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Pregnancy

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Original poster

What type of sling and why?

51 replies

MrsMcJnr · 02/11/2007 16:26

Ladies there are just so many types and makes, why did you get the one you did and what did you particularly like/dislike about it? did your DH wear it too? thanks

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honeyapple · 02/11/2007 17:19

Hiya Mrs- on the consumer trail again!

I vote for Baby bjorn. Very comfy, carried baby in it till at least 9 mths, and DP enjoyed wearing it too. IMO good support across back and baby liked it when it was big enough to turn around and face outwards.

ChubbyScotsBurd · 02/11/2007 17:24

I have a Kari Me wrap sling. I was also given one of those Tomy carriers but both baby and I find it uncomfy and restrictive.

The wrap is fab for littlies, he can be upright or cradled and I can spread the fabric wide across my shoulders for loads of support. It also supports my LO right across his back so his weight isn't all on his bum, and in theory you can BF in it. I use it in preference to MIL's expensive gift of a travel system and it's the only failsafe way to get my lad to sleep Highly recommended .

AboutToPop · 02/11/2007 17:46

Baby Bjorn as fast to put on and take off. DHs happy to use it. MAy not be as supportive for as long as a regular sling though, particularly an issue if you have a big baby... I only used it till c 6 months..

Pickie · 02/11/2007 17:51

agree with chubbyscotsburd, love the kari me, baby can also breastfeed whilst in it, only negative point is the wrapping will take same time to get used to

Indith · 02/11/2007 18:10

Hmmm

Ring sling is great for tiny babies and really easy to feed in. It is also very easy for dp to 'drive' and now that ds is a hulking great boy of almost 10 months great for sitting him on my hip. Pouches are similar but IMO not as versitile, especially as they have to be sized to the wearer so you and your dh would probably need one each but a ring sling can be shared.

I love wraps like chubby and pickie but would go for a woven wrap rather than a stretchy one like the kari me as they last longer IME. Ds loved being in a wrap from tiny as he was a very upright baby and these days just goes on my back instead of my front. As others have said the weight distribution is great in a wrap and they are very supportive for the baby. With the baby on your front in a wrap you can be totally hands free (unlike a baby bjorn type) as they are snuggled in nice and tight and you can also spread the fabric over their heads to keep them supported while they sleep (not as dangerous as it sounds and there is a gap between you and the other edge of the material so plenty of breathing space!)

I'm just trying out a mei tai at the moment. Finding it great for putting ds on my back and much easier to do than a wrap as a back carry. They can be used for tiny babies too on your front but have no experience of using one for that.

honeyapple · 02/11/2007 18:24

I was hands free with my baby bjorn... why wouldnt you be?

Indith · 02/11/2007 18:26

Personally, having used a baby bjorn style carrier I just preferred the head support given by the wrap. Just meant I could bend over and so on while cleaning etc without having to use a hand to support his head. Personal choice though.

Pickie · 02/11/2007 19:34

agree indith, also the kari me (or similar slings) will give you max, freedom as with the baby bjorn they are very high up menaing you have to be careful with bending. Also might be important :-) is that with the kari me you can actually sit on a chair and type away on the pc whilst with an upright carrier this is not very comfortable

Pickie · 02/11/2007 19:35

oh just read original question, DH would not wear the Kari Me or any other sling for that matter (we used to have a Kipling one as well)

bunnyhunny · 02/11/2007 19:37

another vote for baby bjorn here. We used it almost constantly in the first few months, then he outgrew it. And he was getting REALLY heavy to carry in it.
Just bought a mei tai off ebay, and ds feels almost weighless in it at 9 mo. I love it! I have no experience of it with a newborn, but will def try it next time.

bunnyhunny · 02/11/2007 19:38

and wrt DH - he loved using the baby bjorn (but we had to keep adjusting it, as he is 6'1" and I am 4'11". At least with the mei tai you don't need to adjust it.

screaminghabdabs · 02/11/2007 19:43

Hi, another vote for a ring sling. Easy to use from birth, breastfeed in and allow baby to sleep comfortably. We have now (at 14 months) graduated to a Mei Tai which is SO comfortable

Take a look at the babywearer for comparisons between different slings including the baby bjorn.

