Which Sling?

[loopybear]

Hi

I'm a children centre teacher for a new build children centre and we need to spend money before end of finacial year. One of the ideas that came from a Breast feeding counsellor was to have a "Sling Library", so Mum's can borrow / trial different slings before they purchase one. So my question is which slings would you recommend we had available to trail? The breast feeding counsellor recommended the Moby Sling.

Also anything else you'd like to see if a children centre particularly for breast feeding (or anything else)

Thank you

I think it's a great idea. but make sure you have someone really knowledgable on board so that they can help mums get the most out of the slings and problem-shoot for them if they're having problems.
it would be easy to be put off something like a wrap simply because you can't get the hang of it, when someone who has experience could probably really help you out.

but def agree with Moby, they're fab.
a mei tai (cwtshi are lovely)
a ring sling with adjustable rails (ellaroo perhaps? or bara barn?)
a soft structured carrier, like an ergo or patapum
a pouch sling
a woven wrap like a girasol, storchenwiege, calin bleu etc

For Bfing in, then a stretchy wrap(such as the Moby), a ring sling (open tail, unpadded or lightly padded rails such as Bara Barn or Ellaroo), one of the hybrids (like the Close), and then a MeiTai (BabyHawk), woven wrap and SSC (like Connecta) for older babies/toddlers would be great.

Depending on budget, either buying new from one of the retailers (ask about a discount for bulk), or buy from UKBabyWearingSwap for second hand.

Nappy library would be great to borrow - esp tiny newborn nappies as they are in them such a short time.

Books like 'mothering your nursing toddler', 3 in the bed, Gill Rapleys BLW book, Womanly art of bfing would all be great to borrow.

And I forgot - if there isn't one already, a hospital grade (or near) breast pump that could be hired out as needed. The Lactaline is cheap enough you could get a couple with all the spare bits.

Also an assortment of different bfing cushions so that ladies who come to bfing group can try them out.

Nice chairs to bf in at group - don't need to be very special, but comfy to sit in for some time, with arms, and footstools

Go onto www.slingmeet.co.uk and see if there is a local sling group first - then see if they would get involved, maybe by doing sling demos, suggesting different slings for different people etc (ie you need to be aware that while moby wraps and other stretchy wraps are fantastic for newborns and beginners they are not very supportive for an older, heavier baby.)

For breastfeeding you could set up a peer support group, where pregnant ladies can chat to breastfeeding mums. It would be fantastic if you could get a trained breastfeeding counsellor for a drop in session once a week or more, (in a perfect world the drop in would be every day) but I don't know how much that would cost. (Although it sounds like you are in contact with one already?)

Oh and some of these posters!

Ooooh, I've recently set up a sling library for my local NCT, am happy to chat to you about it if you'd like to CAT me??
Meanwhile, the Close Baby Carrier is always very popular as it is very easy to put on, so doesn't seem to scary for those not used to slings.

Sorry, I hadn't read the whole thread, I agree with other posters that the Close, or other proper stretchy wraps won't be great for older babies so you will need to stock the SSCs / Ergo-style carriers too...

Thank you for your help. We have an NCT breastfeeding counsellor working with us and our Mum to Mum breastfeeding group. She's suggested a special bean bag and a couple of low chairs, as well as the sling library. Will investigate if we could have a breast pump or if we could support local birth centre / NCT with breast pump loans.

windup how do I CAT? it would be great to see how someone else set up a library.

Will look at whether we can do a nappy library I certainly would have found that helpful.

Any more ideas would be welcome.

hmm, good question! I know I paid to be able to CAT but can't see where to do it on here.

Oh well, I'm on windupbird45 at yahoo dot co dot uk and I can let you know what we have in our library and how we set it up etc.

pouch slings are great but you will need a few in varying sizes as the go by the size of the user - however, they are v. simple and quick to make on a sewing machine and the pattern is available online.