I've wondered about this before on MN (years ago)... why can't you buy ring slings...

[emkana]

... in Mothercare etc.?
When I'm out with ds in the sling lots of people comment on my sling and how brilliant it is - why aren't these types of slings sold in high street shops, only on the net?
Just don't understand it!

ring slings osudn like a pile treatment

these are fabulous and so comfy

Have just seem that BigMamaSlings hire slings.

I am now browsing .

okay, which is best if you are short, have big norks and a weak back??

I love the Huggababy and could easily breastfeed in it discreetly / go anywhere with ds fast asleep. Ring slings are IMO the best sling for so many reasons - you can carry a child up to at least 2 stone on them, and for an older baby they do not pull on your shoulders as you support most of the weight on your pelvis (the baby sits up on your hip). Small babies should not be upright for long periods of time as in the BabyBjorn type sling - not until they are physically capable of supporting their own weight by sitting up themselves. You can breastfeed in them and baby can sleep comfortably in a cradling position.

God I love slings. I did start to sell them but then my groups took off a bit more and I lost impertus. People used to constantly stop and ask where I got mine from - it's dreadful they are not widely available and recommended by the NCT / midwives etc.

I've come to this thread a bit late. I used a Babybjorn first time round with dd1, Huggababy with dd2.

Alexsmum, you must have a very strong back to carry a nearly-one-year-old in a Babybjorn. I found it too difficult to use after age 4 months or so - it gave me a horrid sharp pain in my upper back.

And although the packaging for the Babybjorn says it is possible to bf a baby in it, I have no idea how one is meant to accomplish that without very strange contortions of the breasts...

I second Franny's comments re feeding in the Huggababy. When dd2 was tiny I was able to feed her in the sling while walking in the park, shopping, running around playing aeroplanes with dd1 etc. DD2 is now 15 months old and we still use the Huggababy sometimes, though we use the back carrier more often.

My friend sells and hires out all different ring slings so you can try before you buy which is great imo.

Website is SaSaslings.co.uk