Sling wearers advice please - Hemp/Organic cotton wrap

[sasamax]

I am thinking about making my own wrap sling. Have sourced some hemp and organic cotton fabric but it's darned expensive. Will it be worth making it? Will it be softer and more durable than my hugabub or am I just getting sling-obsessed? To make it I think will cost me around £50 but then I'll get 2 out of it (not that I need 2 but could maybe sell one on ebay or something)Any advice from seasoned babywearers (or not - I don't mind) very welcome.

I'd say go for it. If you bought a decent one it would cost you a good £70.

This is £25 on eBay and possibly similar to what you are going to make?

Thanks!
Wonder what they mean by 'shorter' than normal...not sure it would be as good quality as the fabric I've sourced...decisions decisions...

I have this it's £37 and fantastic.

(just to confuse things!)

Wrap slings are lovely.

Hemp goes very cardboardy when you wash it unless you tumbledry.

Oh and wouldn't hemp have a bit too much stretch?

Just a thought.

Have you considered buying 2nd hand? I got a Didymos 7 Lavendal Indio (not organic) for

I just got a sleepy wrap and I love it

ergo organic is very versatile and can be used for much longer than a wrap. Keep an eye out on ebay for one.

Thanks Tangle - have joined group so will get to browse there. How long can you use the Didymos.
WWtWWW - you're prob right actually - maybe I'll just try to buy one cheaply.
Giraffe - where do you get a sleepy - never heard of it?
Primi - I have been watching for an ergo for when she gets bigger but they are so expensive. How long can you use them for?

Has anyone used a bushbaby - are they rubbish?

OMG I am in love with ergos now.
Have to find one...

You can use the didy for as long as you're comfy. There's a lady near me that I used to see carrying her son in a ruck around Sainsburys - they both looked really happy and I reckon he must have been 3 or more . Btw, I commented on Didys as that's what I've got, but I think most quality woven wraps will be more robust, supportive and longlived than a stretchy one - some people just find they get on with one manufacturer's weave much better and find some others really hard to get a secure wrap in. One of the joys of buying 2nd hand is that if you try it and its not for you, you should be able to sell it on for what you paid.

The Baby Wearer and Rumplebums are both fairly active communities - if you asked about the properties of hemp I'm sure you'd get a comprehensive answer.

Which bushbaby were you looking at? From what I've seen their baby-carrier is more of the Baby Bjorn school than the Mei Tai inspired soft structured carriers (like the Ergo). Depends on your definition of rubbish, really...

Have you tried an Ergo? I found it rubbed under my arms and wasn't comfy, although I know others swear by them. Have you come across www.slingmeet.co.uk? Best solution for any sling is to try it on before you buy . Then again I have seen a few 2nd hand and they do seem to move quite well, so you could just try it that way

Happy shopping

Where did my message go?

That is so annoying - posted a big long message - will post it tomorrow - yawn...
Was basically saying thanks tangle - you are so right...

So...about the bushbaby - since I don't like the structured carriers then prob bush baby won't be for me. I have also tried and failed with ring slings, pouch slings and an...ahem...great Tomy thing. So, clearly I'm quite choosy so think before forking out loads of money, I should def try an ergo. I just really like the look of it. Unless I bag one quite cheaply of course and then I can sell it on if I don't like it.
I don't have a slingmeet near me unfortunately (live in a v small town in central scotland) The nearest one would be Glasgow west end - that's maybe 25 miles from me so would only be viable if I was in Glasgow for something.
I might just get some strong cotton (non stretchy) and run up a cheap wrap in the meantime - the bloomin hugabub is in the wash every other day - one is not enough. Then I'll know if I prefer stretchy or not.
Thanks for the advice!

I have two SSCs (soft structured carriers) and they are great! I have a Yamo and Angelpack, the Yamo is better.

They turn DS into a wriggley rucksack. I wear him on the front. He's a good size and 15mths but I can still wear him to and from the park, to lunch, back to the park etc. Ds loves it as he's high up and will sleep on me if very tired.

They are expensive tho, I got the Yamo for £30 second hand. Brilliant for the tube / bus.

OrangeKnickers - have just looked.
Yamo looks v like an ergo - what is the difference???
Anyone tried a Jetpack?

The ergo lasts up until 3 years as it works as front carrier, backpack and hip carrier. Can be a bit fiddly to work out at first and can be uncomfortable if you don't get the settings right but is awesome once you get it figured out. DH also loves it and uses it to take ds bike-riding and hiking. If you do end up having to buy new they do hold their resale value well. www.nurturedfamily.com is probably the cheapest place online to buy one and they ship worldwide. I don't work for ergo honest, but was relieved to find something that meet all my needs after experimenting with a soft unstructured wrap and a baby bjorn I found that ergo combined the best of both worlds.

Primi - can they face out in a front carry?

Sasamax - most SSC's that are based on Mei Tai's don't work too well for front facing out carries: they provide more support for the child by having fabric more or less from knee to knee, which relies on the child fitting around the curves of your body much more closely than in Baby Bjorn style carriers. I know some people do find ways to make it work (with smaller children you can fold their legs in, for example), but as they get larger I think it would get harder to acheive. There are more possibilities with a wrap, but you do tend to wind up with the child hanging from their crotch rather than "sitting" in the sling. You'll also find that by facing out their weight is pulling away from your body rather than being drawn into you, which makes it harder to carry them for as long.

Tangle - thanks for thst.
I have faced her out in the wrap and maneouvered her into a sort of sitting position by moving the fabric under her legs. But you're right, it's hard work to carry her like that and it seems to loosen and stretch v quickly - is that because my wrap is stretchy though?
I worry about her straining her neck to see when in the front carry but don't really know what the alternative is. I don't want her hanging by her crotch...

I'm afraid they can't face out in front carry but they still have a pretty good view in all three positions.

As her legs get longer the fabric will have a harder and harder time staying under her legs with her facing forwards. I doubt a woven wrap would help solve the problem - it would maybe be less likely to loosen, but it would be much MUCH harder (if possible) to tie in the first place such that she's not hanging. For a wrap tie to stay secure you need to have your child tied as close to you as possible - back, legs, everything - as legs get longer they'll tend away from you if facing out...

How old is your DD? Have you tried a back cary? DD seems very happy with the view over my shoulder. I normaly do back carries with a wrap, but I have seen instructions for high back carries with a MT. Not sure you'd be able to do a high back carry with a SSC - probably depends on which one you had.