in thinking that £100 for a sling is crazy?

[DidntWeAlmost]

My DS, 9 weeks is getting bigger. Still only 11lbs but will need a sturdier sling at some point.

I've just been using a long bit of stretchy material that I got off eBay sir £6 (it is amazing and exactly the same as the ones you can spend up to £80/90 on).

Anyway, my dad gave me £50 to get a good sling for him from mothercare.

They do their own brand ones which are £18. I can't see anything wrong with them but a bit reluctant to buy, as some are close to £200!

To me that just seems completely crazy.

AIBU to think that's way too much and actually their own brand sling for £18 is probably fine? Any suggestions?

We weren't living in England when dd2 was born, but I spent way more than that on an Ergo carrier. I used it from her being a new born (with the insert) and I sold it when she was 3. even when she wasn't in it, she would still come to me and cuddle me when I was sitting and fall asleep- it was so worth the money!.

That said, for £18 is it the end of the world if you do have to replace it after not too long? You might find by then that you want to use the pram more anyway - I still love the sling and use it a lot for DS (24 weeks) but it's not my go to in the way it was when he was as little as your DD

@LisaSimpsonsbff I think I'm just going to buy it as it does have good reviews for small babies and just buy a good second hand one if and when it becomes uncomfortable... they do a cool camo one too 😎

Also my DS was only 5lb when born and is still small for his age now so we may get slightly longed out of it :)

My baby is 10 months and weighs 23lb. I’ve used a marsupi since he was 4 weeks. paid £45 new off eBay and definitely worth it. So easy to get on and off which was a priority for me as I had a baby who was in lot of pain with reflux so I didn’t have time to be messing around. Sling library is great if you have one close by, I rented the marsupi from them first to check I liked it

What about a wrap rather than a sling - I used a Kari-Me for my little one years ago. It’s adjustable and lasted for a good few years for me.

www.kari-me.com/

Sorry - just read you have been using a wrap, ignore me. Carry on!

I agree that you should try a sling library if you can. It's a very personal thing.

I bought a kari me sling (long wrap style) 7 years ago off eBay. Original price is £45 but I paid £18 after the previous owner had used it for 2 years. I used it for DD1 on a weekly/ fortnightly basis for 2 years. I then used it for DD2 for approximately 6 hours a day for 7 months and then once a day for a further 6 months. DD3 is 10wo and I've probably used on average every other week. So far it's had a huge amount of use and has been a life saver in many ways.

My advice is try it out first and consider the first 2 years of their life.

Do people really carry 2 year olds round in a sling? I thought slings were just for newborns and maybe up to about 6 months? My back was too bad to consider a sling for my DC but I can't imagine carrying a toddler round in a sling would be comfortable for the toddler or the parent? Different strokes for different folks I guess but I've never seen anyone in real life out with a toddler in a sling.

I'd have a look here itsaslingthing.co.uk
All of those are good brands that will last - you can hire some different styles to try before buying.

Dennis - yes if you have a decent quality sling you can comfortably carry a 3 year old.

Get one from eBay. Wish I had done so

I used a stretchy homemade wrap until 6 months (8kg), then an unstructured (90cm wide length of cotton and two sling rings) homemade ring sling, then a combination of ring sling, Ergo, and umbrella stroller from age 1-2 (9.5-11kg). Ergo was the only more expensive item, but well worth it for longer walks and days out. It's difficult running after a toddler while pushing a stroller as well!

@UhUhUhDennis considering there's a large market of preschooler slings for up to age 5 , I don't think it's that unusual .

Op , a woven wrap is a great idea and yes some of them cost hundreds of pounds , usually ones with silk / wool in them ... you can get great quality 'budget' brands too like Lenny lamb for about £45 . Wraps are great and can be worn in many different ties and will last for years then you'll likely get a very good resale price too .

I've not seen the Mothercare one in real life but looking at the pictures it looks painful once your baby gains any weight.

The seat doesn't look wide enough to support the baby properly. Ideally the seat should reach from about knee the knee. This one isn't adjustable so as your baby grows won't support them properly and may be uncomfortable.

The straps look like the padding will wear thin and it looks a bit like a rucksack ie the straps either fit you or don't. If they don't fit you, they won't be comfortable.

It also looks like you won't be able to wear yoir baby high enough. The baby needs to be as high as possible. If you are wearing your baby at waist height (as often seen with baby Bjorn type carriers) it will hurt your back after a while.

I always preferred wraps to structured carriers but you can get a good one for less than £100.

I started with a wrap but didn't like it, was given a baby born but didn't find it comfortable, so after much research I bought a rose and rebellion for £79.

I got in touch with my local sling library to make sure I was using it right, and they let me try some others I had liked the look of. I love my r&r now, it's really comfortable. my 6m old is about 17lbs . I would really recommend finding yours and trying some out before you buy.

I regularly see people carrying toddlers, I don't think it's that unusual. The mothercare one doesn't look like you could adjust it fully to fit either you or baby. Watch videos on YouTube to learn how to carry properly.

If you're buying second hand a Facebook group will be better than ebay.

I can guarantee that mother care carrier will be OK for short periods with a baby under 6 months but will destroy your back beyond that.
From 6-9 months you will need to be able to put the baby on your back if you want to be comfortable for longer periods.

I think the more expensive ones carry the baby better. The cheaper ones are not so great for their hips. They sort of dangle, rather than sit in them.

I had an ergo and loved it, then traded it in for a toddler tula which I still use for (very!) short journeys with my 4.5yo.

Worth every penny, imo.

Uhuhuhdennis - a decent carrier will allow you to carry a child for years. The issue is that a lot of the type sold in places like Mothercare when used with children heavier than a few months cause issues and pain because they aren't very ergonomic.

When I wore my daughter 9 years ago, there were very few options and it was quite specialist. I used wraps which was pretty much unseen here. I wore her until she was 3 I think and then stopped because she was huge. My friend has a tiny 6 year old and still wears her occassionally.

I miss wearing my daughter.

I never felt like my £100+ carrier was expensive because I used it way more than I ever used the pram, and that cost a lot more than £100.

Do people really carry 2 year olds round in a sling? I didn't use mine much after my child turned two as he was a good walker and didn't nap. I used them most of the time until two because I found it difficult to take care of a toddler who wanted to walk (walking at 11 months) and a stroller at the same time.

If you don't like it then don't buy it. Easy.

A second hand Ergobaby will be about £50 or less and I totally recommend it.

I still carry my toddler in the Ergobaby 360, best bit of kit I have and worth the investment. You can put them on your back too when they get heavier which makes it easier to carry them.