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Original poster

ok, The sling cupboard April part 1

389 replies

misdee · 03/04/2009 16:31

no idea if anyone wants to join me

am just getting into sling with dd4.

have a napsackbaby mei tai, which i use for dd3 as well.

ring sling

and peanut shell.

all have different uses, and work well for us.

OP posts:
littlelamb · 22/04/2009 19:41

I carried my dd in the Ergo today. She is 4.10 I was giving her a piggy back when ds was in the buggy but I just couldn't keep hold of her. It probably looked very strange and we certainly got some looks but I can't believe that she even fit in the first place and that it was comfortable as well!

newlark · 22/04/2009 21:03

just to join in the boasting sharing - I tried the secured high back carry with my wrap for the first time and spent over 2 hours carrying ds around including going to a friends house before he got bored. Am new to wrapping and generally just do a front cross carry - haven't been out and about properly with a back carry before . Was fab having him out of the way on my back when trying to sort out changing my dd who i am attempting to potty train...

Original poster
misdee · 22/04/2009 21:53

well done!

dd4 was on my front snoozing away on both school runs, and on my back babbling away whlst i prepared lunch. am loving the freedom the slings are giving us, she isnt as grumpy anymore as is sleeping better as well.

i attempted a back carry with a wrap today as well but dd4 decided it was playtime and was too wiggly, and dh wasnt there to help me, so gacve up and tickled her instead lol

OP posts:
foxytocin · 23/04/2009 18:53

babyphat: BH sent today by first class so hopefully it will be there tomorrow. would be nice to take on hols methinks.

pipsy76 · 23/04/2009 20:15

Hi, I'm in need of some advise from all you clever baby wearers. I have a 6wk old DS2 whom I basically wear 90 percent of the day and cosleep with all night, currently using a peanut shell and a wilkenet front carry but due to huge breasts and a hunched back I'm keen to progress to back carrying soon! Having lurked on this thread and uk babywearing I now understand some of the slingo and think I might like a MT for back carrying so my questions are, which brand of MT for a young baby is best, do I need a sleep hood and how do they work, I fancy trying lexi twists or tibetan ties but I'm size 14/16 so are there any brands that I can do this with? Many Thanks!!!!!!!!

TaurielTest · 23/04/2009 22:27

I put DS on my back today to take him to the park (using the 'fussy girl' BWCC with chest belt which is still the only one I can remember without looking at youtube), and he dropped off to sleep before we went out the door! I found myself walking down the road leaning forward as if into a high wind though, as I didn't want his head to loll backwards. Is there anything to be done about tucking heads in? I tend to ease the fabric over at least part of his head to support his neck if he drops off in a FWCC, but couldn't reach to do the same thing behind me.
Oh yes, and when he woke up he kept flinging his hat away...

All this patapum talk, you are tempting me away from my wrap sling monogamy. I tried one out last week at sling meet, and it was very nice. Am sort of on the lookout for a used toddler-size one now. Would appreciate any SSC tips, and thoughts on Ergo vs Patapum vs Connecta vs any others worth considering.

MoominMymbleandMy · 23/04/2009 22:37

Puddock, if you're thinking SSCs, you might like to look at a Calyx. They are fantastically comfortable for the wearer and they have an internal harness to buckle the baby into, which makes back carries sooo easy. If you want to know more about them you'll find lots of reviews at www.thebabywearer.com
Sleepy Nicos are good too, and have the advantage of folding up into almost nothing.

MoominMymbleandMy · 23/04/2009 22:51

Pipsy76, I think Joeyslings MTs are fabulous. Mine lasted until my DS had a growth spurt at about 14 months and just got too tall for them to support him when he went to sleep.

The latest ones have very long straps so you would have plenty of strap to lexi-twist and Tibetan tie.

You won't need a sleep hood at the age your LO is, or for a long time to come.

