ok sling experts, come and help me choose (am very picky I'm afraid)

[deaconblue]

I want a sling for dc2 (due May) so that I can bung baby in it at the park and round the house and have hands free for ds. We had a Baby Bjorn style one for ds and it took 2 of us and lots of tears from ds to get him in it. This time I need a sling that I can just lay baby in and sling on like a handbag. No complicated knots and buckles as I am hopelessly coordinated and won't be able to work them. I have big babes so needs to be big enough for a porker too.
Have seen this
premax
any good?

If you want a sling then I have to have to recomend the storchenwiege
I have this and it is fab, my son is now 18months and i still use it-never uncomfortable, easy to use and no pulling, pain in shoulders-honestly cant recommend it highly enough

Even in that premax piccie see how the modle is leaning back, you dont want to do that-back ache!
When you wear a sling you shouldnt feel any pulling across the shoulders or back, no need to arch your back iyswim.
Ive tried quite a few slings and carriers in my time-it is very tricky to find a good one, for me it was the storchenwiege but it may well be different fo you.

shopping - i tried it and tbh - i found it as much hassle as any others. i also bought the babsling with buckles - i couldnt seem to adjust it to fit me right. I'm like you in relation to knots and complications but i found a mei tai the best - easy to use and get on / off.

thanks imum
is it really easy to do that buckle bit? Can it be done before the baby is put in?
Trouble I had last time was trying to adjust straps while baby screamed - too stressful.

ok mei tai, will google

If you live anywhere near Faversham in Kent, you could go to my friend's shop and try them on (shameless plug for friend's lovely shop.......)

fraid not, but does she have a website?
Wish I'd tried some on before getting pregnant as bump is now so huge it wouldn't sit right anyway to get a good idea

Don't know - hang on, I'll ring and ask!

here it is!

No it isn't - that'll teach me not to preview - hang on!

this is more like it!

it is litteral a knot you know and I do tie it loosely befor i put bubs in, get hime sorted and comfy and then just pull the 2 pieces of material really tight and know them-honestly i would lie to you, its really easy!

Also forgot to mention that when you buy one you get a really good detailed with piccies guide on how to tie it in the different holds.
I also think there is a video too?!?

I could never get on with those ring sling I use a pocket one Just one piece of material.. get the fleecy one and its got a bit more streach so a bigger baby can sleep in it! I love mine
Here

The Wilkinet sling seems hopelessly complicated, and fastens with some kind of Gordian knot that only a career in the Scouts could make clear.

Do not fear.

I have mitts like boxing gloves and can put one on in seconds. If you've got time to practise, I recommend it. If you don't, I can't help - sorry!

A ring sling is really, really easy to use - chuck over head and body, stick baby in either facing you upright, or lying down, and pull on the tail of material. No knots, buckles or other fastenings to deal with. Mine lasted until DS was around 25 lbs and then I moved to a Mei Tai, but I still use it sometimes now when we just need a quick pickup (he's 21 months and 16.5kg ish)

You can pick them up cheap on the Yahoo UKBabywearing Swap group, and if theres a SlingMeet in your area then you can pop along and try other peoples on and get some advice.

I've used the Tricotti for ages and loved it. No buckles, no straps, no hassle.

gosh the freedom sling woman designed it to use for her TWELFTH child! That's got to be hard work!
Like the look of the freedom pouch, looks easy but comfy too

So comfy!!! I still use it at 7 months.. the tomy baby carrier I had for the other two They were too heavy to wear for any length of time from about 3 months onwards.. this spreads the baby weight out SO well I can still not bother taking the buggy out for a day out.
I sopund like an advert.. sorry!
12 kids sounds like the stuff of nightmares.. I'm totally swamped by 3! (but they're fab and I wouldn't swap it for the world! I guess she feels the same!)

Hi,
Ive got a baby sling that I use for my very long 7 month old. I got it from vert baudet and it comes with photos and clear instructions for all the different ways to wear it. there are no buckles. The way I wear it (baby facing my chest) I only need to tie 2 ordinary knots. I agree with jellies about the comfort. It shows you how to tie the baby to our back if you want to. Its great.

I have a couple of wrap slings (Calin bleu, Moby) and am recommending them to anyone who is pregnant!

They are so comfy, I can wear my very clingy 12 week old all day without even feeling his weight. They don't pull on your neck/back/shoulders, and once on you can just lift baby in and out (so no faffing with straps etc). I frequently use mine to get ds to sleep and then take him out and lie him in his cot.

You can tie them in different ways, or just use one basic tie to put baby in different positions-my ds hated lying down in the cradle hold so I've just had him upright from birth but it is good to have that flexibility-many other slings don't give you that option until baby is able to support their head well.

I can also carry my 21 month old in it-I haven't tried for long periods but on a quick trip out it was fine and no backache etc (even when I was pregnant with ds).

Any wrap sling is great! I prefer the stretchy ones, especially for younger babies because it is easier to get them in and out and they seem more snuggly for a newborn but the woven ones are also good.

Have you thought about hiring a sling to see what you would like best? I'm just about to buy yet another one when i found a few shops hire them out.
www.slingjax.com/ is the one i'm looking at.

I have to reccommend the KARI ME sling (available from www.thatcuteage.com) It can be used in loads of positions including laying down, facing forwards, backward and also on your back when baby is older. It's suitable for toddlers too and is really nice strong material. My 6 and half month old already weighs 23lbs so he's a chunk but he fits in it lovely. It's nice as there are no horrible straps or buckles which used to really annoy my ds when I strapped him in my old Tomy one.

I was a bit worried when it arrived as the different positions looked really complicated but they're really not. They all have the same basic starting knot which is so easy, basically just wrap it round you the way it tells you to and tie a double knot, simple! The instructions are really easy to follow too.

God, I sound like I work for them, honest I don't!!! It's just a really good sling!

OK, that was my friends input. My advice would be to get a fleecy pouch one. No flapping about with straps and also really comfy. The only one my fussy dd (7 months) would tolerate! Wow, we are really confusing you now!

It all comes down to what you are comfy with and whether you have a baby who likes to cuddle and snuggle or a nosey parker who wants to see everything! I agree that you should try renting one, there are so many to choose from, it's confusing knowing which one to buy.

I would get a wrap (eg kari me or calin bleu) and or a mei tei (i've got a babyhawk) but would also not be without a coorie www.brightsparkslings.co.uk/slings.htm#coorie
quick and easy, cuddly, just brilliant - and much cheaper than other slings. well worth having more than one sling imo - one for long walks out and about, one quick and easy for around the house and short trips.

but if i had to choose my desert island sling it would have to be the Coorie. just fab. hth