Hug-a-bub

[CaringForPod]

Hello again,

In an attempt to help with my anxiety, I'm trying to focus on getting ready for the baby.

I've read about hug-a-bub slings and am pretty sure that's what we're going to go for, but they're so damn pricey.

I've found one on ebay, but can't find any other second hand ones. Anyone got any ideas of places I might find one?

Thanks

Would love to help but have never heard of them!

I work with mums postnatally in particular helping to support mums who wish to breastfeed, and we recommend Kari-Me fabric slings (for all mums inc ff) as they have been safety tested (esp following the recent media coverage relating to the incident in the press). The Kari-Me is the long piece of fabric type which (once mastered!) is amazing! Plus its machine washable & cheap. I'd be intrigued to find out about the hug-a-bub though if you manage to find a link? If any of the mums I work with mention them then I'll know what they're talking about

Hope you find one you're happy with, they're so helpful in the early days!!

Hello and thanks for your reply.

Here's a link to the hug-a-bub. From what I've heard, they really are good:

www.hugabub.com/

Will check out the other one you mentioned though.

Love love love our hug-a-bub. It's an Australian brand, which may explain why fewer people have heard of them, but you can buy them from thecarryingkind online. It's made from very sturdy heavy duty stretch jersey, and once you learn how to put it on (a bit of an art) it's so easy to use, and baby loves it, especially when he was really small. There are other slings about that work on the same principle, but we found the hugsbub to be the best made.

Forgot to say the wide straps and wrapping make it very very easy on your back. And my DH really loved the closeness with the baby - made up for not having boobs

You could try putting a request on the Wanted boards of something like NaturalMamas or there is a yahoo sling swap group, can't remember the name but I think you can google it. Really recommend the Kari-me too.

Just looked and looks like the same principle.

just had a look at the website and can't see how this is any different from the Kari-me which is fab and costs £35 new.

Thanks for all your replies. Will look into the Kari-me - sounds like a good alternative.

Thanks again!

Hug-a-bub was far better than Kari-me for me. Keep an eye out on ebay, I got one for £20!

Any wrap sling is considered to be much safer for baby than the alternatives on the market, just purely thanks to product research especially if they work on the same principle.

The Kari-Me is only recommended by the NHS as its been through rigorous safetly testing and its cost effective so I can't speak for the others The onus is mainly really on the correct use as there can be people who do not follow the instructions. Most Health Visitors and midwives will be happy to demonstrate and if not, a lot of Surestart childrens centres have trained staff.

I love wrap slings because they 'blend' better! People say its literally like wearing your baby inside your top

Also...not sure about other areas but our local Surestart Centres hire the slings out VERY cheaply which is a good alternative if you don't want to buy one.

Thank you for the link as well! x

*just read that back...OBVIOUSLY I was wearing bottoms too....not JUST the sling

Good god I sound like a naturist!! lol

Hug-a-bub now do a cheaper version without the front pocket (that turns into a sling-bag - actually ingenious and very useful).

I suspect in the UK tests mentioned above, the hug-a-bub was not one of the slings tested, because it is not readily available in the UK. But it is literally identical in principle to the Kari-me, so the safety will be the same. I suspect the only difference (if any) will be in the fabric used to make the product, and I can testify that the jersey used to make the hug-a-bub is of very high quality indeed. If you possibly can, find a way to compare a Kari-me with a Hug-a-bub.

Thanks for all the new feedback, have set up an ebay alert for hug-a-bubs. The Kari-me seems worthy of investigation too!

Thanks for the tip Loopymumsy - have signed up to both those groups, hopefully something will turn up.

I was going to get a Moby or a Kari Me but opted for a lovely stretchy wrap with patterened insert from here instead as it was much cheaper but got great reviews from its users:
www.victoriaslinglady.co.uk/

Oh my, so many options. Anyone else got an opinion on the Victoria Sling Lady ones?

Alternatively you could just by a few metres of thick jersey material.