Pouch sling, ring sling, wrap sling: Which one before my head explodes!!!!

[ConnorTraceptive]

I just can't decide and I really want to get one for this next baby and I would like it to be be so wonderful that I use it all the time!!

Key factors for me will be:

Good for breast feeding when out and about

Quick to put on and put baby in as will have a toddler and want to be able to whip baby out off pushchair and into sling should DS need to use it.

Comfort obviously

Suitable for big babies as am aniticiping another hefty bub!

if you start a thread on teh slingmeet board, you may find someone locally in your area who may be willing to share some tips over a coffee? I'd give it a try. I initiated the last meetup in my region last month because the last one was in october. It was quite a success.

a wrap? the close one?
it is eaier to get set up than the BB btw
there is not folding or anything pop it on and off you go, quick as you like

Quick Maya Wrap update - it's great - like an advanced Coorie. DD can go quick in quick out for down to the car or around the house, but is supported enough for me to be hands free.

For longer walks I use my Calin Bleu wrap. But I'd be very tempted by the Close.

Piffle, as an ex- Coorie user do you think the Close covers that remit as well ie is it as quick in and out as a pouch or ring?

Other nice thing about a pouch or ring is they can sit kangeroo style and look around.

ok i'll stop wittering on now!

It's as quick as a coorie, you just slip it on, you know how loose to leave the sling, so it's always at your perfect size before hand, you slip him in one band, pull the other one over, spread the fabric over the bums, tuck in the shoulders, takes 15 seconds max... few seonds longer if you use the additional tie for security
can sit facing in out or puch for feeding littluns

But its around £50 Piffle, that seems wildy extortionate for some pieces of cloth does it not??

well kari me is £40 new
the close has rings to adjust, and it is cheaper than the BB and better
I value it as it ticks lots of boxes for me, it is batter value than a kari me as the folds have been sewn in.

reading wityh interest as after all my sling research I ended up with the close carrier -

been trying it out today and it seems good, but downsides would be it's really stretchy (ds is nearly 4 months and quite heavy) - seems that the stretchyness will be a disadvantage soon.

• also the "tails" seem really long - Piffle what do you do with them? ---and why don't we see them in any of the promotiontal pictures??

now thinking of swaPPING FOR something else

and I'm so wrapped up!! the mei-tais / kozy carrier sounds/look good mummypig - think maybe this is a good alternative.

noviceknitter - i'd say you could get pretty quick using the close carrier - really easy to get the hang of - it's just if you mind all the swathes of fabric or not.....

My thing is all my different slings have a time and a place. the coorie is about 4 seconds in - even fewer out. will buy a Close next LO!

I tie the tails at the bag in a loose loop. I'm quite slim so have yards but find it no hassle to tie at the front or the back...
no worries re the stretch as far as I find... ds2 is also a little porker at 7mths and he is well supported

Piffle your Close wrap sounds really good. Is it a new design - I haven't seen it on my travels? WOndering if I can get hold of one second hand. DS almost 6 months so am at a similar stage to you...

i have a ring sling, a wilkinet and a big wrap sling, i have used the ring sling the most and then the wilkinet

i got the ring sling as i needed to be able to bfeed on the go and it has been fab, ds3 is now coming up to three and i sometimes use it to carry him on my hip, and i will def be using it for no 4, due next feb

pannacotta, i am in norfolk and when i bought my ring sling i bought it off a woman who ran a small business selling slings, she went round playgroups and to a doula/birth group i went to, showing slings etc and she came to my house once i had ds3 so i could try out a variety of slings.

i think her business was called joeysslings or something? i will try and find out and post on this thread

i like the look of the close carrier but i think dp may have a fit if i buy another sling.....

Thanks 3madboys, that would be great! I never see anyone using slings/wraps in Norwich so it would be great to have her details. Thanks again

are you in norwich? cos i am too i live just off ipswich road if you know where that is? had to move out of the 'golden triangle' so we could afford a house...

i will get in touch with my doula who should have the sling womans details

personally i wouldn't be looking at a close carrier for an older baby although it's great from birth. i find because it's sewn quite extensively at the back i can't get a satisfactory spread out of it and often i get slight pressure points at the rings. while the extra wrap can alleviate some of that it essentially turns it into a wrap which i can put on in the same time and not have the same spreading/pressure issues. so it's not a problem with the stretch in the fabric, more that there are pressure points which become more of an issue as baby gets heavier. my 5 monther is small but i carry her buddha style which increases the pull on the carrier. as she gets older i'm increasingly choosing the mei tai over the close (although it isn't actually mine anyway, is dh's, but i tend to pick up the nearest one).

Will look at the mei tai.
3madboys yes am in Norwich too, just off Unthank Rd!

for me i really think the mei tai is going to be the answer - which one do you have / recommend puppydavies?

on mei teis i've researched this quite thoroughly and have ordeered myself a babyhawk - supposed to be excellent esp for 6 months plus.

i have a kozy and a chinese mei tai with fancy embroidery, i think they were sold by ellaroo (? i bought it second hand). they're quite complementary - the kozy has a large body and angled bottom straps, the chinese mt has a small body and straight bottom straps. love them both, find them both very comfy but have only used kozy w/1-3yo and cmt up to 5mo so far.

i used the kozy w/dd1 but as i said dd2's a tiddler so she's still a bit lost in it. i picked the cmt specifically for the small size and body quilting to use w/dd2 as a newborn and it worked a treat. i haven't investigated the more "modern" mei tais w/headrests and all as i couldn't possibly justify yet another (famous last words! i fear i may be tempted to make one/some) so would go w/others' recommndations or hang out at the babywearer and find out what wd suit you personally.

omg pancotta, until two years ago i lived on avenue road, almost oppostie avenue school, i was on unthank road every day, i love the little fish and fruit and veg shop there

babyhawk was the conclusion i came to too noviceknitter (btw are you one? I have just started and love it!)
god this sling malarkey doesn't half get addictive!!

Loulee - well I was one when pg - but having completed my first cardigan (which DD WILL wear until she's 11) perhaps I've graduated. However no time to pick up my needles since birth so have gone straight to Ex-knitter, without ever being Accomplished. Ah well, got my sling fetish to occupy me now - fast becoming the Imelda Marcos of slings, but then, compared to the cost of a pram, they're a bargain - and certainly get a lot more use - in this house anyway! Good luck!

well that all sounds very impressive to me!

btw ladies, i joined ukbabywearing swap - really excellent group for trading slings etc! - got my self a meitai!