Can anyone help me with my choice of baby sling?

[ReneRusso]

Sorry, I'm sure it's all been done to death before. Baby is due in about 3 weeks. I am overwhelmed with the number of different products out there. I have read the review section, but still not sure, there are just so many. For my previous babies I had a Baby bjorn, but that was a while ago and I suspect there are better options now.

I am thinking about:

Kari Me
Moby Wrap
Close Baby Carrier
BabaSling

but will listen to any other fervent recommendations.

My criteria are:

• it must be suitable from birth to 1 year
• ideally it has a position suitable for breastfeeding
• I am less likely to use it for older baby / toddler
• Not too concerned with budget, happy to pay for the right product
• I am not particularly competent at tying or adjusting things, might need something easy for dullards...
• ...but like the idea of something very soft and comfortable for newborn

Grateful for any advice, thanks

Check out for Slingmeet.co.uk for one in your area so you can try them out.

I've got a stretchy wrap for my next baby (not sure of the make)and from 3 months old a 'Sleepy Nico' which is really comfy and miles better than a Babybjorn.

I'm no expert though and there are some women who know loads.

Moby wrap- very good for newborn, easy to tie after a bit of practice (look for videos on youtube), apparently can breastfeed in it but I never managed. Might be pushing your luck to use it up to a year due to the stretch.

Kari Me- I think similar to the Moby, but possibly more supportive (not used one myself).

Babasling- NO NO NO. If you like the idea of it then go for a ring sling instead- much more adjustable.

Close- not tried this, but looks like a good option for 0-6 months, not sure after that.

Given your criteria I think maybe a ring sling would be a good idea. I've not used one long term myself but am getting one of these for my birthday- I am v v happy . Now I need a newborn to put in it...

having tried all of those listed, i would recommend the close sling. Its comfty, easy to use without need to tie pieces and soft.

I have a tricotti and a maya wrap. The maya needs adjusting, and was only good while dd was tiny. the tricotti is fab, nice and soft. good for newborns and breastfeeding, I used it till my dd wanted to toddle. its a stretchy one, no adjusting, just buy the right size for you.

I used the Close Baby Carrier for DD from birth til about 6 months. At that point, I switched to a Bjorn (I know, considered the work of the Devil, but it was lent to me by a friend!). My main reason for this was that I wanted to be able to get on and do things around the house - the Bjorn kept her head enclosed and supported, whereas the Close allowed her to flail her head out at the most inappropriate moment!

But while we used it, i loved the Close. really comfy, easy to use and DD seemed really safe and secure in there. Definitely planning on using it for DC2.

btw, I only used the Bjorn for a couple of months, she got too heavy and it killed my shoulders. Then got an Ergo carrier, which I love, think it comes with a newborn insert, i may look into that for DC2 (not due til September, so no rush!)

Thanks everyone for the advice. Tricotti doesn't really get a very good rating on the mumsnet reviews, but there are only 4 reviews. "Close" is probably in the lead at the moment, but I will look into the ring sling idea as well.

I love my Close baby sling. Its thick, stretchy jersey and takes up to 32lb, although I would make a 32lb child walk!

My newborn used to go to sleep immediately in it and now he is 3 months likes to peek around and is more alert. Its adjustable after you've put it on, and although it looks tricky, it takes less than a minute to put on once you figure it out. I have had some lovely moments with my sunggly baby in this and will be sad when he is too heavy to go in it any more- which will be a while yet as he is only 15lb. Its my favourite piece of baby equipment and I honestly believe it has contributed to my son's calm temperament.

There's nothing like having a little silky head snuggled in just under your chin as you walk.

If you go for a wrap I recommend this one - it's thicker than the Moby so apparently more able to carry a bigger child. I like mine a lot. A friend also recommends the Didymos - they are beautiful and versatile but pricey...

I'm not the sling expert I wish I was, but I believe the Close is a ring sling. It certainly has rings! That's how you adjust it

As Nesta says, it is so lovely wearing it (or any other sling), having your baby so close. I had to get one when DD was 2 weeks old as she was quite colicky and would only nap during the day when I held her upright. This made me go more insane than I already was and I really couldn't stand being confined to the sofa! Once I had the Close, life resumed

Oooh, I'm getting all excited about wearing a newborn again! Enjoy

I'd go for an ergo with newborn insert if money is no object - much less faffy, will last for ages and you can sell on for a good price.

closer is fab, as comfy as a wrap but much easier to use. You can tuck their head in, no flailing here

but
you can't bf in it, at least not while walking around

Hate to disagree Mrs Badger, but I did manage to BF in the Close. But it was a bit faffy, and I was at home.... maybe I would have been showing my boob to all and sundry if I'd been in public!

DD was very little when I did that (only managed to BF for 8 weeks) - maybe it wouldn't be do-able with an older baby?

Hi Rene,
I LOVED my Kari-me (although it is about 40 feet of stretchy fabric that you have to wind round yourself ) actually it's easier than it sounds. Very very comfy for me and DD, you are technically supposed to be able to feed with it on I think but I never managed (my fault rather than the sling). Looking forward to using it again in a few weeks.

