ring sling, wrap sling or hip seat?

[magicfairy]

DS is 7 months and 21lb and loves to be carried, esp on my hip. Have a backpack thing which he enjoys but want something not as bulky for the summer festies etc and also something i can have in my bag for unprepared times when i dont have buggy or backpack and have to carry him for longer than 5 mins. Have been looking at wrap slings and have heard great things about them but only know people who have had newborns in them and they have not tried them in way other than on the front. So, i was wondering what anyone would recommend?

Okay, I had all three so here goes!
My ring sling was great as a hip and front carrier but now DD is 14 months it is pulling on my shoulder (I have dodgy shoulders) and I can't wear it for more than a few minutes without it hurting.
The hip seats put all of the weight through your hips so are much more comfy, mine has been passed onto a friend who has a very bad back and she can wear it for hours, I have carried my friends 3 year old in it, but they are VERY bulky.
A wrap or mei tai is probably my fave as you can use it for a hip sling but then you can also put them on your back or front if you will be carrying him for a while and spread the weight across both shoulders.
Try here for info on different carriers!

Should have added I keep a mei tai in my handbag all the time, it takes up less space than a nappy would and my wrap takes up about the same, so would be perfect just to have on you in case.

I bought a hipseat because my friend said it was great. I really hate it! See if you can try before you buy!

Or get it from ebay so you can sell it on!

I borrowed one to try it before I did and so did another friend, she hated it as well so you are not alone goingfor3!

I love my ergo but that's not easy to carry around. I also used a Coorie with dd to carry her on my hip when she was tired out shopping (kept it in my bag)

Hip seat - one of the black ones that is plain (hippychick) and then simply wear it all the time. I spent a couple of years in mine only taking it off to drive the car. It works best if you always use it, rather than save it up for special occassions, and it does mould itself to you - the first time I wore it it seemed very uncomfy, but now it's totally the same shape as my hip.

I am clearing out all my baby stuff - but I won't sell the hip seat as it is useful for baby sitting.

i havent tried the others but brought a hip seat the other day (black hippychick) off someone from mn and it is brilliant!! can use it for both ds (6 month) and dd (2 yrs) it is a lot more comfortable than the baby carrier (one on your front) that i had before, and lasts up until they are 3 which is brill! it also doesnt take up a lot of space to take out in case dd gets tired walking!

Your 7 month old will soon be a squirmy toddler who's moods will change like the wind and won't be able to decide whether he wants to be up or down. For that reason alone I'd go with the hip seat if it suits your shape. Other than that I just keep a wrap sling with me most of the time but it can be a faff getting them up/down a lot.

I have a hip seat for 18 month, not yet walking, 27lb ds.

It is by far the best piece of baby equipment I have ever bought however I appreciate that others on here are not so keen.

I can carry ds for a good length of time no problem and it has saved me a fortune at the chiropractors!

This is the best hip carrier I have ever used ellaroo hip carrier . Dh and I have worn it out. In fact dh took ds to the CM today in it (on the bus) and ds is 2.5 years old.

I can still carry ds in this for ages sometime it is so comfy.

We also have a hippy chick but I don't like that as much as I can't have both hands free.