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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I can't do slings?

32 replies

RosannaBanana · 23/11/2012 09:00

I have a bad back, lingering SPD and a three month old. So far I have tried-
Stretchy wrap
Ergo
Wilkinet
Baby bjorn (yes I know this has a bad rep)

I can't tolerate any of these for longer than 5-10 mins. Aibu to give up hope of ever using a sling (which would be so helpful with a toddler to look after too)? Is there some magic alternative I need to try? I am short BTW, which may make things worse?

OP posts:
KittyFane1 · 23/11/2012 09:07

Why do you want to use one so much if they don't suit you? Baby bjorn has a bad reputation? I think that you are over thinking this. In 5 years time you won't believe how much time you spent agonising over baby slings.

TaurielTest · 23/11/2012 09:13

Have you had some face-to-face help? Have a look at www.slingmeet.co.uk and find one near you, you'd be suprised how much difference someone knowledgeable adjusting your ergo straps, or helping you with your stretchy wrapping technique, can make.
(I'm short too, and also had lingering SPD ... doesn't have to be a barrier. I found pushing buggy considerably more aggravating to SPD than slinging, once I was getting it right.) Good luck!

GrimAndHumourless · 23/11/2012 09:19

Kitty she wants to use a sling as she has a toddler and it would be helpful

Rosanna I agree, find a sling meet, see if you can try several more styles to suit you and your baby

mrskeithrichards · 23/11/2012 09:22

Try a sling meet or google sling libraries.

HKat · 23/11/2012 09:23

Yes, why does Baby Bjorn have a bad reputation? I use mine when I need to get DD to nursery on the bus (so less than zero chance of getting pram on there)

Gingerbreadlatte · 23/11/2012 09:26

Bjorn slings are bad for babies hips apparently. My oldest D used get purple legs in ours.

Dreadful things.

PurplePidjin · 23/11/2012 09:28

Get thee to a sling meet, or find a babywearing consultant to come to you (training us done by Trageschule iirc) there are so many types and ways to carry!

4 day old ds loves his stretchy but it took me a while to get the hang of despite practice during pregnancy with the doll!

TandB · 23/11/2012 09:32

Baby Bjorns aren't generally comfortable after the first few weeks, even if you get along with it to start with. They aren't particularly well designed.

Ergos are much, much better. My DP can still comfortably carry our 3 year old in ours, but I don't even find it comfortable with the baby.

Wilkinet - never tried it.

Stretchy wrap - I found this fine up to about 4 months.

The only consistently comfortable slings I've used are good. Quality woven wraps. I use didymos. If you tie them properly they are amazingly comfortable, but you do need to learn how to use them properly, either with YouTube instructions or at a slingmeet. I have recurring back problems and I actually think carrying DS1 all the time strengthened some of the muscles in my back. I carried him, including commuting across London, until he was 2 1/2 and I was 7 months pregnant.

TandB · 23/11/2012 09:34

Also try back carrying in the ergo, rather than front carrying. My back and nck niggle if I front carry DS2, although he is a bit of a lump, but I have no problems back carrying.

BertieBotts · 23/11/2012 09:46

If you have back problems and SPD then you need a very supportive sling, an ergo, wilkinet and BB probably won't fulfil this. A stretchy wrap probably should, but perhaps doesn't suit you, or you may have had it too loose, not spread out enough or chosen one with too much stretch in the fabric. (Also I would avoid the Close or Caboo carrier as it's a hybrid rather than a true stretchy wrap)

You could try a wide-strap mei tai, or a woven wrap or perhaps go back to the drawing board with the stretchy, but I agree that since you're in a specific situation (and, you probably don't want to spend out loads more money on slings!) it would be best to get RL help whether that's a sling meet or you can find someone who makes and sells slings near to you (I know a great person if you're anywhere near Leamington Spa?) - it's just a case of finding someone knowledgeable who can help out. Hopefully there'll be a sling which is right for you! :)

AutumnMadness · 23/11/2012 10:54

RosannaBanana, with the stretchy wrap, did you make sure that the fabric on your back was spread out in the way that it covered your entire back and that the baby was sitting firmly above your waist with legs around your waist? I really find the wraps, stretchy or otherwise (I actually like the woven ones more comfortable) are loads easier on backs than anything else.

AutumnMadness · 23/11/2012 10:55

I also find that putting baby in a stretchy wrap using the woven wrap tying method is loads easier.

