Moby wrap vs. ring carrier?

[Superslinger]

I'm really struggling to choose a sling. Due quite soon and keen to get something to use from day 1 so not keen on going to sling library to try it out with baby etc - I know it would probably be sensible to do so but have very strong urge to 'just get it sorted now' ready for baby's arrival.

Anyway, priority is whatever's best for newborn/ first few months - happy to buy something different when baby a bit bigger if necessary. I'm hoping to basically 'baby-wear' most of the time and so want something that's comfy to wear for long periods of time and that I can breastfeed in easily when out and about.

After lots of confusing, confusing research I've come down to moby and ring carriers as looking most like what I want. Can anybody help me choose between (or offer another option if you think anything better)? TIA

I've got a sling library appointment - the lady who runs it has dummy baby dolls of realistic weights, so you can try before you buy. Why don't you see if your local one does the same?

For my DD I had a BabaSling, which is a similar shape to a ring sling, but with a clip instead. It was great when she was tiny, as she just laid across me and slept, and could breastfeed easily. With the BabaSling you can use it for a good two years I think, as it has lots of different 'holds'.

But when she got a bit older I discovered the Moby Wrap and I absolutely loved it. It's so much more comfortable, it's softer and cooler, nice and stretchy, so many more options for it, she was upright facing in our out most of the time, and for me I found it a lot more supportive.

Both of these you can get quite cheap on ebay, even brand new.

Here's a link to each of them so you can have a look -

MobyWrap

BabaSling

HTH :)

I found my moby wrap really useful for DS up until about 6 months, when he was content to be cuddled and breastfed in it while I got on with the hoovering, shopping etc. When he started wanting to get in and out, I switched to a ring sling, which was amazing - so easy to pop him in and out without having to tie a zillion knots, and folds up small to fit in the handbag. I carried DS in a good quality ring sling until he was over 3 years old and never needed a pushchair.

Do look on ebay as slings can be expensive new. If buying a moby wrap, I and my sister both found the stretchy ones tended to sag after a while and needed to be tightened or re-tied, and so preferred the woven ones.

I found my Moby great, much better than my sister's babasling. Wraps are much better with no Lycra in for heavier children ime too.

MOby wrap all the way

Moby! More versatile, better for the baby on so many levels and good prep for upgrading to a lovely woven when baby is bigger

loved my ring sling, just got new one for new baby, was still using it, but less, when dd was 2

i made my own wrap by hemming about 3 meters of 100% cotton fabric and found out how to wrap it with internet instuctions, it was really easy and cheap to make and felt really secure. but like green bananas when the baby got a bit older i switched to a baba sling which was easier to get him in and out of in a hurry

Moby, I didn't get on with the ring sling but I didn't try "baby wearing" till he was 16 weeks so DS was fairly heavy. I used Moby till he was 15mo though.

for me a combination - close baby carrier - as comfortable as the moby i had but has 2 rights so is sort of pre-tied - just pop it over your head like a t-shirt and pull tight (has 2 small rings either side) - is the best i have had!! :)

Thanks everybody! Purchased a Moby. Just looked at videos online again though and it looks like a LOT of fabric! Do you feel bulky wearing it? Do you/ baby get really hot?!

fairimum, the close carrier was another one I was keen on, but I just couldn't work out how you breatfeed in it...

the close is almost exactly the same when on as the Moby, just way way easier to actually get on/off! :)

Good choice

No, I didn't feel bulky wearing my moby wrap. It is a lot of fabric, but it is very thin. I'm not much of a girl scout so it did take me a bit of practice to tie on at first, but I soon got the hang of it and could tied it very quickly without thinking. The Moby wrap so versatile, there are loads of ways you can wear it, it's great for breastfeeding in Also, it's important to have baby's knees higher than bottom (so they are sitting in the sling rather than hanging by their crotches) - and the moby is good for making sure this happens.

Sorry to thread hijack.. but I was going to reply then found I have a question myself!

Great choice Superslinger - I love my Moby. My DD is 7wks old, and I've only used the buggy three times (twice because mother or MIL wanted to push baby around, and once because I needed somewhere for DD to 'sit' while I was out ringing bells -something you can't do with a baby strapped to you!). I'm aiming to use the buggy as little as possible, but will need it when DD's bigger as I have quite a few spinal problems, so am not sure how long I'll be able to wear her for :(

I don't feel bulky at all when wearing it - neither does my DH who also loves it! Sometimes I feel a bit hot - but normally because I've put too many layers on myself, and this was during the heatwave a few weeks back!

My question is for greenbananas though - how do you breastfeed in the wrap? Just have it tied very low? (I tend to have it quite high) - or is there a trick to it? :) I'm sure it's obvious and I'm just being completely daft...

musicalmrs ooh it's quite hard to explain in words but would be ever so easy to show you!! Basically, with a tiny one (such as your DD still is 7 weeks) you carry the baby facing inwards with her little head more or less level with and between your bosoms so that she can turn her head to the right or the left as you need her to. (Tuck her legs in froggy style so that she is not hanging too low - you will need to carry her quite high up for this.) When she starts nuzzling for a feed, you simply unclip your bra and latch her on to whichever breast's 'turn' it is - the joy of it is that you don't have to sit down or unwrap the baby You can pull the middle-horizontal bit right up over her head for a bit of privacy if you need to.

Hope this makes sense... it's much less complicated than it sounds, honestly. I can remember feeding DS while pushing a trolley around Asda and I'm sure nobody even noticed. There might be some help on youtube if visual help would be easier, and it's also worth experimenting with your sling/baby to find a method that suits you.

Find out of there is a Sling Meet near you. It's a great place to meet experienced sling users who will be able to help you with carries and try out different slings. Good luck!

greenbananas, that does make sense, thanks! I was a bit baffled before, but now you've explained it I understand perfectly! Will give it a go when I'm doing the ironing later . Thank you! :)

Hi everyone, just wondering if you use the close baby carrier and / or moby from birth?