Is there a "baby slings for beginners" thread?

[3luckystars]

Apologies if this is the wrong section.

I would like to read up about slings or get a few recommendations. I don't need a big flowery complicated one, it's for home mainly because my older children had reflux so I would like to be ready this time. I used one of the baby bjorn ones last time but someone said to me they are not good for newborns? Is this true?

I am just wondering if there is a thread here with some opinions from people who have actually used them with advice for beginners or could someone point me in the right direction to find out more. Thanks a million.

Contact your local NCT group and see if they run a Sling Library - you can go and try out lots of different styles (with a doll!) and also hire them for 2 weeks to see if it works for you and your baby without shelling out for one that you can't get on with. My local library was really helpful - I hired a Caboo jersey sling which I love and so went on to purchase...it was so helpful to have someone to show me how to put it on on real life.

On baby Bjorns - at the Sling Library they advised against them for newborns as the bit between the legs is very narrow so doesn't support the hips, they are also quite rigid so don't enourage natural curved spine position that little ones need.

Have a google of sling library and your local town, immensely helpful to plough through the types.

For a newborn, a stretchy is fab, moby is particularly popular and not too expensive. I like full buckle carriers for speed and ease of use, connecta, rose and rebellion, tula are popular, as is ergo, but either buy from an approved stockist, or if buying second hand make sure you have proof of purchase as there are quite alot fakes.

Hmm you could look in the Products section of MN, there might be some useful threads in there?

Caboo is lovely for newborn but not so great IME when the baby gets heavier.

If you like the Bjorn but are worried about hips, the Beco Gemini is like a better version of Babybjorn IMO - I have one and love it - it can do forward facing like a Bjorn (hardly any slings do forward facing) but is much much more supportive of a baby's hips and bum. Also the baby's weight is mostly supported by your hips (it has a big padded hip/waist belt) so doesn't pull on your back and shoulders.

Look for your local sling library or sling consultant or Facebook groups like slings and things fsot

Thanks so much, I never knew such a thing existed! That is fantastic, I am going to google to see if there is a local group.
Delighted I posted now, I shall report back!

Thanks for the help!

If you dont find much googling with sling library, try baby wearing consultant

There's a couple of facebook groups if you're on there too - Slings and Things - FSOT and advice might be the best one to start off with.

You might find a library on www.slingpages.co.uk/

I found a sling library!! I am delighted now, this will keep my busy researching. Thanks a lot.

Sling libraries are really good for this kind of thing.
I had a caboo for up to 4 months as my baby would not go down at all so used it from a few days old & now we have the ergo carrier 360 which he absolutely still loves at 10 months!