Accessories for carrying newborns, or baby slings, become more and more popular every year. They are very comfortable and stylish, and help moms avoid bulky strollers. The simplest models are made on a fabric basis, it is easy to make them yourself.
Carriers make it easy to move with your baby
What slings can you make yourself
At home, any woman, even a novice needlewoman, can make a simple sling for carrying children. It won't take much time to make, and you can save a decent amount of money.
Varieties:
- Scarf. It is an easy-to-carry, large piece of fabric. You can tie it in different ways.
- Model with rings. It is the perfect DIY baby sling for 0-6 months old babies. When carrying older children, the load will fall on one shoulder, so it makes sense to choose a different model.
- Sling pocket. The model is very easy to use, it is represented by 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 make yourself
For newborn babies (up to six months), only two models can be used: the scarf and the version with rings.
On a note. When carrying out a carrier for newborns, it is important to think carefully about the design in order to fix the position of the baby's spine.
What can and can not be made of baby carriers
The most important thing when making a sling yourself is the choice of material. Important requirements:
- strength;
- should not stretch too much;
- natural composition.
To perform a sling, you can buy a ready-made piece of tack, sometimes it is more advisable to use the materials and tools available at home:
- Sheet. It can be used as a carrier only in a warm period of time and at home. The material will not allow for the anatomically correct position of the child's spine.
- Stole. They are used both at home and outdoors in autumn and spring.
- Cotton scarf with a size of 150 * 100 cm. It can even be a diaper. In Africa, such carriers are called kanga.
On a note. You can not use old things to make a sling, as the material loses its strength and elasticity over time. Carrying this way can be dangerous for the baby.
Do not make your own sling for a newborn from a knitted scarf. They are usually narrow and stretch easily.
You can't take standard size scarves (up to 100 * 100 cm). Woolen products will not work as they will be too prickly. Silk clothes will not provide reliable support, the baby will slide in them.
The choice of material for the sling
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 a fabric, they are guided by the season when it is planned to carry the child in a sling:
- For summer time, chintz is purchased. The finished structure is reinforced with special frames. Without additional sealing, such things are used only for newborn babies with low weight.
- For the manufacture of carriers, which will be used during the off-season, coarse calico or jeans are purchased.
- For winter, the carrier can be made of wool or mixed material. The sling scarf can be made of thin fleece.
You can make a sling thinner for summer, more dense for winter
For the manufacture of slings, they purchase twill (a mixture of cotton and linen), knitwear.
On a note! To prevent the product from shrinking, when using, before cutting and sewing, a piece of material is washed.
Rules for making a sling with rings
To sew a do-it-yourself sling 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 desired size.
Model with sewn-on rings
A small master class on how to make a sling for a newborn baby with your own hands:
- 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 cut of the material should be.
- 3 edges are overcast.
- The rings are threaded through the material.
- Threaded rings are fixed in a fabric loop. The free edge is sewn with 3 lines to the main canvas.
When using the model with rings, the entire load will fall on 1 mom's shoulder
If you want to make the model more stylish, then folds can be made on the shoulder.
Option with rings, but without sewing
You can make a baby carrier without sewing. To do this, one end of the fabric is threaded into 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 one is wrapped around the body. Then, first, both rings are threaded with this edge, and then one of them.
Differences between a sling scarf and other carriers
The easiest way is to sew a do-it-yourself sling scarf 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 various positions (sitting, lying);
- allows you to tie in different ways (horizontally, vertically, sideways, back);
- takes up little space in the bag, can be used as an ordinary stole;
- looks stylish and feminine with dresses, T-shirts or other clothing.
When choosing or making a sling scarf, it is important to choose the right length for the product.
The scarf can be tied so that the child is in the back
Selection of materials and tools
To make a scarf carrier, you need to choose the right fabric. It should be 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 attribute 0 to the Russian size of your mother's clothes on the right. Also, take into account that after washing the fabric may shrink, so you can add 3-5%.
Sewing recommendations
The direct process of sewing a sling scarf is very simple:
- Decorate the ends of the fabric cut. They can be made straight, rounded, or cut.
- Process all edges so that they do not crumble.
- If the sling is made of several parts, then all butt seams are made with a double stitch.
After such simple activities, it remains to learn how to tie a sling correctly so that it guarantees the baby the correct position and fixes it securely.
Why sew a sling yourself
Since children need constant tactile contact with their mother, it is advised to carry the newborn in their arms. Using a sling, you can combine communication with your child and perform some tasks, for example, shopping or an evening walk.
While in the sling, the baby not only comes into contact with the mother's body, he undergoes a light massage, his spine takes the most comfortable position, the mother does not feel such discomfort as from wearing it in her arms. In a sling, the baby will not miss feeding, as it 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 find the desired color than to find such a finished product. Slings-scarves look very stylish and feminine, later they can be used as stoles.
How to use a homemade sling
After making the carrier with your own hands, it is important to use it correctly.
Carriers with rings are dressed as follows:
- Throw it over the shoulder so that the rings are below its level.
- The free edge is passed into both rings, then into one for fixation.
- The edges of the canvas are pushed apart, making a cradle, and the child is placed there.
Before putting the child in a scarf, you need to practice tying and fixing the product
Modern baby carriers are not only convenient, but also stylish. Mothers do not need to pull strollers, while the baby stays close. In order not to spend a lot of money on purchasing a sling, you can do it yourself without even knowing how to sew.
