What type of sling and why?

[MrsMcJnr]

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

Can you BF using a Mei Tei? My LO is 4 months old, would it be ok for him?

My 6 week old has reflux, and likes to be upright, usually draped over a shoulder, after feeds. Which sling would work for us? Any advice, please?

Kari Me or similar wrap frisbyrat - I have an upright baby too and they can be cosied in, upright and comfy to sleep in one of these.

Just watch out for the sick in your cleavage

Thanks, chankin, I think I might rent a mei tai and then sell the ergo if I think I'll use it more. Given how much it costs, we've only used it 4 times since we bought it! And it really is the buckles that make it so uncomfortable.

Frisbyrat, my ds had reflux and I used to use a wrap sling or the ergo to hold him in the position you describe, dh used the baby bjorn to have him facing outwards so he could play (when he was a bit older than yours though)

Thanks so much ladies for all your thoughts it seems, in summary, that most of you like the baby bjorn, the mai tai, the kari me wrap slings or the woven type of wrap or the ring slings.

Also some useful comments on the ergo, little life, pouches, hop panda, bushbaby carriers and macpacs.

Baby bjorn
The good: most thought it was comfy, could be used for up to 9 months, that Dads? like it too, that it gives good support across the back and that babies like being able to face outwards when big enough. It is fast to put on and to take off. Can be used in winter with a wind & rain-proof fleece cover. Babies like it as they are always snug
The bad: might not be as supportive as other types of sling when the baby is bigger. Some only used if for 6 months. Needs to be constantly adjusted for parents of different heights. Some said uncomfy for both babies and parents. It gave some dreadful back ache. Not much freedom of movement for you as with the baby is very high up meaning you have to be careful with bending.

Mei tai
The good: makes even bigger babies feel weightless, loved and recommended. The wide straps are comfy 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. One MN tried it out on her 3 and a half yr old and even carrying her was surprisingly comfy. Another carries her DS in it every day at some point. Great for putting baby on your back and much easier to do than a wrap as a back carry. They can be used for tiny babies too on your front.

Kari Me wrap sling
The good: 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. Baby can also breastfeed whilst in it, 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 could bend over and so on while cleaning etc without having to use a hand to support his head. will give you max, freedom 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
The Bad: only negative point is the wrapping will take same time to get used to. 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.

Woven wrap - 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!

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. Hi, another vote for a ring sling. Easy to use from birth, breastfeed in and allow baby to sleep comfortably.
Thanks for the tips the babywearer for comparisons between different slings including the baby bjorn and for recommending Natural Mothering.

I've taken the plunge and gone ahead and bought a Mei Tai £44 including delivery from the US seems OK

I might also get a coorie sling, but I'll leave that for the time being

mrsmcjnr- loving your summary!

ive got a ring sling (hugababy - possibly?) and i really like it but always worried that baby might fall out the bottom. i also like my baby bjorn which ive lent to my friemd and she uses constantly

can anyone comment on the differnce between a woven wrap (eg ellaroo) and a stretchy/jersey wrap (eg moby). I lke the patterns of the ellaro, but the moby looks more comfortable and looks like baby would be more snug...?

what age baby apostrophe?

um well..., the child is as yet uncncieved. I have two dc, hoping for a third, one day! I'm just doing my thinking in advance!

I already have a baby bjorn, so although idealy any new wrap I bought would enable me to sell baby bjorn, I could use Bb for tiny baby and wrap when baby is older.

I do quite like the idea of being able to bfeed in the wrap though, and def need a wrap which enables me to carry large baby and toddler on my back/hip.

So basically, it needs to be good for everything!

just to clarify, I would not be carrying the large baby and toddler on my back simultaneously!

lol @unconceived

i've not used a stretchy wrap but have used stretchy pouches which is similar idea. they're WONDERFUL for a newborn. easy to get in and out (can leave wrap tied all day and pop them in and out), comfy for you both, and i would imagine feeding in a stretchy wrap would be totally possible too. i tried my not-quite-newborn in my woven wrap and tbh i wouldn't recommend it. with a stretch wrap you tie it first then slip the baby in, with a woven you have to balance the baby while you tie the wrap around you both - i found that too tricky.

