Sling virgin. Need help!

[5inthebed]

I am looking for the best sling to use for a 4 month old baby. I need a sling that is comfortable to wear and easy on the back. I do have a Tomy one given to me by a friend, but I used it today and my back is killing. Its very fiddley and IMO not the best one to use.

I know there are some fab slings out there, I just need help to find the right one please.

It ha to be one that I can use without having to use one hand to stop my baby rattling around as he did today in the Tomy one. Have a SN child in a SN pram so need both hands to push.

I have an Ergo which is great, although I don't think I started using it til DS was a little older (maybe 8-9mo?). The weight is spread across your hips and shoulders and it never gave me backache, it's also very easy to use and they're hands-free once in it.

How about a wrap sling, such as the moby? My 4 month old spends most of the day in mine, whilst I zip around chasing my busy 20 month old. Very comfortable for both me & ds.

I have used loads of different slings over the years with my 3 children. All have had their plus points. With a 4 month old baby, my favourite is the Close However, I have just stopped using it with my almost 8 month old as the material is stretchy so now that he is bigger and heavier, his weight stretches the fabric which means he ends up hanging too low - result is back ache. It was without a doubt though the most comfy for a younger baby.

Today, I had delivered a Beco and tried it on an outing to the park. It was wonderfully comfortable and will last much longer than the Close as it is structured and can be used with a much heavier child. It is similar to the Ergo mentioned above. The site I linked to is american, but it is avialable over here - just google it.

I have also used ringslings which are lovely. They are great when the baby is little and fab once the baby can sit on your hip. Not so good in between and also not for longer outings in my opinion.

Mei teis are also comfy. As are wraps. My dh loves the Kari me wrap. I hate all the material it involves though. Dh also loves mei teis, but I don't get on with them.

Hope i haven't confused you!

At 4 months, I'd go for a MeiTai. There are loads of lovely ones - I like the BabyHawks.

They are very versatile, and nice and secure.

If you buy second hand on Natural Mamas or the UKBabyWearingSwap group on Yahoo, it's not much of a risk as you can sell on for much what you bought them for.

If theres a Slingmeet near you, they are great for trying on a variety of slings

I've just bought a Moby - will let you know what I think in a few days Got it from ebay!

I used an ergo with my DS1 but I was a bit small for it to fit really comfortably (5'2"). I think the newer ones may fit better, although I think the Connecta or Beco are probably a better bet if you want this type of sling.

With my DS2 I used mainly a wrap (a woven one, not a stretchy one) and a mei-tai (poss wrong spelling - usually called MT).

My wrap was a didymos which was strong and very comfortable. It comes with a DVD although he helps to be shown how to use it. If your baby is big, however, you'll need to learn how to put it on your back at about nine months or so. I have small children so never did this.

My MT was a babyhawk. There are lots of different ones which fit different body shapes.

BigMama Slings is the a good place to start as it stocks a wide range. The service is excellent too. You can get second hand slings through this yahoo group. It's quite a good idea to try pre-loved before you spend lots on one that doesn't suit.

In a couple of months, when your baby can sit up, you might want to think about a ring sling. They're not great for a tiny baby but wonderful when the baby can adjust his/her own position and sit up or lie down as he or she wants to. My daughter basically lived in hers for nearly two years and we've only recently stopped using it (she is two and a half).

I mostly use either a wrap (at 4 months I'd go for a woven style as a stretchy type will not last that much longer), or a soft structured carrier (SSC). I have mostly carried on the front, but for back carries my favourite is an onbuhimo - very quick and secure to back carry. I have back carried with a SSC and wrap, but I find them harder to manage out and about on my own. (Am a bit useless on this score though. Most people do fine)

Wraps I have:
Storchenwiege Leo - the strongest of the strong but hot in summer
GypsyMama (now called Wrapsody) Bali Baby Breeze - pretty and cool in summer. Packs very small in a bag

SSCs I have:
Ergo - bulletproof and very supportive, provided you get the positioning of the waist belt right - it needs to be on your hips to transfer the weight nicely (some people find it pushes down their jeans in this position). Slightly tricky to adjust the straps in usage (something you might want if you needed to breastfeed on the go)

Yamo - very slightly less supportive than the Ergo, but lighter weight so cooler and very much easier to adjust for breastfeeding.

I am living proof that you don't have to do back carries at all - DS was buggy free until walking, we did a lot of miles in loads of different places and I rarely did a back carry. That said, I'm sure it would be helpful pushing a heavy buggy if you can get a back carry sorted. Have a look at Youtube and see what you fancy having a go at, and if you can get to a Slingmeet, so much the better.

I've got a Manduca and I love it. Bought it when my DS was almost 5 months and have used it every day since. He's now 10 months. It can be used from newborn so should be fine...It's a bit like an Ergo but more comfy for me!

Wow, didn't realise there were so many slings! There are so many to choose from, and they are all so pretty. And I love the term "baby wearing".

ilanak How heavy was your son when you stopped using the Close sling? My ds3 is a hefty 16lbs already. I quite like that sling.

I will definitely be buying a few 2nd hand ones to try out!

When DD's were that age I had ring slings, wraps and Mei Tais.
It depends what you will need them for really. So for long walks where I wasn't going to be picking up and putting down I would use the wrap. For jumping out of the car and popping in somewhere the ring sling or the maitei.
I still carry dd's in my mei tai now. DD2 is 17 months and a wriggler, DD1 is 3, and still asks for a carry round the house if she is feeling ill, I do only last about 20 minutes though

Well, I never have him weighed so I have no idea! I think many people say they stop around 6 or 7 months.

I have the Ergo. It's great. Used with newborn insert a couple of times (though used a pouch sling before 4mths) and still use it pretty much every day (my ds is 8mths and enormous - growing out of 9-12mth clothes). I put ds in it when he was about 4mths. Dd (2.11) occasionally goes in it too.

Btw the Ergo is based on the Mei Tai style (but with buckles) - I am itching to try a Mei Tai (babyhawk or something).

www.naturalmamas.co.uk will blow your mind with the variety of slings around.

(warning: sling buying is as addictive as pram buying - I still want your Chicco but really cannot justify it )

I've bought a Close one cheap off Ebay, just waiting for it to be delivered

I still have the chicco umlellala

i have a babasling adn it is fab. fits from birth to 3yrs.

my DS1 sits on my hip with it adn it takes all od his two stone weight and i walked round brighton for 5 hours today with 4 week old DS2 tucked in there all cosy.

9 different positions i think, so comfy and great if you have a bad back- i can't use a trad carrier like a babybjorn.

here

A babsling is basically a posh ring sling isn't it?