You can use all sorts of carriers for babywearing, but we think ring slings are the greatest of them all. In case you’re wondering, a ring sling is similar to a wrap, but arguably simpler to use. The attached rings keep the fabric in place across the wearer’s shoulder without any complicated wrapping required.

Ring slings are usually unisex and one-size-fits-all (or most), so a single ring sling can be shared among family members and caregivers. Ring slings are incredibly versatile in that they can be used to carry a child from the newborn stage to toddlerhood. For example, an older baby or toddler can easily be carried in the classic ring sling hip carry position. The cost of ring slings starts at less than $30 and, with proper use and care, an infant sling should last for several years.

Oh, and worry not: We’ve made sure each ring sling is in compliance with at least one of the following baby carrier safety standards: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), and/or membership in the Baby Carrier Industrial Alliance (BCIA).

Whether you’re looking for the best sling for newborn stage babies or a water ring sling, we’re sure this list will guide you.

Best Ring Slings At A Glance

 Before we get into a detailed discussion on the different varieties of ring slings, below is a brief overview of the ring slings that we think you might want to take a quick look at.