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Ring slings are moderately long pieces of non-stretchy fabric (typically between 2 and 3 meters long) with one end secured around a pair of aluminum or nylon rings that have been designed for babywearing and weight tested appropriately. The tail end of the sling is threaded through the rings like you would do for D-rings and worn diagonally across the body. They are praised for being “poppable” – quick to pop baby in and out of without having to spend a lot of time messing with adjustments.
Ring slings are typically only used for centered front carries or off-center hip carries and are appropriate for all ages, from premature newborns to school age children. They aren’t as supportive as some carriers since they load asymmetrically on one shoulder, though, so for older children, they are generally just used as a short-term carry assist. For small infants, they make a great alternative for carrying baby into stores or doctor’s appointments instead of having to carry them in a bucket car seat or transfer them into a stroller.
Experienced ring sling users can also do alternative carries with a sling, such as a traditional back carry (best suited for older toddlers with some sense of self-preservation), torso carries, or even longer wrap carries if the length of the sling allows.