Breastfeeding slings

[twizzlestix]

Hi I'm planning on Breastfeeding when my little one arrives in 13 weeks and wanted sling advice.

I'd like a sling I can use to carry baby (hands free) and that I can discreetly BF in if in supermarket etc Do these exist? This is my first DC and I am a little clueless tbh. I don't know brands etc and am not too fussed on price as long as it does the job :)

Thank you

They certainly do exist, and the options can be overwhelming! Stretchy wraps are nice for little babies, something like a Moby or Caboo, and they have perhaps less of a learning curve than a woven wrap or mei tai/soft structured carrier.

There is a sling forum on Mumsnet somewhere and I'm sure there'd be wise people there to advise, but I also firmly recommend going along to a Sling Meet or Sling Library (can't link sorry, but google and you'll find the website), as there's nothing quite like real life demo's and assistance.

I've only really got into baby wearing in the last couple of months (DS is 8mo), but had a Caboo which I used a lot when he was tiny and really wish I'd learned how to BF in it. Big regret as I think it would have improved my motibilty (if that's the right word) no end.

I have a caboo which I find pretty brill - i haven't mastered her being in it, wandering around bf'ing, but what I do do is put her on a boob, then one of the sling straps (wide piece of fabric) over her head for discretion, and support with my arm as per usual, then get the other sling strap round her bottom to support her there - it means nobody sees anything and I have at least one arm free and with her being a heavy baby, it's much easier to carry her that way.

Whatever you do, don't get one designed like a Baby Bjorn/Mothercare style one, they're no good. And carrying your baby facing outwards isn't a good idea either.

I recommend a Sleepy Wrap (a particular brand of stretchy wrap) for when they're young, and a soft structured carrier (like an Ergo or Manduca) for when they get too heavy for that.

I can feed in my Mei Tai (which is a type not a brand) . Bear in mind that both breastfeeding and babywearing are skills to learn and doing them together can be tricky particularly walking about. In general I think Jersey type sling help with discrete feeding but aren't great fo feeding and moving. You would need something like a MeiTai, soft structured (Ergo) or a woven wrap.

Would a Kari Me be any use?

No experience of it, but it is a stretchy fabric sling like some of the others mentioned here and their website said it was possible to bf when wearing it.