The Best Ring Slings For Comfortable Babywearing
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Quick Summary
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It can be impossible to get anything done when your baby constantly wants to be held. A ring sling baby carrier is one way to safely and comfortably hold your little one while also allowing you to freely use your arms and hands.
Less structured than traditional baby carriers, ring slings make babywearing more versatile. Parents say they look for options that won’t strain their shoulders, are easy to put on, and grow with their little one from infancy into the toddler years. They might require a bit of a learning curve when it comes putting it on, but once you have the basics down, you’ll find that a ring sling can be a lifesaver when it comes to getting everyday tasks done.
How we chose the best ring slings
The best ring slings are comfortable to wear, easily adjustable and made of soft, durable fabric. However, each ring sling is slightly different. To help narrow down your choices, here's what medical professionals, as well as What to Expect staff and community members, say you should consider when choosing a ring sling:
- Safety: Keeping your little one safe in a ring sling is the top priority. “Make sure that a ring sling carrier is not too loose or too tight,” says Jessica Madden, M.D., IBCLC, board-certified pediatrician, neonatalogist and lactation consultant and medical director at Aeroflow Breastpumps. A too-loose ring sling could let baby fall out, while a too-tight ring sling could restrict or block baby’s breathing if the fabric covers her mouth. Dr. Madden strongly recommends testing out a ring sling before purchasing it in order to make sure that it fits correctly. You also want baby to be properly supported while sitting in the ring sling. In order to ensure this, all of the slings on this list are certified hip-healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, which means the products have met their standards for allowing baby’s hips to fall or spread apart naturally while being worn.
- Material: Make sure the ring sling is made of a lightweight fabric that won’t leave baby feeling sweaty or overheated, especially if you plan on babywearing for long periods of time. Try stretchy, light fabrics such as bamboo, linen and cotton. Kayla Borchers, DPT, board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and pregnancy and postpartum corrective exercise specialist, says to also look for handwoven options. The sturdy, thick weave of these ring slings allows for both baby and parent to feel well-supported.
- Ease of use: If a ring sling is difficult to use, you probably won’t use it enough to get your money’s worth. Look over the instructions to find something that seems doable for you. Because of this, we made sure to include ring slings that parents said were easy to put on and get baby into.
- Versatility: Ensure that the ring sling offers enough fabric so that you can easily share it with a partner or another caregiver regardless of differences in your body sizes. Each product on our list comes in two lengths, one standard (around 75 inches) and one longer (usually 80 inches or more). People also use the longer lengths for folding to support baby's neck or using as a breastfeeding cover. Similarly, you’ll want a ring sling that will grow with your child. Find one with a weight capacity that can hold them throughout at least the first year of their life (or two years).
- Care: Depending on how often you use your ring sling, it will likely need to be washed pretty frequently. Because of this constant laundering, you might want to opt for machine-washable materials. We made sure to prioritize products that can go in your washing machine, but keep in mind that most cannot go in the dryer.
Each of the ring slings on this list has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the What to Expect staff and community members for this criteria.
Why Trust Us?
What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.
Best Overall Ring Sling
Wildbird Modal Sling
- Lightweight
- easy to adjust
- soft fabric
- Some said comes with a bit of a learning curve
Parents rave about how comfortable they and their babies are with the Wildbird Ring Sling, which is made of super soft, lightweight Tencel modal. This fabric is considered to be softer and more environmentally-friendly than cotton, making the Wildbird sling great for warmer weather. It also comes in a variety of beautiful colors, so you can pick one that best matches your style.
Parents find that these ring slings are easy to adjust when they’re on, with enough fabric to accommodate different body sizes and babies up to 35 pounds. They’re available in two lengths (standard and long) so if you feel you need more fabric, you can opt for the larger size instead.
One thing to note is that there is a bit of a learning curve with these. Although many parents say the Wildbird is easy to put on, many admitted that it takes a little bit of time to figure out how to do so. However, there are instructional videos you can watch online to make the process easier, and parents say that once they got it down, using the sling was as easy as could be.
Length: 74 inches or 90 inches
Material: 75 percent Tencel modal, 25 percent linen
Weight capacity: 35 pounds
Best Ring Sling with Padding
Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Ring Sling
- Includes padded shoulder
- has a zippered pocket
- over 20 colors
- Expensive
The Maya Wrap is another ring sling that garnered a lot of great reviews in the What to Expect community, with parents raving about how comfortable it is to wear. That’s due to the lightly padded shoulder strap, which is made with the wearer in mind. The padding also sits flat to avoid bunching and helps keep the fabric in place while carrying baby.
Another convenient feature of this one is the zippered pocket to store small items. While a lot of ring slings say they’re safe for babies starting at 8 pounds, this one says it’s safe for babies who are 7 pounds (that one pound can make a difference!). The brand is devoted to the Central American Free Trade Agreement, through which they work with indigenous artisans in Guatemala who make this hand-loomed fabric.
There aren’t too many complaints to be found about the Maya Wrap, but it’s worth noting that it’s one of the priciest options on our list.
Length: 73 inches or 85 inches
Material: Cotton
Weight capacity: 35 pounds
Best Bamboo Ring Sling
Nalakai Ring Sling
- Made of eco-friendly fabric
- has pocket
- made from natural dyes
- Has a learning curve
- especially for parents new to babywearing
For an eco-friendly ring sling ultra soft, the Nalakai Ring Sling is a top choice among parents. The bamboo and linen blend of the fabric makes the ring sling silky smooth, which will feel soft to the touch for baby’s delicate skin and keep her cool so she doesn’t overheat. The fabric is also hypoallergenic and even offers UV protection for sunny days.
