Sling users I need your advice!

[naturelover]

DD is almost 6 months old and I can no longer use my baby bjorn to go for a stroll (she is too heavy, it hurts my shoulders). Not sure of her weight but she has tracked the 75th centile all along. Usually to be honest I use the buggy as I often have shopping to pick up, plus she naps in it really well.

But I like the idea of a sling, especially now she is so interested in what I'm doing around the house and hates to be left alone on her mat while I potter around. I also think a sling could be good on upcoming long flight, to try and get her to sleep on me.

A friend gave me a ring sling. Realistically if the baby bjorn hurts my shoulders will the ring sling be any better? Is the best way to use it for carrying baby on hip or back?

Some people love ring slings, others don't get on with them. I couldn't get one to work until ds was over a year old, and then found it great for hip carries, though better for shorter distances as it's asymmetrical.

I am a gadget junkie and tried every possible way of carrying ds. I ended up mainly using a wrap for the first year - which is basically just a long piece of fabric you tie around you. If you have shoulder or back pain you can spread the fabric out over your back and shoulders and it spreads the weight really well. I was put off initially by the idea of tying it on but after a few tries it worked really well, and went over both shoulders so there was no shoulder pain or strain. Ds always looked really cosy in it too.

There's a guide to different types on slingmeet and you can also see if there are other baby sling users in your area to check out how they manage it.

You will probably find a ring sling useful for things like hanging the washing etc as it is so quick to put on and off but it will hurt fairly quickly as obviously the weight os only over one shoulder.

Being used to a bjorn you may find a Mei Tai style of soft carrier easy to get to grips with. You can carry on your front or back easily. here or here for example.

A wrap also offers great flexibility and is really not that hard to use once you get used to it. You can carry front facing in, facing out, on your back, hip...however you want. The possibilities are endless. like this one

give the ringsling a go. there are loads of videos on youtube which show how to use a RS with a baby that age. search youtube with 'hip carry'

it should feel more comfy than a babybjorn even though the weight is from one shoulder. It is down to how the baby's weight is distributed.

Mainly, look how the wearer spread the fabric over one shoulder. Pay attention to bringing the fabric to the baby's knees and up his back. Tricky at first is how to tighten it at the rings but basically so watch closely the tightening technique too.

The youtube videos definitely helped. I still don't feel all that secure using it but will practice around the house. Presumably if I want her to sleep in the sling I would have to change from the hip carrying into some other position though? Please advise!

i suppose if he falls asleep in the sling you can put him down by just loosening the fabric and slipping the whole thing off. he remains in the sling and it becomes a blanket.

in some cultures they carry quite young babies in the ringsling type of setup on their backs and they will sleep that way. I don't know if you are up to doing that sort of thing yet though.

this video will give you an idea of what I mean

and this one

You could always try a hipseat. It's the best bit of kit we bought and I still use it in extremis for DD1 who's now 3!

DD2 is getting a good go of it at 6 months now she can sit up by herself.

The main benefit: absolutley no weight on your shoulders - all on your hips.