Which sling - I'm a big girl?!!!

[MindingMun]

I need to buy some kind of sling/baby carrier as i'm a childminder with a 10 week baby starting next week.

I also mind a 1 year old and two 2 year olds at the same time so planning on carrying him round at home for his own safety and for when we are at toddler groups etc.

The problem is i'm a size 24/26 at the top (20 at the bottom) and am too big for many of the slings i've tried

Does any body know of a sling/carrier that will fit me. I will use it a lot and will claim it as a buisiness expense so don't really mind if it's expensive

have you tried a stretchy wraparound? they are supposed to be one size fits all. visit this site which has a good selection of stretchy wraparounds and the owner is very very knowledgeable about what she sells.

woven wraparounds normally come up to 5.2metre length but didymos also does size 8 which is 5.7 metres. if this one would work, she could special order the size.

If you think you could get on with a Wilkinet, they can add several inches into the straps for you - I'm bigger than you, and their extended straps were fine for me (although I didn't get on with it because you need to be a contortionist crossed with an octopus to use one!). Some people love them - might be worth a look.

yes kiskideesameanoldmother I have visited that site but was worried that those wrap type things might not be 100% hands free like a conventional sling.

Would i be able to lean over to pick up a child that had tripped or change a nappy without baby falling forward?

I had a wilkinet years ago with my own children and found it great for when they were toddlers but not that secure for small babies - having said that though, i never actually was patient enough to read the instructions!!

was also going to suggest a wraparound. another benefit of them is it will be fine for older kids aswell as you can wear them on your back. they take up very little room so you can keep it in the boot of your car incase you are out and need to carry someone unexpectedly.

LOL WigWamBam - that made me hoot

My friend is a size 26 (with huge boobs) and she has worn my ds in my moby sling. I have found my wrap slings to be completely hands free, can get on and do most stuff wearing ds in it, including changing dd's nappy, hanging washing out etc.

The other advantage of wraps is that you have a variety of positions for even very young babies-my ds hated lying down as a newborn so was able to carry him upright in it whereas with a pouch you are restricted to lying down until they get older.

Thanks ladies, i think some kind of wrap it is then.

Have just been emailing a lady i found on ebay who has a business making slings and wraps and is near enough to allow me to go and visit and try a few and will also measure me up and all for just £15 so fingers crossed

With minding 4 children under 2.2 at the same time i think finding a sling/wrap is gonna be the least of my worries!!

My DH (6'4, 50 inch chest) can wear DS (nearly 2 and huge) in my Toddlerhawk with XL straps - I think the straps are the same length on the Babyhawk too. Meitais are dead easy to use and very versatile

I got a wrap ring sling from ebay think the seller name was cheaper by the dozen as she had 9 kids of her own. She makes them to size and will make bigger slings for larger ladies.

I was a 22 and used an un-adapted Wilkinet without any difficulty. It is faffy to put on, but you do get the hang of it quite quickly if you use it regularly. It was by far the most comfortable (if not the most convenient) of all the front slings I have used. It can also be used as a back sling and even a side sling (tho less comfortable for the adult that way).

I foudn that the babies were very securely held, even from earliest days, and I could bend right over with them safely.