I think I probably need 2 new slings, please come and advise me

[FrannyandZooey]

Dc2 is due in July
with ds I used a huggababy and loved it, so I think first of all I would like to find a similar style ring sling that is as easy and adaptable as a huggababy, but light and cool for summer

then the tricky one: I think I need a different style for work so that I can run activity classes while carrying baby in a sling, more or less hands free. I need to be able to bend over slightly etc without the baby falling out - huggababy is not secure enough, I found you always needed one hand round in support if moving around

I am a total klutz when it comes to spatial things such as tying slings which is why I like the huggababy so much - completely simple. I am scared of wraps, and things with buckles and whatnot, for this reason.

Please advise - I wish I could go somewhere and try them all out - is there such a shop, in London maybe?

don't know about a shop but you are more than welcome to borrow my ring sling (one like this) and i would heartily recommend the didymos - i know you said you didn't want a wrap, but these ones are awesome!!

yes, I would say the didymos - it's a very nice weave that doesn't overstretch. You can get use to tying it, and once the baby is in, they feel very secure.

UD that is very kind - is the ring sling especially light for summer? I am thinking how uncomfortable and sweaty I will be with child strapped to me

the didymos looks great - yes I am very unsure about getting the hang of a wrap. I really need to go somewhere and try one.

thanks Belgo

would you both say the didymos is particularly secure, or are most wrap slings secure in the way that I need?

Franny - have you got a LLL group or something near you? i had an Ella Roo wrap loaned to me from mine (in Northampton), they might be able to help. My friend has a Didymos, but is still using it (with her 3 year old!) so I doubt she'd be keen to loan it out.

My ring sling is very light - it's a cotton weave, so light but sturdy. Possibly TMI, but I am a very hot & sweaty person, and i manage ok with it, although if I have ds in it I tend not to wear a coat!! As I said, you're more than welcome to borrow it, and a 13 month old to accessorise!

I've only tried another wrap sling, tricot slen, which is reasonably secure but easily twists around your back and is too stretchy, which I found uncomfortable.

There is a good website bigmamaslings, I emailed the woman who runs it(based in Bristol)and asked for advice and she sent me back some really good advice.

I personally find the ergo sling great from aboutthe age of six months to use on my back.

wraps are wonderful! Really, you tie it once (well, maybe twice) and you can't understand how you ever found it difficult. There are other kind of strappy slings, with buckles (ergo, yamo, various mei tai derivatives) but they're not quite as adjustable, in my experience, and so therefore the baby feels less secure.
We had a kari-me for the first 3 months (april-june), then that got too hot and he got too heavy, and I swapped to a calin bleu gauze wrap, which we've used every single day since then.
Oh, and as for trying, do you know if there's a slingmeet near you?

UD yes, but I work at the time that the LLL group is on

will you not be needing your ring sling over the summer then? I wouldn't want to steal something useful...
oh do you mean to try it out? That could be handy

"calin bleu gauze wrap" blimey that sounds nice, and glamorous - will investigate

i liked the look of the ergo till I watched the tying instructions - I just about got it and then you have to insert this thing for newborns, AND it kept saying "make sure there is a free flow of air to the baby's face" too scary

which wrap did you have avi?

like Belgo, i've only used an Ella Roo and a Didymos, but found the Didymos to be far superior because ds felt so much more secure in it (same carry etc). he was lovely and cool as well - i was using my friends' at the time and it was very hot IIRC. the Ella Roo is good, but the knot slipped much much more than on the Didymos. just found this, not too pricey. if i didn't have the ring sling i'd probably buy this one, but i think dh would go a bit spare if i bought another sling!

I also don't like the look of the newborn insert for the ergo, but from six months, it's great.

Franny - you're more than welcome to borrow my ring sling. i don't use it much at the moment, ds is too heavy and prefers to walk! also, i have 3 other slings to use, should the need occur

i like slings in the same way that Some People like buggies. i just don't say "hun" much...

I think from 6 months or so I can possibly manage at work with a ring sling?
it is the small baby that can't sit up bit that could be tricky, and need a very secure one for

ps - there's a pic of ds in the ring sling on my profile, about 3 down i think, after the hugely egotistical pics of me in my new specs!

ah I looked at the hug a bub avi and like the look of it

did you get rid of it?

thank you very much UD I will remember that offer

we had this when ds was teeny. dh loved it! very very secure for newborn, not so great for older child. you can borrow that one too if you like Franny!

I've seen those and liked them UD, but you couldn't bend forward etc without putting your hand round the baby, could you?

urbandryad - my ring sling looks very similar to that one - it's a green bbsling

not really, no. you really need a wrap for that IMO.

if you had a wrap you could do a back carry (yes, even with a teeny tiny one, although it does take practice) which would solve the bending forward problem. having said that, i never did back carries with ds, waited till he was old enough and got a back pack!!

I love my "Close" sling which I teach ballet in sometimes...... So I have tested it good and proper!!!!