Baby wraps/slings?

[MarbleCake]

Hello,

Does anyone have any recommendations for good quality baby wraps/slings?

Any shops that sell them that are reputable?

Kind of new to all this but we are very keen on trying carrying.

Thank you!

John Lewis sells them, but tbh if you know what you want online is probably the way to go. Or see if you have a local sling library - you can even test them out there before the birth with weighted dolls.

Everyone has different preferences and needs for a sling. The Close Caboo is a good newborn option which is easy to use.

@CmdrCressidaDuck thanks for the advice much appreciated!

Agree go to a sling library.
Dont by a baby Bjorn or anything like that.
A stretchy wrap like a boba, a hana, a liffft or a close caboo are excellent for a newborn.

Definitely go to a sling library. I personally loved my Caboo carrier and stayed clear of the babybjorn types- there's quite a bit of info as to why lots don't use those types and hip development on google (and I don't want to start a war on mn!). After they'd outgrown the caboo I moved to a BabaSling and side carried for ages, and my children were pretty heavy when born (over 10lbs).

We used the flamingo wrap for the first few months (great tutorials on YT how to use it) and then the Ergobaby, We spoke to a specialist about what to use because there is a lot of Hip Dysplasia in my family passed on from my DM to her GC, my DC have to be scanned at 6 weeks to see if they have it. He also said not to face them out in a carrier.

No recommendations for a specific brand but this page what to look out for to protect their hips

hipdysplasia.org/developmental-dysplasia-of-the-hip/prevention/baby-carriers-seats-and-other-equipment/

Shows you what to look out for, sorry

I bought a plain stretchy wrap from eBay for when my DD was a small baby (it was amazing). Then visited a sling library to try out more structured carrier types. Based on what felt comfortable for me, I then borrowed a Manduca and DH and I loved it so bought one ourselves. Again off eBay - we were able to get a really good condition used one for a great price. (I’m not paid to advertise eBay by the way, just found it really useful for getting stuff without breaking the bank!)

Agree with PP that sling library or sling shop is a great place to start (if you're in South London I found the South London sling shop very helpful). And wait till your baby is born before you go - that way you'll get something that fits and that suits your baby's personality (mine was too small and impatient for the first few months for most slings!). Currently have a zensling which is comfy for me, and the one she complained least about going into. Good luck - hope you find one you like.

I bought a close caboo, mainly because I wanted a fabric sling and its a nice pattern. I got it off eBay but Tk Maxx get them in too for half the price they sell new x

Go to a sling library unless you have people who will give you their old slings/carriers to use.

You can hire stretchy wraps from a lot of sling libraries for about £30 for a 3 month period. After 3 months you will need a proper carrier or wrap. You then go back again and try them out.

People have different body shapes so a carrier that works for one poster may be really uncomfortable for you.

I should add I have a list of slings/carriers me and my partner used as what he found comfortable I found uncomfortable and vice versa.

Thanks all l- oads of helpful advice :)
I'd not heard of a sling library before!
Will check it out

Thanks again xx

Stretchy wraps are basically all the same. They're just long bits of stretchy jersey fabric. Get one second hand, it'll be cheaper than hiring one from a sling library.

Sling library might be good for a longer term sling tho. I like ergobaby. Consider getting one from the get go with newborn insert, you'll get better value out of it that way.

I used soft slings a lot with dc1, dc2 I couldn't be doing with all the tying, even with close caboo, what with a toddler to watch so dc2 has been in ergobaby the whole time. Long soft slings can be a pain to get on and off when out of the house, esp in winter when there are puddles/mud for them to drag in!