Astrophe · 02/11/2007 19:45

DH and I both used and liked the Baby Bjorn, but DC were both big babies so only used it until about 6 months with ds, 9 with dd.

Now we have a Ergo carrier, which is great as a back carrier (very comfy), and which you are supposed to be able to use with a small baby as well, although we didn't have ours when the kids were small, so I can't comment.

We also have a Little Life back carrier (nothing like a sling - its for an older baby), which dh actually loves using, in preference to buggy.

accessorizewithbabysick · 02/11/2007 19:48

My dp wore the babybjorn (and now sometimes the ergo), I wear my hotslings pouch every day (ds2 now 11 months) as it's soooo easy to put on and off, he's happy and it's easy to take everywhere I go. I hated the bb, wore it a bit with ds1 but not at all once I bought the hotsling. I would really like a mei-tai rather than the ergo, but it's ok.

chankins · 02/11/2007 19:49

Hiya, we had the baby bjorn type (cheaper ones though) and used them for the first two, but found them uncomfortable for us and babies, and only used them a few times. ds is nearly 6 months and hates pushchair, and was finding him so heavy in that type of sling that I posted on MN about it and had many suggestions advising a mei tai typr of sling - found a great site called Natural Mothering, with tons of different types to look at, and decided a mei tai would suit our needs, as I didn't think I would get on with a wrap. We've had it four weeks now, (it was delivered extremely promptly) and I love it and would recommend it to anyone. The wide straps are so compfy and do not dig into shoulders, you don't even feel the weight of baby as it is distributed more evenly, and you can carry on front back or side from birth to toddler. I tried it out on my 3 and a half yr old and even carrying her was surprisingly comfy ! I carry ds in it every day at some point, when he has enough of buggy, and I just wish I had bought one sooner and had one with the first two !!

Astrophe · 02/11/2007 19:57

Does anyone have an Ellaroo wrap? I've never seen one, but I love the colours in the online pics - I'm tempted for baby no. 3

Indith · 02/11/2007 20:01

I have an ellaroo Astrophe, very nice soft fabric once it has been washed a few times. Don't think there is much difference between different types of woven wrap though so let the patterns guide you!

Astrophe · 02/11/2007 20:10

Thanks indith

accessorizewithbabysick · 02/11/2007 20:43

I knew you'd be on here, indith
What mei tai did you get btw chankins? How faffy do you find the tying up? I find the ergo straps really uncomfortable (where the buckles are) so thought a mei tai might avoid that.

chankins · 02/11/2007 20:51

its called a happy cruiser, it was actually reduced on that site, so not as expensive as some similar ones. The straps are so easy, you tie it round waist like an apron, with sling hanging down, sit baby on your front, pull sling up over them, and straps over your shoulders, they then cross over your back to come around and tie under babys bum - there are variations in how you do it.
Its great having no buckles, that really annoyed me with the previous carrier we had. I love it ! And it comes in many cool prints...

Mummybug · 02/11/2007 21:37

Loved my baby bjorn when dd was little. Used it in winter with a wind & rain-proof fleece cover. Dd loved it and was always snug.

Then used ergo carrier when she got too heavy for bjorn. Ergo is really comfy and was great for walking her to sleep when she wouldn't settle.

Now she's sodding heavy so we have a macpac rucksack thing for when we go walking on holiday. If you get one of these buy it from a hiking shop as more comfy!

NorthernLurker · 02/11/2007 23:21

I have a Bushbaby carrier and I love it! Have found it very comfortable and dd has seemed very comfortable in it from birth - she is now 6 months. It is very easy to put on and dh has also liked wearing it.

sabinar · 03/11/2007 08:53

I'm thinking of getting two slings (and using them as much as I can instead of a pram/pushchair). At the moment I'm thinking of getting a 'soft' sling for around home (something like this, and then for out of home (and for DH) something a little more structured like a Wilkinet

ib · 03/11/2007 09:13

Dh and I both liked the ring sling when he was tiny. Then dh used the baby bjorn but I didn't - it gave me dreadful back ache. I used an ergo or a wrap sling, but ds likes to be on my hip so in the end we got a hip panda.

This is now both dh and my favourite sling.

I think we've used his pushchair about three times (he's now 10 mo)

torres · 03/11/2007 09:55

MrsMc- keep these threads coming, I am taking notes

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