Linen (flax) is one of the most sustainable fibres that can be used for ring slings. Flax requires minimal water and pesticides and will grow in poor quality soils. Between the textile and food industries every part of the plant is used with nothing going to waste.
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Linen can be both lightweight and strong, and is great at absorbing moisture without holding bacteria, so is perfect for summer babywearing. The moisture wicking properties of linen will help you and baby to feel cooler on hot day. Linen softens up beautifully with use.

Linen colours pictured - graphite, nimbus, ice mint, natural and truffle.

Do not use fabric softener or bleach products - or detergents which include them.  Also avoid detergent with optical brighteners.

Unthread the ring sling for washing.  You can slip a sock around the rings so they do not knock about in the washing machine.  Wash on delicate cycle on cold with a liquid detergent. 

Hang dry and iron while still slightly damp, this is the easiest way to minimize wrinkles in your ring sling (although linen will always have a tendancy to wrinkle, I think this just adds to the beauty of this verstatile fabric) 

A linen ring slings will naturally get softer as you wash and wear it buy to hurry it along you can steam iron, tumble in the dryer with tennis balls on air dry, run it back and forth through the rings, or sleep with it for a few days, leave it in a hot car, or sit on it. You can also braid your ring sling (but don't store long term like this to avoid permacreasing your linen).

Tip: Wear a breastfeeding singlet/tank top under you t shirt and then you can pull up your shirt from the bottom. This is also really great for cooler weather.  Remember to always return your baby to an upright position and adjust your carrier after you have finished feeding.

Below is a video showing how to breastfeed a newborn in a ring sling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RvgjJm0ruo
A video with an older baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN8Eono1rlg&list=PL9hKPtJid7hSa2h_FVbkSPriC-20QvO2t&index=2
Some more tips and how to switch sides.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLJLFQnUCGY

I still love ring slings for my toddler.  They are perfect for quick ups and downs around the house.  I can put my son in a ring sling in seconds.  My son is too busy to want a cuddle for long (unless he is tired or sick and then I bring out my mei tai).  Rings slings are great if my toddler falls asleep in the car.  It is much easier to pop him in a ring sling than to wrestle a sleepy, floppy toddler into a two shoulder carrier.  It is perfect for visiting or unfamiliar places as my toddler can get comfortable for a little while in his new surroundings close to me, before hoping down to play and tear about as he usually does.  

Ring slings are perfect in any situation where my toddler needs a nap but I'll also be sitting down for a while (such as going to the cinema).  Once my toddler is asleep I can loosen the ring sling until he is supported in my arms and lap and I am very comfortable  When it's time to leave I just tighten up my sling and go without disturbing my sleepy baby at all.  Timing visits to the movies at nap time is great! My toddler would never sit through a whole movie otherwise! When my son was around 18months old I had an hour long speech therapy lesson to go to with my four year old.  My toddler slept through almost the whole session cuddled in my ring sling, waking towards the end and after a quick feed which left him bright and happy and ready for a short play until it was time to leave again - in the ring sling of course - ideal for crossing a very busy road back to the car.

My toddler is almost two and is still a little small to walk beside me without darting off but in the future it will be great to bring with me to rest his legs if he gets tired walking with his older siblings to school.  And in the meantime it keeps him safe on the short walk to pick up big sister from Kinder.

Ring slings also my a handy spot to lie my toddler down for a nappy change and makes a great emergency blanket.

I love wrap conversions for toddlers (although double silk or linen is great too).  My favourite toddler sling in Vatanai Perito (pictured below) because it's thick, cushy and molds to my shoulder so well. Plus it's pretty! I wore my toddler for an hour recently and it felt great.  I love my Didymos burgundy Pfau too just as much as it is also lovely and cushy.  An ideal wrap for an older baby or toddler is one in which you would comfortable use is a single layer carry i.e. nothing too thin (but thin and dense can be good.  I love my Ellevill Zara ring sling almost as much).

It's getting difficult to use my toddler as a sling model!  The best place I have to take photos is outdoors and as soon as my soon feels the fresh air he wants to get down.  He could spend all day exploring outdoors if he could!
But it actually helps me to get more interesting photos as I have to keep him amused.  Here my son is exploring a plum tree with me.  I love the colour in this sling by the way.  So tempted to keep it!  There are more photos here.

