Over The Shoulder Baby Holder
Basic Wearing Instructions

Practice using the sling before you put your infant in. Use a doll for the "right feel." Get used to putting the Baby Holder on and off, and shortening and lengthening the sling before you put your infant in for the first time. I have found that the rings adjust more easily after the sling has been washed.
Above all, relax! Babies feel more secure when movement is taking place. As soon as your infant is in the sling, start moving and talking. The more comfortable you are, the happier he will be.
If baby looks uncomfortable, don't be afraid to simply "lift" him into a more natural position. It is recommended that you keep your arms under the sling and baby until you feel more secure with it.
If baby cries when you first put him in the sling, and he's in it properly, you might try again later when you are both in a relaxed mood. As an analogy, some babies cry the first time they are put in a bath tub, but as they become used to it, they learn to love it!

1. Grasp the Baby Holder with the rings at front and the tail hanging down.
2. Pass the sling over head and rest the shoulder pad on your shoulder; the sling portion will be under the opposite arm. The rings are at the front (positioned approximately where you would pin a corsage) with the tail hanging down. The rings must be kept in this position at all times or the baby holder will not open properly. You should pull any slack fabric from behind your back, but do not slide the pad off of your shoulder.
The Baby Holder may be worn on either shoulder. To adjust the sling for a smaller parent, lift baby with one hand to "unlock" the rings and pull down on the tail with opposite hand. To enlarge the sling, lift up on bottom of upper ring and pull down on sack portion with the other hand.
3. If the Baby Holder rings are "unbuckled," pass the tail through both rings, then loop over the top ring and pass the tail back through between the two rings coming out through the bottom ring as shown until the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder label is showing. The sling tail should not be adjusted below this.
4. The sling should be adjusted to position the baby just where you would hold him with your arms. For example, when your baby is nursing, he would lie just under your bustline, not down on your tummy. The tail should be far enough through the rings for you to grip securely. If not, order the next larger size sling.

Newborn position
The newborn position provides maximum head support.

1. Tighten the tail up to make the sack smaller.
2. Turn the inner channel of batting up high against your chest, tucking excess fabric behind your back.
3. Pull the sack open straight out in front of you.
4. Lie baby on back with head toward rings.
Remember to keep the rings high on your chest as described in the basic instructions.

NOTE: Keeping the batting high on your chest pulls the slack out of the pouch around the baby's head so he can see out and experience the world. Or you might fold a little blanket or diaper behind baby's upper body.

Horizontal position
The horizontal position is good for young infants who have a little head control, but not enough to sit upright.
This position is also excellent for discreet nursing. By pulling the front fabric to cover the baby's head, you can nurse almost anywhere without anyone taking a second look!

1. Loosen the tail to make plenty of room in the "sack" where the baby lies. Make sure the rings stay high on your chest.
2. Turn the channel of batting that is closest to your tummy up against you.
3. Stretch the sack out evenly in front horizontally, by pulling out on both rolls of padding at the same time with both hands.
4. Position baby's head away from the rings. As baby grows, his feet can hang out. Pull the material up for discreet nursing or to shade baby's eyes from sun or to shield from cold wind.

NOTE: with smaller babies if they look lost down in the bottom of the sling, lie their head right on the padded edge.

Forward-facing ("Kangaroo") Position
This position requires baby to have a good amount of head control.

1. Tighten the tail to about medium, depending on the size of the baby.
2. Turn inner channel of batting up against your tummy and pull sack straight
out in front of you.
3. Cross baby's legs Indian style to sit down in the pouch. Baby's head rests against the center of your chest.

Tummy-to-Tummy Position
This position position also requires good head control. Small infants can put their legs in the sack, while larger babies put legs out.

1. Position the channel of batting closest to your tummy either up against your waist to create a curved bag with baby's legs in, or tuck batting under baby's bottom with legs out.
2. Tighten tail until it is snug.
A variation for younger babies, or for any baby wanting to snuggle, is to lean the baby's head on your shoulder and tighten the tail even more.

Hip-straddle position
This position is great for larger children, but can be used for older infants as well (requires good head control). I started using this hold when my son got too wiggly for the forward-facing position.

1. Pull the sack to your side and straddle baby on your hip as usual.
2. Place the inner channel of batting under baby's bottom. One leg will be behind your hip, the other in front both legs hang out of the sling.
3. "Lift" baby with one hand while pulling on the tail with the other.Tighten the sack so that baby is closer to your side.
4. Pull outer channel of batting up as high as you like to support baby behind his back or head.
To carry baby on your back, position him the same as for the hip straddle and then slide the sling and baby behind your arm.

Removing a sleeping baby

You can remove the Baby Holder without waking baby by simply lying the baby down and backing out of the sling while slipping it over your head.