Talk

Flip

Find baby sling and baby carrier advice here.

Slings and backpacks

Ring sling for newborn?

11 replies

barkfox · 21/03/2010 12:04

(Apologies if anyone's read this before, I posted it in the wrong place...)

My 1st is due at the end of July, and I'm thinking through carrying options.

I've seen and really like the Babyhawk Mei Tai as a general purpose carrier for out and about, but I also want a sling that lets me wear my baby in the cradle position, for comfort/BF-ing etc.

I won't want to use this for long trips out, really just round the house and garden. And I really want something I can use with a newborn to 6 months in particular. A lot of reviews for ring slings I've looked at tend to say how good they are for babies 3 months plus, and for heavy toddlers etc. But what I really want is something that's ideal from birth.

I'm thinking ring slings more than wraps cos for 'round the house' use and BF-ing, I want something that comes on and off easily and v quickly. No elaborate wrapping! I'm also 5ft 2, and so I don't want something with acres of fabric to swamp me.

Also.... my baby will be brand new in August, and I really want something that's cool for him/her and me. A lot of wraps look lovely and snuggly for winter but way too much for summer.

Any advice/experiences/recommendations/warnings gratefully received. TIA.

OP posts:

Report

justallovertheplace · 21/03/2010 12:10

Wrap sling is the way to go. It's really not difficult to learn to wrap, once you've done it a few times it becomes second nature. If you're at home in the summer, you can easily wear the sling with no top on, and noone will know. I had a June baby and used a Kari Me and didn't get too hot. My friend had a ring sling, and always had to keep one hand on it to make sure the baby was secure. i don't know if this is just that she wasn't confident or using it right? But with a wrap, you can be truly hands free

Report

barkfox · 21/03/2010 12:30

Thanx for speedy response - I'm not feeling optimistic about wraps, is the thing. I know the Mei Tai has an element of wrapping, but having had a play with one, I'm fairly confident about it, and can see myself getting to grips with it.

However, I've had a play with a moby (?), and I know people swear by them, but I'm not feeling the love. I just think (a) if I manage to get it on properly, I'll be sweltering in August, and (b) my friends who love them are all bigger than me, and don't seem to have the same 'swamped' look. And this is after flailing around like a dancer in a 1980s Kate Bush video trying to get into the thing.

So I was tending more towards ring slings in the hope they were easier... but you're right, if I need to use one hand to steady them all the time, then hands-free it won't be....

OP posts:

Report

justallovertheplace · 21/03/2010 12:37

It's worth saying that you can get shorter wraps. Or if it really is an issue, maybe try a Close sling? That was what got me into wrapping in the first place, and is very easy to get to grips with

Report

tapeworm · 21/03/2010 12:40

I'm 4 11 and I love my moby. I couldn't manage with the ring sling because of all the weight on one shoulder.

Report

barkfox · 21/03/2010 13:01

I've just had a look at the Close sling online - it does look more manageable, but then I had a quick look at the reviews on MN, and several mention how hot it is in the summer (it seems to be made out of fleecy stuff), AND that there's a lot more bulky material to wrestle with than you see in the pics...

tapeworm, you are quite wee, aren't you - maybe I'm not being bold enough about all this wrapping business. I don't know though, I'm just not attracted to it at all (and the idea of my partner getting to grips with it is laughable).

Hmmm. Maybe I just need to stick with the Mei Tai, live with the degree of wrapping there, forget about using any 'cradle' position, and maybe use an insert for a newborn to 'boost' him/her. My initial thought was that for just using round the house and not for trips out etc, I'd rather try and find something that came on and off more easily, and was maybe a bit cooler, but hey ho. Perhaps I'm a 1st time mum-to-be being unrealistic about my options!

OP posts:

Report

omgidbi · 21/03/2010 13:34

I think a wrap CAN be too hot in the summer, for my June baby I used a ring sling made from a lightweight woven fabric, a bit like this EllaRoo Ring Sling The ring sling was great for breastfeeding in too, and I found it really comfy for a newborn. I didn't use the cradle position much, but had her more upright against my chest and it was really comfy.

Report

wellbalanced · 21/03/2010 20:10

I used my close carrier all through summer and winter just wore less in summer more in winter!
Still using it at 11mth

Report

ib · 21/03/2010 20:18

I'm not crazy about wraps either - with ds1 I used a ring sling which I will be using with ds2 when he is born too. I used it from birth and it was great. He was born in winter, but when he was 3 weeks old we went somewhere where it was absolutely sweltering for 3 weeks and he was in the carrier the entire time (was the only way to keep him soothed as he had bad reflux).

Report

barkfox · 22/03/2010 23:04

Thanks for responses - still not sure what I'll do/buy! but you've pointed me in some good directions, and saved me a lot of Google-time.

OP posts:

Report

blu3sky · 23/03/2010 16:23

We used a ringsling from about a week after my little one was born(which was when we got it). I couldn't get onwith the cradle position as he would only do it when breastfeeding. He was upright from the beginning and his head was supported because ours had padding on the rails. We changed to a wrap and SSC when he was 4 months though as he was too heavy for one shouldered carries by then. Why don't you pop along to a slingmeet so you can see some different types in action and can try some out.