ring sling, wrap sling or hip seat?

[magicfairy]

DS is 7 months and 21lb and loves to be carried, esp on my hip. Have a backpack thing which he enjoys but want something not as bulky for the summer festies etc and also something i can have in my bag for unprepared times when i dont have buggy or backpack and have to carry him for longer than 5 mins. Have been looking at wrap slings and have heard great things about them but only know people who have had newborns in them and they have not tried them in way other than on the front. So, i was wondering what anyone would recommend?

I think for the summer I would go for the hip seat. You are likely to get into a sweat carrying 1 1/2 stone without having the sling wrapped around you too.
I carried my ds in my wrap sling on my back and it's fine but awkward to get them on and off without exposing your skin to the world. That's what I found anyway.
Hip seats are great and easy to keep on if your decide to put your ds sitting down somewhere for a little while.

look at meitei carriers - for back and front carries. also the ergo carrier

If you want something you can stick in your bag & put on easily, maybe try a pouch sling? A kimmer or a hotsling? I've just bought a hotsling from homegrownbaby and I think it will be great for the hip thing (ds2's only 4 months). Folds up v.small. People on mumsnet rave about the coorie (kimmer is the non-fleece version). Homegrownbaby offer free advice, I'd thoroughly recommend them.

love my ringsling -dd is lighter than your ds though, and she's 13 mths ... wait long enough though, & someone will suggest an ergo...!

Coorie or Kimmer. Easy peasy and doubles up as a blanket or something to sit on. I carry BabyDragon (15 months) in one every school day. No idea how much she weighs. It's lovely when she snuggles in under my arm

I love my Huggababy ring sling - would be perfect for a festival, I used it lots last summer. It's great with baby on your hip, very comfortable and supportive, and the cotton fabric isn't too hot. Problem with Hippychick (which we also have) is you still have to hold onto the child with one arm.

Can you borrow something to try out - I lent the Huggababy to a friend but it hurt her back, but I've carried DS2 literally miles in it no problem. (He's now 22lbs).

Have not tried a wrap sling - I just wish there was some shop where you could test out all these things instead of relying on the internet and guessing.

you can check now and see if there is a sling group near you!!

see www.slingmeet.co.uk for more info

ooops posted too fast- meant to say a great way to try before you buy- meetup with someone who already has stuff!

another vote for huggababy here. dd and I are happy for literally hours. I also have a wrap sling but the intructions were rubbish and we just end up in a knot!

a vote for a wrap sling like the hopp here.