Baby sling for tall/ large mum (size 18/20)? PLEASE HELP!!!!

[Honeymoonmummy]

PLEASE HELP! I don't know if I have the right page but my 2 week old baby constantly wants to breastfeed and won't settle in her moses basket when awake and I wanted to get a baby sling. I've just been to Mothercare and tried a Babasling but it seemed too small, I didnt think I'd get long out of it and my baby (who is also quite long but still only 7lbs 5) seemed squished.

I also tried the Premaxx(?) which seemed roomier but the MN review page says its crap and gives you a bad back.

The alternative I was thinking of was a Huggababy, which seems to come in different sizes and has a good MN review. Any thoughts and where can you go to try these on?

Or has anyone experience of other slings (not carriers) which would be good?

I want one which I can bf in and which will leave me hands-free, and I want a sling rather than a carrier as I think she will like the cradle position.

I am thinking of getting a didymos (?), it's on big mama slings, I cannot remember the exact website.

The Kari-Me is a stretchy wrap but you can still use a cradle position - have a look on website. I found it quite hard to position my newborn but breastfeeding is perfectly possible, and the extra support of the wrap will mean your baby will be really secure.

The wrap is very adaptable for size and it will last you till your baby is about 7 or 8 months (when it's a bit too stretchy to be supportive but you can go straight over to a woven wrap fabric and just carry on )

They have ring slings there that look very adjustable, I think the didymos might be abit more carrier like...

Hug a bubs are fab too, a bit less stretchy than the Kari me so you don't have to tie them as tight, and they have a pocket to tidy them into when not in use. I'd definitely get one of the material wrap around slings as they are so soft and comfy, and are one size but will fit anyone.

I am a size 20, was a 22 when DD2 was born. I used a ring sling for them both and fed hem both int i. With DD2 I discovered pouches. As long as you measure carefully and get the right size they are a godsend as they fold up really small and you can throw one on in seconds, great for when you don't have tiome for a wrap (or are standing in a puddle

A wrap is good but I found them quite hard to BF in as they tended to hold DD's too hgh for me to be able to BF (am rather large norked...)
Have you had a look at sling meet? If there is one near you you can try out a few slings to see what is best.

Chirpy, which pouch was the best? (sorry to hijack thread). I've got a coorie but its too light for winter and not sure its wide enough or comfy enough to carry an 18mo when pregnant... ideally i'm looking for one that'll do the lot!

get A MOBY!!!!

www.sasaslings.co.uk are fab and will hire stuff out for you to try.

Ooh, pouch and ringslings are no good for carrying when rpegnant, you need a Mei Tai unless you want toddler knees in your belly (she says with experience!)
Hotslings are good, any pouch that is just fabric/cotton is great, I have made loads!

I do like wraps, don;t get me wrong, but once the baby hits 3 or 4 months you really need a woven one for support, even though it is a bit harder to get tied on comlpetely right.

Ring slings are fantastic - I used one with DS until he was 1.

I used to bf in it loads, and it can be totally hands free, and very discreet

VPP - Didymos are wrap slings - availble in a variety of lengths to suit different body sizes and carries.

I'd 2nd trying to find a slingmeet near you - if you can get to one you'd be able to try a variety of different styles and makes of sling and see what works.

Otherwise, you might want to consider 2nd hand.UKbabywearingSWAP and RumpleBums are both worth keeping an eye on - and if it doesn't work out just sell it on.

Thanks for all your advice. I have tried slingmeet but there are no meetings in my area. Has anyone tried the Huggababy?

The ring sling?
I have had one, it is padded around the edges so really comfy but is not as adjustable as a non-padded one so really hard to BF in.

Whereabouts are you? I could lend you a rs to see what you think. (It is a quite pink tho!)

Never easy is it?!

Actually, looking at huggababy website they have changed teh design a bit, looks a bit easier than it used to be. (but they are all wearing it wrong...it should be over your shoulder, not your neck....)

Another vote for karime. I'm 5'11", size 16, and as it's just a piece of material you can tie it to suit your own dimensions (takes a little practice, mind). I still use it for ds (nearly 10mo) in an "on-the-hip" position, but used it in cradle position in the early days. I never managed to feed him in it (think my enormous norks meant that would never have worked, no matter what the sling), but just being close to me was often enough for him.

Oh god, now I'm confused!! I don't fancy the "piece of fabric" slings cos they just look like too much faff. I think I'm going towards a pouch or a ring sling... I am in Cheshire Chirpy...?

Vote here for a Peanut Shell pouch sling, so simple for the sleep deprived. You won't get as much use out of it as the wrap slings, but it made gettin through the first stages v easy.

I used a Coorie with DD from birth until... well I still use it occasionally now and she's 2.9. It was great in the winter as it was fleece and kept us both toasty warm. I had a lightweight one for indoors. Faff free and fabulous IME.

I made mine - it was easy, just one double seam.

If you are looking in Mothercare, then I suggest the Close Baby Carrier. Here is their website, but I am sure you can get it at mothercare now.

The benfits of it is that it is very like a wrap (large piece of fabric) but without all the faff. You just put it on over your head like a t-shirt. It has the adjustabliity of a ringsling (it has rings on both hips).

I have used ringslings, pouches, meiteis, wraps and this, and the Close is my favourite.

As a newborn, you can put your baby in the cradle position in it (and for breastfeeding) but as your baby gets older you can have them upright.

Anyway, I highly recommend it.

i would recommend a close carrier too. it's a little more faff than a single ring sling but much less than a wrap, and offers excellent support for breastfeeding (i've fed in it while queueing for a bus, on the bus - upstairs! - and off the other end ). it's generously sized so should fit you fine. it's a stretchy fabric so excellent for small babies, not so supportive once they reach a year or so, but by then if you're hooked on slings you'd be looking for a back carrier anyway.

re hugababy: they do unpadded as well as padded versions but the problems i've always had with them are a) the small plastic rings, which hold very well, but i find can be awkward to adjust and b) the sewn tail, which again i find makes it more awkward to adjust (although you can unpick the tail if you want). for breastfeeding you want perfect positioning and to be able to tweak the sling easly and personally i find that tricky in a hugababy.

I know I shouldnt care but the close carrier is gonna make me look huuuuge!!

The peanut shell is looking good....

I am very plus size and some slings are worse than othes in making me look fat. Anything that wraps around your middle/waist makes you look fatter. I hate meiteis and wraps partly for this reason. Anything that crosses you from shoulder to hip is more flattering. So ring slings, pouches and the close are all fine. Honestly though - carrying a baby in a sling will make you look bigger but who cares when baby is all snuggled up asleep against you.

uh-hum. wrap girl here. once you are over the learning curve of a woven wrap, they are quick and easy to use and supremely comfy. plus, there are sooo many to choose from.

I still say pouch or ringsling as a first carrier, then you can go on from there if you want! CAT me if you want and we can sort something.