Carry of the Month; August: Pouch Sling

Carry of the Month (COTM) is an ongoing feature for the BWIP blog and Facebook group. Each month one of the Volunteer Babywearing Educators (VBEs) will choose a wrap carry or carrier to showcase and write a blog post with instructions or videos. At our monthly meetings throughout the valley, we will designate time to demonstrate the carry or carrier in person and answer your questions. Feel free to join in on the fun! Post pictures of you trying out the COTM in the Facebook group or email us your entry. Check out the bottom of this post for the prize raffled off for participation this month! It was donated by Dara Cramp Independent Jamberry  

It's August! We've made it halfway through the summer here in Phoenix and this month we're breaking out a trusty carrier, the pouch sling. Pouch slings are economical and easy to find. They are one-shoulder carriers that are great for hip carries and also for front carries. This month, our chapter Treasurer, Liz will be demonstrating how to properly wear a pouch sling with her bitty babe. This is a perfect carrier for Liz to demonstrate: she's always keeping us on task with our chapter spending and pouches are the cheapest carriers in our library! Don't let the price fool you though, a properly fitted pouch sling can span the time from birth to toddler.

A pouch sling is a wide tube of fabric with one curved seam. Some pouch slings have a padded edge or "rail" this is designed to be worn where baby's knees are held by the sling. Some brands of pouch slings have an adjustment mechanism at the shoulder, most are non-adjustable. They are made sized and it's very important to use the proper size. If you are unsure of sizing come to one of our five meetings around the valley and a educator can help you find the proper fit.

Begin by folding the pouch in on itself so that it is half the width it was in the last picture.

Place the sling over one shoulder with the open edge up. The seam of the pouch should be pulled to the front of you. Baby's bottom will sit on the curved seam. 

Place baby high on your shoulder. While holding baby with one hand, open the pouch and begin sliding baby down into it with the other hand.

The bottom rail, which is padded in this case, will be pulled up and in-between baby's legs. The bottom rail should be spread from knee to opposite knee. It will be as though baby is sitting in a hammock seat.

As Liz is demonstrating, you can see that there is slack in the top rail of the pouch  sling. If she were to leave the pouch sling this way, her baby would not be secure.

To remedy this situation, Liz grabbed the edge of the sling that was closest to her face and flipped it under the other edge of the sling. This not only capped her shoulder for comfort, but tightened that top rail and provided neck support for her baby.

Baby is now high and tight, close enough to kiss!

Way to go Liz!

If you have an older child you can shift them over to your hip and the pouch sling makes a quick hip carrier.

BWISEPA shared this helpful video on using a pouch sling with a newborn:

The sponsor for August's COTM is Dara Cramp Independent Jamberry Consultant! She wants to share a bit about her business with her follow BWIPers:

Jamberry Nails are nail wraps that apply with a heat-activated adhesive, and last up to 2 weeks on your fingers and 4-6 weeks on your toes. Jamberry wraps offer no drying time and easy application at home. They are non-toxic, gluten-free and vegan, and are never tested on animals. With over 300 designs, Jamberry has something for every style! You can view the online catalog, shop and order, and even request a party through my Independent Jamberry Consultant website: makelifebeautiful.jamberry.com.

 
This $25 E-Gift Certificate is good toward the purchase of any Jamberry products of your choosing. Since your hands are free, why not show them off? Get some wraps to match your wraps!

To enter to win, simply post a photo of you trying out a pouch sling on the COTM thread in our Facebook group, if you're not on Facebook email your entry to us at PhoenixBabywearers@gmail.com.
 At the end of the month we will draw a winner. To earn additional entries, you can post/send a new picture of you trying it out every day.

(Valid only for Arizona residents. Winner is responsible for pick up or any shipping costs.)

Rachael Bender

Advanced Babywearing Educator. Education Officer for Babywearing International of Phoenix

Disclaimer: Any tutorials or advice given on this blog by Babywearing International of Phoenix or representatives of BWI of Phoenix are to be used at your own risk. Please use caution when attempting any of the carries highlighted on this blog and using any of the carriers discussed on this blog.

Some of the information or advice may put some users of this site at risk due to health issues, physical limitations, or misuse. If you or your child have health issues or physical limitations, please discuss the appropriateness of the carry or carrier with your health care practitioner. BWI of Phoenix cannot be held accountable for any injuries sustained by the reader when attempting these carries or using these carriers.