Here he is trying to flip out of the sling so he can get down.  I'm glad he couldn't manage it.  I had to let him have a play in the backyard after this though!

I thought I would share these great videos.

First is an easy back carry by Purple Elm Baby.

The next video shows you how to create a twist in your ring sling which helps to create a deeper seat for your older baby or toddler.  Then the video covers how to get your baby onto your back.  The link to the video is here.

This video was made by Paxbaby and shows how to use your ring sling in a ruck sack style back carry.  Very cool! Check it out here.

Finally some great ring sling tips (getting a good seat and how to stop your ring from sliding) form Babywearing Internation of Birmingham.

I don't generally babywear while pregnant but sometimes I find it very useful.  I live only a short distance from my older daughter's kindergarten so my two and a half year old finds it an easy walk and is usually happy to do so.  Recently she went through a stage where she refused to let me put on her shoes and I was not willing to let her walk in her socks!  She was also refusing to hold my hand when we crossed the road meaning I had to pick her up, which made it difficult to hold her sister's hand.  At first I wrestled her into the stroller (which for some reason she also objected to - normally she doesn't mind as long she can get out and walk sometimes).  She cried all the way to the kindergarten and back.  I didn't like that so I decided to try babywearing next time she was in a contrary mood.  I chose to use a wrap conversion ring sling.  She didn't want to go in but calmed down quickly once she was there.  I wore her for about 30 minutes and found it comfortable.  Once we said goodbye to her sister she wanted down and happily walked back with me to our house.  The next time I tried a mei tai with the straps tied over my bump.  I normally only wear mei tai's at my waist as that's what I find most comfortable but with a baby bump that's a bit hard!  With the straps tied high I felt there was too much weight on my upper body (it might work better with a smaller baby) which I didn't like - but her weight was distributed well as I didn't have any aches or pains afterwards. 

My daughter has liked walking since then.  She even puts her arms out for me to put on her jacket and she is happy to put on her shoes - as long as she can choose.  I haven't worn her since but I think next time I will try tying the straps under my bump and see if I like that better.  What have your experiences of babywearing while pregnant been?  I'd love to hear your stories!

Cotton, Linen, or Silk?
Cotton woven wrap conversions are excellent for all ages although a heavier gsm can provide more cushiness for a toddler. 

Linen and silk  are also great choices for both babies and toddlers, although linen can get a little diggy for heavy toddlers (but using a heavier weight of linen or a double layer of a thin linen works great). 

Linen is stronger and tougher than cotton, owing to the parallel arrangement of its fibres.  Silk is also a strong natural fibre and is simply beautiful.  Linen and silk are especially good in a double layer or an extra wide width.  I found single layer slings in linen or linen blend (regular width) supportive for my toddler until she was around two. If you choose this style you will get a lot of use out of it. A double layer of silk is probably one of the most supportive fabric combinations although some people find them hot at the height of summer.

Hot Weather?
Linen is highly recommended for hot weather babywearing. Linen both absorbs and loses moisture rapidly, and can absorb quite a bit of moisture initially without feeling damp. This helps to keep you and your baby cool.

Fabric Care?
All types of fabric I use are generally easily washable which is very important for anything around babies! Fabric care for cotton and linen blend slings is very easy.  Simply wash on a gentle cycle on cold in a laundry bag and hang to dry.  Linen and blends should only be washed with a liquid detergent. The addition of cotton to linen makes the fabric soft and they are not as prone to wrinkling as pure linen. Pure linen is great though.  It wrinkles fairly easily but is a little more supportive which is a plus.  To counter the wrinkles I iron my sling after every wash and hang on a hook when not in use - which keeps it fairly wrinkle free.  Linen can feel a little stiffer/rougher when brand new but softens quickly with use and washing. The easiest way to care for silk is with spot cleaning (with a damp cloth) and occasional hand washing.  Silk may also be dry cleaned.  Machine washing on a gentle cycle is also possible but the silk will lose some of its sheen.

Wrap Conversions?
And lastly there are wrap conversions.  This fabric is especially woven for babywearing, are generally thicker than other fabrics, and have just the right amount of give, so the fabric feels more cushy on your shoulder.  Wrap conversions are fantastic for heavy babies and toddlers.  There are many choices from cotton to cotton blends and more and are generally easy to care for.

If you would like any other information on the fabrics I use. Please feel free to ask.