Make Your Own Baby Sling Carrier

5 Parts:

Steps

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

Comments

Let's face it, times are tough for many people, and not everyone can afford an expensive baby sling or carrier.

Baby wearing has been practiced in many cultures for hundreds of years. When done properly, it is not only safe, but extremely convenient as well. Babies who are worn are shown to be more easily soothed and they behave more calmly in general.

Baby wearing is also a very good way to bond with your baby and can aid in calming a fussy and/or colicky baby, not to mention that it will free up your hands to do other things. With this method you can make a baby sling/carrier for free with things that you have already around your house.

You will need three good quality T-shirts, a pair of scissors, and a piece of yarn (about six inches in length) to begin. This baby sling is not meant to be a permanent solution, you might want to purchase a more high quality sling or wrap if you want to use it for a very long period of time. This sling is suitable for about a month of regular usage.

1. 1
   Choose your T-shirts

   .

   You can choose the appropriate t-shirt size for this project by putting the t-shirt on with one arm through. The shirt should reach from your shoulder to your hip with room to fit a baby through. Generally you want two sizes above your normal size.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   Cut all three of the t-shirts from arm pit to arm pit and discard the top portion of the shirts

   .

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   Tie two of the shirts together with a piece of yarn, hemp, or strong fiber/string of your choosing

   .

   

   Tie and knot it three times to insure that the two shirts stay tightly bound together. You will have a bow shape when done properly.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   Lay the third shirt flat, cut the shirt diagonally from corner to corner through only the top layer of fabric, leaving the bottom layer intact

   .

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
5. 5
   Stretch the third shirt out to form a long strip of fabric

   .

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
6. 6
   Place the two shirts bound together over your head

   .

   

   Slide down around your waist so that the shirts are stacked on top of each other.

   

   Then take the opposite shirt over either shoulder to form a criss-cross ( X ) shape across the front of your chest.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
7. 7
   Place your babies bottom in the center of the criss-cross, place one leg through each shirt so that the baby is straddling your chest

   .

   Stretch each shirt so that it completely covers the babies back and reaches to his knee.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
8. 8
   Take the third shirt and tie under the babies bottom and wrap around your waist, then tie it in the back

   .

   

   This will add support for the baby and for you, stretch the shirt up over the babies back to rest below his neck.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
9. 9
   Enjoy having your hands free and wear your baby

   !

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

• Make sure that you use shirts which do not have seams on the sides, the shirt needs to be a solid piece of fabric for safety reasons.
• Make sure to wear your baby facing inward if he or she cannot hold her head up yet, this will give baby a bit of extra support so he or she doesn't damage the sensitive neck.

• If this sling or carrier is not worn properly, injury is possible. Always wear the baby high on your chest - the rule is that you should be able to kiss the top of your little one's head at all times. Never wear a baby facing out, and always make sure that the babies knees are higher than his or her bottom in a frog like position. If babies legs fall lower than his or her hips, it can cause hip dysplasia. Never wear your baby facing outward; this can cause massive strain on both the back of the wearer and the infant's growth and development.

• Three T-shirts
• Scissors
• Yarn, hemp, or strong fiber
  

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

Comments