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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To quickly ask your opinion on buying this??

38 replies

VulvaVoom · 26/07/2013 20:33

Hi all

Really want a sling for DD who is a big 9 months. I know that the Ergo sling is really good and supports the carriers back and the baby as well. My sis in law has one and I'm impressed. However, I don't have the budget for an Ergo.

Have seen something very similar on Ebay and a few sellers are selling them, this is the link: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Front-Back-Baby-Safety-Carrier-Infant-Comfort-Backpack-Sling-Wrap-Harness-/171000811199?pt=UK_Baby_Carriers&var=&hash=item27d0714ebf

WIBU to buy this (much cheaper) option and hope that it will suit my requirements just as well? Or does anyone else have one and can tell me if they're good/average/don't touch with a bargepole??

I can't seem to fathom out an actual make from any of the various sellers of it, or I would Google it.

TIA Grin

OP posts:
applepieinthesky · 26/07/2013 20:36

Sorry no advice but the photoshopping made me giggle Grin

kinkyfuckery · 26/07/2013 20:40

I wouldn't trust the quality at that cheap a price, tbh. Plus, the fact it was modelled with a doll and not a baby would make me doubt its ability to correctly and safely hold the weight on a 9 month old.

CreatureRetorts · 26/07/2013 20:41

No. Don't do it!

Have a look on eBay for secondhand ones. Or a manduca which is great.

Jinty16 · 26/07/2013 20:41

I wouldn't buy it. I would worry about the quality at that price. What about trying to get a second hand ergo.they are great. I love mine.

SirBoobAlot · 26/07/2013 20:42

There are ergos from £20 on ebay. Seriously... Go for an ergo. They are 100x better than anything designed in a similar way.

TarkaTheOtter · 26/07/2013 20:44

It looks like a fake ergo. I'd be worried that it wouldn't have been adequately safety tested and that it wouldn't be very comfortable. The photo of the straps on the woman's back doesn't look like it is very well made. I'd be particularly worried about the strength of the bottom buckle as with that design (and with the ergo), if that goes the baby falls out the bottom.

Maryann1975 · 26/07/2013 20:45

I had a Patapum sling for my dc at that age. They can go in from about 4/5/6 months (I can't remember exactly) and I still put my 2.9 dc in it now, she is getting a bit big for it now, but still ok for a short time. It was super comfy when she was younger.

I have no experience about the sling you are asking about though. Sorry.

TarkaTheOtter · 26/07/2013 20:45

I'd be worried a 2nd hand ergo on ebay was just a good fake too though tbh.

I'd go for a cheaper branded carrier or a Mei-tai.

Jinty16 · 26/07/2013 20:46

Be careful if you do buy an ergo from eBay as there are a lot of fakes.

NatashaBee · 26/07/2013 20:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MildDrPepperAddiction · 26/07/2013 20:53

Too cheap to be good quality. Plus it looks really bulky. I have a moby wrap which I find good.

Original poster
VulvaVoom · 26/07/2013 20:55

Yes, the faces on the women kind of hover over the body! It's that old saying I guess 'If it looks too good to be true'......

Thanks for all the responses, I think I will try to bid on the Ergos on Ebay that I am as sure as I can be are genuine - but I always seem to get outbid at the last second.

Also trying other sites and asking on FB am that desperate!

OP posts:
VixZenFenchell · 26/07/2013 20:58

Don't buy any slings without having tried one with your baby. I thought the ergo looked great, was impressed with the reviews - tried one and hated it. It just wasn't comfortable, DS1 couldn't squirm into a position he was happy with, I really couldn't be doing with the straps and dislocating hips faff to get him in.

I tried a Karri-Me thinking it would be rubbish, not supportive, too tricky to wrap - and loved it! Had the boys in it till around 2, then moved to a proper backpack.

Rooners · 26/07/2013 21:04

Don't.

A) it's not in the uK, it's Chinese. Read the small print.

B) it'll be appalling quality and potentially unsafe - bad stitching and design, rotting elastic and probably toxic dyes. Children chew these things, I have an ergo, it's chewed a lot and I know the dye is safe so it's ok.

C) you're supporting a fraudulent industry
D) it's not worth it. It won't last.

Rooners · 26/07/2013 21:07

Oh and also anything that's on ebay is just as likely not to be genuine - even if the owner believes it is.

Amazon mix their genuine ones with fakes in the warehouse, no one checks which one you're getting sent, it's a generic product number that the fake suppliers submit their goods under as well as the genuine ones.

Look on Ergo.eu for a list of the genuine sellers. They are around £70 in a lot of places right now.

Original poster
VulvaVoom · 26/07/2013 21:10

Ok, I'm definitely not getting that one, all really good points.

Vix Quick question - I've been advised that Karri-me and Moby wraps are good but I'm concerned because DD is a chunky 9 month old - I estimate she's around 21-22lbs.

Can I comfortably carry her safely in one? Feel like I would never let her go, which kind of defeats the object Grin

OP posts:
TarkaTheOtter · 26/07/2013 21:12

I don't know about the Karri-me but a 9 month old is probably too big for a moby.

Fillyjonk75 · 26/07/2013 21:14

I've heard/read something bad somewhere about fake slings on eBay and the stitching going, baby almost coming a cropper. Don't do it.

Rooners · 26/07/2013 21:16

even worse

People are still buying these despite being asked presumably to pay by Western Union. I keep reporting them to ebay but they don't do anything.

Rooners · 26/07/2013 21:17

Look at Patapum carriers on ebay, they don't get faked I don't think - they are pretty similar.

I've had a lot of slings and the only one I really feel comfortable wearing is the Ergo...it's worth its weight in gold tbh.

5madthings · 26/07/2013 21:17

Where are you, I have a rather well used ergo if you would like it, its still structurally fine just obviously well loved :)

LlamaLover · 26/07/2013 21:20

Please don't!

What is your budget? I run a sling library and so can probably help you.

A good quality smaller Ergo-like carrier is a Pognae - its Asian so the deminsions are smaller than the US-made Ergo, but its just as good quality. It just won't be any good for plus size people and won't last quite as long as an Ergo in terms of baby's weight/height. New they are £65.

There are also a lot of other budget brand slings around. You can get a new Connecta for £62 or an Action Baby carrier for £65 for example.

Best to rent from a library first (or at leat try on) so you know it fits you both and is comfy.

Happy to answer any more questions for you if you'd like.

PrincessScrumpy · 26/07/2013 21:21

9 mo is not to big for a Moby - I recently dug out my Moby for a long haul flight with 18mo twins. I checked the weights and it was fine (one twin in the Moby and one in a backpack carrier). Used it loads on holiday too, especially when dtd2 got poorly and too tired to walk.

Rooners · 26/07/2013 21:22

Ergos are on offer on a lot of sites, even Debenhams have them (not sure if authorised though?) at around 79.

CSIJanner · 26/07/2013 21:22

Do not buy at £20 on eBay. There are hundreds of fake ergos that don't have enough seam allowance which means if the straps rip, then your baby will fall. It's not worth it. My friend bought a second hand one on eBay at a fair price and it ripped. It was lucky she saw what was happening and she caught DC.

Try FB - look for Affordable Slings as a starting point as its for authentic but cheaper slings/wraps. You could also try your local sling library to have an idea of which one you prefer. I use a rose & rebellion which is fab. Tula's are also good as are Boba3G if you prefer a full buckle sling as opposed to wrapping. If you do go for a second hand ergo, you should ask for the serial number (you can ring it through to ergo to check) or if they have the original shop receipt to prove authenticity. HTH