Slings/baby carriers

[Moonbeam7]

Hi all. I'm looking into purchasing a sling for my 9 week old ds and just after some advice/opinions/tips etc.

Do you use a sling? Do you bf in one? What's the best one for this purpose?

I've got my heart set on getting the bb ring sling, I've seen on the nct website; does anyone have this? Is it any good? What I love about it is I've seen a youtube tutorial on how to wear it and it's the easiest I've ever come across!

Thanks

Have you a local sling meet/library? Best to try before you buy.

I never liked ring slings. I had 4 wraps and an ergo.

I don't have any of those near me unfortunately. What didn't you like about the ring slings?

I did have a baby bjorn carrier with my dd but I hated that!! So stiff and fiddly to buckle up and my dd always looked so uncomfortable in it.

And this might be a silly q... Will I need more then one sling/carrier?

I'm only planning on purchasing the one for all my day to day needs.

Ring slings hurt my back, couldn't feed in them and the dc hated them.

We mainly used the ergo and dh could use it too but I liked the versatility of wraps and kept one in my bag at all times. DH needed his wraps bigger so we ended up with four. Plus, they were pretty. This one was my favourite and I still carry 2.6yo ds in it on my back.

I loved a stretchy wrap in the early days (Moby) then an soft structured carrier (Ergo). I also have a woven wrap (Natibaby).

They can be addictive

I loved my stretchy (close carrier) for early days but if you only want one I 'd probably go for a wrap and learn different carries. I have a very soft and inexpensive Lenny lamb that's 50% bamboo and a great starter wrap. I also use some buckle carriers but generally prefer wrapping as I find it is easier on my back.

Slings like baby bjorn aren't great for the development of a baby's hips and can contribute to hip dysplasia because the hip joint isn't supported all the way to the knee.

I've carried my 4 month old pretty much exclusively in a woven wrap. I did have a hana stretchy wrap at first but it hurt my back and I didn't find it anywhere near supportive enough. I tried a ring sling and hated it too and I now have 4 wraps (it's so addictive) and 2 mei tais. My dh prefers the mei tai. You can bf in a wrap but I've not quite got the hang of it and I usually carry him on my back anyway.

Ring slings are trickier than they look IME. I think they are actually very good and versatile but it's worth booking yourself in either with a sling consultant (there is such a thing now!) or even just going along to a sling meet and asking someone to show you.

My favourite was a stretchy wrap at that age, but when DS was a toddler I used to help run a sling meet and very kindly a local mum who runs a sling consultancy offered to do a proper workshop for us with proper sling technique etc. She showed us the proper way to use ring slings (with weighted dolls) and I was amazed at how easy it was to move the "baby" into an easy feeding position, but I hadn't been able to do it with DS. The main problem with ring slings is that the arm movements required can be quite contrary to your instincts, so it feels right when it's wrong. Needs someone experienced to "spot" you with it.

Stretchy wrap I could do straight off youtube no issues.

I've got two wraps and a wilkinet. Wraps good for long distances, cuddled on the front at first then on back from a little older. Wilkinet good for when you just need to do something with baby in tow like put washing out. Never worked out how you can breast feed in one possibly something to do with enormous boobs think you're already past stretchy wrap stage so I'd get a wrap if I were you.

I don't like the asymmetric nature of a ring sling - I think you end up tilting your hips all the time and that can lead to back pain. We've had a non-stretchy wrap, which I liked for long wears but wasn't good for anything that was quick in-and-out. DD slept brilliantly in it though. I've tried the Ergo for DS2 and it was alright for feeding him in but I didn't like the palaver of the newborn insert and it always felt like he had too much space to loll around. Papoozle was great for littlies, and I'd definitely use that again for babies up to about 4m. All mine got too big and wriggly after that.

Whatever you do, don't wear baby facing out on your chest - they should always face you. Terrible for their backs to face out.

Hmm wow so much to consider..wish I had a sling meet or something near me!

Moonbeam are you sure you haven't got a slingmeet near you, i didn't know about my local one til after my 3rd child was born lol. Where abouts are you, pm if you prefer, i can ask on the Facebook slings group for you if you like. If you wanna look yourself its called Affordable Slings for Sale or Swap i think :)

If you want to try some and you really don't have a slingmeet near you, you could try your local NCT or even buy a couple of secondhand ones on ebay. An Ergo will be pricey even secondhand but then if you decide you don't like it you can resell it.

