Why are wrap slings SO expensive and what material can I use to make one?

[TicTacsMum]

I've been looking for a wrap sling since my friend won one in a competition but they are SO expensive. I don't understand why they are so pricey when they consist of a hemmed piece of material.

What material could I use to make one? I don't want to get a material that's so stretchy that the baby will fall out or one that won't be hard-wearing enough.

Cheers for any advice.

Anyone?

I think you need something soft but with a little stretch.

Think about it, good quality material could easily set you back 8 pounds or so a metre so you could be up to 40 quid once you've bought enough for a sling, so the saving is not what it might be.

I did wonder about that but was sure it could be done cheaper cos I'm such a tightarse!

google/search the baby sling pattern thing - a lot of US sites will put you through to patterns and suggestions for the fabric or alternative designs (eg and ABC - Asian back carrier), quick look turned up this one-

www.mammasmilk.com/pages/makeyourown.php

and some of them are free (patterns).

Don't know why they can be expensive - they do take up a lot of fabric though and if they're using a quality fabric could be expensive and take a WAHM quite a bit of time and fiddling to make, plus license costs, and the insurance for big companies must be really high!

I'm thinking of having a go at an ABC as dc is older...

you can use either cotton jersey, or a good quality fleece fabric.

If you buy the fabric, you can slit it down the middle and make 2 slings, and perhaps sell it / keep it for when the other gets puked on!

Fabric can be very expensive to buy though - you may find you can get it cheaper from the US ... even including the postage!

I made a pretty good copy of a betterbabysling just with denim dress material that I had in the house. It was absolutely fine. The hardest part was getting good rings for it, but eventually I found them here slingrings.com/index.php. There are also instructions for how to make various kinds of sling.

tictacsmum, calin bleu wraps aren't that expensive new.
or take a look on ebay

was there a particular sort you liked? (ie, stretchy?)

No-sew wrap instructions here:
www.mamatoto.org/Default.aspx?tabid=121#MakeANoSewWrap
with lots of fabric recommendations.

A jersey or fleece wrap will work fine for a baby, but for a heavy toddler the support of a high-quality woven wrap can't be beaten, IMHO. I've never succeeded in finding this sort of fabric in a shop, and as pps have said, once you're buying 4.5-5m of fabric the premade ones may well work out cheaper!

Wraps like Didymos are specially designed and woven to give maximum support - Didymos are probably the most expensive (and made from organic Egyptian cotton), but Storchenwiege and Girasol are a bit cheaper but just as good IME, it depends mostly on which design you like best! And of course you can always buy second hand to get one cheaper.

Good luck wrapping!

Thanks for all replies. I need to nip off now as we've got visitors but I'll look back later and take a look at links etc.

Cheers

hoppediz is also a very sturdy supportive wrap which doesn't work out so expensive. it will last from birth to 3 yo unlike jersey and gauze.

storch, hopps and didys cannot be beaten for quality and longevity. they also hold on to their resale value very well so you will get back most of your money.