Follow this SUPER SIMPLE tutorial to make a ring sling for your baby-loving child, or enter to win one below!   

I took my kids to the toy store yesterday. It was my first time stepping foot in this big box toy store since my eldest was a baby, and their first time ever. To say they were enthralled is, of course, an understatement.

Wandering the lego aisles alone would have been enough to keep them engaged for an hour. But we didn’t stay in that section for too long because we had come for a different purpose. We were told to go there for a great price on jointed army men action figures. Amazingly, we avoided any meltdowns by being very clear before we entered the store about the only thing I planned to buy my boys.

My daughter, on the other hand, was a different story. We had fun browsing the purses, hair bows, and other girly accessories. She switched from wanting a sparkly gold purse, to a purple umbrella, and then to play food.

I wasn’t surprised, though, when she settled (quite resolutely) on a new baby doll.

Ring sling, baby, yogurt raisin (aka picture bribe), and toddler purse (see the tutorial here)

I told my boys that my husband would laugh at me for getting her a new baby when less than a week ago, we were having a discussion with friends about having too many dolls.

But this one had hair. So obviously, this was an exception.

Laugh he did.

Like me, though, he’s finds our daughter’s baby loving ways incredibly endearing. She is more than willing to play dinosaurs with her brothers, eager to hold snakes and toads and whatever else is caught in the yard, and is often tougher than her brothers ever thought of being.

But it’s all with a baby doll tucked under her arm.

I have been wanting to make her a ring sling for her baby doll for a while, because my own ring sling has been my favorite baby carrier for a while. I use it almost daily and wanted her to have a similar option that is easy to  use and small enough to carry along when we are running errands.

(I have a Sakura Bloom linen ring sling and LOVE it. I also purchased this mesh ring sling this summer and use it almost as often. It’s a great choice for someone wanting to try a sling without investing much money first).

She still uses her backpack style carrier at times, but what is nice about the ring sling is that she can be more independent putting it on and taking it off. It will also be able to grow with her for many years to come. 

Making a ring sling is actually really easy and can be really inexpensive too. It would be a great project for a beginning sewer or a child to try. (If you want to make it even easier, you could use a knit fabric instead of cotton, and skip the need to hem the edges).

It would also make a great gift if you are starting to think of handmade Christmas presents.

Keep reading for the simple tutorial and don’t forget to enter for a chance to win one!

More Projects & Fun for Little Girls ::

• Toddler Purse Tutorial
• Toddler Baby Carrier Tutorial 
• Cloth Block Trio
• Simple Tea Party for Toddlers
• Mother-Daughter Toddler Sleepover

I’m giving one away! Enter below for a chance to win a child’s ring sling. AND, if there are at least 100 entries, I’ll pick two winners. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Child’s Ring Sling Tutorial

Materials Needed

1 1/2 yd lightweight cotton fabric

2 metal rings (I found mine in the hardware department at Home Depot. If you find a good place to purchase them, please let me know!)

Directions

1. Cut the fabric in half lengthwise, so that you are left with two long strips. Set one strip aside. (You only need 1 half).

2. Fold the long edges of the fabric in towards the wrong side, two times (1/4″ each time). Press.  Sew down the folded long edges, concealing the raw edges in the seam.

3. Fold in one short edge of the fabric, two times again (1/4″ each time). Sew down the folded edge.

4. Take the second short side and fold the edge down towards the wrong side. Press.  Accordion fold each side in 2″ towards the middle, 4 folds so that the hemmed edge is lined up on the outside edge. (See pictures below).

5. Loop the accordion folded side through both rings and back towards the wrong side of the fabric, pulling through about 3 inches of the fabric. Pin in place. Sew two lines across the bottom of the short side, securing the rings in place and the layers together. (See picture below).

6. Pull the other end of the ring sling through both rings, then back through just one ring. Pull the tail through so that you leave a 12″-15″ loop– adjusting as needed according to the size of the wearer. (See picture below).  

7. TO USE :: Pull the ring sling over your head and one arm, so that the sling is across one shoulder. Adjust the rings so that they are just below the shoulder, about corsage position. Hold the baby doll on opposite shoulder (above the ring sling’s “pocket”) and pull the baby’s leg through. Sit the baby in the sling and pull the tail tight. The sling should be wide across the shoulder and back. You can wrap the extra tail around the rings, roll it up and use as a support for baby doll’s neck, use it as a cover for baby to nap, or just let it hang. (Check out these videos for more help threading the sling and wearing a baby if you are stuck). 

Do you like baby wearing? What is your favorite carrier?

What would be your child’s first pick from the toy store?

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