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?

Have a look at Kangaroo Korner for ideas.

I did like the look of the Close sling
thinking about it, that may have been the one that said about the free flow of air

Franny I have an Ellaroo Deluxe Mei Tai you are welcome to borrow/try out. It is certainly secure, and easy to use I found, but I am not sure if you should use it from birth as the baby is upright in it. Mine is the cream and black fabric shown in the picture.

See if there is a group near you where you could try out different kinds

Tatties as I understand it, you can use wraps from birth and there are not the same drawbacks as using a baby bjorn style, as the baby doesn't hang in them in the same way they do in a baby bjorn

however I think for the baby's spine it is best to have lying down as much as possible rather than vertical, until they can sit up themselves?

I would be using it for a couple of hours at a time while at work, so I would feel happy about the vertical position if I could just get the hang of the blooming things

there is a meet near me, I am scared now. i hate meeting groups of new people, it really freaks me

In the close sling you can have them lying down-pouch style if you want to. Really is very easy to put on and off. It comes with a dvd with all the instructions on.

They sell them in blooming marvellous and in our local store they were really happy to let me try it on etc in the dressing room with dd in it. Quite expensive mind you - but the best money I have ever spent. (and I spend a lot )

When in that position, would you be able to move around hands free easily?
I do sports and games and so on, and need to be putting equipment out and collecting it up, from the floor, plus being fairly active etc

I am not sure about the mei tai style. On the Little Possums website it says they don't recommend it until the baby is 3mo and has some head control. But on the Ellaroo site it says from birth... I didn't use it until much later anyway. I was sceptical about me being able to tie it, but I found it easy.

You should go to a slingmeet! Ours is cool, very friendly and you would probably get some practical advice and help.

some of them say you can pull the fabric up to provide head support for a newborn
I don't think I will be working until baby is about 3 months anyway - although someone floored me a bit today by saying "oh i hadn't thought of you being off work at all - I saw you just carrying on with baby strapped to your back"
I thought I was being quite ambitious aiming to go back after 3 months

F&Z - you started a thread I was about to start also due baby in July and looking for a sling. So far I have the dreaded Baby Bjorn (when I knew no better) and a Corry and Carry which I couldn't really get on with and DD2 hated, she never felt that secure in it and I felt like I hand to hold her with one hand all the time.

Anyway sling gurus this is what I need:

I drive DD1 to nursery every day (too far to walk) and then have to get DD1, DD2 and DB3 across car park into nursery and get DD1 settled etc so ideally I need a sling that I can either quickly out on or have on already and pop baby into and out of quickly. With a 4yo and 2.6yo the days of spending hours with my feet up BFing are long gone ideally I want a sling I can BF in as well so I can dash about after the DDs without unlatching DB3 IYSWIM.

Is there such a sling out there?

Franny - I got the Babasling cheap from TK Maxx (£20). I found it fine for when DS was tiny - no probs bending down etc.

I just bought a close sling after seeing my sister with hers (her ds was born in November)- completely hands free from what i could see- there was a thread the otehr day on close slings and I linked to a website then which showed all the options. Sister is into baby wearing and I needed a sling that will allow me to be completely hands free so I can hold ds3's reins and care for him when ut and about.

Obv. won't be trying it myself for a few weeks yet (hopefully, although it is completely OK from birth) but have it and its really soft and lovely fabric, was really pleased, and has a DVD with it showing how to put it on in different modes.

Sorry F&Z disappeared for a moment. Yes you can move about easily as you bring the other side of the sling up and over for extra support. But when dc gets a bit bigger they feel more secure facing you. dd is now nearly ten months and very happy in it as am I using it. I also find it is really supportive on my back which can get a bit achy.

I swear by the Better Baby Sling

I wear my close sling over my coat on the drive to school and then just bung dd into it when we get to school and manage to get four other children (not all mine - school run) into school no problem. Sling is def hands free as I hold the two youngest by the hand. I have tried the run with a buggy and I just can't do it.

pyschobabble - I just couldn't get on with the Coorie last time, DD2 seemed to be swamped in it and it never felt that secure. Maybe I was doing something wrong with it I don't know

Psychobabble how many slings have you got! I owe you an email, will do so soon.

Franny my mei tai has the head support thing you can pull up or down. I fed ds in it. Alhough I found it easy to tie, it wasn't the quick in and out option like a pouch would be. But I think it would be fine for moving around and being hands-free.

Had a look at the close sling and I agree it does look good, maybe I will persevere with the Coorie for the nursery run and then have something like the close carrier for when I am not needing to drive.

thanks all am rushing around but will read properly later

sweetkitty I would think a ringsling might suit your needs? super quick to put on and good for everyday trips