I need a sling and I know nothing about slings

[ThePenIsBlue]

I’m expecting a baby next week and my other is still a young toddler. I am worrying and about getting anywhere. I don’t want to expense or faff of a double buggy so will have to wear the baby a lot if my toddler is in the buggy. I have a Moby wrap sling somewhere but it’s a massive faff to put on and really not suitable for popping the baby in straight out of the car. Can anyone recommend a good sling for a newborn that it easy to just pop on to yourself and doesn’t require lots of intricate and tight wrapping of yourself 😁. And also where a good second hand place may be to get one!!

Thank you.

The close caboo is often recommended. It's almost like a pre tied stretchy wrap. I used a long wrap and ring sling.
Do you have a sling library near you? Many of them offer 3 month hire of newborn slings so you don't have to buy anything.

There are second-hand selling sites on fb.
I started with a Moby but once ds was big enough i got a babyhawk mei-tai which was a panel with straps but easy to do up.
I echo the sling library recommendation, ours is brilliant.
Alternatively, there are demo videos online available to give guidance and help ensure your baby is safely carried.

I loved my connecta slings, they may be under a different name though now I think. The straps cross over on your back which I found much more comfortable than other slings like the ergo. The connecta packs really small which I also found really handy. It’s very easy to put on. From my understanding there is a setting for newborn but I only used when DD was 4 months old and over.

We had an Ergo sling and it was the easiest thing on earth and so comfortable to wear, even once the baby got a little bigger. There's a newborn insert you can buy too, and ours lasted until he was a good 20 months and insisted on walking everywhere.

Another one who had Connectas. They're called Integra now. They were so easy to use.

For a newborn I found the Close Caboo to be brilliant. Both mine were prem and tiny and it worked great.
Once they were bigger I used an ErgoBaby (2nd hand) and a Rose and Rebellion one.

What I use to do with the wrap I had was for short journeys e.g. supermarket was pre-tie it on me at home. I would then check the ties and put her in it at the destination. This stopped me wearing too many clothes.

Just checked on YouTube and you can do the same with a Moby wrap. One thing with wraps is that the more you use them e.g. every other day the quicker you get at tying them.

If you simply don't like it go to a sling library they will have various other wraps/carriers for you to try and hire for the first 3 months. I actually had other carriers but could not use the ones I had from newborn as she was too small.

Ergobaby slings are zero faff. I had a close caboo initially but found it hard work. Congratulations in advance

A basic stretch wrap is much easier to do than people think and are great as you can pre-tie and then keep putting baby in and out as needed. It looks scary when you are faced with a long piece of material but it really isn't difficult and distributes the weight to avoid back issues (I still carry my 17month old long distances in a stretch which can last until she's 3)

Mine are from Amazon, I rotate 2, the only downside is that most are not tumble dryable. Xxx

Thanks everyone, I’m taking notes.

I have used the Moby with my other child, but I find it gets loose so quickly. If I do tie it on before a short car journey, it always needs redoing when I get there as it’s too loose to put the baby in. And if I tie it and put baby straight in, it is ok for a bit, until I have to take the baby out for some reason. I then have to retie the whole thing

Those of you who used the close caboo how big are you? I’d like to get one for when new DS is born but I’m small (5’3” and a size 6/8) and have struggled with slings before, either the body is too long, or I can’t get them to tie tight enough, or both.

I loved my close caboo. I wore it all day and just popped baby in and out. I am 5' 2" and a size 12.

@Camomila I'm very petite in the body, and the old connecta comes in petite which is perfect for me. I don't think integra does but I bought my petite sling from babipur or ebay.

Look for a sling library near you- I used one and it was fantastic. They went through all the options and I could take some home and try them and swap around if they weren't comfy. It was then really cheap to rent one before I decided which to buy

Connecta wins for me. I didn't have this until about 2 months, because I had some dud slings first. It can be used with a newborn you just need to pull in the base a bit as it's too wide for a very little ones legs. They come with a strap to loop onto to do this. Or I tied a Muslin onto it as the webbing on the loop seemed a bit rough and it was summer so not many clothes on baby.

I would clip the connecta around my waist for the car. Due to the way it adjusts it doesn't stretch. Those fabric slings just moved and stretched too much for me.