I have a close baby carrier and love it. So soft and my ds would always fall asleep in it immediately.

A stretchy wrap (Moby or Kari Me, among other brands) is my favourite for newborns. It does involve tying, but you tie it first and then put the baby in, so it's easy and you can practice as much as you want without risking dropping them etc. You could probably at a push use one until 12 months. I preferred a different kind from about 7-9 months as I found DS was getting heavy.

A ring sling goes over one shoulder and is easy to adjust (one-pull), quick to put on and you can breastfeed in it possibly most easily of all slings, but because it is only on one shoulder, it can be less comfortable than other types, especially once your baby is older or if you want to use it for long periods.

The Close Baby Carrier is not what most people would mean by a ring sling, (for the most common definition of "ring sling" see pics in link in last paragraph) although it is adjusted using rings, it's closer to a stretchy wrap. I don't think it fits into any category, but I would probably call it a cross between a stretchy wrap, and a soft structured carrier (SSC) I haven't tried one myself, so I don't have an opinion on it, but in theory it sounds like a good idea.

The tricotti looks like it would be less supportive than a wrap/close carrier, because it lacks the extra band around the parent's waist which spreads the load more evenly. And it lacks the speed and adjustability of a ring sling, so it's a bit of a middling carrier I think which probably does OK on all factors (comfort, ease of use, versatility, speed) it doesn't excel at any, and so for the price I think you could get something better.

Another good place to have a look if you're not sure what to go for is the slingguide It tells you about the different slings and their pros and cons.

Also no no to the baba sling. A ring sling is far more comfy (and there are some pretty ones out there too ) I think a ring sling will be the one that'll let you bf in it and will last until 1. Stretchy wraps are unlikely to last that long, however you could go for a woven wrap like this
Good luck. Hope you find something you like. Definitely attend a sling meet. I really got into slings with my dc3 and I couldn't live without them now. I barely use my buggy nowadays

Thanks, slingguide is very useful.

I love the Ellaroo Meitai. Can be used from newborns and ups. Can BF in it. It does have long straps that look impossible but look up the instructions on you tube and you'll see how easy it is.

I've recomended it to the past two mums i've worked with after they'd spent a few days trying mine and both of them loved it.

I like to use little possums.co.uk, they have a good description of sling products and a great q and a section and also they have super quick delievery and have being fine with a return I did on another time of sling.

I love wrap slings - I find them the most comfortable and the most adaptable slings available. Yes, they take a bit of practice, but I'd say after a week or so of using one you can get one on without too much bother.

I use a hugabub stretchy wrap and a Calin Bleu gauze wrap. (Have recently started using the calin bleu more regularly as she's quite squirmy these days and the gauze gives her more support than the stretchy.) DD is 5 months old and has only been in her pushchair once as I find the wraps so comfy (and much easier to dash about on nursery runs/shopping trips/playgrounds etc)

To save a bit of money Ebay or sale/trade forums on Sling based forums are good. I got my hugabub for £30 on ebay (£60 new).

I think you might be hard pushed to find a sling that will work really well for you from birth to 1 yr but many slings seem to have an excellent resale value so you could get a stretchy for the first 4-6 months, then sell it on and get a woven or alternative carrier.

Yeah, I guess it doesn't have to last til one year, but I don't think I would use one beyond one year, so from birth -> as long as possible is what I'm after.

Don't get a babasling, they are actually quite uncomfortable. I have a homemade ring sling which is wonderful, I still carry my 3 stone son around in it sometimes when he's being lazy!

That's three strikes and out. Babasling has been officially struck off the list.

I do think a ring sling is great to have around, BTW, if you don't want to be using a sling after 1 year or so, because with a toddler, a ring sling is useful for moments of "Aaargh I wish I had 6 hands!!" and I use it quite often for this, but I rarely if ever use it as a sling out of the house now. I just scoot him around onto my back now, and it gives me 15 mins or so of being able to wash up/cook/hang out washing/etc etc without a whingey, screeching toddler at my feet wanting to be picked up or getting into everything that I am trying to do, or holding him on my hip trying to do things one handed.

we used a ring sling for both dd and ds from birth and they both absolutely loved it - could sleep in it for hours - dd also struggled with breast feeding and this was the thing which eventually helped her to latch on....was also v amusing taking them out in it when they were tiny as people could not believe there was a baby inside.

I would like to say I am totally in love with my Babasling. And I've used quite a lot of different carriers.
The NCT rep recommended it to me as she too felt it was the best sling available. Its beauty is how quickly you can get it on and off and simplicity and as slings go it has a really snug fit cause you can adjust the rails independently which you can't do with a normal ring sling.

I find it WAY more comfortable than the ring slings I tried before it.

Not only that they look way more funky than other slings that have naff trails of fabric.

Personally I think it is very much worth a go and I am sure my wee one agrees with me too!