I'm a sling librarian / babywearing consultant; AMA

[rosiejaune]

I run a sling library in a city in the north west of England. I have trained as a babywearing peer supporter with School of Babywearing, and as a babywearing consultant with Slingababy. Ask me anything.

Which buckle carriers are best in terms of achieving the healthy leg/back position for the baby ( the M shape)?

What would be the best sling to use for a long 2.5 year old? He has outgrown his ergo. Also are we too old for wraps?

How do you breastfeed in a wrap?

Why are sling libraries practically no go areas for bottle feeding mums.

How do you get paid? who is the project 'funded' by?

The impression I've got from sling libraries and lots of sling users is that it's all about the branding. Like fashion.

What's wrong with buying cheaper non branded versions, especially for the wrap slings that are essentially a long bit of stretchy fabric?

I've had three really good ones, all for less than £20, from Amazon, but have others turn their noses up because they are not Moby. I don't get it. Is it just snobbery?

I wear my babies constantly, so need a few as one is always in the wash. I can't afford reformative ones.

Watching with interest! We’re very keen to wear our baby, although she’s not quite heavy enough yet (the stretchy sling we were given by a friend before birth is for 8lbs upwards). Looking forward to your replies.

What's the best sling for a bad upper back?

Best sling for mild scoliosis?

Does the term "wearing your baby" iritate you?

Another 1 for how do you breastfeed in a sling

What sling(s) would you recommend for a first-time mum with no access to a sling library to try them out (I'm overseas)? I'm petite so don't want anything too big and bulky but the ones that just look like scarves scare/confuse me! Was thinking of the close caboo, do you have any other/better suggestions?

AMA and I'll reply in a week, a month, a year?!

Is there a suitable sling for a rather large 1yo? He weights 30.6lbs. And I'm rather small.

Not sure where OP went...
I'm a mum of 3 who has worn all of them and tried various slings so I can answer some of your questions:

Foxtrot - babies can go in slings from newborn. They can go in the ones where they lay enveloped in material and lay almost sideways across your body. Sorry can't think of the name! I have tried this personally and was not a fan at all. Some people rate them, many don't and there are some occasions when they've been worn incorrectly and put baby at risk if breathing difficulties due to head being tucked forward onto chest.

My personal favourite for newborns is a wrap with some stretch to the material as they are completely tucked into your chest and it's very nurturing for them. A non stretchy wrap is fine too but typically only used once they get to a few months older and are heavier as by then their weight is too much for the stretchy fabric.

I have also baby worn my newborns in a mei tai. The baby literally sits froggy legged inside. There are techniques online to show how to shorten the length of the body of the carrier and how to put a hairband over the waist if baby wants to have legs out.

I've not used the buckle type carriers (only the traditional tie on types) so i can't comment on them.

Floppy - i am investigating this option myself. A toddlerhawk is meant to be long in body but expensive to buy. If you find any other options let me know!

Eeek - i have never breastfed in a wrap but imagine it's ver doable. Have a look on Youtube as there are tons of videos.

I have breastfed in a mei tai on the London Underground whilst standing up! I had to losen the upper straps then retie so baby dropped lower and could feed, then i tightened and retied once finished. It was done impulsively under stressful conditions and i dont look back fondly. If i practised more im sure it would have been better but i never bothered as easy enough to just take baby out. My children always fed quickly though so if i had a slow feeder I'd have looked more at feeding in a sling

London - ive genuinely never found that. If you have found that then it is perhaps because breastfeeding mums often end up at support groups because it tends to be very dificult in the early days and then through breastfeeding support groups they hear about sling meets hence higher proportion of breastfeeding mums there?

Seeing as the OP seems to have gone AWOL, can anyone suggest the best age to go to a sling library with a newborn?

Over - yes it is just snobbery! The only time it is not snobbery is when safety is in question which is particularly the case for slings such as mei tais. They need to have a particular type of reinforced stitching for strength where the ties join the body and cheap versions often don't have this.

Equally sometimes it's not snobbery, it's just buying into the marketing!

Fern - people babywear preemies... i would suggest googling for info and you will likely find info to help you babywear before your baby is 8lb. My babies have all been over 8lb at birth so i can't comment from personal experience and wouldn't want to tell you incorrectly though i am certain online you will find ways to babywear in wraps and mei tais

Fern - ps not suggesting your baby is a preemie, just using that as an example of wearing very light babies

Mere - a mei tai is great for spreading the weigh across your baby and if you get a tie version it is very simple to retie baby if you feel them losening slightly (common for this to very gradually happen over prolonged periods of babywearing and you just tug and retie). I'd suggest some googling on the bad back and slings as other people are likely to have more informed experience than me