Babyhawks are good too but I don't think they match up to Joeys. Also, you would have to order one with extra-long straps to be sure you can lexi and Tibetan so you might find it tricky to get one from a British dealer.

You can order direct from Babyhawk in the USA but I wouldn't recommend it because not only is the exchange rate rubbish, but they seem to have a very long turnaround time on orders. I know someone who ordered a custom and it took over three months to arrive.

foxytocin · 24/04/2009 02:57

wow 3 months turnaround? I did 2 BH custom orders and they both took 2 weeks. It could have been the time of year, maybe?

puddock for the lolling head, you can ask someone to just tuck his head in. people at bus stops, etc are only happy to oblige. I have been known to ask ladies in cafes / immigration officers, anyone to hold dd2 while I sort out something before I can put her in the wrap.

in time you will develop the skills of an octopus to tuck head in.

Original poster
misdee · 24/04/2009 08:19

hold my hand.

i sold my big main pram last night, as i havent used it much the last 3 weeks. i still have my small car buggy, but am hoping i wont miss my big pram too much.

with some of the money i bought a didymos indio, as have been borrowing a wrap from a friend, and have heard great things about didymos.

and banked the rest for my holiday.

so wales without a buggy might be do-able.

OP posts:
pipsy76 · 24/04/2009 13:29

Moomin thanks for your advice I'm off to buy a joey! Ill let you know how I get on. Thanks

TaurielTest · 24/04/2009 14:02

I'll hold your hand misdee - congratulations on pram freedom! I bet you won't miss the pram, and what better way to justify a sling splurge (mmm, didy indio). I love my didymos to bits, it feels really strong and supportive, but supple at the same time.
Will you be doing front or hip carries, or are you thinking of back carries too? What length is your new Didy going to be? Mine is a 5 and I have no trouble doing a front-wrap-cross carry, though if it was shorter or I was larger, I'd probably just do a cross carry instead.

babyphat · 24/04/2009 14:11

hey foxy, just a quick message to say the BH arrived and is gorgeous, and has already been on its maiden voyage...to the launderette - the glamour!

(stupid washing machine broke...grr)

TaurielTest · 24/04/2009 14:18

I think the lolling head thing is partly a problem because he likes to have his arms out. If he's on my front, it's easy to transition from arms out (above the cross pieces) to drawing them up over his shoulders instead when he gets sleepy. On the back, maybe I have to try keeping at least one of the cross pieces up and over his shoulder so that head-tucking is easier.

Thanks Moomin for SSC tips, I hadn't thought of the TBW reviews. The Calyxes are pretty but a bit outside my budget, even used I think. I think I might prefer a UK-made one (or at least European if I go for a Patapum) so will look a bit more at Connecta/Sleepy Nico. I love those Nicos with the red apple on!

I particularly want this SSC to be usable for a good while, by me and my DP. We're both quite small-framed. Any experiences? I've heard Ergos aren't great for the narrow-shouldered, is that true? (They're kind of out of my price range anyway I think...) And how about when the child gets taller? My DS is 10 months and small but with a longish body and a tendency to arch back, so I want something that comes well up his back. We tried a toddler Patapum and it seemed fine, though on paper he's a bit small for it yet.

Also (and now I'm really thinking ahead!) has anyone worn a toddler and a new baby with a back SSC + front wrap combo? I wonder if it would work, or whether the chest belt would get in the way?

Original poster
misdee · 24/04/2009 14:41

i bought a size 7, as am a larger lady and although i can just do a fwcc with a 6, i'd prefer a little extra length to play with. i generally carry dd4 on my front still as she is just short of 6months old, but have popped her on my back for small periods. she is grumpy today as we didnt do the morning school run, so didnt have a nice snooze on my chest as she has been doing. will take her with me for the afternoon school run in a bit to help settle her.

