Securing the Free-to-Grow Waist Belt

1. Position the waist belt around you with the labels facing inward, towards your body.
2. Start with the waist belt around your natural waist, adjusting up or down slightly to your comfort.
3. Feed the male buckle under the elastic strap and into the female buckle until you hear an audible click.
4. Tighten the waist belt by pulling on the adjustable webbing until it lays flat against your body, with no gaps or looseness.

Free-to-Grow Front Carry Instructions

1. Position the waist belt so that the panel is centered on the front of your body.
2. Hold the baby so that they are positioned on your body with their legs in an "M" shaped position.
3. Use one hand to support the baby while using the other hand to smooth the panel up the baby's back.
4. While supporting the child with one arm, slip the other arm into the strap.
5. Switch hands and slip the other arm into the other strap, making sure to keep one hand supporting baby until both straps are securely over your shoulders.
6. Buckle the should strap connector by reaching behind your neck and clipping the buckle shut. Adjust to your comfort by tightening or loosening the should strap connector webbing.
7. Smooth the shoulder straps one at a time toward your back and adjust each side by pulling forward on the adjustable straps under the arms for a snug fit. Continue to adjust until both you and your baby are comfortable. The panel should fit snugly around your baby, supporting their torso.
8. Ensure that the baby's bottom is seated deeply in the panel just above the waist belt by gently pushing up on the baby's calves. Baby should be seated in the "M" shaped position.

How to Take Off Carrier

1. To take the baby off, start by loosening the straps under the arms. Do not unclip the waistbelt until your baby in removed from the carrier.
2. Lift up on shoulder strap to bring the shoulder strap connector up towards the back of your neck.
3. Unclip the shoulder strap connector with one hand while securing baby with the other hand.
4. Remove the shoulder straps one at a time while always keeping one hand on the baby.

 

Free-to-Grow Back Carry Instructions

Only use the back carry position when baby has strong and consistent head, neck, and torso control, who are able to sit unaided. The back carry can be used in either panel height and the middle or widest seat setting. This carrier is not intended for use in a back carry in the narrowest seat setting. Please have someone assist you until you feel comfortable putting your child in this position on your own. WARNING: Do not use this position for babies without full neck, head, and torso control.

1. Position the waist belt so that the panel is centered on the back of your body.
2. Slip one of the straps over one arm.
3. Place your child on the opposite hip.
4. Use the arm that is free from the strap to rotate your child from the hip position into the carrier while using the arm in the strap to secure your child. Lean forward slightly so the child's weight is resting on your back as your position them.
5. Smooth the panel up the child's back and slip your free arm through the second strap as though putting on a backpack strap, maintaining a slight forward lean.
6. Clip the should strap connectors together in front of your chest and adjust to your comfort.
7. Ensure that the child's bottom is seated deeply in the panel just about the waist belt by standing up straight and pulling upwards by the shoulder straps while gently bouncing the child into the carrier to move the top of the panel higher up on the child's back.
8. Adjust the carrier so that your child is comfortable and close to your body by pulling back on the adjustable straps under your arm for a snug fit around the leg openings and supporting the child's torso.
9. Gently push up on your child's calves so that the legs remain in the "M" position.

How to Take Off Carrier

1. To take the baby off, start by leaning forward slightly and loosening the straps under the arms. Unclip the shoulder strap connector with one hand while securing baby with other hand.
2. Remove the shoulder straps one at a time while always keeping one hand on the baby. Slide the baby around from your back to your hip.

 

 

Free-to-Grow Hood Instructions

 

1. Each Tula Free-to-Grow carrier comes with a detachable hood. Attach it to the carrier by fastening the bottom of the hood to the snaps on the inside top of the carrier panel. To secure it in an "up" position, snap hood straps to the snap on the top of the shoulder straps.
2. The hood's primary use is for supporting the head of an older baby if they fall asleep in a back carry. Please exercise caution while using the hood with smaller babies.
3. If you choose to use the hood to shield the sun from a smaller infant in a front carry, or to provide discretion while feeding, please attached the hood on only one side, leaving the other side down so that the baby's face remains visible. Please ensure that the hood is not completely covering baby's face to ensure that there is enough opening or air to pass through. Always check on your baby regularly.

Front Carry Instructions

1. Secure the waist belt by fastening the buckle. The male buckle should be fed under the elastic on the waist belt and into the female buckle until it clicks. Tighten the waist belt by pulling on the adjustable strap. The carrier’s panel should be centered on your body.
2. Hold your child so that he can wrap his legs around your waist.
3. Use one hand to support the child while using the other to lift the panel up behind the child’s back.
4. While supporting the child with one arm, slip the other arm into the strap.
5. Now, slip the other arm into the other strap. Make sure your child’s bottom is deep in the panel just above the waist belt.
6. Buckle the chest behind your shoulders to secure your child in the carrier.
7. Adjust the carrier so that your child is comfortable and close to your body by pulling on the adjustable straps for a snug fit around the leg openings and supporting baby.

Back Carry Instructions

1. Secure the waist belt by fastening the buckle. The male buckle should be fed under the elastic on the waist belt and into the female buckle until it clicks. Tighten the waist belt by pulling on the adjustable strap. The carrier’s panel should be centered on your body. Slip the strap over one arm.
2. Place your child on your hip. Use the arm that is free from the strap to rotate your child from the hip position into the carrier while using the arm in the strap to secure your child (please have someone assist you until you feel comfortable to perform this step on your own).
3. Lean forward slightly so that your child is resting his weight on your back while your child is rotating from the hip position, and keep his weight secured by your other arm.
4. Pull the panel up with your free arm and slip your free arm through the second strap as though you were putting on a backpack strap, maintaining a slight forward lean to help control baby’s weight.
5. Make sure your child’s bottom is deep in the panel just above the waist belt by pulling the top of the panel upward via the straps while gently bouncing the child into the carrier panel.
6. Adjust the carrier so that your child is comfortable and close to your body by pulling on the adjustable straps for a snug fit around the leg openings and supporting baby's torso.

