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 have a Tula free to grow £130 but really great and knocks spots off cheaper slings I have

Try the Facebook group called "affordable slings for sale or trade" or something similar. A second hand manduca is an excellent buy, usually about £40 and will last until about 2 years.

Baby Björn-type carriers (which that Mothercare one looks like) aren't 'slings', and they're really bad for the baby's hips due to the position they hang sit in. Facing them outwards also isn't recommended. You need something where the weight doesn't hang on their hips. I made the Baby Björn mistake with my first. Used a Marsupi with my last two dc - switched to a Manduca with dc2 when he was about 7 months and carried on with that for another year or so. With dc3, who was very light, I used the Marsupi to 18mo+. She was never in a pram and dc2 went in about 5 times in total.

(The Manduca is quite like the Ergo. The Marsupi is a bit Mei Tai-like but has velcro straps)

Ergo - worth every penny. I am no hippy chick but found it so easy to use mine - carried 18 month old on walks and school run. Much preferred it to a push chair as I had hands free was very happy on my back

@UhUhUhDennis my 2 year old is regularly in a sling - much easier tgan a bulky buggy. my 5 year old occasionally goes in one if sick. i’m petite and under 5ft, with a good, fitting sling not a problem at sll

Please do not buy the Mothercare one!! You really need an ergonomic wide based carrier as that will be much much more comfortable for baby and you, and narrow based carriers can worsen any underlying hip issues. Please don't risk your baby's comfort. You can get secondhand ergonomic carriers like a connecta for around £40. Or a woven wrap for a similar price which is very versatile.

I just brought a cheap £30 sling with dc1, i hardly used it as he got to heavy, the same happened with dc2 and 3. With dc4 i invested in a connecta, £70 worth of sling, it felt very extravagant but i still use it occasionally and dc4 is 3.5 years old. I must admit i do wish i had researched and invested the money in a decent sling with dc1. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

We got a baby bjorn too. I think it was £100. Seemed good value to me.

I'd never recommend a Baby Bjorn. Terrible for the baby's hips. I had a stretchy wrap for the first few months, then a Mei tai that I got from a seller on Etsy for around £25. I loved it so much, I still have it even though my dc are 4 and 6, because I can't bring myself to part with it. I used it everyday for well over a year and a lake. I used to carry DS2 on my back, with DS1 in the trolly when I did the weekly shop, and nine times out of ten he'd be asleep in it before I'd finished the first aisle. Lovely memories :)

I had the mothercare one and it was ok but not that comfy. I splashed out on an ergo and used it every day often walking for several hours, the difference was so noticable and you can get baby in and out in seconds. It made such a difference but dont know if other brands between the two price points would be as good. If you have one zi would get to a sling library!

When DD was small I would have agreed with you, we used a cheap stretchy wrap everywhere. Now she is a chunky, tall and determined toddler I absolutely adore my ergo 360. No one bats an eyelid at spending £500+ for a push chair and I use our sling far more.

Also a lot of the cheaper ones are awful for babies hips. I see so many babies with legs just dangling down.
My DD had severe hip dysplasia at birth so it's something I'm more aware of but whatever you get it must hold your baby in the frog position.

I have a Beco 8 and it's been absolutely amazing. It does cost £100, but can be used up to 20kg, you can front, hip and back carry, there's a zip down panel that helps keep baby cooler in the summer. I've used it so much I think it's definitely worth the money. I've comfortably carried my 18 month old on an all-day hike! Highly recommended!

I'd second seeing if you've got a sling library close to you. I think the cheaper ones might not have the same comfort levels as something more pricey, but it depends what you'll be using it for and for how long! :)

The point is that when the baby is a newborn and very light, most slings and stretchy wraps will be fine (as long as they worn correctly and safely) but as the baby gets bigger and heavier, it's very important to have a good quality carrier that will be ergonomic and comfortable for you.

We have an Ergobaby Adapt that was about £100 and worth every penny. There's also the Tula Free to Grow which is similar and looks great. If you could get a good quality second hand one of those, it would be worth it.

IMO you get what you pay for and buying cheap stuff is a waste when you end up not using it and/or having to replace it.

We had an own brand the BB copy with the first baby. It was OK, but he was too heavy/sling was too uncomfortable by 5 months. Got an actual BB with the second child, and used it comfortably to 9 months, DH too. He has back problems and only carried the first baby for 2-3 months.

I would have got an Ergo if I’d known about them.

Have you googled to see if there is a Sling Library near you?

I like my connecta as it folds away so small and light when not using. I have a toddler one now and often put my 3 year old in it for long walks with dogs, school run when in a hurry, airports etc. tried one st the sling library and they helped me source a second hand one to buy. Love it

I wouldn't get a cheap one. I've had one £90 Beco which has done 3 kids, plus a lot of woven wraps over the years, many for consideration more than £100. I can see and feel the difference and used/use them regularly.

But I don't get why some spend a lot of prams/pushchairs so 🤷

Like anything else you often get what you pay for.

I have a Tula, which cost £139. Worth every single penny. Little one is 14 months and I still carry her in it regularly.

A decent ergonomic carrier will last a long time. The Mothercare one is cheap and probably great for a small baby, but once your baby starts getting bigger. No chance. With slings, you absolutely do get what you pay for. I wouldn't be without my Tula, but they are very personal .

Definitely try hiring one first, it's a Sling thing mentioned by a previous poster are excellent and once you find the "right Sling" you'll wonder why you wasted your money buying something cheaper

I bought a boba 3G for over a £100 and it was worth every single penny. I used it daily for over 2 years! I loved it. I passed it onto a friend and I was so sad to see it go. I could carry for hours as the support in it was just fantastic which you don't get from the cheaper slings. It grew with my little girl no problem and she was so comfy she used to do a little happy dance when I got it out

I'd really consider getting a new brilliant one rather than a cheaper ok one.

I bought a Connecta and Ergobaby second hand off ebay, both for about £40. Having been given a cheap one, the more expensive ones are sooooo much better. Far more comfortable for you.

If you don't want to spend on a full price one, do check ebay. Some are pretty much new. Or google/facebook sling libaries near you. These let you try out different slings and hire them before you commit to one

I had a cheapo mothercare one for ds1 and the straps dug in to my shoulders, he sat so low and I just didn't like it. Fast forward a few years and I bought a Boba for Ds2 when he was about two months old. I absolutely adore it. Straps are wide and comfy, he sits nice and high, it has a zipped money/phone pouch, it can take him up to 48 months and it can be worn on my front or back. Cost per use? About 0.02p, we have been everywhere in it.

I had a storchenwiege which was nearly £100.
I carried ds2 until he was 4 in it, he’s 8 now and I can still get him in a back carry with it (we found it the other week and was curious!)
I used it loads when the dc were younger, I had one in the buggy, one on a buggy board and one in the sling.

BabyBjorn don't let the baby sit in a supported position (they leave legs dangling from hip sockets rather than supporting up to back of the knees. Rent or buy something like a Tula, Rose and Rebellion or Boba and you will resell it for nearly as much as you paid. Sling library is your friend.

We have a Lillebaby one. It was over £100 but it can be used from 7-45 lbs. DS wasn't comfortable in any of the others we had tried and we are still using it for him now that he's a toddler and has outgrown his pushchair.