Recommendations - lots of requirements!

[Secondtimelucky]

My sling refusnik DD2 has just about been converted. She will now tolerate the Didymos, provided I tie it so that all the material is away from her face. I also have an old Connecta with a sort of broken buckle that she's just about getting big enough for and doesn't mind.

What I'd really like now is something to replace the Connecta. It needs to:

• allow a comfortable front carry, but also have a back carry option. I don't want one that's primarily for back carrying later on;
  
• be good for a reasonably small baby (she's 25th centile and still in 0-3 month clothes at four months);
  
• be kind to my back (I found the Connecta dragged at my neck as DD1 got older); and
  
• most importantly, be something DH would wear. He isn't much of a fan of reams of fabric. He might cope with ties if they are easy, buckles would potentially be even better but only if they don't compromise the other criteria. I'm thinking some sort of mei tei or SSC?
  

Any ideas from the experts. It will be a bugger to get along to any sort of slingmeet with the mad toddler, so I might well end up buying blind. I'd looked at an ergo, but they sound like they're not great for the little stage and I don't like the idea that the front carry can't have the straps crossed.

[RitaMorgan]

Beco Butterfly is great, but you can't cross the straps. I found it fine on my front til ds was about 10 months though.

I had a Rose and Rebellion that was great for front carrying, but I found it too difficult to back carry with so got the Beco instead.

[BertieBotts]

A mei tai definitely sounds like what you want. I'd buy a sized one and go for the smaller or "baby" size - you can usually roll the fabric down at the top and the bottom as well to make it even smaller if required.

I know a lady who runs a small sling making business near me, I'm sure she'd make you a custom one if you specify your requirements (size wise) - I don't think she does buckles though. But she's done wrap conversions for a few of my friends which are lovely.

[BertieBotts]

Forgot to link, sorry - www.pouchlings.com/ Or look for "pouchlings" on facebook.

[Secondtimelucky]

Thank you! Didn't expect replies so fast and have to run so will read them all properly later - didn't want to be rude and not say thank you straight away.

Do you guys find that a front carry without crossing back straps is ok then? Rita said she did, but I wonder if generally people find it a problem or I'm just being overly cautious.

[RitaMorgan]

The R&R with straps crossed was more comfy than the Beco when he was bigger, but the back carry with the Beco was more comfy than the front carry with the R&R by then.

[RitaMorgan]

Not sure if that was very clear - basically by the time the front carry without crossed straps was uncomfortable, a back carry was more comfortable anyway.

[RitaMorgan]

The chest belt thing isn't an issue with the Beco though as you don't have to be able to reach it - you clip it and slip the carrier on over your head, then put the baby in.

[BertieBotts]

They say with the clip, you should do it up low, and then pull it up so it sits higher on your back. But a faff, I agree. I only use mine for back carries though so it negates the issue. I tend to think SSCs are excellent for back carries but for front carries they aren't that great. There are certainly better options.

[Secondtimelucky]

Thanks everyone. Overall I'm getting the message that people perhaps find that SCC's are better for back carries. I never got the hang of those with DD1 - for ages she didn't like them, and as soon as she could walk she would kick me to get down if I tried it. Maybe I will this time, but I'm wondering if the men tai is the way to go for the time being. I'm going to look in more detail at the SCC's you've all suggested too though.

Thank you!

[RitaMorgan]

I assume that after about 10 months a back carry will be better than front with any carrier though, just due to the weight.

[Secondtimelucky]

Hhm, well with DD1 I used to manage front carries up to about 14 months, and she was a much bigger baby. That said, it would usually be for an hour or so at a time by then though, rather than for hours and hours.

[TJBear]

Hi, I have a babyhawk mei tai and a Manduca. I use the sling mainly when walking the dog and originally started off with the mei tai. I really like it but found I only wanted to put it on at home due to the long straps. I ended up buying the Manduca so it was easier to put on if I drove to the park, so the straps wouldn't trail on the wet/muddy floor. My LO used to fall asleep in the babyhawk due to the nice high neck support but she hasn't slept in the Manduca (but she was probably about 6-7months when I bought it).

Also, I am still only doing front carries. I like being able to chat to LO and check her hat hasn't fallen off. I'm thinking about trying a back carry soon though as it's starting to get less comfy now she's 15months and about 9-9.5kg.

I have found the babyhawk and Manduca carry the weight slight differently - the weight when using the Manduca is more on my hips which I prefer. My DH will use both slings but prefers the buckles of the Manduca. The babyhawk is reversible so there a a nice patterned side for me and plain black for DH :) !