Surely there should be a shop?

[thesurgeonsmate]

I'm not a pro babycarrier, but I have really, really enjoyed carrying dd on my front in a moby, and am trying to get to grips with her on my back in a BabyHawk. I read this board fairly regularly, and every time I do people mention brands of wrap and sling I wasn't aware of. I'm beginning to think that baby carriers are contenders for the "Most Mysterious Product" award. You can't buy them on the High Street, you need a ton of advice to choose one - I may well be a candidate for a woven wrap but I can't begin to understand the boards on the babywearing sites that I would need to study to choose one. It's so complicated that there are Slingmeets, which I've never been able to attend, although they seem to be a sort of consumer support group. Is there really not a shop? Not even in London?

[thesurgeonsmate]

That's waht's so amazing about it - all these people managing to make a living from selling this under-the-radar product. I'll tell you who I want to meet, though, is a sling librarian. Off to check that out now...

[MotherOfHobbit]

Oh, I agree. I'd love to be able to go somewhere, try out all the products with an experienced salesperson and take home the one I want!

[HenriettaPepperpot]

I don't know about shops but there are babywearing consultants! One of the many things I had never heard or imagined existed before I had a baby.
I agree it's incredibly confusing to pick which sling to buy from the multitudes of brands, types and sub-types.

[notcitrus]

I agree!
I just looked up 'sling library' + London, and allegedly there is one in South London... but you have to look up Sling Meet to find it, where there is no details of any meetings actually being held!

I'm cack-handed as they come but really want to try a sling for dc2 - anyone in London who can help me?

[fraktious]

I know the lady who runs the south London sling library if you want to send me your email? I can pass it on to her and I'm sure she's help?

[perfectstorm]

There is a shop. It's where I got my Hugabub and Ergo from (and I swear, I am a long time poster who isn't that frequently in this section! As this is my second recommendation in minutes.) thecarryingkind.com/

"The Carrying Kind
19 Orford Road
Walthamstow
London E17 9NL

Opening times:
10- 5pm Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10-3.30pm Tuesday, 9-12pm Thursday and 10.15-1.45 Sunday. Please call ahead to ensure that Sarah is in the shop to provide help and advice choosing your sling. It is sometimes possible to make arrangements for an earlier or later opening on request."

They're a tenner cheaper than anywhere else I found for Ergos, too. (Legit, I mean.) I only found them via the Hugabub website as they were an accredited supplier.

[perfectstorm]

"Born" in Bristol and London are great as well, but they don't dedicate themselves just to slings so have a narrower selection, and they're more expensive. But they are a really good babyshop if that's easier for anyone.

[thesurgeonsmate]

There is a shop! This is a must-do next time I'm in London. Many thanks for the link.

[notcitrus]

Wow, I know Orford Rd in Walthamstow!
Must have a look next time I'm up there.

fraktious Can you PM me details?

Given my inability to figure out how to get a Baby Bjorn to not fall apart, I think I'll need all the help I can get!

[perfectstorm]

Yeah, they're brilliant. I don't actually know how they manage to be cheaper than most mail order places, either. They never seem to advertise anywhere which is why people don't know they exist - I only do because I am paranoid about fakes (the buckles have been known to fail on fake Ergos, and the dyes on all other fake wraps and slings are obviously very likely to be toxic, given they're illegally churned out in Chinese factories with only cutting costs in mind) so I looked up the accredited suppliers on the Ergo/Hugabub website, and they were cheapest as well as being an actual shop offering advice and stocking a massive range.

It's a shame, because if people don't buy from them they'll close, but if people don't know they're there, how can they buy from them? But then again, if they advertised they'd stop being so cheap. Maybe Mumsnet should do a sling/carrier advice chat with the owner? Useful and free marketing for them, and given they're the cheapest I found, and they offer a brilliant service, it would be a virtuous circle. Isn't like Mumsnet doesn't host chats with all kinds of businesspeople when it's relevant/useful.

Again, I swear I don't know the owner, far less am affiliated in any way. I've been a poster here yonks. It just makes me sad that a shop like this isn't known about. It deserves to be, IMO. And in the current economic climate if people don't shop at places like that instead of Amazon or Kiddicare, they won't survive. Given the difference in service that would be a real shame.

[muslimah28]

wow am so glad i opened this thread i know orford road! im not looking for a sling right now but if we are blessed with another dc i will be looking for a better newborn sling than the two i have at the moment (babasling and mei tai, both great for older babas but not so good for newborns, not IMO anyway)

[stopgap]

I am blessed to live five minutes from this place metrominis.com/, but that's all rather unhelpful, as I live in America.

There are a couple of sling shops in New York, but even here, where you see loads of people using Ergos and Bjorns, in particular, I get lots of strange looks when I wear my Boba carrier with the Catbird Baby blanket over the top.

[LetTheSlaughterBeGincognito]

Perfectstorm, how fantastically helpful! Thank you. A web chat would be a fab idea.