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Original poster

Baby Carriers / Slings

171 replies

Flashman · 29/05/2008 20:21

Hi - Just wondering where other chaps stand on the issue of the babycarriers (slings and things like that) We are due our first in 55 days (not that I am counting!!), and I was chatting to some mates on the subject of slings and carriers and the general view is that men that do wear them look "Pussy whipped" is how it was explained. For my sins I tend to see that point of view more so than any others. I mentioned it today at work and most of the females tend to think grow up - but the men tended to agree, but none of them have children either.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PInkyminkyohnooo · 30/05/2008 16:52

I mean ebay the sling, not the baby, BTW

DearHusband · 30/05/2008 18:18

I wore DD as soon as she was old enough to go in a Mai Tai. Its black with a blue/silvery pattern on it. DW was going to buy me an urban cammo one, but we never got round to it.

Never had a negative reaction to it from any male mates and it was indeed popular with the ladies.

Oh and its 1000% easier than a pram and nothing looks more like a prat than a bloke with a pram!

Original poster

Flashman · 30/05/2008 19:01

hmmm I wonder what I would get for pinky on e bay then?

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Original poster

Flashman · 30/05/2008 19:05

Dear husband (not a salutation i ever thought I would write!)

Perhaps the pram think is for me I am more conditioned - or better to say used to - a pram and such - I have only really seen carriers really being used in any numbers fairly recently - oh course i will qualify that with I have not put in the leg work for other places than the general area of Leicester and Luton.

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DearHusband · 31/05/2008 14:50

It doesn't take much messing around with a pram before you realise what monunental pain in the arse they are. Carriers don't take much getting used to, DW throws DD on her back with the greatest of ease. This will quickly override any sense of shame or lingering notions of a conventional lifestyle you may have.

We've got a very nice pram, bought by the mother in law. It winds her up that we've used it maybe 4 times in the nearly 2 years since DD was born. This may or may not be a bonus for you ;)

We're not hippy types and didn't set out to be anything other than parents like the ones we knew.

Then again we:

Use modern cloth nappies (cheaper)
EC (easier AND cheaper)
Use carriers, although not the eviiiil Baby Bjorn things. (easier and cheaper*)
I make my own biodiesel from used vegetable oil (I save about £200/month)
DD has never had formula or baby food. Only breast milk and boiled veg. (easier, cheaper and better for baby).

*please note this stops being cheaper when DW starts collecting them "'cos they're pretty".
On second thoughts perhaps I should start learning how to make hemp clothes and buy us a yurt in a field somewhere.

DearHusband · 31/05/2008 15:02

Oh and I keep thinking I'll get told off for using DearHusband, but I appear to have got away with it so far

hubarbspong · 01/06/2008 03:00

Interesting thread, looking forward to using a sling with our wee one when they arrive. Still looking for the right sling / carrier though, the few I've tried seem to have been made for midgets, can't find one that fits me (very tall and broad shoulders), any ideas?

Libra1975 · 01/06/2008 10:34

hubarbsprog, my DH is 6'5" and also very broad, we bought a Bushbaby cocoon after reading several reviews saying it was good for taller folk. It seems to fit him well but we have to wait another 6 weeks before trialling it with an actual baby in

HTH.

Gimli · 01/06/2008 20:52

Question, anyone know where to get, ahem, non girly slings? I felt happier with the byorn early on, and have no probs with trying a sling but not mad keen on some of the designs DW has got (she's got about five so far, and counting, and seems to view them as other women reputedly view shoes).

Said mythical non girly sling would also have to be able to be used by someone with a nasty back problem.

Any ideas?

PS What's wrong with a bloke pushing a pram?
Although we have a phil and teds which looks kind of rugged....

BarcodeZebra · 01/06/2008 22:05

Flashman: Sorry, simply can't be arsed reading the whole thread. I'm too hard.

Your mates are all butt-munching lady-boys. I use a sling and I'd have 'em all for breakfast.

Grrr.

Seriously, though, if you're still worrying about all this 2 weeks after the baby arrives then there's something wrong with you.

And, once they can sit up by themselves, get a hipseat (ignore the name - it's not written on it anywhere). Once they can speak it's like having a surreal person-shaped parrot on your shoulder. Might help you too Gimli.

