Which sling and why?

[spottyshoes]

I'm looking at Wraparounds, ring slings and pouches. (Mainly Moby Wrap, tricot-slen wrap, Storchenwiege ring sling, and peanut shell pouch)

As a sling virgin I would love to know which one you have and why. And if you have any of the above what are the pros/cons
x

Just got the moby d. it's lovely and i never used a wrap before have been practising with dd's dolls and i reckon i'll be able to feed in it.

No I haven't either, we had a baby bjorn style one last time which DH loved but I couldn't get on with at all. Feeding in it would be a bonus. Did you get DD a matching mini-me one? They're so cute!

I had lots of ring slings last time around. I liked the Huggababy because it was stiff and canvassy, so when you tightened it it stayed tight. Used until child was... oooh.... about 3.5? (obviously not very often by the end)

I had a maya sling as well, for a while, but always found it a big slippy - needed tightening a lot - but child was probably 2.5 or 3 by the time I got it, so too heavy for that sling style, probably.

Had an over-the-shoulder-baby-holder I picked up at an NCT sale. Hated it. Always slippy, and had a 1990s floral pattern on it. Shocking.

For a small baby, up to a year or so, I think the Wilkinet is my all round favourite. You quickly get to the stage where you can latch them on upright in the sling as well. It distributes the weight really really well, and they have lots of Dh-friendly denim-y designs.

A friend is sending me a wrap, but I'm a wrap virgin, so can't tell you about them. I like the look of them on other people though

And I like the adjustability of ring slings rather than pouches, but I know people who have pouches and love them. I think they are a bit stretchy to last very long, though (like, maybe 6 months is getting a bit big?) - but that's pure prejudice.

I had a Baby Bjorn and really liked it. I had wanted a sideways style sling - but it just didn't work for me, I couldn't seem to get the angle right.

Yes DH likes it MrsSB and will use it again this time but it always hurt my back no matter how I adjusted it (was the Mothercare cheaper version though not BB).

I'm glad you mentioned the ring ones O&U as I always wondered how they didn't slip - especially the ones with shinier stretchy material. Good to know about the pouches, I would like one that lasts beyond 6 mths! Like the look of the wrap too so you'll have to let me know how you get on when you get it. Will look into the Wilkienet too.

Thanks girls

I've just bought a Moby wrap and reading loads of reviews (decided on this as dd2 is tiny), I love it- soooo comfortable, will definitely buy another.

Thanks WPF - Thats 2 votes for the Moby Wrap (good as I think its prettiest which is obviously the most important consideration )

A friend of mine reccommends the freedom sling (Has a ring pull tie bit-is this a ring sling??)

i have:

moby: fantastic sling. great for newborns. i used mine with ds2 til he was about 6/7 months-ish.
very easy to use and SOOOOO comfy. could walk around the shops for hours with ds2 in it

have a fleece coorie (pouch) and don't like it. never got comfy. heavy babies and it being on one shoulder made me really ache.

have a storchenwiege woven wrap which is beautiful and I use a lot with ds2 now he is bigger (15 months). bit of a learning curve but easily the comfiest slings for bigger children.

also have 2 mei tais. I know you haven't mentioned them specifically but they're my next faves after the woven wrap atm. easy peasy to use, quick to get on and off and comfy enough with my 15 month old in for a couple of hours.

I never got on with ring slings for the same reason as the pouch. couldn't cope with all the weight on one shoulder

BabyBjorn is shite. I had one for dd that I put up with because I didn't know there were alternatives. I lasted 5 days using it with ds before it just got too painful, those things should be illegal for what they do to your back.
We then got the Close. Fab sling, very easy to use, quick to get on and off. So comfortable you can wear a baby without even feeling them, and can bf in it too.
I then fancied trying a real wrap sling, and got the Kari-me. I love this. Ds is 7 months old and 19 pounds and I can wear him in it all day without a problem. You can easily pop it on in the morning and pop the baby in and out all day as needed. Again, you can bf in it. With this and the Close, what I really loved is how ds instatly calms down when he is put in, and how he can snuggle right into me. He is very calm when he is being carried, whereas in his buggy he often grizzles. I would say get a wrap no question. I have seen the peanut shells and was very tempted as they look divine but I bet they are uncomfortable.

