“Upright” position (legs in) – Ring Sling
This position is suitable for babies from the very first day after their birth. When your baby grows enough (around 3 months old) and will no longer fit in this position, you can use the “upright position with legs out”.
1. Put on your sling in such a way that a large “pocket” is created in front of you (the inner side should rest against your chest and the outer side should be loose).
If it seems to you that your baby doesn’t fit in the pocket, lift the ring by pulling the outer side, so that the pocket gets bigger.
2. With the pocket open in front of you, forget your sling for a moment and take your baby in your arms in front of your chest.
Your baby’s little legs will be folded to the right and left of their sides (like a little frog). Most newborns place their legs in this position on their own.
3. Holding your baby with one hand, use the other to open the fabric pocket you made in the first step and lift the outer side over the baby’s back.
Make sure there is enough fabric between you and the baby (a deep pocket).
4. If you like, you can hold the top edge of the outer side with your hands and let your baby “drop” safely into the depth of the fabric cradle you have made for them.
When your baby is inside and their little tummy rests against your chest, support their weight with one hand and with the other stretch the fabric around them, guiding it toward the rings. Make sure their head is supported by the outer side of the sling.
5. Now you can pull the tail and stretch the fabric around your baby. To “tighten” the outer side of the sling you need to pull the inner edge of the tail.
Remember that for safety reasons the rings “lock” with the baby’s weight. So, while you pull the tail you must support the baby’s weight with your other hand.
6. As always, it’s better not to pull the tail vertically downward, but with a circular motion upward and outward.
Your baby will mostly rest their head against your chest, but the outer side should reach at least the baby’s nape and support it.
7. You’re ready for walks (or for sleep)! In this position your baby can even fall asleep. It’s a position that favors babies with reflux who need to remain upright for a while after eating.
If it seems to you that the fabric doesn’t reach high enough to support the baby’s nape, make sure the rings are in the right spot (just below your shoulder). You can also lower the inner side of the pocket a bit and this way the outer side will get bigger!
read more: Frequently asked questions about this position
Note: All the new research shows how supportive the upright position with legs out is for the development of the baby’s hips, from the very first day. Even though, if you have positioned your baby correctly, they are essentially sitting in the same position in both cases, take a look at this position too, especially if your pediatrician has instructed you to put two diapers on the baby to keep the little legs open, as is desired.
read more: Open legs in babies – Hips and hip dysplasia
In this video (with Rea, at 4 weeks old), the same position is shown, with the difference that, instead of lifting the pocket around the baby, I lower the baby from my shoulder into the pocket:
Video: Upright position with legs in (1.51 MB)
back: Instructions with ring sling