Babywearing: what's the best sling for the summer month?

[Plantaganet]

I currently use a black moby wrap for my 5 month dd which we both love but I think we will both get too hot in the summer. Does anyone have any suggestions? Was thinking about a woven wrap but don't know if these are as easy to use as the stretchy ones.

Any advice appreciated!

anyone?

I have a Close baby carrier which is also going to be a bit hot, but I think the Wilkinet might be quite good as it's a bit more open plan?

Have you ever tried an ergo type or mei tai (?), these seem to have much less fabric/material, but don't know if dd will like it as much, she normally sleeps in the moby during the day.

I have a Wilkinet which I am currently using for DD (2 weeks) and love but I think it might be too hot for summer - it is more open plan (!) but the material is quite padded cord. We both get very hot in it even at the moment. Wonder if anyone else has any suggestions?

I have a Connecta back carrier which is also fab but she needs to be about 6 months before I can use it!

I love my ergo, after trying 6 other types I have settled on it - and more importantly so does my DS (now 9 months), and even DH likes using it.
Have not used it in the summer so far, but is so much lighter than my wrap or ring slings I think it will be great and am looking forward to being able to use it more and more outside if spring arrives soon!
GG

I'm like you podglet, am getting pretty hot even now, mind you, living on steep hill doesn't help!

GG: Can you use the ergo for a hip carry as well or is it just front and back? Also, is it possible to do the back carry by yourself or do you need someone to help you position the child like you do with a wrap?

Plantagenet, are you expecting a very poor summer ?

I am very because when my DSs were babies the only thing available was ones like this v uncomfy I can tell you

GypsyMama Bali Baby Breeze wrap. It's as cool as a wrap can be, although there's a slight learning curve to getting it right, but I managed it so it can't be that hard.

A mei tai will be even cooler though. An Ergo probably less cool, but actually the way to keep you both cool in a carrier on a very hot day is to pour water down your t-shirt between you and baby. And also put a wet sunhat on baby.

Podglet - I have used my Wilkinet for both my babies and think it's wonderful. I used it for my ds's first summer - he was 4mo-7mo - and it was a scorcher. The Wilkinet was fine - it's the baby that gives off the heat! You can, however, get a Wilkinet made of a lighter cotton fabric if you want.
You're all being a bit hopeful that our summer is going to be hot, aren't you?

lol not quite as attractive as what you can buy these days is it?! Mind you, if that was all that was available at least you didn't have to spend hours searching through threads like this trying to find recommendations

My baby days are far behind me, I wish I had known about MN then

Enjoy your babies, before you know it they will will roaring around on bikes, bless you all

i've just ordered a calin bleu gauze wrap which claims to be nice and cool

BBSlen is also a lighter woven wrap. look at bigmamaslings website.

I have a soft spot for girasols as far as light wraps go.

Thanks for that one mrsg, I've not heard of them before, they look gorgeous. My only concern about a woven wrap is whether it will rub her legs and make them sore, as it won't have that same stretch to the fabric. Is it just a question of wrapping it slightly more loosely (is that a word?) when you put it on?

Boysarelike

Plantagenet - no can't do hip carry with it, just front and back.
Yep you can do back carry on your own, tho I did practice it over my bed a few times and it was a bit hairy for the first time on my own. Now I am adept and every evening it is the only way I get hands free time to make the tea while he happily tries to pull my hair from the back!

Ergo comes with instructions DVD, or they have video clips on their website to follow.

The mei tais are similar to ergo and very pretty, but I wanted a carrier DH would be happy to wear, and he is not into pretty slings!

Aaargh! Must have more babies so I can buy more slings! I miss babywearing soooooo much I find myself grinning like a mad woman at ever other babywearing person I see.

Right, where's my dh...

(Forgot to say - we found a mei tai very cool during the hot summer months)

boucingblueberries: hot summer months? Plural? really? You clearly don't live in my neck of the woods!

gardening girl: I take it then mei tai is the same as an ergo and cannot do hip carry? Why do I get the feeling I am going to be trying to convince ny dh I need at least two new slings

Bouncingblueberries - I think thats the bit my DH likes, when wearing DS he gets lots of big smiles from lots of ladies!

Plantaganet, I don't have a mai tai, but I don't think they do a hip carry. I'm sure someone will be along who knows more about them. They look v pretty and I was very tempted!
Have to say though I now would not swap my ergo for anything - I think it has been the best bit of baby kit we bought. Gorgeous soft choc brown one
Have fun deciding!

I've never had a problem with legs being rubbed by wrap. I don't think it's a question of wrapping looser (probably the opposite in fact), you just need to have the weight fully distributed across the leg. If the tension is strange (includes too loose) you could get a tight seam bearing too much weight that might be uncomfortable for both of you, but generally, done right, you shouldn't have a problem with it.

It's impossible for a spatially dyslexic klutz like me to describe. But reassuringly not impossible for me to do it.

I stopped using my GMBBB when DS was coming up 2yo as it was less supportive than a thicker woven wrap. However now he's walking all the time, I'm using it again as it folds up really nice and small to shove in a bag just in case.

Thanks for that Mrsg, where did you buy yours from? Part of the website doesn't seem to be working and I can't find out how much they are.

You can do a hip carry with a mei tai - put hip carry mei tai (or some such terms) into Youtube for demo.

It's not a conventional way of wearing one though. Not tried it, but I don't find an Ergo hip carry very comfy (the Yamo is slightly better for hip carry as you can move the buckles up and down the strap)

Off to stop being such a nerd now.

woven wraps do not rub on the baby's legs. they offer better support than stretchy wraps once the babies start to become heavier, so less back strain and pressure points on the shoulders. the woven wraps are more expensive because they are woven with with a diagonal weave which gives them natural stretch without the stretchiness which lycra gives. the difference is amazing.

a good wrap, be it with a stretchy or woven wrap is quite tight, and the tighter, the more support you have. Imagine a loosely strapped on hiking rucksack vs one that is well balanced and tight. The tighter one feels 'lighter'.

Thanks for that kis. Do you have a preferred make of woven wrap, or are they all fairly similar?

I like girasol for a lighter wrap. ellaroos are also thinner but i have never tried on. they can take up to a 1yo comfortably.

heavier wraps that will take a thumping 3yo are the didymos stripes and storchenwiege. they are pretty indestructible but the heavier may not make them so friendly for the summer.

I have a girasol I am considering selling. (secondhand is a way to start out) if you tell me you height and dress size, i will let you know if lengthwise, it is appropriate for you. and if it not appropriate, give you an idea of what will work.

email me at y f forster at gmail dot com if you are interested in pics, not wanting to post your private details on here.