Being dim, how do I add myself to the stats list? I can't get it to accept new entries.
Right, am on PC, so promised sling post!
The types of sling most commonly used for newborns are stretchy slings, like the Moby. They are very comfortable for you and your baby, and you can pop the baby in and out without undoing them. Some women are able to feed in them which is handy. They are not particularly expensive and often available pretty cheaply secondhand too. Cons are that some people think they look too complicated (I've found you get the hang of them really quickly), if you're short and/or very thin, it can seem like a lot of material, men are often not keen on them as they don't look very 'masculine', and most people find their babies are too heavy for one by six months, despite the manufacturers claims. A variety of the stretchy, growing in popularity, is the Close Caboo type of sling, which is basically a ready-tied stretchy. Same benefits and fewer of the cons but not as versatile.
An alternative to stretchies is woven wraps, which is essentially the same idea but non-stretchy material. These come in a huge variety of colours, materials and cost, so they can be addictive! The stretchy slings can be a bit warm in hot summer and you can get thinner material in woven wraps - I have a lovely gauze one called a Calin Bleu. A woven wrap is suitable for a wide range of ties, including back and side carries, so will last you into the toddler years if you become an enthusiast.
The other type of sling suitable for newborns is a structured carrier like a Manduca or an Ergo (some need a newborn insert) which will also take you right through. They are more expensive than a stretchy or most wovens, but are designed to last. (NB, although Baby Bjorns LOOK like these, they are very different. Baby Bjorns mostly do not offer the same level of back support for the adult (I believe the newest version attempts to address this - don't know how well), and you can't carry a baby into toddler years. The outfacing position used so often in the Baby Bjorn is not good for the baby's hip development - other types of carriers facilitate the 'froggy' position, which is the most comfortable and supportive way to carry a baby and toddler). Structured carriers have the benefit of being more widely acceptable to men (my husband will wear any sling but does prefer ones with buckles!) and quicker to get on. They are though slightly less snuggly for a newborn.
The main thing is to google and see if you have a local (or semi-local) sling library or meet. Often the sling you like the sound of ends up not suiting you or your baby, and it can be an expensive mistake if you've bought new. Sling libraries let you try on lots of slings with your baby to see what you like, and borrow them for a week or two to try out.
There are many other types of sling but probably not ones that most people would start off with with a newborn. But you can have a look at them at a library and get some idea of where you might go from your first sling.
For disclosure, I've used and liked stretchies, wovens, an Ergo and Manduca, a ring sling, a mai-tai, a Hoppadiz, which is a semi-structured, and a Close caboo. Neither of my pair went into their prams until about five months!