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Original poster

WHAT BABY SLING TO BUY - HELP!!!!

31 replies

coby · 14/12/2007 14:31

I know there are a lot of babywearers out there so I'm hoping for some good advice on which baby sling would suit me best - there is far too much choice and with funds being very limited I really don't want to buy one and find it doesn't suit

I'm 5'2 and pretty small built but I have fairly large boobs to take into account .

I'm looking for something that won't put much strain on my back. I'm going to need it most for the first 18 months and ideally want one I can breastfeed in. I'm going to need it to be very supporting as I'm going to be carrying the new baby in it while 'dealing with' an unruly 2 year old and her 4 year old sister (who is thankfully slightly better behaved). I'm likely to be using it around town and on the beach while pushing the unruly one in the pushchair . I'm probably going to need to use it when doing the housework too.

I know there are several compnies who hire out slings. Can anyone recommend one? Not sure how useful that would be to me right now as I am 18 weeks pregnant and my only 'tester' would be DD2 - not sure if it would be a good idea to start using one now?

Has anyone successfully made their own and can advise me on a good pattern?

Help!!

OP posts:

Original poster

coby · 14/12/2007 20:16

bump - babywearers where are you?????

OP posts:

Yurtgirl · 14/12/2007 20:26

I adore my huggababy and always recommend it when people ask!
I have owned 4 different ones and my huggababy is definitely my favourite. I found I could carry dd for hours without backache, chores, trips out etc

muppetgirl · 14/12/2007 20:29

Hugabub without a doubt. Had a babyborn thing with ds1 and used it once as it killed my back but with ds 2 it fits fantastically and it feels very secure. I use it when ds is fractious and I have to get jobs done. You could make one out of a large length of material, it's just learning to tie it that is the knack.

CharlieAndLolasMummy · 14/12/2007 20:33

I am going to recommend the new baby bjorn and/or the ergo.

If you have 2 already, you NEED something in which the baby is very secure, where you can (within reason) bend down, and where the weight is distributed really really well.

I would avoid anything where weight goes only over one shoulder.

And also anything which involves faffing with long bits of fabric. Because when you have 2 kids already, you ARE going to have to be putting a wailing baby in a sling in a muddy car park with 2 children also shouting at you. So it needs to be foolproof.

I would also avoid jersery fabric if you want it to last 18 months.

This bascialy, IMO, leaves the Ergo (with newborn insert, and the NEW bjorn.

muppetgirl · 14/12/2007 20:38

Have to say faffing with fabric is a lot easier (I have another ds 3.9) than using that blasted babybjorn thing that I couldn't use on my own as it required a third hand...

I play football with my other son whilst my ds2 -6 weeks- is on the sling.

RoRoMommy · 14/12/2007 20:39

Ergo sling for sure. I tried the Maya Wrap, Better Baby Sling, and know people who used others, but this is by far the best. It attaches around the hips and over the shoulders like a backpack, with thick straps that don't cut into your skin and straightfoward instructions (I didn't need them to get started). DS is now almost 9 months old, 25 pounds and I can carry him for hours around town without it hurting my back.

It has an infant insert that I didn't try, so I can't comment on that, but it's adaptable to bigger kids (up to 40 pounds) so I think you could probably try it with DS. Oh, and you can breastfeed in it, though I haven't tried. It shows that on the instructional dvd and it looked pretty straightforward (but DS is going through a phase where he only likes to bf lying down )

Oh, and you can use it on your back or front, so that helps with the big boobs, but only when your baby is older (I have large breasts as well and I don't have any trouble with wearing DS on the front).

Look here to see the sling and go here to buy, sixty quid and free shipping (I got mine in two days).

Good luck!

RoRoMommy · 14/12/2007 20:42

About the third hand, you can do it on your own, but you need to prepare the straps properly so they're far enough up the backpack-straps so you can clip it by putting your hands over your head and behind your neck, iyswim.

SpeccieSeccie · 14/12/2007 20:43

Forget anything to do with Mamas & Papas - what a waste of money that was.

muppetgirl · 14/12/2007 20:44

hugabub

babybjorn

baba sling

close baby carrier -featured on bringing up baby

Original poster

coby · 14/12/2007 20:57

thanks all - I was getting worried when no one had responded earlier - I knew there were some knowledgable people out there .

