Help with my Maya Wrap ring sling (please)

[alittlebitshy]

I recently bought one of these - lots of friends and Mners rave about them. But I can't get comfy. I am prob doing it wrong but can't work out how to spread the fabric out enough at the back.

My ds is 18 weeks but 18lb so a big boy - i'm trying the kangaroo position but am wondering if we're ready for the hip carry (or do you think not yet?). If so (and even if not so, for future ref) i don't get how they sit in the fabric without slipping out in the hip carry..

Just general help and troubleshooting if anyone has any tips!!

hmm i never got on with a ring sling at all.
i need support on both shoulders.

i love my mei tai (cwtshi and babyhawk) but my fave is a woven wrap, but steep learning curve with those!

mmm - i have got the hang of my stretchy wrap but am scared to try back carries and am concerned i'd struggle with a woven without the "give". I keep being tempted though.

try taking a look at this video

Notice that the fabric is spread wide across the back, and that there are no twists in it.

Also, notice that there's plenty of fabric under the baby's bum, and that its knees are up high in the froggie position - if that seat sort of arrangement isn't there the baby will keep slipping.

Also, to stop the ring slipping as you tighten it, spread the fabric widely over your shoulder before you put the baby in - this normally helps.

I generally use my ring sling for BF and quick carries - I've never found it comfortable for more than half an hour walking around (although I didn't have one until DS was around 15lb). Great for popping them in while they're asleep (I used to wriggle DS into mine when he fell asleep on me) and for rocking nap-resistant babies to sleep though!

yeah I never did a back carry with my stretchy wrap either, dunno why though.

lots of practice with the woven one first though, with dp standing behind me, or standing next to the bed in case of accidents.

why not hire one from somewhere like sasaslings.co.uk?

oh, and woven wraps are worth the effort - if you can do a stretchy, you can figure out a woven if you remember that the two edges of the fabric are like the two rails of a ring sling - one edge tightens the top of the main pouch of fabric, the other tightens the bottom.

Hope that makes sense

also, do you have an active local slingmeet? They'll help you out

i'd never twigged that about the two edges on a wrap .....

not sure about local sling meet. I have a good friend who is a sling obsessive expert but she lives too many miles away

I had a (genuine) Maya wrap that I wore for years.

When I got it, it was nicely folded into a little fan and then fed throught the loops. However, undoing it to use as a blanket, etc, meant that it didn't stay in its original shape for long.

I ended up feeding it through the rings in a bunched up way, and then made fine adjustments until it was right.

I tended to use it for older children - 6 months - 3 years, on the hip. I had a supported sling for younger babies.

Did it not come with a dvd of wearing instructions? Mine is exceptionally comfy, once I actually bothered to watch the dvd instead of presuming it would be easy!

There are some good tips on the little possums website as well I think.

They won't slip out in the hip carry as long as the lower rain is under their knees not just their bum and the sling is nice and tight.

i did sit and watch some of the dvd but got bored plus i think i'd need to stand there and press pause a lot while i tried it etc .

maya wrap video

Another tip is to put them in with the rings quite high on your shoulder. That way when you tightne the sling the rings end up in the right place. If they end up on your cleavage or boobs then it will hurt.
Also hold both sides and make a little pouch, with the inner bit going on the back of their knees adn the outer edge up their back, that way, with their legs bent, they won't slip down. (The easiest way is to lower them in from the top BTW).
With an 18week old you can do a hip carry if their head/neck is good.