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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

So who's bought / thinking of buying a sling?

17 replies

thelollipoplady · 05/05/2009 07:55

What does everyone think is the best one to get?

I've had a baby bjorn before but love all the stretchy jersey fabric-style ones out there. And then the ring slings look gorgeous for a summer baby too!

I need a sling that can take me from school run to coffee shop, will look cool, keep babe cosy and that I can breastfeed in comfortably ... any ideas?!

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slushy06 · 05/05/2009 10:17

My baby is not born yet, but I was given a ring sling so I have tried with a doll and I think it is gonna make bf outside alot easier and is more comfortable than the backpack like ones.

ChloeOBrian · 05/05/2009 10:42

I always founda ring sling best for being able to quickly pop the baby in and out and to put on and off. Also I used mine for BFing around the hosue while chasing dealing with dd1 so very easy to BF in.
A stretchy wrap is very comfy but not as quick to put on and off. Although once it is on you can wear it without the baby and move them around.
Have you gone onto yahoo babywearing uk swap group? you could get some cheap ring slings nad wraps to try then for less than the price of a brand new one. (and slings are one thign tht it is better to buy second hand as the fabric will be broken in and comfier)

JimmyMcNulty · 05/05/2009 10:51

I had a ring sling last time (Better Baby sling) but didn't feel happy with how secure it felt so couldn't be hands-free with it. Am thinking of a wrap-type this time but want something that won't make us too sweaty as ds2 is due in July and the summer forecast is HOT. I'd also like one that I can have him upright in, or breastfeed in. And that doesn't take ages to get on and off. So not very fussy really...

KirstyJC · 05/05/2009 10:57

Hi there. I got a Moby wraparound sling when my DS was about 4 months, he is now 6 months and I use it every day still. I tried a ring sling but even when he was 12lbs it really pulled on my neck and shoulder - dread to think what it would have been like now he's heavier!

I tie the wrap on at home before the school run, and pop him in and out for the car, Tesco's etc without needing to re-tie it. (Major benefit - some wraparound slings aren't stretcy so you can't do this, so if you go for a wrap watch out for this ).

I LOVE my wrap. I am only 5foot1 and my DS is a whopping 20lbs now but I have still carried him on the front for upwards of 4 hours at a time - with no back or neck pain. I also feel he is much more secure than the ring sling and less likely to launch himself out of it - although that doesn't stop him trying .

KirstyJC · 05/05/2009 10:59

Ooh - meant to also say, I have breastfed in it although it was a bit tricky, not helped by the fact I had a jersey top and jumper on! If you are more organised than me, wear better feeding clothes and are prepared to practice a bit at home first, then I would imagine BF is not a problem.

ChloeOBrian · 05/05/2009 11:13

Oh yes, ring sling only really good at hands free for first 8-9 months and then you need 2 shoulder carries for any length of time.
Although the same can be said for a stretchy wrap as after about 4-5 months the weight of the baby and teh stretch makes the wrap not as comfy and you need to upgrade to a woven wrap for comfort.
Having said that, I have carried DD1 at 2.6 and DD2 at 18 months in a ring sling still for short journeys so I am getting my money's worth out of them
It really is a matter of personal preference though, I have tried many woven wraps and it si only now DD2 is 18 months that I have found one that works for me.

TamTam29 · 05/05/2009 13:04

I loved my baby bjorn, but DS was a big baby and I couldnt manage him after he was about 4 months! (although my neice was prem and stayed in the same sling till she was around a year old!!)

I then got a ring sling from ebay but couldnt get on with it (by then DS was old enough to carry on my hip) but I used it to hang out the washing and pop into the shop (when i was in the car) instead of getting out the buggy. I never felt confident enough to use it for any length of time.

there are some good websites out there to help you choose, unfortunately I no longer have them in my favourites. One was a retailer called "little possums" and another i think was www.thebabywearer.com

I think the wrap carrieres are meant to be the best but they were a bit too "hippy" for me so this time I have gone for a "mei tai" carrier or "soft structured" carrier which I also bought from ebay. I have 3 weeks to go and am really excited about trying it out as at 20 months DS is too young to be walking everywhere and the double buggy we have been given is MASSIVE! So im hoping to get by with my single buggy and sling! (we cant afford to buy a smaller buggy)

Original poster

thelollipoplady · 05/05/2009 16:04

people with ring slings - did you worry the sling was going to unravel itself as you wore it? I spent ages holding onto my cheapie mothercare baby bjorn-alike, worrying that the clips were going to go and baby would fall on the floor... or is that just post-birth paranoia?!

OP posts:

bronze · 05/05/2009 16:07

I had a thread fairly recently asking about slings. I've had a pouch and a ringsling before and really liked them but for this on I've bought a wrap and am absolutely loving it. even got dh agreeing it was worth the money so that says something

iris66 · 05/05/2009 16:14

I had a Calin Bleu wrap around one and it was such a faff to get on and off I hardly used it. I'm expecting No.4 and have just bought a freedom sling. It looks absolutely perfect for what I want (hands free/easy bf)and I've already had my 18mth old in it (chickenpox. V miserable) and it was great. Can't wait to use it with a newborn

JimmyMcNulty · 05/05/2009 16:20

thelollipoplady - more that he almost wriggled out on a couple of occasions even when very young - it was hard to adjust it exactly right, place him in it exactly right and keep him there when moving around. Also that when he was tiny he seemed buried deep within it and I had to keep making sure he could breathe! And it seemed to cramp him up a bit. I stopped using it by the time he was 3 months.

bronze · 05/05/2009 16:31

thelollipoplady
I had a freedom ring sling for my last baby. I did love it except when I leant forward it did feel like she was swinging away from me which didnt feel so secure. It was great fo putting her on my hip though as she got older

Original poster

thelollipoplady · 05/05/2009 19:06

Hi tamtam - babywearer.com's a good site - can't help wishing they did a nice simple flow chart for dippy pregnant people like me. Although it will take up a good few exhausted evenings on the sofa with my laptop reading it all though!

jimmymcnulty I was only worried about baby falling out - now i'm going to worry about him suffocating as well (you can see the sort of paranoid person i am...)!!

so actually wrap might be better when they're little - ring sling better for hip wearing when they're older like bronze suggests.

OP posts:

staylucky · 05/05/2009 20:17

Ooh thanks for the link for freedom slings, been looking round for a while but wouldn't have spotted that one. Looks perfect am placing an order!

JackBauerKillsPigs · 05/05/2009 20:59

Don't overlook Bright Spark Slings!

staylucky · 05/05/2009 21:24

That geez in his adidas top looks well pleased with his sling!

Loopymumsy · 05/05/2009 21:42

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