Baby Slings - Help!

[Vixs4]

Baby number 2 is due in September, I am looking for a sling I can wear around the house as well as out and about.

What would people recommend I have been looking at the material slings and Baba Sling and the material ones, possibly the Close Baby Close Parent Carrier.

But they are so different and I have no advice or reviews to go on! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[shipsladyg]

I liked the soft tie slings like Sabe or Moby. Easy to pop little one in and out of and supports their hips properly instead of letting their legs dangle.

There is a slings thread under products. If Loopymumsy pops up, she's a fount of sling knowledge.

[mummynoseynora]

for a newborn - 6/7 months I would recommend a moby every time.... I think they are the only type (stretchy wrap) which properly support such a tiny baby

[TheBreastmilksOnMe]

I have tried 4 slings- the TOMY, the Baba Sling, a long soft wrap and the Erho and I feel the best by far has to be the Ergo.

The Tomy was a crotch dangler which isn't good for a babies pysical development and it hung from my shoulders so not very comfortable.

The Baba sling was uncomfortable and I could never get my babies comfortable in it. I think these types can be a bit dangerous too as there is a risk of your baby suffocating in them if their position isn't right.

The long soft wrap was a faff and it took ages to get right so I never got on with it and it became more difficult as DS got older as he would throw himself back as I was trying to get him on. You need a degree in origami with these ones- honestly.

The Ergo has been fab thought I have used it from birth with DC2 using a newborn insert and she loves being carried on my front. There is a sun/rain cover that also stops her head from lolling about when she drops off to sleep. When she gets a bit older I can use it on my back and I have had a 2yr old toddler on my back with the Ergo and it is so comfy as the weight gets distributed over your pelvis. The other thing I like with them is that the child is seated in the 'M' position so it is the best position for their hips and spine.

I'd definately recommend the Ergo. Expensive but worth it. I've got a grey one covered in silver stars and it looks so cool!

[Indith]

Different people love different slings, a stretchy wrap like the Moby is lovely and snuggly for a newborn but once the baby gets too heavy isn't great. A woven wrap lasts a lifetime but has to be retied each time, a puch is great for popping a little baby in and out but you can't put them more upright until they are older and some babies (especially if they have reflux) don't like to be in cradle all the time. Your best bet is to see if there is a sling meet in your area, try www.slingmeet.co.uk/ and www.thebabywearer.com/ so you can see and handle different types and try them on.

[GiraffeAHolic]

I used a Sleepy Wrap with dd, she was 6 months when I discovered wraps so already quite large. It was a faff to tie to begin with, but once I got used to it it was easy. It has lots of different positions from newborn hold to toddler on hip.

We moved house when dd was almost 1 and I had her on my back in the Sleepy Wrap while I painted all the walls :)

[apples82]

I've got my eye on a lifft baby sling, there are no ties or buckles, and has brillaint reviews:

www.lifftslings.com/testimonials.php?s=73

[mousymouse]

I second the ergo, but for the first months I would get a strechy sling, as the ergo newborn inset gets mixed reviews.
dd is 19m and I still use the ergo every day, even went hiking (climbing fences and skipping over ditches and all) with her on my back.

[fraktious]

I would have a stretchy for poppable carries and then graduate to q soft structured carrier like an Ergo or a woven wrap. Personally I'm a wrap girl because they're so versatile.

[Vixs4]

Thanks everyone for all the advice!!

[TerrysNo2]

I just bought a Lifft sling and its really good. Very easy to use

[Amino]

Hope this is not too late but I thought I would add my tuppence! My sister used a home made material sling, but this was too fidgety and uncomfortable for me. I used the Tommi Tippee carrier when my LB was very little and then from 3 months and 3 slings/carriers later I settled on the African Baby Carrier. I believe it is similar to the Ergo.
Hope you find one you are happy with!
www.facebook.com/pages/UK-Front-and-Back-African-Baby-Carrier-Easy-Trendy-and-Comfortable/207521155953216?sk=info

[WeLoveHaribo]

Ive got a close baby carrier and i loved it for those first few months, prob used it til around 8mth with no problems. Really easy to put on/off and no ties which for me was a major plus!! I also have a couple of pouch slings, again brill when baby tiny in cradle position and fab when waiting to sit, but can pull abit with it being on one shoulder. I then moved to a R&R (can use from 4mth) i love this carrier and my DS 2.3yrs still goes in it..
xx

[DirtyBit]

I tried the Babasling once and both myself and my baby hated it. It pulled on my shoulder and hurt my back.
My mum bought me a Mobywrap and I LOVE it. It's so comfortable, doesn't hurt my back (baby is well over 14lb now) and baby loves being in it, it calms her straight down.

[PussInConverse]

I tried the Sleepy Wrap (DD hated it) and the Infantino Flip (like the baby bjorn but cheaper) which was really uncomfy.. I just splashed out on an Ergo - hideously expensive, but so far so amazing. And it should last til toddler age. You can get a newborn insert for it. Just wish I'd bought it before wasting money on the crap ones! Recommend First Signs Peterborough as the shop to get it from. They're a genuine seller - lots of fakes on eBay.

[Tigerlark]

I've not used one, but my friend has had great success with Kari-me slings... her and husband love it!

[pootlebug]

As a self-confessed sling addict who has tried 50+ types I'd say:

Stretchy wraps are lovely for newborns. My absolute favourite is the Wrapsody Stretch, which is thinner but more supportive than the Moby - so cooler in summer, and you can use for larger, heavier babies. But Moby, Kari-Me etc will all do the job.

If you prefer the ease of buckles, there are lots of brands to choose from: Ergo, Manduca, Rose and Rebellion, Beco, Sleepy Nico, Connecta, Hoppediz Bondolino etc. Some are suitable from newborn and some from 3-4 months+. Personally I love the ergo from 5-6 months, but I don't think the infant insert bit is ideal, especially with a summer baby, as it can get very hot with it.

If you are petite, be aware that some brands of buckle carrier might not fit as well, as the straps can be too long.

If you can get to a sling meet, it's a great place to see some different things and try them out a bit to get a feel for what you might like. www.slingguide.co.uk is also a good place to start for looking at the different types of sling out there.