Is there a sling/babywearing topic? I think I want to buy one and would welcome some advice.

[bran]

My DD is quite heavy (10kg) and isn't walking yet. She's also leans outwards when carried which is hard on my back. I mostly use a pushchair with her, but there are times when it would be easier to carry her. For instance when I pick DS up from school it would be easier to put her in a sling than to get the pushchair out of the car for a 5 metre walk to the school door.

I'm thinking about something like this, has anyone used one? I need something that is very quick and easy to put her into and that won't put pressure on my back.

I do have a Hippychick hip carrier but it's not ideal as my waist is at least an inch bigger than my hips so it tends descend (taking my trousers with it ). I also only have one hand free when I use it, it would be handy to be able to have both hands free if needed. I would also prefer to carry her on the hip rather than on my back.

Hopeful bump.

I was thinking about a ring sling, but I'm a bit wary of the whole complicated tying thing. Is it easier and more secure than it looks? Plus it looks very hot, although I suppose the Ellaroo hip carrier would be quite warm too.

I think I would consider an Ergo/Patapum style carrier if I was going to be carrying her for a long period because that would obviously be easier on my back. But I imagine it's a little tricky to get used to putting the child in from a car seat on your own. A hip carry is better for bonding anyway (we're adopting her so we only met her 3 weeks ago).

I know that if it takes a long time to do the sling or I'm not confident that it's properly tied then I will just carry her and regret it later when I knacker my back.

Ring slings are dead easy, and there is no tying - you put it round you like a sash (but with it through the rings), stick child on hip, and pull tight. Very secure

I used a ring sling for long periods with my chunky DS until he was over a year old with no problems, and it was lovely to have him on my hip.

Not hot as they are only a single layer of cotton - although a double layer is more supportive apparently (hard to find though)

I had an Ellaroo - try UKBabyWearingSwap for a second hand RS as then if you don't like it, you can sell it on for pretty much what you paid

And congratulations on your new DD !

I use my ring sling even now for our 2 year old- fine for short distances and there's a slight knack to using it that takes 2 seconds to learn if you can just watch someone put one on.
I have an Ergo, much more comfortable but I find less useful as ring sling so light and easy

So, once I've done the initial looping through the rings I wouldn't have to do it again? Doesn't it get all twisted up when it's hastily flung carefully placed into the footwell of the car? It also looks quite low down the back of a large-ish child, a lot of the pictures look as though the child can lean backwards quite a lot, wouldn't that strain my back?

Thanks for the congrats, she is gorgeous, we are very lucky indeed.

pouch slings are great for not quite walking but nosy toddlers. busy at the mo but they are v. specific to your size. an online seller will happily discuss choosing the right size for you. they are also v supportive and v easy to use. by no means hot either, and they make you hands free.

It really doesn't get twisted up that takes more than a second to straighten as you put on.

You make sure that the top rail always comes up to their armpits, and tighten so that they don't lean back - if you do an ISO, ask for a toddler ring sling as some are wider for this, but my Ellaroo was fine

If you are in London then there are very regular Slingmeets - so if you can get to one you'll be able to try on a few and get a live demo - otherwise try YouTube for how to put a RS on

What about a Mei Tai? Thy are easy enough to put on, fold up small when not in use, and spread weight over both shoulders, unlike a ring sling or a pouch. Mei Tai

with a meitai i used a high tibetan carry. then my nosy children can see over my shoulder which means they don't lean back to look around

At a recent sling meet I put together the Ergo came out tops for this sort of thing. Have you had a look on the MN product review board?

I'd also suggest that you stop people in the street if they have one which looks interesting- most are very happy to tell you all about it!

I used a baba sling for a hip carry when my dd was about that age - it is a cross between a pouch and a ring sling and adjusts with buckles (don't need to touch once set up - just throw it over your head . I used it a lot when getting in and out of the car.

For longer walks/aroung the house with ds2 (about 7.5kg at the mo) I like my patapum and mei-tai as the back suppport is better (a one shouldered carry is hard work after a few mins) but they do take slightly longer to put on so not so good if she is up and down all the time.

Lots of food for thought, thanks for all the advice. I did read the MN reviews (of course I did, how could you doubt that it would be my first instinct ) but they are more informative about whether the product is good for what it is than whether it would best suit my situation IYKWIM.

I don't think it would be worth my while going for an Ergo or Mei Tai type of carrier. There are a lot of situations where I could be carrying her for between 2 and 15 mins and I know that if a carrier is at all fiddly I will say to myself "it's only 2 mins, I'll just carry her" and then be in pain because I've stopped to chat to the teacher or another mum for 10 mins. I will be using the pushchair if I know for sure that it will be 10 mins or more so I'm unlikely to be using a carrier for long periods.

My biggest worry about a ring sling or pouch would be that it would still hurt my back because all the weight is being carried quite high up. Plus I've had problems with frozen shoulders in the past so I'm a bit worried about that too. I expect it would still be less painful than just carrying her. Yesterday I had quite an arm-intensive gym session and then an hour later I carried her up to the flat from the car (about 4 mins) and I had to swap sides every 30 seconds or so because it felt like my shoulders were going to detatch. (I have a pathetically low pain threashold. )

Thanks for the slingmeet suggestions. The website is really interesting. I can't see myself making a meeting though, especially now that DS is on holiday for 3 weeks.

I would join www.naturalmamas.co.uk and ask about frozen shoulder as I for one know nothing about what that means.

I tore a muscle in my upper back many years ago and if I carry a load in one arm but not the other, I suffer stiffness in the neck and shoulder area the next day.

though the pouch is only on one side, it doesn't cause this problem as opposed to carrying a shopping bag in one arm, which does.

the way a pouch or any good carrier works is that opposite to what you are thinking, carrying the load high up is what makes the child nearly weightless to carry. The high and tight to the body load makes the weight drop into your pelvis and down your legs which are now functioning like tree trunks. The load is not on your neck, shoulders or back or on your muscles or ligaments but in your skeleton. so don't rule them out.

you can get a hotsling second hand on ukbabywearingswap or on the natural mamas FSOT for about 12 quid so it won't be a costly mistake if it doesn't work out.

Thanks for that foxytocin - they're lovely over there aren't they.

Hi Bran,
I mostly use a patapum sling at the moment, I find the weight distribution great and as long as it's fitted to me properly (dh sometimes borrows it) I can carry comfortably for hours. I mostly use it with ds3 (stick thin 1yr) but have also carried a round fuller figuered dt1 (18mths at the time) on my back for a few hours while exploring caves. I love that it's on and off with two clicks.

I also have a mei tai (babyhawk) which I find equally comfy and now I've learnt the ties can get it on and off in seconds.

Have to say personally I never got on with ring slings for bigger babies/toddlers and never found them to be hands free, but that's probably my failings.

yes, they are very lovely over there. you have to have 30 posts and be a member for a month before you can sell slings on their board (to stop spam and timewasters) but I think if you go to the FSOT board you can still buy.