How to Draw a Baby Sloth (Easy Step by Step)
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A baby sloth hanging from a branch is a sweet, silly drawing, and it is built almost entirely from ovals and curved lines. You start with a round head and a round tummy, then add long arms, tiny feet and a branch to hang from. Even beginners can get a cute result, because sloths are meant to look a little wobbly and relaxed.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 10 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a baby sloth step by step
How to Draw a Baby Sloth · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 2 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: The head
Draw a big round oval near the top of the page, but leave a small gap at the very top. This is the sloth's roomy, fluffy head.
Step 3: The face
Inside the head, draw a smaller oval a little wider than it is tall. This is the face area, with fur showing all around it.
Step 4: Tummy and chin tuft
Draw a tiny wavy line at the bottom of the face for a little chin tuft. Then, just under the head, draw a round oval for the tummy.
Step 5: Long arms
Start at each side of the tummy and draw a long curved line going up and out. Draw a second line next to it to make each arm thick, and let both lines curve upward.
Step 6: Little feet
Draw two small ovals at the bottom of the tummy, one on each side. They peek out like tiny slippers.
Step 7: The branch
Across the top, above the head, draw a long, flat branch with rounded ends. Then add a small leaf shape growing from the top of it.
Step 8: Hands and claws
At the top of each arm, draw a rounded mitten shape wrapped over the branch. Add a few short lines on each mitten for the sloth's claws.
Step 9: Sleepy eyes
Inside the face, draw two tilted oval patches, one on each side. Draw a round eye inside each patch with a solid dot in it.
Step 10: The nose
Between the eyes, draw a small rounded triangle for the nose and fill it in. It sits just above the little chin tuft.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your baby sloth? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fox cub or how to draw a kangaroo with a joey next.
Tips for drawing a baby sloth
- Draw the head and tummy as light ovals first, so you can see how they stack before you press harder.
- The long arms are the trickiest part. Draw each arm as two curved lines that start at the tummy and go up in the same direction, so they stay about the same width.
- Keep the eyes sleepy by tilting the oval patches and putting the dots low inside them. Fill in the nose last so it stands out.
Free baby sloth coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this baby sloth coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your baby sloth drawing
Soft browns and tans work well for the fur, with a lighter cream color on the face and tummy, a darker patch around each eye, and a green leaf. For a creative twist, give your sloth a rainbow-striped branch.
Baby sloth fun fact for kids
Sloths spend most of their lives hanging upside down in trees. They even sleep, eat, and have their babies while hanging there. A baby sloth clings to its mother's belly for the first several months.
Questions about drawing a baby sloth
What shapes do I need to draw a baby sloth?
You mostly need ovals: a big one for the head, a smaller one inside it for the face, and another for the tummy. Add long curved lines for the arms and two tiny ovals for the feet.
How do I make my sloth look cuter?
Make the head big compared to the body and keep the eyes wide apart. Add a small round nose between them.
How do I draw a sloth hanging from a branch?
Draw the long flat branch across the top, then let the arms reach up to it. Wrap rounded hands over the branch, with a few little claw lines on each hand.