Been looking at the wilkinet - can anyone tell me how they got on woth that one and also the 'freedom sling'.

Going to trawl through the internet for the slings already mentioned.

charlieandlolasmummy - love the muddy carpark anecdote - it's like you have been living my life (apart from, I have ordered a non-wailing baby this time )

OP posts:

Psychobabble · 14/12/2007 21:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

muppetgirl · 14/12/2007 21:06

I haven't tried b/f in the hugabub. Not sure I could manage it tbh.

Yurtgirl · 14/12/2007 21:11

I had a wilkinet and loved it but it many hate it!!

It takes practise to put the baby on properly and tie the straps right - definitely not one for a muddy car park - also its great with small babies but I didnt find it nearly so useful after 5 months.

Once they want to face outwards I found it less comfy, I also never mastered the back carry. But for a little one facing it its great

I would still reccomend huggababy over all the others
I have also had a storchenwiege wrap style -which I never got on with.
Also a better baby sling (similar to huggababy but of far poorer quality)

Original poster

coby · 14/12/2007 21:14

just looked at the hugabub - looks really good - not sure how good it would be for an older baby though, but I still like the look of it. It does say women with large boobs may have prob bf in it (conjures up interesting images .

The ergo looks like it would pull on your back but I assume it doesn't????? It looks a bit like the last carrier I had which really pulled and I couldn't wear it for more than 20 mins - I think that was down to me being a shorty though. Is it comfy for shorties???

OP posts:

TooTickyDoves · 14/12/2007 21:16

Better Baby Sling
This is a wonderful sling for breastfeeding/continual wearing/adjusting. There is a shoulder pad which stops the fabric from bunching on your shoulder and keeps the weight nicely spread.
It is excellent up to 18m and longer depending on the child.

Ergo is good for later but I don't see how you can bf in it.

TooTickyDoves · 14/12/2007 21:17

I am a shortie (5' and nearly half an ") and use an Ergo with my 2.5 year old. Very comfy.

ib · 14/12/2007 21:17

I love the ergo but really didn't like it in the newborn setting - good for from about 4-5 mo ime.

A simple ring sling was my favourite for bf a newborn.

muppetgirl · 14/12/2007 21:17

Does the huggababy pull on your shoulders at all?

I like the idea of the dicreet b/f as I was in a cafe today fiddling around with all manner of clips and bras!!

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 14/12/2007 21:18

Don't get the Baby Bjorn as the weight of the baby is all put between their legs.

I've successfully breastfed with a Coorie/Kimmer pouch sling and can still carry BabyDragon in it at 22 months. No faff whatsoever to put on, you can slither out of it if your baby is asleep and put them down into their carseat/bed/whatever, doubles up as a blanket. I love it.

For maximum "hands free" security, the wrap types are probably better.

I suspect there isn't one sling that will do everything you want it to do. Most can be made yourself very easily, several instructions for different types here

As for the muddy carpark - don't let your other children out of the car until you've got the baby stashed in the sling, then pen the unruly one and let the well behaved on out

Original poster

coby · 14/12/2007 21:19

muppetgirl - pmsl at clips and bras, last time I was bf, I think I might as well haev just got me boobs and and done the job properly after all the faffing - drew far too much attention to myself (or so I felt at the time). Being confident to BF in public really helped me BF longer with DD2

OP posts:

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 14/12/2007 21:19

I used to perch on the edge of my open car boot in my novice sling wearing days Perfect for muddy carparks. Alternatively, you can drive in some slings and just slot the baby in later.

ib · 14/12/2007 21:20

You have to wear the ergo fairly low on your hips - all the weight is transferred to the hips and you really don't feel it on your back.

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 14/12/2007 21:21

I have BabyDragon sat in her homemade Coorie today and was complimented by a muslim (I think!) woman who told me it reminded her of home

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 14/12/2007 21:23

have?? I mean had BabyDragon sat in her sling...

muppetgirl · 14/12/2007 21:23

Coby - lol! Getting better though!! Have managed to b/f without the 'old mans coat that hides everything' that I first started with! Ds was very hot (and pink) when we finished if I was wearing it.

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