Sling/Baby carrier suggestions please.

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

I'm after some sort of carrying device, but I have quite specific requirements if anyone can help. Sadly there is no sling group near me

*Not blanket-y looking / with hangy fabric
*I like the idea of accessories, like a rucksack/hood/weather cover
*Baby face in, out, hip & back
*A little zip pocket so don't need a bag for quick walks
*Adjustable and fool proof so DP can use it (6ft) and me (5ft2)
*plain black fabric with some some of ventilation because I get hot
*Not one where the baby hangs by hips, more suspended like a frog
*Suitable from birth
*Easy to BF in

I thought I was going to buy the Ergo-baby, but only just realised the baby can't face out in it. Is there such a device that does everything I want it to?

Thanks!

My sling I had doesn't met all of those requirements!

Best place is to try sling meet - there is a website;-
www.slingmeet.co.uk/

They have loads all over UK you can go and try and see different ones!

The one I had is:-
www.connectababycarrier.com/

mine is the one with the hood, has no pocket - I have in black with a white pattern on - which i must get around to selling at some stage!

I loved it, carried my baby everywhere and she slept soundly never got to use the back carry as sadly she walked at 10months and didn't like going in after she could walk!

According to our local sling librarian, the window for outward facing is quite small. If you want them to be able to see the world around them, then a hip carry or high back carry is probably better (once baby is a suitable size).

I second going to a sling meet or finding a sling library.

Ergo is the closest fit, but when babies face forwards they tend to hang by the hips a bit.

The pikkolo will face forwards, I'm not sure if it has a pocket though, I believe that ergo may have patented that idea (madness!) so as far as I know that is the only sling with a zip front pocket.

The Tula has a pocket and is also very comfortable. Obviously the pocket becomes less useful when you carry your baby on your back (which is great! They love it and you can be buggy free). tula.

...forgot to link the pikkolo here

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'm a fussy cow I know! Do babies like back carry then? Is it scary for you to carry them like that? I think I'd be worried my DC would be hanging out and I'd not notice?

I'm just worried that come 5/6 months he'd get bored looking at my neck??

The reason hardly any carriers have the option for babies to face forward is because it's bad for the spine and also throws your balance off kilter. Being honest, small babies generally want to be held close to you anyway (I know this doesn't apply necessarily to all), the idea with a good sling is that it will mimic the way you would carry a baby in your arms, I have personally never seen anyone carry their newborn facing away from them, it's not your natural reaction!

I'd suggest either the ergo or have a look at a manduca which is fairly similar. A ring sling could also be a good option to look at, although it doesn't match all the points you are looking for it means baby can sit on your hip and watch the world when they want, or snuggle into you when they prefer.

Oh, and my DS loves being on my back and has since he was about 5 months :)

Sorry to keep posting :) but x-posted with you. When they get bigger, it's lovely having baby on your front as they can talk to you, DS gives me kisses and chats away to me when he's on my front :)

They love it up there, they can see loads and pick things off shelves in shops . Once you get going you know they aren't going to fall out because they are so far in. I have a mirror with me too and DS will go to sleep up on my back.

I have the Manduca- it is similar to the Ergo but seems to get rave reviews from people who have previously had the Ergo. It does from birth as well as front/side/back carry, and comes with an insert so you can use it from birth. Don't know about BF though. You might want to consider having more than one sling?

Definitely see if there's a sling library/meet in your area. I would never have known what carrier to get otherwise...

We used a Baby Bjorn with no1 and will again with no2. Easy to adjust, they can face in or out depending on age and comfortable to wear, can add fleece cover when it gets colder, I liked that it was easy to put on and didn't have reams of fabric trailing after you.

Also used Hippychick when he was a bit older, dead handy for short trips rather than faffing with pushchair.

Thanks everyone, I've used ring slings before and find they give me a bad back, so as much as i love them going to have to rule them out!

I think I'll still to an ergo then. Is it worth buying them second hand? Or is it the sort of thing you need new, like car seat & Mattress? Will also have a look at the Manduca thanks ThatGhastlyWoman.

We've got a stokke mycarrier. Still waiting on baby to arrive but hoping it will fit the bill for us!

We got ours new- because a) we got a discount via our sling library and b) having watched several go on Ebay for within £20 of the price new, we figured it would hold its resale value enough to make it worth doing so.

Oh, also forgot to mention that another factor in going for the Manduca over the Ergo was that it seemed to adjust better to my size- I'm kind of petite. So, if you have a sling library- again, well worth going so as to check the fit...

Have a look at the wilkinet www.wilkinet.co.uk/ . It has everything but a pocket also easily adjustable for you and dp. I have on given to me and im planning on using it this time around so yet to try it myself.

If you're getting an Ergo I would suggest buying new and from a registered Ergo seller. Secondhand Ergos sell for almost as much as new. If you see a 'bargain' Ergo it is in all likelihood a fake that may or may not be safe to use.

I love my Ergo -and so did my little one. Fits all your criteria apart from outward facing and that didn't bother DS1. I wore him in it until about 18 months. I bought mine second hand but would happily pay for it new now I know how great it is. (I also got the backpack with it but have yet to use it). Just brought it out again today to use with DS2 with the infant insert and he loved it too.

If you're leaning towards the ergo I'd get the manduca (sp?) if you think you may want to sell it one day. The resale of the manduca is close to the new price and I have seen (and nearly bought) a counterfeit ergo. eBay cancelled my bid luckily due to the large number of fakes.

Beco Gemini. Does all the stuff a Babybjorn does (inc facing out) but better hip position than the bjorn.