Threading the Ring Instructions

1. Hold the ring sling with the rings/shoulder in one hand and the tail end in the other, and with the tag facing up. The fabric should not be twisted.
2. Gather the fabric of the tail and pass the tail through both rings. The tag should be sandwiched in between the tail and the shoulder of the sling.
3. Pass the tail back over the top ring and through the bottom ring. This is similar to threading a belt.
4. Spread the fabric across the rings to ensure that it is not twisted by pulling the rails away from one another to flatten the fabric as much as possible.

Adjusting the Rings

1. Holding the rings in one hand, pass the loop over your head. Your rings should end up on one shoulder (your choice), with the tail end hanging down towards your feet in the front.
2. The best final placement for the rings should be just under your shoulder. It can be helpful to place them as high as possible when first learning to wear a ring sling, as the rings will move down as you adjust the sling.
3. Check the length of the sling to ensure that it is suitable for your size. The lowest part of the sling pouch should be close to the same level as your belly button.

Tummy to Tummy or Hip Carry

1. Lift your baby up and holder her against your free shoulder. Continuing to support her weight, slide her into the sling pouch so that the fabric rests near her knees. You may wear her on your chest or on your hip.
2. Place your baby’s legs in a natural, seated M-position. Baby’s knees should be in line with her belly button, gently spread to the sides, with bottom and legs forming the letter M. Knees should be higher than your baby’s bottom.
3. Use one hand to support the child while using the other to lift the panel up behind the child’s back.
4. Continuing to support your baby, ensure that there is plenty of fabric under her bottom and that the lower rail of the ring sling is reaching from one knee to the other. Supporting her weight with one hand, reach inside the sling, in between your body and baby’s body, and pull the bottom rail up towards your baby’s belly button to ensure that she is in a deep, seated position.
5. Still supporting baby’s weight, gather all excess fabric across baby’s back and bottom, moving it towards the rings.
6. Tighten the top rail of the ring sling near baby’s neck by pulling the corresponding inside rail of the tail parallel to the top rail (directly across).
7. If necessary, tighten the bottom rail of the sling as well by pulling the corresponding outside rail of the tail parallel to the bottom rail (directly down). Be careful to maintain your baby’s deep seat by not tightening this portion too much. Her knees should still be higher than her bottom, and there should still be fabric between your bodies as well as knee-to-knee coverage.
8. Spread the sling widely across your back to provide the most comfortable support.
9. Spread the sling evenly over the top of your shoulder for more comfort. Optimal placement is away from your neck and closer to your shoulder/upper arm.

Front Wrap Cross Carry Instructions

1. Find the middle of your wrap (where the middle marker tag is).
2. Drape the wrap against your chest.
3. Bring each side of the wrap around your waist and across your back, making sure the fabric is not twisted. Bring the opposite side of the wrap over each shoulder.
4. The wrap will have two “tails” hanging over your shoulders.
5. Create a small pocket in which to place your baby in the wrap fabric across your chest. Baby will be placed near the center marker. Pick up your baby, and, continuing to support her weight, place her on your shoulder and move her gently down into the pocket of the wrap.
6. Securely holding your baby at all times, pass your baby into the pocket of the fabric. While supporting the child, ensure that there is plenty of fabric under her bottom and that the lower rail of the wrap is reaching from one knee to the other. Continuing to support her weight with one hand, reach in between your baby and baby’s body and pull the bottom rail up towards baby’s belly button to ensure that she is in a deep, seated position.
7. Still supporting baby’s weight, gently pull on the top/inside rail of the tail coming over one shoulder to tighten the fabric around baby’s body. The pocket for your baby should be snug against your body, but should not obstruct baby’s airway. Continue to tighten each section of the wrap tail (from inside rail to outside) so that baby is fully supported in the seated position with tension across her entire back and bottom.
8. Maintain tension of the side that you have tightened while supporting your baby’s weight with the same hand. Repeat the tightening process on the other side, following #7.
9. Ensure that both tails are snug and not twisted and that baby is high enough to kiss and has a clear airway.
10. Holding the wrap tails tightly in each hand, bring them under your baby’s bottom and cross them. Tuck the under each knee to bring behind your back.
11. Secure the tails by tying a secure double knot behind your back. Once tied, you should be able to be hands free with your baby supported snugly against your body and with knees slightly higher than her bottom, forming the M-position. Watch and listen to your baby closely to ensure that her airway is never obstructed.

Tula Mini Toy Carrier Instructions

1. Before use: Instruct and practice the safe opening and closing of the waist belt buckles with your child.
2. Place the waist belt around your child's waist.
3. Buckle and adjust. (Make sure you hear a "clicking" sound to ensure proper closure of the buckle)
4. Put doll or toy inside the built-in inner pocket either on the front or on the back of your child.
5. Assist in placing the should straps over their shoulders.
6. Buckle chest/back strap to hold the shoulder straps in place.
7. To remove the toy carrier: Unbuckle the waist and chest/back strap by squeezing the male part of the buckle and withdraw it from the female buckle. Remove toy carrier.