alternative to baby bjorn - what about tricotti sling?

[Lupe]

Hi

I bought a baby bjorn carrier for our new daughter (2 weeks old). I've only used it a few times but I find it gets incredibly hot and I spend all the time it's on worrying about her face pressed up against my chest - it just doesn't seem very comfortable for her even though she does sleep in it.

I'm thinking about getting an alternative as I can't (post op) carry our pram up and downstairs on my own and like the look of the much simpler tricotti sling as she can lie in that with her face away from me.

Has anyone got any comments on safety/comfort of baby bjorn - does it get better as they get bigger and can support their head more (she's well over 8lb already)? is it more of a winter thing?

And any recommendations for simpler, cooler alternatives and specifically firsthand experience of the tricotti?

thanks!

i dont like bb much either as babies arms never seem comfy
and i read a frightening article online where an american baby had fell through the leg hole and been injured
hugabub and wilkinet sling are supposed to be good though i havent used them myself-ive just ordered an ergo carrier which can be used from birth(with special insert) up to 60 pounds

I had both and much preferred the babybjorn - I didn't start using them until ds was 6 weeks though and a bit bigger - around 10lbs I think.

The tricotti is a double cotton jersey band and I found that to feel secure with it a significant amount of it needs to be around the baby (and around the head if they are asleep) - so that's 4 layers of jersey - which made him too warm. He just didn't feel safe to me if I put less material around him.

wilkinet, wilkinet, wilkinet...tra la la..the only sling IMO.

Have a tricotti which I bought for our July DS. I thought he was too hot too although he slept soundly in it the few times we used it. I also thought he was too squashed though so we didn't use it very much.

Now have a DD and used the Wilkinet for her when she was a couple of weeks old and liked it although I felt too tired with having a new baby to get used to it (bit fiddly - takes practice).

She is 6 months now and the Tricotti is great for carrying her face outwards. It's easy to pack and useful as a spare cover for her when she's in the buggy. I have taken it and a single buggy then if my 2 yr old wants to get in the buggy, she can be carried.

Didn't like the BB BTW.

I think that with any sling that carries the baby upright on your chest you will find that the baby will be warm - it is the summer after all! The Huggababy carries a younger baby sideways across your front, so there is less contact and I imagine that the baby will be less hot.

I've used
Baby Bjorn - ok but hard on my upper back
Wilkinet - brilliant in all respects except fiddly to put on and take off
Huggababy - incredibly convenient but tricky to adjust and not for long carries and not hands-free
Coorie - unbelievably simple and convenient, similar to Huggabbaby so also not for long carries nor hands-free

I think I may look into the Wilkinet - although 'tricky to put on' is putting me off a bit!

I think apart from the heat question, what really puts me off about the bb is that her head just seems to loll straight onto my chest, nose and mouth pressed in - I can't really see how the head bit works (apart from obviously stopping her head from going straight back) - tightening just seems to restrict her space without giving any additional support. Am I perhaps not adjusting it correctly?

I think head lolling onto your chest, nose and mouth pressed in, is probably the correct position! She may turn her head to the side when she's older, and, while the BB doesn't give much head support to a newborn (they do loll sideways in it) it will probably be fine for her in a month or so when her neck is stronger. My ds used to sleep literally face-down in his bear's lap - I don't know how they manage to breathe, but they do! If you make sure that you're wearing cotton, rather than synthetic, I'm sure she won't get too hot.

Wilkinet is still face-in, and much snugger than BB (one of the reasons it's more comfortable for both you and babe). Try a ring-sling like Huggababy if you want a sideways carry without the baby's face tucked into your chest.

that's put my mind at rest a bit prettycandles - btw how come you've tried out so many baby carriers?!

We got the BB when I was pregnant. Dh liked it but I didn't get on with it and wanted one in which I could bf ds, so I sent him out to buy the Wilkienet - which turned out to be the wrong one! I didn't have the heart to tell dh that it was the wrong one until I was pg with dd . Then a friend lent us the Huggababy, which was the bfing sling that I had wanted, and I used it loads. But I had to return it when the friend had her baby, and couldn't truly justify spending another £40 or so on a THIRD sling. I found the Coorie here and got it (because it was so cheap! ) for a holiday abroad, where it was invaluable.

I'm sure I'm not as bad about slings as some Mumsnetters are about buggies