Parents can’t get over how soft the Nalakai Ring Sling feels and note how easily their baby falls asleep while inside. Plus, Nalakai donates 5 percent of each purchase to Cepia, a charity that supports low-income families in Costa Rica, which is a nice bonus to consider.
Length: 74 inches or 85 inches
Material: Bamboo and linen
Weight Capacity: 35 pounds
Best Linen
Sakura Bloom Ring Sling
- Hand-dyed
- pre-washed
- durable and long-lasting
- Expensive
- not machine-washable
Made of lightweight and incredibly sturdy linen, the Sakura Bloom Ring Sling is an ideal option for parents who want a ring sling that will last them a long time. It’s also a favorite among parents in the What to Expect community, with many going on and on about the beautiful colors, high-quality material and ease of use. The Sakura is made of linen, which is extremely soft and lightweight, so baby will be comfortable and won’t overheat, even in the summer. Linen is also a strong fabric, which means that it will hold up well over time without stretching. And, although it’s not recommended for the washing machine, linen dries very quickly, so it won’t take too long before you can wear it again.
Miriam Kalaev, What to Expect’s Senior Director of Data Monetization, said the Sakura was especially ideal when traveling. “I found it to be the easiest one to nurse them in,” she says, noting that she was able to comfortably breastfeed with the Sakura when flying. “When my babies were a little older and more mobile, I liked how I could loosen it up to give them a bit more movement, but it also kept them close enough so that I could use my hands and arms to do other things.”
Like a few other options on this list, the Sakura comes in two lengths, depending on your preference. Parents love how soft the linen is for their babies and swear it’s one of the most comfortable carriers they’ve tried. That said, it’s an investment at $120 so it might not be for all parents or parents who are trying a ring sling for the first time.
Length: 75 inches or 82 inches
Material: Linen
Weight capacity: 35 pounds
Our Research
We consulted one pediatrician and one orthopedic clinical specialist:
- Jessica Madden, M.D., IBCLC, board-certified pediatrician, neonatalogist and lactation consultant and medical director at Aeroflow Breastpumps.
- Kayla Borchers, DPT, board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and pregnancy and postpartum corrective exercise specialist.
Additionally, we spoke to:
Miriam Kalaev, Senior Director of Data Monetization and What to Expect and a mom of two who used ring slings.
Finally, we canvassed What to Expect’s community boards to learn which ring slings parents liked best and what features they most appreciated.
FAQs
How do I use a ring sling?
Every ring sling will have its own guidelines, and you should read the instructions before using. There are, however, a few general rules when putting on a ring sling:
- Hold baby high up so they are “close enough to kiss.”
- When sitting in the sling, baby’s bottom should be lower than her knees in order to support her weight without cutting off circulation to her legs.
- Make sure the fabric is tight across baby’s back to ensure proper support.
- The ring should fall at your collarbone. This way, the fabric comes completely over your shoulder which properly distributes weight.
- Fabric should never cover baby’s mouth.
Are ring slings safe for newborns?
Ring slings are generally considered safe for newborns, with Dr. Madden saying they can be used once infants are at least 8 pounds. “If used during the newborn period, it’s important to make sure that a baby’s neck is turned to the side so that the nose and mouth are not obstructed,” she says.
Keep in mind, however, that ring slings are less structured than some baby carriers, so expert opinions are often mixed. In fact, Dr. Borchers recommends that babies be at least 3 to 4 months old before using a ring sling so that they have more head control. “I prefer alternative baby carriers during the newborn phase that more optimally support baby’s alignment and head and neck positioning,” she says, although she notes she has used ring slings with newborns before.
To keep newborns safe in a ring sling, she recommends supporting baby’s head by rolling the material under so it’s thicker at the top. “By performing this roll, you are creating more structure at the top of your sling, which will help support your child’s head and neck.” As always, check the minimum weight capacity of a ring sling as well before using with your newborn.
What’s the difference between a ring sling and a baby wrap?
A ring sling uses a long piece of material that is secured in place with a large ring at the shoulder. It’s flexible and requires minor wrapping to get in place, ultimately creating a makeshift seat for baby to sit in that you can wear in front or on your hip. A baby wrap is also a long piece of material used for babywearing, but it requires more complicated, almost origami-style wrapping keep baby in place. Baby wraps are usually tied into place and cover more of your upper body than a ring sling, which may make them an easier option for nursing parents.
How long can a baby be in a ring sling?
Both Dr. Borchers and Dr. Madden recommend limiting ring sling use to about one consecutive hour, which is optimal for both parent and baby. Anything longer than an hour or so may limit baby’s hip and muscle movement, which could impair their development.
If you want to keep your little one in for a longer time, Dr. Borchers suggests taking a break at the hour mark. “Consider taking baby out to move around and stretch on a blanket and allow your back and neck to take a break,” she says. If you plan on wearing baby again, she recommends using the opposite shoulder. “This will help redistribute forces for you to reduce neck, back and shoulder discomfort.”
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Baby Carriers: Backpacks, Front Packs, and Slings, July 2021.
- Kyte Baby, How To Use A Ring Sling, April 2019.
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