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Original poster

Which baby sling do you recommend?

25 replies

bumbleweed · 22/01/2006 19:57

Have 3 month old and decided to get a sling for indoors and outdoors.
The hugabub gets the best reviews on MN, and I've looked on the website and still not sure about how easy it is to put on and take off - or how sturdy it is?
Was considering the bjorn one before I looked at the reviews.
Can anyone give me more detailed recommendation, having tried both styles?

OP posts:
Original poster
bumbleweed · 24/01/2006 12:12

bump

OP posts:
MerlinsBeard · 24/01/2006 12:16

i have a baby bjorn one which is fab imo, lovely and snug and feels so nice having a tiny wee baby so close and so safe. easy to use, its colour coded so even my dp can use it!!!

Kelly1978 · 24/01/2006 12:18

aby bjorn is good. Nice and comfty. Dp liked it but I don't get on with slings full stop - find them too heavy.

Original poster
bumbleweed · 24/01/2006 12:35

Thanks both of you

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FrannytheQuinoaEater · 24/01/2006 12:42

Is the bjorn an upright one, because there are concerns about young babies' spines being in the upright slings for long periods. I would recommend the Huggababy or another sort of ringsling where you can adjust positions. You can breastfeed discreetly in this style, lie the baby down to sleep, sit them up when they are a little older, or even carry an older baby on your hip. I find the upright carriers also strain your back and shoulders as the baby gets older, whereas with a ring sling the weight is distributed across your pelvis when the baby sits on your hip.

Ring slings are easy peasy to put on and off once you get the hang of it, and they are very sturdy. I regularly carried ds until he was 2 and I still take him in it if we are going across London - he weighs well over 2 stone now.

Laura032004 · 24/01/2006 12:46

I've got a wilkinet, which was fantastic until DS was about 9 months. It can also be used with an insert so that the baby be laid more horizontally in the sling.

I tried the bjorn, and found it uncomfortable for me, and I imagine for DS too.

It might be worth looking on E-bay whatever you decide - there are always lots of second hand ones - ideal in your hunt for the perfect sling

alexsmum · 24/01/2006 12:50

loved baby bjorn. so comfy and supportive and incredibly easy to put on.
can't comment on the other i;m agraid

Original poster
bumbleweed · 24/01/2006 21:49

Hmmm now I'm torn .......... but I will look on e-bay, never done e-bay before but with realising we need yet more baby-gear, now's a good time to start!

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nooka · 24/01/2006 23:31

I loved my babybjorn too, used it extensively with both ds and dd. Nice and sturdy, very comfy for me to wear and both children appeared to enjoy being in it. I didn't wear it for hours on end though!

Spidermama · 24/01/2006 23:36

I love the wilkinet. I had it with all four of mine and was carring 5-7 month olds in it until they were big enough for the backpack.

The drawback is that you can't feed whilst wearing them, whereas you can with a huggababy. I tried the huggababy but it never worked for me.

The Wilkinet takes a bit of getting used to, but once you have mastered the ridiculously long ties it fits like a glove and is totally adaptable as the baby grows.

hunkermunker · 24/01/2006 23:42

I was wondering about getting these - anyone else tried them?

bobbybobbobbingalong · 25/01/2006 02:41

I think my hipseat is the single best thing I have spent money on. I have used it for 2 years now - it still looks brand new, and it is so handy for a child that can walk, but sometimes gets tired, or who wants to talk to the post office lady face to face.

I loved the front pack from 0-3 months. Ds was cosy, dh could work it out (amazing but true)and it was great to have him central while I was working out my balance again after having an extra 15 kilos out front.

I loved my sling (which was a NZ made one) from 4-14 months and ds went in a variety of positions. It was plain black and so dh could have used it - but he continued to use front pack until ds was maximum weight.

The real waste of money was a backpack, what use is something you can't put on by yourself?

jabberwocky · 25/01/2006 04:14

I had the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder and the Maya Wrap. I liked the OTSBH when ds was small because it has a padded shoulder that you can use as a pillow just by wearing the sling reversed. The Maya Wrap comes in lots of different fabrics and colors but seemed "too big" when ds was still tiny. I used it quite a bit as he got closer to 6 months and up.

I loved the Baby Bjorn when I was going to do a lot of walking and wanted the weight distributed more equally.

lapsedrunner · 25/01/2006 07:37

Baby Bjorn

Filyjonk · 25/01/2006 07:42

i have spent way too much ob slings in an attempt to be an earth mummy.

the only ones i rate are the baby bjorn
+the ergo. Found wilkinet ok. the others cost me too much in oseteopath fees.

pesme · 25/01/2006 08:04

another vote for the wilkienet. i used to wear it to the loo! (with dd in it of course)

Pollyanna · 25/01/2006 08:14

I love the hug a bub and maya wrap. Much more comfortable than the baby bjorn ime. I can still carry dd3 in it and she is 12 months old (and very big!). i get awful back ache with the baby bjorn. You can also feed in it.

I carried all of mine around most of the time while they were tiny babies and this was the best carrier I found by a long way.

MistressMiggins · 25/01/2006 08:42

baby bjorn

who wants mine?
I bought it 2nd hand but it washes beautifully and I dont need it - was going to sell it at car boot sale but more than happy to give it away to a fellow MN

CAT me!!

Enid · 25/01/2006 08:51

wilkinet

Original poster
bumbleweed · 25/01/2006 13:59

Yes please to the baby bjorn MistressMiggins - will CAT you!

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innorway · 26/01/2006 09:40

Have you checked this site out?

www.thebabywearer.com

Loads of information but got me bamboozled - I've just gone and ordered a ring sling and pouch from Zolowear (does anyone have experience of this?)

Smellen · 26/01/2006 19:19

I bought a 'slingrider' (as illustrated on an earlier link on this thread). It was cheap and I was in a rush to get summat. I haven't really got on with it. When baby was newborn-2months, it felt like his neck was being supported, and now he's getting curious about the world, it seems a bit too enclosed for him. However, will use it now and then as very easy to get baby in and out. Would like to know if anyone else has used one of these - and what they think.

Smellen · 26/01/2006 19:20

error - neck WASN'T being supported (!)

satine · 26/01/2006 19:23

I loved my baby bjorn!

Original poster
bumbleweed · 11/02/2006 14:01

Thanks for the babybjorn Mistress Miggins - it arrived today. Very kind of you - you're a star [smile[.

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