Deep breath, friend. We’ve been there! This advice applies equally to nursing and bottle-feeding babies, so read on.
Realistically speaking, you’re going to want to have a grasp on the two separate skills first. Feel confident feeding your baby; learn the little details like the angles she likes to nurse at, or the temperature he likes his bottle. Check out your ring sling’s instruction guide and use it a few times. Feeling confident with these separate skills will help you pinpoint what to tweak when troubleshooting.
Secondly, remember your basic babywearing safety. Your baby should be secure and well-supported, her chin should be away from her chest, and you should be able to see her face and breathing clearly.
There are two basic carrying positions you can use while nursing or bottle-feeding. First, you can keep your baby upright and tummy-to-tummy. If you’re bottle-feeding, just bring the bottle to her; if you’re nursing, lower her down to your nipple. A rolled-up burp cloth can help lift the breast higher if needed. This is especially popular for older infants and toddlers.
The second way is to lay the baby in what’s called a “checkmark” cradled position. In this position, if you drew a line following knees-bottom-head, it’ll form a checkmark!
From the tummy-to-tummy position, loosen the carrier slightly and swing baby’s legs together and to the side, hanging out of the sling from knees down. Tilt baby to the side so his head is by your nipple, and retighten any slack. His bottom will be lower than his knees, and his head will be out of the sling, supported by your hand or arm. This guarantees that he can pull away from the bottle or turn away from a sudden letdown, without being trapped there by fabric.
We know some moms love the convenience of using their ring sling tail as a nursing cover! We strongly suggest that you never use the tail to cover the baby’s face, because that impedes your ability to monitor her breathing—instead, drape it over your chest and you’ll get the privacy you’re looking for, with the safety your baby needs.
After nursing in either position, be sure to raise your baby back up to tummy-to-tummy position— this’ll also help him work any gas bubbles out!
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