I like ring slings and currently wear baby on my back with the sling done up either above the boobs or around the waist.

She is now 19lb / 10 months and loves this #african# carry.

I started with an EllaRoo ring sling, and used it constantly till DS was 1 - could feed in it walking round terribly discretely and do several positions. Weight on one shoulder was OK - partly because there was plenty of material to spread out and take weight right round your body.

I then got an Ergo which I didn't get on with personally, then a Front Back Sides MeiTai, and then Toddlerhawk MeiTais. Still carrying DS who is 2.7 for hours at a time while he snores

I've never done a wrap, but I hear that stretchy wraps are great for little ones as you can pretie them and pop the baby in and out

Massive essay on slings follow. Summary at the end.

I had Kari-Mes (very similar to Moby but not as pretty), several wraps, a ring sling, a mei tai, an onbuhimo, an Ergo and a Wilkinet. I basically didn't use a buggy after I got the Kari-Mes.

Wraps - stretchy such as a Kari Me for a newborn, but they start to get overly stretchy when DC is about 7 months or so, depending on weight. After that I went onto wovens - I have a GypsyMama Bali Baby Breeze (they've got a new name now though, not sure what it is), and a Storchenwiege wrap. Of all of them, I've had the best use out the GypsyMama - it's lightweight, folds up very small and is very very pretty. It's not very comfy for an all day carry of a stonking great toddler. That's what the Storchenwiege was for.

Ring Sling - less knowledge of these, didn't use them so much. They are great for when you want to look stylish and not crush clothes underneath (I got mine for a wedding) very good quick on and off. If you can get the knack they're very handy for BFing in. But many men feel they are girly, and they are a bit harder to wear a coat over because of the shape of them. (Of course you can wear them outside winter clothes but I preferred to put baby under coat so you don't have to faff with so many clothes)

Asian style carriers: Mei Tai, Onbuhimo and Ergo all variations on a theme. Wilkinet is kind of in this category too. Of all of these I found the Ergo type carriers by far the most comfy. I found the Ergo was easiest for managing a 6 month to 18 month baby on trains etc - very quick and easy to click child in and out without standing up. It's very DH friendly as it looks completely manly, and the pockets and loops very useful. They are easier to get child on your back than anything else I found. I found the best carrier for feeding in was a Yamo (very similar to an Ergo but the buckles can be adjusted both up and down so you can move their position on your armpits.) I found onbuhimos the absolute easiest to get a child on the back, but they aren't as comfy. Unlike onwardandupward, I found the Wilkinet a bit of a pain in the backside because you have to tie the child into it, making it very inconvenient for ups and downs and DH couldn't get on with it at all. I didn't find it nearly as supportive as a wrap, but my sister liked it.

If you want to sling exclusively you will probably want 2 or 3 over the course of your babywearing career. If I had to choose one, it would probably be the GypsyMama wrap as I got most use out of it and it was the most versatile. If I could have two, I would add the Ergo, and if I could have 3 I'd add in a stretchy wrap for a newborn.

Phew, sorry that was an essay

i used a stretchy wrap around sling with ds when he was born. Perfect as I could breastfeed and he could sleep for as long as he wanted.
As he got older I needed a wrap around woven wrap. I have used a bebina, didymos, storchenwiege, bb slen, girasol etc etc. Love them all tbh. wovens are the way to go mainly due to longeivity of use.
Also used a mei tai from birth . Love them and still use them now
Bear in mnd that ds is now 3.5 years old and I am 24weeks pregnant and I can/still do carry him as and when he needs it.