I used a Close carrier and moved on to a Beco Soleil, buckles suited me best and i didn't see the point in learning to wrap! A serious addiction would have ensued, wraps are soooo lovely i want them all :)

Whereabouts are you Moonbeam if you don't mind saying on here? If you don't want to, try www.slingmeet.co.uk or search "sling meet " on facebook.

Search for sling libraries too - and some do postal hire as well.

I use stretchy wrap up to about 7 or 8 kg then a non stretchy one of these.

I have an ergo but don't find it quite as comfy for carrying a baby. Quicker to get the hang of though and great for putting a toddler on your back.

I never got on with a ring sling for a baby, but found it v useful for short distances once you want to carry them on a hip.

Never got the hang of bf in one. Think it must depend on boob shape and size a bit!

Thanks guys I'll give those websites a try BUT I'm such an impulsive buyer I'm surprised I've lasted all of today without buying the ring one I've seen on the nct site!

Ok I confess it's the bright blue colour I'm in love with.... It's taking all my Will power not to buy it right now...

Personally I love soft-structured carriers. I had a connecta which I loved and have recently ordered a Madame GooGoo which I am so excited about!

I have a bright blue ring sling and loved it, once my lo was a toddler I could only use it for short periods as the weight is less evenly distributed but I still would completely recommend, and will use it again with my next baby. Once you get the hang of it I find they are quicker than any other wrap. However a stretchy is a nice starter wrap, close caboos are recommended as being easy to use. I bet you have more than 2 soon

It looks like a good ring sling, having the option to be worn on the shoulder or cupping it, this is the main preference people have, my friend used to have some info about it on her site but I can't find it now, I'll email her and get back to you :)

Well that was quick!

This is the file, it's a PDF so may try to download. If you have an issue go from here and click "shoulder styles" right at the bottom.

www.pouchlings.com/Subshops-RingSlings.html

I warn you though. Do not look at the custom made carriers section of that site. So many lovely things!! :(

Slings are an addiction. I struggled to use woven wraps, but I love my storchenwiege ring sling for quick carries/feeding on the go. As DS is now quite big and heavy,he gets chucked on my back in a mei tai for longer periods of time. The downside of a ring sling is that one shoulder takes all the weight of a wriggly baby.

I would have a search on somewhere like the natural mamas forum or on Facebook. Even if you can't do like a sling group, you may find some sling wearers near you, who would help you out.

www.slingmeet.co.uk has most of the meets I think.

Different slings serve different purposes. Ring slings hold all the weight on the opposite shoulder to the baby, which I find great for quick trips eg from car to shop for a pint of milk but wouldn't be much good for a walk or a full supermarket shop. I used a stretchy (long piece of thick tee shirt type fabric) exclusively for the first 4 months then hired a woven wrap and learned back carries. The best thing about wovens and soft structured carriers (SSC) is that they spread the weight between your shoulders and your hips meaning you don't strain your muscles and making it much more comfortable for long periods.

DS is now 16 months and I alternate between "my" woven and "dp's" SSC. The woven is great to get him up and keep him up, for example in a shop where he might grab stuff, or if he's tired and needs cuddles. The SSC is fabulous when he might want to be up and down, like going to the park.

Narrow based carriers - the type most commonly available in the big baby shops - hold the weight on your back, between your shoulder blades. Placing all the strain there is manageable for the first couple of months, or for big burly men with broad shoulders, but is uncomfortable for the vast majority of people. There are also many many reasons on the internet for not facing your baby forwards - the best one I've found (and the easiest to actually prove!) is that it throws the parent's centre of gravity off so that you're more likely to fall or trip.

At 9 weeks I would suggest you look for a second hand stretchy wrap - Moby, Victoria Sling Lady, Close Caboo (which iirc is available from the NCT?) and loads of others I can't remember. That will be fine for the next few months - ignore anything that says they can be used for babies older than 6 months, they're tested for the weight of the baby but not the force at which such a small person can hurl themself if the mood so takes them! - while you research all the gorgeous colours, patterns and designs available, and also find which type suits you best and what you'll mostly use it for.

My current woven is Oscha Triskele Abram, which is turquoise and purple in a sort of wake effect. I've just traded our Rose and Rebellion (which was red with Jolly Rogers on) for an Action Baby Carrier (plain brown but I'm going to jazz it up with a panel, only got it Friday) :o

Epic post, sorry! One last thing - a woven can be used for very many different carries, including hip carries. So no need for a ring sling specifically unless you get addicted like most of us