or into a nursing position, with baby's head opposite the rings. The baby may lean to one side or the other. Make sure neck seems supported and not bent in a weird way and that the baby is breathing comfortably. You can shorten the tail by looping it up to the rings once you've got everything comfortably adjusted. Get the baby settled by gently bouncing or walking around. As your baby grows and the legs get longer, this position morphs into the Hip Carry position.
  Kangaroo Carry / Sitting Forward (4 months - 6 months) Create a pouch for baby. Settle baby’s bottom into sling first with legs crossed and folded. Face baby out. Pull up back and front rail high and tight around baby. Baby can be directly on your front facing forwards, or sitting on your hip opposite the rings at an angle, facing out. Tighten sling around baby's body. Make sure rails are high both in front and back. Babies like to hold on to the front rail. This position is good for babies that can hold up their head and upper back and are starting to be interested in seeing the world around them. When their legs get longer, around 5 or 6 months, the Hip Carry will probably be more comfortable for both of you.
  Hip Carry (5 months – 3 yrs) Lift child into sling. Place child’s legs around your waist, like a little frog, with bottom lower than knees. Pull bottom rail beneath child’s thighs, to behind the knees, and tighten. Let baby recline slightly, then pull up top rail around child’s shoulders and tighten for safety. Arms can be in or out. Child can sit on your front or side, whichever is comfortable.   Breastfeeding in Hip Carry (5 months – 3 yrs) Your baby is optimally positioned. Simply allow access and nurse. You can use tail for coverage, if desired.  Back Carry (18 months+) *Advanced* With child in Hip Carry position, bend forwards slightly, and slide baby to your back. Retighten sling. Make sure bottom and top rails are tight and secure. Ask someone for help and check in the mirror.  Removing Child From the Posh Papoose® Baby Sling Return young baby to burping position and lift baby out with two hands, or kneel and let an older child stand on ground and lift sling up and off.  
Additional Information If you lend, sell, or give away your Posh Papoose® baby sling, please include a copy of our Safety and User Guide or direct the user to this website. You can download a PDF version of our User & Safety Guide by clicking here. For more help, please contact us. You can email us a photo of how you’re using the sling and we will reply with personalized advice. Click here to view photo gallery showing our products in action.
Additional SupportVIDEOS: We offer videos on our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/PoshRachel For more hands on assistance, please visit a local La Leche League meeting, "Koala" baby wearing groups, or other babywearing group. Many post partum doulas are adept with slings as well. If you are in Los Angeles, we would be happy to help you in person. Here are some links to locate a group near you (also please check our RESOURCES page and scroll down to the Babywearing Resources section for more): Do you know of other area groups or good babywearing resources? Email us and we will add them here. Download copy: Safety and User Guide. |