KenLeeeeeee · 23/11/2012 10:57

Definitely go to a sling meet & try out some different styles and make sure they're tied properly. I have arthritis and my hips really know the difference if I tie my Moby wrap too loosely. If I tie it tight enough, I can carry 6mo ds around for a couple of hours.

AutumnMadness · 23/11/2012 11:00

I agree with KenLeeeeeee on Moby wraps. They've got to be tied tightly. A sagging pouch with baby in front kills your back.

browny · 23/11/2012 11:06

I found my Connecta really comfortable and so easy to adjust. Agree with trying to find a slingmeet near you too for extra advice and help on wearing your sling correctly. www.connectababycarrier.com/

KatAndKit · 23/11/2012 11:10

Is your baby quite heavy for 3 months? Perhaps it is time to move on from stretchies. I found that 4 months was my limit with the stretch wrap although I definitely agree with the advice about tying it more tightly, and making sure the waist of it is nice and high. Ergo is generally a good carrier and should be comfortable - again, make sure you are placing the waistband nice and high and not down on your hips or low slung on your waist.

I'd agree with the advice to go to a slingmeet. Perhaps if you are particularly short the high street options are not best suited to your dimensions and a woven wrap of the correct length would be better for you?

BertieBotts · 23/11/2012 11:26

I think the Ergo is okay, but not as supportive as some others, so it might not be right for OP. I also found that because I'm small some soft structured carriers just didn't adjust to my size so there might be a bit of that in there too.

Original poster
RosannaBanana · 23/11/2012 11:29

Wow so much helpful advice - thank you all! :)

There is a sling meet in my town - not close but I think I need to try to get there somehow (no car). Or getting someone knowledgeable to come to me is a good idea.

Inspired by the advice on this thread I have been playing around with my stretchy wrap this morning - tried a different way of wrapping it ( from video on youtube). My stretchy is a Calin Bleu and in the instruction booklet it advises tying it as I believe you would with a woven. I have now tied my stretchy in the more usual way (making sure it's tight and high) and it is much more comfy but still hurts my back a bit :(

My 3 month old is 75th percentile height and length, so she is pretty big and heavy (about a stone!). I think moving on to a woven wrap would be sensible - but I think I will need a sling meet for that!

I find the problem with the ergo is getting the waist strap to fit - it seems to be either too high or too low and just not comfy for a long time. The whole thing just seems too long?! Do other shorties (!) have a problem with the Ergo?

I am particularly desperate keen to find a sling that works because my baby won't be put down for daytime sleeps. At all. Shock

OP posts:
Original poster
RosannaBanana · 23/11/2012 11:30

X post Bertie!

OP posts:
Original poster
RosannaBanana · 23/11/2012 11:31

Bertie - is a connecta a wide strap mei tai? I've always thought those look good.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 23/11/2012 11:37

No, a connecta is a soft structured carrier, but my friend who is on the petite side found it great for her.

A mei tai has straps that you tie, it looks like a rectangle of fabric with a long strap coming off each corner (roughly) - you can get variations on these, I had no idea of the different kinds until I went to a sling meet! You can actually get wrap conversions which is where a woven wrap has been converted into a mei tai so you get all the support and a lot of the width of a wrap without the bulk, and easier to tie. They tend to be expensive, though.

I liked the "newborn hug hold" for my stretchy wrap, which is slightly different to the woven wrapping way. I found doing it the woven wrapping way I couldn't get it tight enough.

PurplePidjin · 23/11/2012 13:04

I tried the library Ergo and hated it - 5'4", the shoulders slipped and the buckles sit under my arms, ouch! - whereas dp (also 5'4") loved it on his much broader shoulders. We'll be hiring it as soon as i can get to a meet, but it just goes to show the value of trying lots out plus at £5 it's not a scary investment

I can recommend someone Dorset/Hampshire if that helps :)

KatAndKit · 23/11/2012 13:08

Some carriers do petite straps. I have a standard bondolino but I know they do make a petite version for people with little shoulders.

everybodysang · 23/11/2012 13:14

I loved my Connecta but ended up using a mei tai eventually as I found the Connecta gave me a bit of a neck ache with prolonged use once DD was around 9-10 months. I still use the mei tai with her and she's 23 months, very comfortable. I got it second hand on a sling forum for £15. Agree that if you could get to a sling meet it would be really useful.

Sheepasaurus · 23/11/2012 13:22

Bertiebotts - would you mind pm'ing me the details of the person in Leamington?

Sorry to hijack op.