Here are the step-by-step instructions with photos to
make it easy for you.

Remember: using the sling will take practice.

It’s best to try each position when your wee one is happy and you
are sitting down.

Cradle Hold • Kangaroo Hold •
Hip Carry • Shoulder Flip

How to Wear your Pea in a Pod Pouch Sling

Putting On Your Pouch:

1.Fold the pouch into itself so you have a two-layer tube with the outer
pocket facing out.  Your pouch was designed to be worn on the shoulder
opposite the hip you usually carry your baby.  If you wear the pouch on the
right shoulder, you will put it over the left arm and vice versa

2. Hold out your arm perpendicular to your body. Slide the sling onto
your arm so that the folded edge is closest to your body, and the opening is
away from you. Position the curved edge at the bottom, near your hip

3. Pull the sling over your head and rest it over the opposite shoulder.
The opening of the sling

Does it fit?

The bottom of the sling should lay somewhere between your belly button and hips

The sling should not feel uncomfortably tight for you or your child. You should be able to
get your child into the sling fairly easily, but at the same time the child should fit snugly.
If the sling slips on your shoulder or you feel sore while wearing it, it is too big

First-Timer Tips!

Before trying the sling for the first time, be sure your baby is well-rested, fed, and not cranky

The best thing you can do as soon as you get baby into the sling is get moving.
Take a walk, outside if you can, and keep moving. This is very important! It may take a few
sling-wearings on a walk before baby is comfortable enough with slinging for you to stand still

Ensure that you are comfortable wearing the sling before placing your baby in it.

If your sling hurts, there is something wrong. You might get tired after carrying baby for
a while, but it should not be painful. Be sure the top of your sling is spread across your
shoulder comfortably. It should not rub on your neck

If your baby is squirmy, fussy, or just plain doesn’t seem to like being carried in a sling,
be sure to give it plenty of trials. Most babies love to be worn on your body, but like anything
new it takes some getting used to. If you try and try and the sling is not working, try a different
kind of carrier! Your baby may prefer a different position or different kind of support

Now you’re ready to try some positions with your baby:

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Cradle Hold
(Birth to around 6 months)

1. Put on your pouch so that the seam is slightly off-center from
your belly button away from the sling shoulder

2. Lower your baby into the pouch so that her bottom is in line with the seam
and the baby’s weight is in the center of the pouch between the two rails.
It helps to put the bottom in first, the head in last

3. You can rest your baby’s head on the side of the pouch or
lower it completely into the pouch

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Kangaroo Hold
(About 2 to 8 months)

1. Put on your pouch and line the seam up with your belly button

2. Hold your baby high on your chest facing out and slightly sideways opposite the pouch shoulder

3. Fold baby’s legs and move them toward the top of her body. With your free
hand (the pouch-shoulder hand) pull the pouch open

4. Lower the baby into the sling, gently bouncing baby into the sling as needed

5. Once the baby is in and settled, the majority of her weight should be against your body

6. You can put the baby’s arms inside the pouch or leave them out

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Hip Carry
(Good head control to 35 pounds (16 kilos))

1. Put on your pouch and line the seam up with you hip

2. Hold your baby over your shoulder and line his spine up with the pouch seam

3. Put baby’s feet all the way through, between your body and the pouch.
If you have a bigger child (a toddler with long legs), it helps to fold up
their legs first. If this is your first time, it’s easier when the
baby doesn’t have shoes on

4. Slide your baby down and lower him into the “seat,” spreading the pouch
under his bottom as you go. The pouch should form into a sort of a chair, with the
bottom coming to the crease of your baby’s knees, while the top edge comes
up the your baby’s back.

5. At this point you can shift the baby around as needed. If you need more
free hands, you can shift the baby to behind your arm or around to your back.

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Things to remember:

The back position (hip carry variation) should only be used with babies who can sit
confidently unassisted…16 months and older

Hold your baby over your shoulder and line his spine up with the pouch seam

NEVER carry a newborn in a back position

NEVER cook with your baby in a sling or any other carrier

NEVER drink hot liquids with your baby in a sling or any other carrier

Before putting on and using your pouch, inspect it for any rips, tears, or weak seams.
If you find any potential problems, do not use your pouch.

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How to adjust your sling - Shoulder flip

To get the baby’s upper body closer, so that they are not “flopping around,”
fold the top layer of the shoulder part over from your neck towards your arm.

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