Baby slings/wraps - your recommendations

[chala86]

I need to buy a wrap/sling/carrier for a newborn. Ideally one which I can use as baby grows up a bit. There are so many I have no idea where to start. Any recommendations?

I used a stretchy wrap when ds was newborn, was nice and cheap and got me used to tying correctly and then moved on to a woven one. I think my stretchy was a boba wrap.

Amawrap was lovely for the first 5 months for me I have a hug boy baby felt snuggly and not lost in this wrap. Very comfortable and didn't feel over the top inside the house like a structured carrier does. Once I tied it I often wore it all day even without baby in it, feels like wearing a scarf or extra t shirt. Nice range of colours and washes well. About £40

After 5 months I used ergo original, no longer wore it inside as ds was less clingy. Did have the newborn insert to use early but he felt too small for it really. Went over to it as the amawrap wasn't as comfortable for my back but I have a bad back anyway, wrap will carry a toddler though.

If not be without either wrap

I'd

I had a boba wrap for the newborn stage and couldn't get on with it. Bit fiddly to put on and DS hated it.

Then at 4 months we tried a connecta which is soft but with buckles. It was immediately great and we used it up until about 18 months. I'm using it with newborn DD now and it's just as good.

Another vote for a connecta here! I used a basic cheap stretchy wrap from Amazon in the beginning as my DD would not be put down at all and it let her nap while I was having dinner etc. I got a connecta at a couple of months in and love it, so much easier to put on! Have been putting off wearing her in this heat tho

I have a stretchy wrap which is great for round the house but I get very warm in it. Also have a manduca which we use for walks etc. More structured but still very comfy and should last us years

We had a Close Cabot DX plus which did until DD was about 6 months when she got too heavy for it (it puts most of the weight on your shoulders so got uncomfortable). It's snuggly like a stretchy but essentially pretty tied, so good if you want other people to have shifts carrying the baby too. I bought mine 2nd hand and will hopefully be able to sell for not much less than I paid.

I tried a connecta at a sling library twice because everyone raves about it, and almost bought one without trying it again when DD was 5 months old. The first time at the newborn stage, when it clearly wasn't as snuggly and comfortable for the baby as the caboo, or as quick to get the baby in and out of but was otherwise alright. I then tried it again when DD was about 5 months and found I needed something with a more structured waist band because the connecta left too much of her weight on my shoulders and it hurt. I ended up getting a manduca.

Based on my experience, I'd get recommendations but really recommend trying at least a couple before you buy. It's so individual what will work for you and by the time they are 6 months and can weigh over 8 kg the wrong sling can really hurt your back and make carrying them impossible.

Thank you. I'll have a look at these and see if I can find one I like.

I know this is a bit late but I've tried a few slings. The weight of your LO isn't mentioned but it's worth noting most can only be used with babies over 7lb (I had a small baby so this was initially an issue). The close caboo is ok for use with smaller babies but I didn't find it supportive enough and no matter how tight I did it my LO ended up too low. I've also tried a connecta which was easy to use an relatively cheap but felt the fabric cut into my LO legs. I also tried a Lillie baby and a Babylonia Flexia, both of which are buckle carriers. I chose the Babylonia as the padding wasn't as thick as the Lillie, so more use when warmer weather, and I also felt it was more comfy for me. It was over £100 but I think it's well worth the investment - it can be used up to 4yrs old as it comes with 3 different size panels which extend its use.

I loved my stretchy ama wrap until dd was about 3 months, then moved onto using my connecta as she found the wrap a bit restrictive.