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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Which sling for breast feeding?

18 replies

tlat · 17/05/2011 09:12

Hi, I have posted on here with my troubles in getting out and about as DD is a very frequent BF-er. One the the useful suggestions that was brought up was to try a sling to BF on the go. What are you using and would you reccomend it. I am really keen to at least get thru' a grocery shop or at least standing in line waiting to pay without having to stop in betweeen! Many thanks in advance for taking the time to post a reply!

OP posts:

ninedragons · 17/05/2011 09:19

I like my Snugli for that reason. One of the straps is fixed, but if you unclip the other one, baby drops down to 45' angle and is the perfect height for latching on. Problem is that you can only feed from the same boob every time you do this, so it would work for a grocery shopping outing but not for all three days of the Glastonbury Festival, for example.

I don't think it'd be a great sling for older babies - doesn't seem like there's a lot of room in there. But up to about 5 months, it should be great.

claire196 · 17/05/2011 09:37

I have a beco butterfly which in theory allows you to unclip one side and drop baby down to boob height. However I've found this almost impossible to do (although otherwise it's a great sling). If you search youtube there are a couple of videos of people feediing with this sling which might give you an idea if it could work for you. Also ring slings could be worth a look. When baby is small it works as a sort of hammock and once bigger they can sit on your hip and feed. Again, hasn't worked well for me but could just be my boobs (they are huge and sadly rather low). Good luck!

japhrimel · 17/05/2011 22:54

Ring sling. I don't have one but do have a Babasling, which is very similar except you can't adjust it when on and it is great for bfing apart from the fact you can't adjust it when on! I know ring slings are what Dr Sears and his wife recommend too.

misdee · 17/05/2011 22:57

honestly? its hard, and a skill that needs to be learnt.

i am a seasoned breastfeeder and have carried 3 children in slings. i only managed to breastfeed ONCE using a sling. loomin gutting.

but a good excuse to sit down and have a coffee when bubs needs feeding.

also if baby is a slingwhilst you go about the shop etc, you may not need to stop and feed as i find motion keeps bubs asleep.

www.slingguide.co.uk

Original poster

tlat · 18/05/2011 19:33

Hmmm...thanks....still looking into this....some of the instruction videos make it look so fiddly just to get on!

OP posts:

japhrimel · 18/05/2011 22:00

Ring slings are also super simple.

I also have a Close carrier and have tried a BabyBjorn and I can't feed DD in either.

Laska · 19/05/2011 09:17

I have fed in a moby wrap - not easy though!

ShowOfHands · 19/05/2011 09:20

Never, ever managed it and dd was a frequent feeder, fed for 3.4yrs in the end and I persevered with slings for the first year. I could NOT get the angle right at all. I needed cushions and props and supports to get her on. I was so frustrated by it in the end. I had ring slings, wraps, coories, ergo etc etc.

coldcomfortHeart · 19/05/2011 13:01

Noooo!

I am determined to bf DC2 in a sling, it's the only way anything will get done with DS1!

I've borrowed a moby, and have an ergo... off to youtube search now

Mishy1234 · 19/05/2011 13:47

I have fed in an Ergo, but only once DS2 was relatively big (9 months). You kind of loosen off the shoulder straps to drop them down a bit and they feed in an upright position. Tbh the latch wasn't that great and it was in a moment of desperation that I first tried (bucketing rain and nowhere to go inside or sit down), but it did do the trick. The downside now is that he knows he CAN feed in the sling, so starts rooting when he decides he just fancies a bit of milk and not necessarily hungry.

Also, be mindful of what you're wearing if you want to feed in a sling. I found a vest top (which you can drop down) under a buttoned top which can be opened was easiest. I found that trying to pull up a top is a bit tricky with a baby in a sling.

I have heard that ring slings are one of the best for breastfeeding in, but I've never had one so can't comment from experience.

Mishy1234 · 19/05/2011 13:51

I've just re-read my post and it does sound very negative.

The thing is that you CAN feed in all types of slings (I have friends who do in Mei-tais (sp?)). It's just one of those things you have to give a go and keep practicing. Once the baby and you get the hang of it, it can been a really useful skill to have.

Original poster

tlat · 19/05/2011 19:25

Hmm...I am keen to have a go with a ring sling, but the prices vary so much, has anyone tried a cheapo one and an expensive one? Are the expensive ones really better or just prettier?
Thanks!

OP posts:

coldcomfortHeart · 19/05/2011 20:05

tlat I see the BabaSlings in TK Max all the time and have heard good things about them- there's probably not much in it. Like the Moby, I mean it's just a great length of jersey and it costs 30-odd quid new!

misdee · 19/05/2011 20:34

the babasling is awful and very hard to adjust.

join naturalmamas.co.uk and check out the fsot boaerds there :)

FaintlyMacabre · 19/05/2011 22:09

The only type of sling i can feed in is a ring sling. I start with the baby upright in a tummy to tummy hold, then loosen the rings and move him into the cradle hold with his head on the other side to the rings. Then latch on and tighten the rings until he's supported by the fabric. I have managed to breastfeed while pushing a shopping trolley and chasing an errant toddler, which I would never have thought possible with DS1!
However, I have never managed to feed successfully in any other sling- the way that Mishy1234 has described doesn't work for me at all as I am quite short-bodied and have a very long baby- to get his head at the right height to latch on he would need to have his bottom at my thigh level!

I have an expensive ring sling but I think a cheaper one would probably be just as good- I mostly wanted it because it was pretty

Okonomiyaki · 20/05/2011 08:09

I've also had no luck feeding in a sling - I thought it was just me! I've got all sorts of slings but as SoH says it's so difficult finding the right angle etc. And my ds also likes switching from side to side very frequently.

I have, like Mishy, managed to feed in the Ergo a couple of times as it is fairly straightforward to loosen and then tighten one of the straps but it's not all that comfortable. Tbh I only bother with that when out on walks - far nicer to use it as an excuse to have a coffee!

About feeding when out and about in general though...keep persevering! Ds is and always has been an incredibly frequent feeder (now 6.5 months) and without the confidence to feed outside I would have been practically housebound. What has made the difference for me - aside from just forcing myself to do it - was having the right clothes. I know a lot of people do the vest under a top thing but I felt too exposed.

I got the long cheap mat vests from H&M and cut a horizontal slit just under the bust so I can wear that under a top. The top goes down and that pulls up. I also got a couple of actual Breastfeeding dresses from mama.licious on ASOS which I love.

Good luck. At first I was petrified but now I can feed everywhere and anywhere and it is great! I have fed walking down the high street, on trains, in cafes, on planes, at the top of a castle...it's very liberating!

mawbroon · 20/05/2011 09:15

I managed to feed ds2 in the ergo from a couple of weeks old. It involved loosening the straps, turning him and the baby insert round to face me and then tightening the straps up again.

Once he got big enough to ditch the insert, I continued to sit him sideways in the sling so that all I had to do was tip him back a bit to let him latch.

He sits facing towards me now (he's 14months) and I can drop him down so that his face is at boob height.

I had the ergo for ds1 from about age 2, and hadn't expected to be able to bf using it tbh, but thought I would give it a go before spending money on another sling.

RobynLou · 20/05/2011 09:21

I managed to feed DD1 in a mei tai, pattapum and a babasling. I honestly can't tell you how now though! It wasn't until she was 6m+ and was in desperation...

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