Oh, and our sling is black.

And, finally, backpacks are for amateurs. Don't make me come over there....

Gimli · 01/06/2008 22:41

Looks interesting....
Ours still too young for it though, and v small for his age so will be a while I think.
TY for link to sling site... Are they good 4 backs? Haven't seen that design before and looks like our emergency sleep sling (long story) but going over two shoulders rather than one which would deal with a serious problem....
Can already see DW buying number six.

BarcodeZebra · 01/06/2008 22:53

Not sure about how good the sling is for backs TBH but there's a two shouldered one on the same website. Also BabyBjorn do a special version with lower back support.

I had horrible problems with my back before DD1 was born and looked into all this in quite a lot of detail. Quite seriously, get some manual handling training. I work in the book trade and applied everything I'd ever learned about manual handling/ lifting etc to picking up my kids and (touchwood) haven't had a problem since.

The hipseat is ace - the best bit of baby kit we bought. I used it sooo much with DD1 (she's over 3 now and really too big). DD2 is 10 months and I use it with her now and it's great.

kiskideesameanoldmother · 01/06/2008 23:03

describe what will make a sling manly, gimli?

fabric type? fabric pattern (or no pattern)? buckles? straps?

whips? chains? BO?

honest, will try to find one for you.

mymblemummy · 01/06/2008 23:44

Gimli, Look at this:

www.sleepynico.com

They come in plain black, and camouflage, as well as pretty patterns, and fasten with two click-type buckles.

Ergo and Patapum carriers are fairly utilitarian/boring in colour.

hubarbspong · 02/06/2008 08:45

Thankyou Libra

DaDaDa · 02/06/2008 11:33

No problem with slings/carriers in general. They're ten-a-penny round our way (don't get any of that 'ooh look a sensitive Dad, lets flirt with him' unfortunately, surely the greatest myth propagated by women to ensnare their partners into fatherhood) but then we live in that London.

Personally, I tried using one, and it gave me a bad back and I sweated like a pig. You've got your hands free, but if you stop for a coffee you can't sit down without waking the baby. DS hated getting into it too, but then he hated pretty much everything for the first few months.

How anyone can worry about appearing soft when they're carrying around the physical embodiment of their awesome masculinity is beyond me too.

Original poster

Flashman · 02/06/2008 12:28

What is it with camouflage fabric - my word I really think that would finish you off - my god you would look such a *unt! I would rather be in hot pink!!!!

Note - when I say you I don't mean anyone in general.

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kiskideesameanoldmother · 02/06/2008 13:41

camo fabric is so that you can take your dc on wild boar hunting expeditions.

BarcodeZebra · 02/06/2008 22:21

Or into combat.

Incidentally, Flashman, with the hipseat you can keep a pint on it. (Have to ditch the kid first obviously...)

Original poster

Flashman · 02/06/2008 22:34

I am hoping that I can teach / pick up fine motor skills quickly - then he / she couple hold my pint for me!!

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BarcodeZebra · 02/06/2008 22:40

Nah! They put everything they can hold into their gaping ever-hungry mouths. Getting your pre-school kids beered up is seen as very bad darts by social services.

Er...apparently.

FromGirders · 02/06/2008 22:46

DH generally preferred the pram (but hten we did have a very off-road pram) to the sling, but spent a lot of time just carrying ds on one arm propped over his shoulder. Reckoned that wandering about with a baby was the best pulling accessory he'd ever had (specially when teamed with a kilt as it was on a few occasions) and tried to "borrow" him to take on stag dos. He didn't get him, obviously.
Used a back carrier a few times when ds was big enough, though.

Original poster

Flashman · 02/06/2008 23:13

Social Services really are out of order - can't they see that training them young - is a vital social skill.

And I have thought some sort of hat with a flat top to stand the pint on - some sort of clamp so the little one could not move their head and spill the pint??

OP posts:

BarcodeZebra · 02/06/2008 23:17

You must mean my patented invention "The Sling Baby Full Body Beer Brace Hat"?

That'll be £599 please.

Original poster

Flashman · 02/06/2008 23:35

oh if only to see the look on all females faces if you were stood around with a pint balanced on the kids head - it would be worth paying that sort of cash out

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