Baby Sling Fabric frequently asked questions–

We are asked a lot of questions about the fabrics our baby slings are made of, here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions:

How stretchy are your fabrics?
Our fabrics are stretch *woven* fabrics, similar to stretch jeans. They have a little bit of give to them widthwise. This helps the sling conform to the wearer’s shoulder and around the baby’s back.

I expected the fabric to be stretchier than it is–
Our fabrics are not *knit* fabrics. Do not expect them to be as stretchy as a sweatshirt or T-shirt. This type of fabric does not work well for a fitted pouch sling, especially for a heavy baby. Pouches made of this type of fabric will stretch out and sag. A pouch that stretches lengthwise will not fit the same with a heavy baby as it does with a newborn.

The stretch of the fabric is going the wrong way. Shouldn’t it go lengthwise?
The fabric stretches a little widthwise, but not much/if at all lengthwise. This is done intentionally. If the fabric stretched lengthwise, then the baby’s weight would stretch the sling out and the baby would quickly start to sag. The baby would sag lower and lower the longer you wore the sling. The heavier the baby is the lower the baby would sag! This is very uncomfortable, and not as secure. This also means that you would need to get a smaller sling as your baby grows.

I live in a hot climate–what is your coolest fabric?
Sateen is the lightest and coolest fabric we use. Some of our twills are as cool as sateen, but some are heavier. If you have a question about a specific fabric, don’t hesitate to email us! info@slinglings.com
Black and other dark colors will always be hotter than light colors, no matter what the fabric type.
Hemp stretch twill is very soft and breathable, and great at wicking moisture away. Corduroy is warm and clingy.

What is the easiest fabric to use?
Sateen is a good beginner fabric. Heavy twills and corduroy are harder for new sling users to adjust.

Can your hemp slings be dyed?
Yes. Our natural colored hemp slings are easily dyed. We do not do any dying ourselves, however. Remember that the thread will not take dye, so it will remain natural ivory colored.

How much can I expect my sling to shrink?
This is extremely variable from fabric to fabric, and even from one roll of fabric to another roll of the same fabric. Please wash your sling in COLD water and AIR dry the first wash, regardless of how it fits. Your sling may even shrink a bit the first time you wash it with this method. Most fabrics will stretch back out once you wear the sling for a period of time. This is the nature of lycra blend fabrics. They contract and stretch. You have probably experienced the same thing with stretch jeans. They are a little tight when freshly washed, but stretch out a little after wearing.

How do I wash my sling?
Machine wash cold with gentle detergent and air dry . NO BLEACH, because this will weaken your sling. No Fabric softener. Remember that your baby will probably chew on your sling, so don’t put anything on your sling that you wouldn’t feed to your baby.
How do I shrink my sling?
If your new sling has not been washed yet, please wash it in COLD water and air dry, and try it out again. Some fabrics will shrink the first time they are washed, even when washed in cold and air dried. If your sling is still too big, then you can wash in cold , and machine dry in short intervals. Check your sling frequently when in the drier so as not to OVER SHRINK it. Don’t dry it until it is bone dry. You will risk making it too small. Once your sling is the size that you would like it to be, please machine wash and line dry to prolong it’s life. Machine drying tends to fade fabrics, as well, especially dark colored print sateens, such as “black lily”.

What fabrics show LINT and BABY SPIT UP the worst?
BLACK TWILL is the worst. Followed by Solid Navy, Charcoal Gray, and Olive Green. Then Black Sateen, and black print twills (like Paris, Elliot Bay, Rhapsody) Light colored prints hide lint and spit up the best (like “Katherine” and “Sylvia”). Solid black twill slings are my least favorite!

What fabrics stretch the most?
The Jacquard sateens are the stretchiest. They are probably a little too stretchy for heavy toddlers, unless worn very snugly. They work the best for infants. We are phasing the jacquard sateens out. Hemp twill is very soft and stretchy.

What fabrics stretch the least?
Green Camouflauge, carnation pink solid stretch twill, blue asian, and cocoa asian twill. Less stretchy fabrics are more supportive and possibly more comfortable for older toddlers than more stretchy fabrics.

What are the heaviest, most supportive fabrics?

Camo, Blue asian, and cocoa asian twills are heavy, supportive fabrics. They are also a little stiff when new.

What is the difference between sateen and twill?

Please see this blog entry to read more than you ever wanted to know about the differences between sateen and twill.

Do you make fleece slings?

At this time we do not. It is something we are considering, but sizing for fleece slings is more difficult since you need a smaller fleece sling with an older baby.

Do you make water slings, mesh slings or solarveil slings?

At this time we do not. We have made mesh water slings in the past and we do have some available if you are in need of one and can’t find one elsewhere. However, we run into the same issue with mesh slings as we do with fleece slings: sizing is difficult since you need a smaller sling with an older baby.

Do you make 2 layer or reversible slings?

Not yet! But we will some day.