Solarweave Connecta with a newborn - would you? Hve you?

[LaTrucha]

I've just bought a lovely Solarweave Connecta for DC2 arriving in June. It looks great, but I'm a bit worried about using it with a newborn. I know the weight starts at 7.5llbs but I'm just a bit worried if there is enough support.

Any experiences?

[foxytocin]

I have a friend who has one of these from newborn and she refuses to part iwth it. If you look at the carrier reviews on the Connecta, she is didylicious. She is also responsible for my sling addiction. So I'd say, get it.

I have a pic of her baby only a few weeks old in a solarweave connecta if you'd like to see it. He was also a June baby and average size and she used it from newborn. She found it easy to breastfeed in too.

[LaTrucha]

Thanks for that. I'll check out the review. I already got it!

Picture would be great too. Can you CAT me? DH freaked last night when he saw that it had no 'bottom' to it so am going to go and check out if you need an insert. I haven't seen one but could have overlooked it.

[foxytocin]

I don't have CAT at the moment but you can email me at y f forster at gmail dot com.

The woman who makes connecta has been a babywearer for a long time and I know she knows a lot about slings and their designs. (She is even on my FB )

[foxytocin]

I don't understand what your dh means when he says it has no 'bottom'.

[LaTrucha]

He was expecting it to be like the Baby Bjorn. He thinks the baby can slip out of the bottom.

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

I used one from a couple of months old (DD was a March baby and it was too cold the first few months). IIRC it comes with an extra strap for pulling in the bottom when using with a newborn. I would use it from birth with a summer-born baby, I think.

[BertieBotts]

Do you mean like how the baby bjorn is a harness that goes over the parent, and then the baby is kind of clipped onto the front in a self contained thing? Because that is actually a feature, not a downside - the baby being tied onto you is much more supportive (and nice for the baby!) than having a baby suspended in front of you, which just hangs all the weight off your shoulders.

But they definitely can't slip out, because they have material between their legs and also under their arms. A ring or pouch sling is less fabric and they always look secure to me. I haven't used a SSC from newborn though so I don't know how secure it is/feels.

[SeaShellsOnTheSeaShore]

Is it a back only carrier? I have one but didn't use it so much with my first as my back was bad. Would like to wear on mh front if poss when new born.

[foxytocin]

if you look in the gallery of the connecta website there is a mum wearing a tiny baby. In the gallery, she is just after the bloke on the rope bridge. This baby has its legs tucked into the carrier completely, leaving the baby in the 'froglike' position which is a natural position for newborns.

the baby's should be tight and high against the wearer's body (if you can kiss the top of his head easily while in the sling he is tight and high) IT also needs to be tight so that their spines do not start to curve in the carrier. Pay attention that his head is turned to the side or tilted back a bit in order to to keep his airway clear.

very good instructional link for correct positioning of small babies in a sling. The Meitai positioning applies to the connecta.

On the connecta instructional site, it includes an accessory so that a new born's legs can be on the outside of the carrier. It works by narrowing the crotch since NB have tiny crotches. They are still in the ergonomically safe position however unlike in a BB where the baby is forced out of the froglike position becuase it's hips are forced into a position where its knees are lower than it's hips.

ps: in a wrap, mei tai or buckle carrier / ssc, a baby's knees should always be level or higher than it's hips.

[LaTrucha]

Ah. I've found the picture of the accessory strap. I don't think I've got one but you can buy them there.

So, without the strap the NB's legs are underneath the material, positioned like a frog. I see.

Shesells- it's a front and back carrier. Only onthe back from 4 months.

[SeaShellsOnTheSeaShore]

Just got it out the cUpboard- had forgotten how cool it was! I think have lost the little strap in the house move though