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Original poster

Advice on sling/baby carrier that would suit me and my baby

33 replies

peaches27 · 08/04/2006 21:53

There are so many I dont know which to buy, but I want one second hand and it must be suitable for our needs(those of you who are following my exploits know that I am bringing up my grandkids on a budget).

Our needs are:

  1. I am not a skinny person (size 18) it has to go round me.
  2. The little un is quite petite, and is now 4 months, but I would like to use it for a little while longer.
  3. I want to be able to carry the baby on my front while I do housework - not fussed for outside - I will use a pram or we have one of those bigger backpack types.
  4. I want the little un to have the option of facing forward because she is very very nosey.

So, experts, which one will fit us?

OP posts:
Gillian76 · 08/04/2006 21:57

Most of them cone in different sizes. Never got on with them myself so can't recommend any one in particular.

Gillian76 · 08/04/2006 21:57

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alexsmum · 08/04/2006 21:57

the babybjorn is fab.i'm a big lass and it fitted fine and was comfortable.faces forward and i still had ds2 in it when he was about one and huge!!

kiskidee · 08/04/2006 21:59

peaches, I posted on your other thread about sling. I am built opposite to you so can't recommend.

busybusybee · 08/04/2006 21:59

Hi Peaches - I dont know your circumstances but I think what you are doing for your grandkids is wonderful :)

I adore my huggababy sling - I still carry dd in it alot and she is 22 months, mostly on my hip. I can cook with her there, walk about etc.
With a baby who can hold there head up you can have them sitting in a huggababy with their legs crossed and facing out - effectively sitting on my bulging tummy!

I know others will think differently.

Original poster
peaches27 · 08/04/2006 22:14

Thank you busybusybee. I am so busy I dont think too much about what Im doing... its best not to dwell. Will look at baby bjorn (I thought it was a doll!) alex's mum. Im Alex's mum too, but he is 24 and has long since flown the nest! The kids arent his BTW, he is an eternal student.

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 08/04/2006 22:17

I have a Hug-a-bub and I love it - it's a wrap sling - literally a long length of fabric with a pocket on the front.

I'd not go for a Tomy or Baby Bjorn because babies soon grow out of them. A Hug-a-bub can be used up till the child is about three.

DS2 snores in the sling and I get to kiss the top of his downy, warm head whenever I want!

busybusybee · 08/04/2006 22:19

Thread hijack alert!
Hunker Is the hug a bub one where you tie the two ends together? Or is it a loop of fabric?
I have never quite worked out how they work!!!!!

BadHair · 08/04/2006 22:22

I had the Tomy Safari one. I'm a 14 and there's room to spare. You do have to make sure you adjust the straps properly on it otherwise you can strain your back with the extra weight up front, but once that's done it's lovely. You can use it for front or back facing.

hunkermunker · 08/04/2006 22:23

\link{http://www.hugabub.com\Hug-a-bub - have had sooo many compliments about it when carrying DS2}

Nemo1977 · 08/04/2006 22:28

I had a tomy one for Ds and DD and didnt get one with it once babies were about 4/5mths as I have big boobs. I have just bought a freedom sling on ebay which is essentially a piece of cloth with rings in it. It is absolutely fab as I can carry 3mths old DD in a variety of positions but also holds DS 2.5yrs in a on the hip position and apparently on the back too but I am not yet sure how to do that.

misdee · 08/04/2006 22:30

i have a moby wrap sling. its great. i stil luse it for dd3 who is 13months old. i am a size 22.

Original poster
peaches27 · 09/04/2006 10:56

The hug a bub looks great but very expensive. Im not sure I would use it until she was 3 as she would be too heavy then. There dont seem to be any second hand ones on ebay either. Will keep looking.

OP posts:
Flamesparrow · 09/04/2006 11:05

I'm with hunker on the hugabub - Keep checking ebay - I managed to get mine cheap. Oooh, or you could see if any of the crafty types on here fancied making you one for a fee? I could send you a copy of the video showing how to put it on.

Flamesparrow · 09/04/2006 11:10

I'm with hunker on the hugabub - Keep checking ebay - I managed to get mine cheap. Oooh, or you could see if any of the crafty types on here fancied making you one for a fee? I could send you a copy of the video showing how to put it on.

purina · 09/04/2006 11:10

make one yourself no sewing required www.mamatoto.org/Default.aspx?tabid=176

kiskidee · 09/04/2006 12:25

cross reference to another thread on sling making
\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1364&threadid=161716&stamp=060409121919#3409020\diy slings}

Pollyanna · 09/04/2006 12:27

another vote for the hug a bub, and the moby wraps (they are the same I think, and the moby wrap is alot cheaper). I still carry dd3 in mine and she is 15 months.

Original poster
peaches27 · 09/04/2006 19:31

Just made one and road tested it. I checked which ones were suitable for people who were worried about their backs (me - have bad back). It was one of the ones from mamaroo site, if you scroll down far enough and look at small print it tells you how to make one.

Really easy to make. Slightly more complicated to put on, but cracked it. It crossed over front and back and tied at waist evenly distributing weight. The problem? 1. after 10 minutes the small of my back hurt. 2. the little un wasnt keen. It was easier to position her facing me but that annoyed her because she is nosey. The facing forward was OK if she sat sideways but didnt seem as secure, but the facing forward legs dangling didnt seem to work.

But as my back hurt it was a waste of time, but at least I hadnt wasted any money. Made it from an old duvet cover. I might try making a cross shoulder pouch type with the rest of the duvet cover and if this doesnt work for us, give it up!

Carrying her with one arm, baby facing forward, hurts my shoulder and that is why I went down the sling route...

OP posts:
busybusybee · 09/04/2006 19:37

Peaches - How would your back be if you carried her on your hip in a sling/pouch?

Huggababy slings are fantastic for hip carries as are pouch style slings
I think the mamatoto site also has details about how to make pouch/ring slings - definitely cheaper than buying! IMHO you can definitely carry a baby longer and until they are older with a hip carry

DD is 22 months and loves it :)

alexsmum · 09/04/2006 21:10

or even a hippy chick belt? a little seat on a belt? takes the weight off your shoulders?
go into john lewis and try the baby bjorn-i found it fab.

Original poster
peaches27 · 09/04/2006 22:41

boo hoo. Just made a pouch sling - goes across the body forms a pouch for baby to sit in front or on hip. Cant seem to get her positioned right. She doesnt like it. AND I still had to hold her. I will continue to look for a cheaper pre made sling on ebay. I noticed the mothercare one had a lumbar support which might be good for me. On the other hand we might not get on with slings. As I have a bad back and since the little un came I have had a bad shoulder through carrying her, cradling her when feeding etc.

OP posts:
kiskidee · 10/04/2006 10:07

it takes a little bit of trial and error to get the positioning right for you and baby - it did for me. best time is when they are well fed and well rested. they will abide a bit of jostling about to get it right.

is it tummy to tummy or kangaroo-style you are trying to position your lo?

matnanplus · 10/04/2006 18:00

\link{http://www.babaslings.co.uk/home.htm\babaslings}

I use one like this and am size 16/18 and have carried newborns to 4yo in it with no trouble and I have lower back, hip and knee problems.

Hope that helps, eBay have them also.

Original poster
peaches27 · 10/04/2006 22:28

That looks like a posh version of the pouch sling I am currently using, but higher on the body. Tonight I peeled the potatoes with LO looking on, she is getting used to it and so am I, but I have terrible spasms in my back.

OP posts: