Struggling to choose a sling! Help

[shell96]

I am very keen to get a sling so i can carry baby around with me and keep it close when it is tiny but i am really struggling with what to buy! this is my first baby so no experience of this at all.

We have already bought a backpack type carrier from Mothercare (as my OH didnt think a sling was manly enough! ) but i would really like to get a fabric type sling as well. The idea is that i would use the sling around the house and for short walks and the backpack when going out for longer times or for OH to carry baby.

There are so many different kinds and within the different kinds there are hundreds of different makes and designs. There is nowhere near my house with a good selection for me to go and try and everybody seems to have a different recommendation on what to go for.

How did other mumsnetters choose a sling? I'm starting to feel it'll just be a case of randomly choosing one and hope it's suitable!

On Yahoo Groups there's a babywearing group that will be able to offer lots of advice and you'll probably find lots of local parents with slings you could try.

Also this company hire slings (haven't used them so no idea what their service etc is like) but it's an idea.

I've gone for the Close sling for the new baby - mainly because a local shop sells them so I was able to go with dh and both of us try it on and know it would fit both of us and was comfy, easy to use etc.

I found dd didn't like the pouch sling I had (she was too nosy) and tbh I found it a bit uncomfy cos it pulled on one shoulder iyswim.

We have 2 mei tais for when it gets bigger which are great. We have two cos dh wanted a more manly loking one

a moby wrap.

they're fab. would recommend to anyone

I have a babyhawk, they are great. Very comfy and good because they come in a million different colours and designs. DH loves his.

You sound just like me Shell! So much so, you might find this thread helpful...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=pregnancy&threadid=673910-Baby-sling-which-one#137 07281

xxx

all the choice can make your head spin, cant it? i went mad looking at websites when i was pg with dd. not only was i unsure about the type, but then there were the makes as well...

MN is full of sling-lovers and you will get lots of good advice here. unfortunatley noone will agree! my top tip is to accept that there probably isnt one good sling that will cover all the bases. i only used sling for first six months (dh still carries dd who is now one) but found dif even in that short space of time, dif slings were useful at dif times. go to ebay and you will be able to get good deals on a lot of the popular makes. some (like the close) arent that cheap on ebay but that's a good thing in a way because it means they have great resale. you may not get it right first time, but that's ok. FWIW, these are slings i got thru with dd:

Hotsling (pouch) used this when dd was v little. good at start, but way too expensive and quickly became v painful with all the weight on one shoulder.

close - i never got the knack of this and ended up selling it. not as neat looking as the promotional pictures make out - there is a LOT of spare material. i am considering trying a wrap for dc2 due may, and would be tempted to try this again tho and cut off the excess . would prob get a moby tho' cause of cost

wilkinet - great for a from-birth sling that spread weight evenly across back. went on lots of long walks with dd in this and it was lovely. lots of reasonably priced wilkis on ebay. only downside for me was that it was a bit of a hassle getting dd in and out. so useful for taking her weight on long walks, rubbish for meeting up with a friend in cafe.

baby bjorn. again, got cheap on ebay. i didnt use til dd was 12 weeks as i know its not recommended. i dont like seeing people carry v small babies in those type of carriers. i loved the babybjorn. i used my sling as a pram alternative a lot cause of living in a flat ion london and not driving, the baby bjorn was a godsend cause so easy to get her in and out and she was so happy in it. dh still carries her in it facing out. like i say, would not reccommend for a newborn but worth picking up one for fifteen quid on ebay

good luck!

i would get stretchy wrap sling eg moby, hugabub for first few months, then see if you can try others out to find what suits you

we have a kari me- its a stretchy wrap and great- can use with my newborn and with my 3 yo- in fact she is more keen on it atm.

When DD was little I used a Hug-a-Bub stretchy wrap. Now she's bigger I've got a woven wrap and a couple of MeiTais - we're still going strong at 2.

To a large degree it is lucky dip, unfortunately. Can you get to a slingmeet? That way you'd be able to try a few before buying and get an idea of what works for you.

Otherwise, 2nd hand is great - buy something that takes your fancy and sell it on if it doesn't work out. UKbabywearingSWAP mailgroup and Natural Mamas forum are both good places to have a look

So long as you don't get a baby bjorn!

Look at the MN reviews

here

Stop people in the street as well if you like the look of theirs- some will even let you try it on

My vote is for a wilkinet to six months and then an ergo. Bear in mind you might want more than one.

I love the idea that OP's DH doesn't think slings are manly enough- for god's sake, when he wears a sling, it's like walking around with I HAVE SEX AND DON'T SHOOT BLANKS strapped to his chest.

I used a wilkinet for the first 7 months of ds's life and it the single best and most used bit of equipment.
could not have got through those early months without it, once i got the hang of it (took about 2 dyas - not the easiest to get on and off). used to travel accross london and back with just the sling and a nappy bag for the day, it was so liberating, its hands free too once they're strapped in.

but i know some people couldn't get the hang of tying it at all (i've lent mine to a few poeple but they quickly gasve it back saying it was too difficult).

as i had back problems in the past, i persevered because the weight is spread evenly accross hips and shoulders....

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for all the ideas, links and suggestions. I can't get to a sling meet (nearest i can find is 2 and a half hours away from me - am in rural scotland) but i do like the idea of hiring a sling to try it out once i have decided on one.

After checking them all out i think an adjustable pouch sling might suit me best. They look easier to use than wrap slings and i like the way that they are quite compact rather than having lots of trailing fabric. Also some state than baby doesn't have to be taken out when putting it on/taking off which will be good if baby is sleeping.

Hi shell, seems like you've made your mind up already but I love my MobyD so much I had to tell you...
was scared initially as tying looks horrific but book it comes with is v.simple and it's basically one tie for most different holds. The stretch makes it easy to get dd in and out and the silk gives a bit of support (and looks pretty!)
Much prefer it to the baby bjorn I had for ds, whilst it takes a bit longer to put on i feel bubs is closer, safer, more secure and you know it reminds sentimental old me of having my bump back!
Hope you and baby like whichever wrap you decide on...

A bot late, but I second the stretchy wrap idea. I used a Kari Me and it is fantastic. It's really not difficult, though the length of material does look daunting. I don't know why BabyBjorn seem to have such a monopoly on the high street, I had to give up after 5 days with ds (who was all of 8lb at the time) as it was killing my back. He is 9 months old now and we have just bought an Ergo which I am so impressed with. I was not confident enough to use the wrap on my back and really he's too heavy for my front now, but the Ergo is so comfy and he really is secure in there. If you can't get to a sling meet, are there any NCT sales near you? It's the time of year that a lot of them will be on, and I'm selling my Kari Me at one next month, so you never know what you might find there

I've got a mobyD too, and love it. It's my 3rd sling. I had a huggababy ring sling with dd1, which I did like but found it rode up my shoulder towards my neck.

Then with dd2 I got a close carrier, but gave up on it as I couldn't really make it work for me.

So now I have the moby and it is fantastic - it does everything the close ought to have done, without the hassle of having to adjust it when you put the baby in or out, and without the mysterious separate section to tie around it. It's so comfortable, and not hard to tie - and once I've tied it on I tend to just leave it on for the rest of the day so I can just pop her in and out. It does have bits of trailing fabric but I've had very positive comments about it looking rather elegant!

I love my Freedom sling. One of the best buys ever and so easy to use. Will definatly be using it for the next one. Incidently, sister in law still uses hers to piggy back her 2 year old so value for money.