Can I make my own sling?

[SilentBoob]

what do I need to know?

I can sew.

I don't know much about slings though. How do I decide what to make?

Any advice or points in the right direction appreciated.

I made my own pouch sling from fleece. It was a piece of cake.

What kind of sling did you have in mind?

I made a meitai. It was very easy, lots of measuring and then sewing straight lines. There was a pattern on t'internet somewhere.

What kind of sling do I have in mind? Good question. Not sure.

Not one with masses and masses of fabric because we live in a very hot part of the world and the baby would bake.

Perhaps something I can bf in?

Something fairly simple to use?

I have quite hefty babies.

My back isn't in the best shape but all the quick, easy slings seem to be one-shoulder ones.

Will be using it mostly to lift baby out of the car seat and pop on so I have my hands free when dropping off and picking up my other two children or generally rushing about.

'Make' in Bath do a sling workshop every now and then, may be a nice treat for you if you are local.

About 4000 miles away, but thanks for the idea though!

How old? You can make a stretchy wrap sling extremely easily, but they will only last until 9 months or so. Otherwise your best bet is a mei tai I would have said. Although for quick carries you really can't beat a ring sling. You can make thos fairly easily. Try searching (you'll probably need to buy proper ring sling rings online).

Not born yet, but hoping to use from newborn.

It sounds as though no one sling will do, but a progression from one to another might work.

Mei Tei looks fab from about 4 or 5 months.

I bought a moby sling wrap, but being honest any long 4/5 metre stretchy type fabric would be fine. DD was in it from 5 weeks until about 7 months when she was too fidgety to like being constrained. I know people move on from them after a certain weight, though if you look on the moby website you can see other wrap techniques that may be good for longer use.

Now I use a back carrier as she is a nosy so and so and she can move about a bit more, surprised it hasn't played havoc with my back, was expecting it to be much more uncomfy.

It may be worth having a nosy at other designs and seeing if you can replicate a few options for use. Some slings may not suit your shape, my big baps meant the baba sling was out the window as my boobs took up more space than the baby.

You could make something like the closer wrap which is like a top but holds little once close and snugly.

You can definitely use a mei tai from birth. Newborns are best off in upright carries anyway.

Mei tei all the way. Google around for patterns and go for it! I made loads when DS was little they are dead easy.

Would NOT recommend a one-shoulder sling if you have back problems.

I carried DS in a mei tei regularly until he was about 2 (stopped when I got pg) and actually it really helped my back, no stooping over a pram and really built up my core muscles.