Dont go near a baby bjorn, tomy /quinny etc etc as you will find that you will prob have back ache and general ache as they are not ergonomically suited to the baby (watch how the baby dangles by the crotch on the pictures- seriously how comfy would you find that??) nor to the confort of the person carrying the baby.
A wrap/mei tai and proper ring sling (not the bag version as there are issues with babys breathing) when used correctly will support baby ergonomically so that the weight is distributed correctly and there are no pressure points. Knees should always be above bottoms for correct hip development and posture

yes I am a sling freak!!

I had a stretchy wrap which I made myself when DD was tiny. I would have rather had a Moby though. I also have a ring sling but I've never got the hang of it, it always ends up bunched round my neck.

Now DD is 17 months I use a Storchenweige wrap and a mei tai. I've used the mei tai since she was about 5 months and it's so comfy. As she's grown I wear her on my back in it which is really comfy. The Storch is lovely too, I can still wear DD in it on my front at 25lb.

Wow thank you all for your replies, good to see there are so many sling obsessed people positive stories. Which is great as it gives me the ok to buy several I can already see from looking at various sites that the search for the perfect sling may be as compulsive (and costly) as my nappy addiction!

Thisisyesterday you made a good point about the weight being on one shoulder so I think that discounts all one sided slings for me. MrsLJG (Great name btw God he is fine for an older man!!) I didn't know about the breathing difficulties issue so they are doubly discounted!
v impressed with your knowledge/experience mrsgboring although I must admit I hadn't heard of some of those so will google them

Seems like the wraps get the general thumbs up, paticularly the moby so I think I will get that to start with. Then maybe look at a woven one for when s/he gets bigger. In fact may get one now as ds (21mths) is 25lbs and still likes to be carried when tired.

Good old MN - Dilemma that could have taken weeks is now sorted in a few hours

Thanks again

if it helps I have a cheap bebina wrap up for sale atm

anyone recommend the close carrier? or not?

Hi Qu2008, Little lamb did half way through this thread

no-one's mentioned a tricotti yet - i found it an excellent carrier for a new baby - like a stretchy wrap without the hassle. not ideal if you have a dp/dh who wants to use it too, as it has to be sized to the wearer, or if you're over an 18 or so as they don't come particularly large. BUT i've used most styles of sling out there and this was the one i liked best up to about 9mo (can sell on after that, get most of your money back) so little faff, so comfy for me and dd. close carrier is the same kind of idea but with added rings - i found it easier than a single ring sling for bf, would def. recommend.

btw as stretchy carriers neither are ideal past 12 months or so, but by that stage i'd have them firmly on my back in an ergo or mei tai that then lasts you til they're 3 or 4.

oops! thought id read it all, thanks!

I am a wrap girl. DD2 was in a wrap at 6 hrs old.

I do strictly woven wraps mainly because i learned to wrap using one. I do front and back carries with them eventhough dd2 is only 3 months old.

I had an ergo but it didn't work out for me. My narrow shoulders I think.

I am also partial to Mei tais. I find them uber comfy with a big toddler and fast to put in and out them, myself though others will disagree. I was 31 wks pg the last time I carried my over 30 lbs toddler in one.

I use a short wrap like a ring sling by tying a slipknot in it. The same short wrap also works for doing rucksack carries on your back.

Ringsling carries are good for nosy toddlers and nosy babies who want to be up and down.

Didymos and Storchs are the more famous woven wraps but I also think Hoppediz and Girasols are fantastic, and much cheaper than Didys.

For me it would be one long woven wrap and one short woven wrap.

nicely said foxytocin

Oh I love sling threads so much!!!!!

Forgot to mention mei teis earlier. I only reallygot into them somewhere around 2 years old, but love 'em.

Am so tempted by having a wrap this time, but can I justify the £££ on top of my already existing overflowing cupboard of carrying options????

I've been converted to slinging with my 2nd child. Have got a Moby Wrap sling and have been using it with 8 wk old DD since she was 10 days old. Love it. Once you get the hang of it, it's easy to use and very versatile - there are loads of ways to wrap it.

I used a Baby Bjorn wth my DS and found it very uncomfortable.