When worn correctly, a ring sling is very safe. Please read my baby sling safety page for much more information. Please note that the cautionary label is required by law to include all the information on it, and while it looks scary, it's covering the very worst-case scenarios based on the very rare incidents that occurred with closed-top carriers. As long as you follow the simple directions, a sling is just as safe as carrying your little one in your arms.

The CPSC requires that slings be labeled for use between 8-35 lbs unless they've been specifically tested outside that range; the label also states that you should consult a medical professional when using a carrier with an infant below 8 lbs. Most fabrics and rings will hold much more than 35 pounds; however, many caregivers find that by the time their child reaches 35 pounds, the child is more interested in walking than in being held, and that the their own body is no longer cooperating with a one-shoulder carrier. So while you can use a sling for as long as your little one and your body will let you, you will probably find yourself reaching for a carrier that goes on two shoulders (a wrap or mei tai) once your child is 25-35 lbs, depending on your physique.

For reference, once my second baby was 3 years old and weighed about 32 lbs, I could still carry him for limited periods (2 hours or so) with a ring sling, but I found a meh dai to be much more comfortable for longer-term wearing. Then again, he rarely wanted to go in the sling by that age, unless he was tired, so my "babywearing muscles" weren't getting the regular workouts they used to! Your child, of course, may vary.

I see babywearing as a form of exercise. If you start off gradually (i.e. wearing a newborn, or a bigger baby for short periods), any discomfort should be minimal with a properly-worn carrier (sling, meh dai, wrap, or soft-structured carrier). As with any form of exercise, when muscles and systems are being used in a new way, you may experience some discomfort until your body gets used the new experience. However, real pain is a sign that you are doing too much too soon, and I would recommend using the sling for limited periods each day, increasing the time each day, so that your body has a chance to build up strength in the right areas. This is generally not an issue if you are beginning with a newborn, but if you have never worn a sling before and start wearing a bigger baby, it will take some getting used to. Stop using the sling if it starts to hurt, do some stretching, try a different position, and build up slowly, just as you would with any other weight-bearing exercise. You will probably find that using a sling puts less stress on your back and arms than just carrying the baby in your arms, but it does take getting used to.

For me, a sling is less baby clothes than caregiver-accessory. Most of my own slings were dark blue, because I usually wore jeans and the rest of my wardrobe skews blue. I would kindly suggest that you look in your closet, see what colors you usually wear, and pick a sling based on that, rather than the baby's sex. People will generally misgender a baby regardless of what they're wearing, so choose a color palette that appeals to you whether the baby you're caring for is assigned male or female.

Only from new, unwashed Tekhni Repreve blends, Girasol single-weight broken twill, and Ethos handwoven fabrics at the moment, due to testing requirements. Due to the regulations that went into effect in January of 2018, no carrier manufacturer (anyone who receives money for making a carrier, regarldess of the size or nature of their business) can sell a carrier from fabric they haven't had third-party tested. Testing costs about $500 per sling tested, so it's cost-prohibitive to test more than a few fabrics each year, and testing must be repeated on a regular basis. This unfortunately makes slings from customer-sent fabrics quite expensive, and essentially impossible unless the cost of the test is factored in.

The fabrics shown on the website are currently in stock, as long as the number next to the desired color is greater than zero -- that is, you'll see something like this in the option pull-down: Steel Blue (5). That means I have enough Steel Blue to make 5 slings. If the number is (0), that means it's gone. Because of the high cost of testing slings (required by the regulations that went into effect in January of 2018), I'm no longer adding fabrics unless I can be certain they will sell well enough to offset those costs.

For tail accents, once it's gone, it's usually gone. Printed fabrics are like books. A certain amount is printed, and when that yardage is used up, it's unlikely to be reprinted unless it's very, very popular. In addition, I tend to buy my accent fabrics on clearance -- they're already at the end of their print run. Occasionally, it is possible to find the prints on eBay or Etsy, but most of the time, when it's gone, I'm unlikely to ever get more.

My cart now allows you to accumulate loyalty points when you're logged into your account. Each time you place an order, you earn 5% on the dollar value of your purchase (not including shipping). So if you buy a linen sling for $60, your 60 loyalty points are good for a $3.00 discount the next time you order. If you haven't made an account (and unfortunately, it's not automatic -- you have to create one separately from filling in the information at checkout), you can create one and email me to let me know you've done so, and I will retroactively attach any credits you've earned in previous orders. Please use the same email address for the account that you've used for your previous orders -- that's how the cart links the orders to the account. You can either use your points each time you order, or save them up and use them all at once; it's up to you. I'm afraid I can't give refunds on current orders based on retroactively-attached credits.

With the passage of the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) in 2011 came the mandatory inclusion of a post-paid registration card attached to every baby item, no matter how small the company. You are not required to register your sling, though it is recommended. Because the cards must be post-paid, which requires a costly permit from the US Postal Service, the cards are not actually free for me to receive -- that's what "postage paid by addressee" means. I pay at least $1.20 per card that is returned, which means I have to account for that fee in my prices. Please register online if you are able to do so.

I know it's nice to give a surprise gift, but a sling is a pretty personal item. I think it's best to let the recipient pick out the size, color, and other options -- pockets, rings, etc. Returns and exchanges are possible, but difficult. I think it's better to get it right the first time, even if that means spoiling the surprise. I offer gift certificates, which might be a better option for you. If you do send a completed sling as a gift, the packing slip does not include any pricing information, just the sling description and address information.  All slings include fully illustrated wearing directions and a safety pamphlet as well.