HOWEVER stretchy wraps are not really supportive enough for larger babies/toddlers (so i hear, my dd is 13ish lbs at 5mo so yet to reach that stage). i think the tricotti i have (stretch pouches) recommends up to 18mo, not sure about the close carrier (similar idea but has rings so can be constantly tightened up if it stretches with weight, unlike a wrap which you'd need to retie).

so unless you're not planning to carry much past a year (or you grow petite babies) it sounds as though a woven wrap would suit you better.

ps i'd rate a mei tai as my most versatile carrier esp on back but surprisingly good on hip too.

Get a non-stretchy wrap like a Didymos - very versatile and you can use if for bfing babies and toddlers

what's the youngest you've used a woven wrap effie? i lived in my wrap when dd1 was 6-18mo but i just couldn't get it to work when dd2 was about a month old. is there a knack? particular carry? i would love to know as i was really disappointed i couldn't get it to work for us.

I only got it when DS was 3 months old - not much help I know. I used a Wilkinet in the early months but it was a bit faffy and you couldn't feed in it.

how did you find feeding in the wrap? which position did you use? i always understood something like a ring sling where you can position them then tighten it around them is easiest for feeding. would love to hear your bf in a wrap tips.

heh sorry for barrage of questions

I love wrap slings. I have several. Stretchy wrap like Kari me is ideal for the first few months as the stretch is rather useful when getting used to tying and adjusting your baby, then a woven for when your baby/toddler gets heavier as the stretch is quite annoying with a toddler as they don't get the support.

My husband likes to use a Patapum toddler carrier as he doesn't wrap enough to learn the tying methods.

have never actually tried bfing in it - by the time he was 3 months he was too old for the position they recommend (when they're kind of in a pouch at the front). I know people who have bfed with a ring or pouch sling, though. Will def try it with (hypothetical) no. 2.

I know there are quite a few sling users on here, so maybe try a new topic on slings and bfing?

should have said too big rather than too old

I had a Coorie sling for DD2 and she hated it screamed the place down when out in it and I never felt she was secure in it maybe it's just me I wasn't using it correctly or something.

I'm pregnant again and would love to find a sling that I could get on with as it would be a godsend for the nursery run when I will have a 4yo, 2 1/2yo and a newborn to get across a car aprk into nursery. really liked some of the slings on Bringing up baby, have plenty of time for research though.

I've tried:

Baby bjorn - fine, but bulky, no good for breastfeeding discreetly and bad for small newborns imo (starfish issue!)

New Native - my absolute fave. takes getting used to with a newborn (first 2 weeks or so) then fab. great for breastfeeding. can use as blanket. folds into handbag. one piece, so never missing a bit. worked with my toddler too. getting baby in/out is quick and easy. bit hard on one shoulder, however.

Tricotti - 2nd favourite. good for breastfeeding. folds into handbag. can be used as blanket. however much more fiddly to get the child into than the New Native.

hope that helps!

Astrophe:
Stretchy wrap: lovely and snuggly for newborns; easy to tie as the stretchiness means it's less essential to get it absolutely right; easy to get baby in and out of without retying; usually cheaper; BUT not as supportive, only really comfortable up to around 4mths (IME); not good for back carries.

Woven wrap: More supportive than stretchy; good for back carries; good for newborns to heavy toddlers; huge number of makes and designs. BUT: steeper learning curve as it's only really comfortable if you get it just right (but once you've got it right it is super-comfy!).

I'm not a fan of the baby bjorn - I couldn't use it with DS after he hit around 5kg as it killed my back and shoulders. I got a wrap and haven't looked back, I still wear him now at 2.5 yrs and 13kg. Mei Tais and soft structured carriers like the Ergo are also great (especially for easy back carries), but IME not so useful for newborns, and I don't find them easy to bf in.

Bf'ing in a wrap is something that some people find easier than others, it seems to depend on anatomy but once I got the hang of it I haven't looked back, plus it's super discreet, almost impossible to tell that you're bfing.