Baby Sling Pouch v.s. Baby Ring Slings
January 23rd, 2008 Posted in Baby Carriers Types, Pouch Slings, Ring Slings
Baby Sling Pouch v.s. Baby Ring Slings
You’re shopping for your first baby carrier, and you’re searching for that one perfect carrier that will take you from newborn to preschooler. Well, you probably can’t even imagine having a preschooler yet, but our ring slings and pouches are designed to last that long, and you’ll be there before you know it! Babywearing lingo can be so confusing to beginners. There are ring slings and pouches, and pouches are slings and ring slings have pouches - how confusing can it get?!
A ring sling is a rectangle of fabric threaded through two rings for adjustability, and pouches are one loop of fabric with a strong seam in the seat creating a pocket for baby. Any piece of fabric used to carry a baby is called a sling, so pouches are often classified as slings. The “pouch” on a ring sling is the pocket that the baby goes in.
Sling Anatomy. The tail on a ring sling is the piece of fabric that hangs down from the rings. Pulling down on the tail tightens the sling. Pouches adjust with a button and four buttonholes. If baby is leaning out too far, the pouch can be buttoned to bring baby in closer. There are two buttonholes for adjusting the top rail, depending on how much tightening is needed. There are also two buttonholes for adjusting the bottom rail, to make a deeper pouch (for a younger baby) or make the whole sling a little bit tighter.
A good fit. With any baby carrier, it is important that baby ride as high and tight as possible to maximize the wearer’s comfort. For this reason, it is imperative to get a good fit. Baby’s bottom should be in the sling zone (see illustration at right). Many mass-marketed slings do not come in multiple sizes, and parents end up wearing baby too low. Unpadded ring slings have infinite adjustability and size is less important, so they are easiest to get baby high and tight.
Why choose a pouch? Pouches are often called the “training wheels” of baby carriers. It is difficult to go wrong with a well-fitted pouch. Put it on, slip the baby in and go. There are few adjustments to make and therefore less to learn. Pouches have a streamlined look that many parents prefer. Pouches are lightweight and compact and easily slip into a diaper bag when baby is not being worn. Dads often prefer the look of a pouch to a ring sling.
Why choose a ring sling? Ring slings have a longer learning curve but are more adjustable than pouches. Some young babies prefer the upright, or tummy-to-tummy hold, which can be difficult to achieve in a pouch because young babies who cannot hold themselves upright tend to squish down into the pocket of the pouch. With a ring sling, the top rail can be tightened to support a young baby in a vertical position.
Ring slings provide cover for discreet breastfeeding. Because the top rail on a ring sling can be let out significantly, it is easier to get a perfect position for breastfeeding in a ring sling. Breastfeeding in the sling is “advanced babywearing”, and takes patience and practice to learn in any type of sling. However, once learned, being able to breastfeed in the sling is extremely liberating for mom.
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