OP posts:
foxytocin · 24/04/2009 15:17

yaay! it got there already. i was hoping it would to give you the option of taking it on holiday.

for me an ergo just didn't fit. I am a sz 8 and the waist belt was too big and the straps would not stay on my shoulders.

anyone interested in a cheapish wrap? I have a sz 5 Girasol going. £25 including postage will post pics soon so you can see the colours but it is purple on one side and blue on the other.

MoominMymbleandMy · 24/04/2009 18:29

Foxy, I kid you not about the three months turnaround on the Babyhawk. What was really infuriating was that she was a novice to slings and had ordered the Babyhawk as a replacement for a Baby Bjorn. And, by the time it arrived, she had really given up on any sling at all.

It wasn't in the run-up to Christmas so they didn't have the excuse of being inundated with orders. And when she contacted them (several times) to chase them up no one seemed to have a clue what was happening, or to care.

ChairmumMiaow · 24/04/2009 19:35

I have found the customer support at babyhawk to be awful. I placed an order when they were not busy, but asked them to wait while I found our new address before they shipped it (they made the custom slings within a few days). I sent them the new address, assumed they had got it and waited for them to arrive.

Big mistake! The 'customer service' person I was working with missed the email somehow (it did get sent, DH checked the email server!) and the parcel sat under her desk or something for the 3 weeks it should have taken to get shipped/clear customs etc. I chased it asking when it was sent and they said it hadn't been and blamed me.

I told them that I didn't think that was acceptable service, and that every industry I know would have chased for an address if they hadn't received it, but she got quite put out at that. I've told them I won't be using them again, but I might well end up just doing one more order of toddler slings at some point.

Good slings, crap service.

babyphat · 24/04/2009 21:25

puddock, i am not particularly small (5 ft 5 and a size 12), but the ergo was too big for me too - the shoulder straps fell off and the waist belt didn't really fit properly, i had to do it really tightly so it dug into my post-baby belly . it was sooo unflattering, i looked hideous.

jumblies · 25/04/2009 10:19

Hi guys have just had a quick skim through the thread and it seems I am definitely a sling novice. Will definitely be trying the lexie

So far I have owned a baby bjorn which I used once and it was horrible! A coorie pouch - must have ordered it in the wrong size because DD hated being in so tight and wouldn't tolerate it at all. I then decided on a Mei Tei when she was about 8 months old and we both loved it from day one. I always back carry and find it so comfortable.

However I am now pregnant with my second and am just hoping for advice for a sling for a newborn who will be born in winter. I was thinking of getting a wrap sling but am not sure what the difference is between a didymos, moby and kari me - are they all the same really?

Am a bit daunted by the complexity of tying it but thought if I got it before the baby comes then I can practice for a bit beforehand.

Also love the look of those sling coats but not sure if I can justify the expense as am probably going to have to stump out for a double buggy as well

Am also that I probably won't be able to sling DD as much now that I am pregnant as I tend to carry quite high and get big due to having a short torso.

foxytocin · 25/04/2009 10:32

a didymos is a woven wrap, referring to the weave of the fabric. the weave of the cotton provides the support and comfort for the baby and user and will last you till your child no longer wants carrying (around 3yo) other popular (and cheaper) wovens are storchenwiege, hoppediz and girasol.

a Kari-me and moby are stretchy wraps made of cotton jersey. these and other stretchy wraps are great for newborns and first time wrappers.

jumblies · 25/04/2009 10:33

oh, my other thought was a hugabub. Are all these wraps pretty much the same or are any easier to tye/more comfy/hardwearing?

jumblies · 25/04/2009 10:34

ooops crossed post, thanks foxy. Will try a basic wrap first and see how I get on then.

babyphat · 25/04/2009 10:42

if its a winter baby you won't need a special coat as you can pop baby on your front till at least 6 months and just do your coat up over the top. a wrap gives a lot more insulation, so you and the baby will both be toasty

jumblies · 25/04/2009 10:49

thanks babyphat, this pregnancy has come as a bit of a shock but thinking about slings and snuggling a newborn to my chest is making me feel quite positive about having two littlies

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