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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:
StarlightMcKenzie · 05/04/2009 20:07

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littlelamb · 05/04/2009 20:10

Throw the frame thing out I would go babyhawk. I was never brave enough to try a back carry with my stretchy wrap. I ordered a babyhawk and ergo at the same time so I could try them both out and decide which worked best. I kept the ergo. Babyhawk was beautiful but the straps would keep getting twisted and were uncomfortable for me. Ergo is pretty dull looking but comfortable and reliable.

ChairmumMiaow · 05/04/2009 20:12

I couldn't back carry DS on public transport - how would I sit down? (perhaps sideways?)

littlelamb · 05/04/2009 20:15

Sideways. Perched elegantly I carry ds on my back on the bus most days and either do that, stand up, or just slide him round to my front (very easy in the ergo)

Loopymumsy · 05/04/2009 20:39

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CMOTdibbler · 05/04/2009 21:00

I just sit - even with DS now, it works fine - you just perch on the front of the seat a proportional amount depending on size of child

JackBauerKilledTheEasterBunny · 05/04/2009 21:01

I second babyhawk as it is easier to change front to back if you need to in a hurry.
You needa shoulder/messenger bag really, (or an onbag) and then have the strap going over the BH and their back.
If you try and use a shoulder bag and your DC is anything like mine, as they get bigger they will just push it off youir shoudler

littlelamb · 05/04/2009 21:06

Yes, I use my skiphop messenger bag over my shoulder or across ds- lust after an onbag but can't justify it

JackBauerKilledTheEasterBunny · 05/04/2009 21:18

I made one. It's not perfect but it's unique!Hadn't touched a sewing machine in years so it took me a few days but I managed it.
Am off to buy fabric to make another tomorrow actually for my hols!

littlelamb · 05/04/2009 21:32

Ooo jackbauer do you have a pattern or are you just a clever old bean?? I recently bought a sewing machine with grand intentions but so far have made dd a dress. That's it Need to get cracking on some curtains for ds so I might have a look at some bag fabric in the shop tomorrow

JackBauerKilledTheEasterBunny · 05/04/2009 22:00

Sarah (the star!) gives away the DIY pattern on her site here It's actually pretty easy but it needs a lot of fabric, nearly 4m worth of lining and outer, as the straps, sides and bottom of the bag are one unbroken length of fabric.
It's lovely though!

Miamla · 06/04/2009 00:18

Loopymumsy trouble with gauzy-y type fabrics is that the thing that makes them like gauze is the very loose weave of the fabric. Have to admit i haven't tried wrapping using a loose weave but i don't think it'd be strong enough and it would very quickly become mis-shapen. I've got some here though so I'll have a play and report back. An ideal fabric for summer wraps is 100% cotton. Lets you and your baby breath. I'm sure any WAHM would be happy to help

ChairmumMiaow Have you tried your MT in a hip tie? i was surprised at how comfy it was

jackbaueretc the reason for keeping everything made out of unbroken fabric is for strength. ie the strength of the fabric in one piece is stronger than joining two pieces together. The reason I mentioned this is because unless you're carrying bricks around with you, you will probably be able to get away with cutting them out individually if you wanted to try and use less fabric. apologies if i'm telling you how to suck eggs!

Loopymumsy · 06/04/2009 07:25

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Original poster
misdee · 06/04/2009 08:56

can anyone recommend anything for the summer holidays? we're off to wales in may and skeggy in june. space is limited in the car and i am thinking of not taking the buggy. i manage a 3 day holiday when dd3 was little with a moby wrap, but looking back i cant recall how i did it, inc daytime naps.

has anyone totally ditched the buggy for a week or more?

OP posts:
foxytocin · 06/04/2009 09:52

i sent you a CAT Umlellala

Misdee, DD2 is now 6mo and has never been in a pushchair. i am sure you can do hols without a buggy.

Yes, Didys are expensive, made worse by the weakening £.

I recommend getting them second hand these days.

JackBauer, last year there was a Co-op run by someone in the States to have a family business in Mexico make some rebozos at specified lengths so they would be longer than normal rebozos. I got 4, 2 for gifting and 2 for myself. Was really pleased with them.

babyphat · 06/04/2009 10:22

misdee, we have ditched the buggy for a while now, and i think the more you sling the easier it gets. we are going away soon and just taking a MT and a didymos - i prefer back carries in the didy and front in the MT. much more practical esp as we are travelling on the train. will dp take a turn carrying? mine never mastered the wrap but loves the MT.

puddock, oneupmumship - exactly! i am a fan of all those things myself (well, not foetus tickers, obviously) but i think people can get a wee bit carried away...

Miamla · 06/04/2009 10:29

Loopymumsy i'm sure a lighter weight of cotton would work. what does your DC weigh?

misdee I've done a few days with DS without a buggy. He naps really well in the carrier so i guess i'm lucky there. I make sure i've got a fleece blanket with me and then if we're in one place for a little while, i'll lay him down on the blanket to sleep. Personally I wouldn't want to do too long in a wrap. My back's not too good so I really miss the padded straps! Whereabouts in the UK are you? Would you be interested in borrowing a carrier from me to see how you get on with it? If you like it, you can buy it. If you don't, you can send it back.

ChairmumMiaow · 06/04/2009 10:36

misdee - I (until recently) didn't use the buggy for weeks on end. We haven't been away for more than a few days, but holidays are easier for us as DH will carry too so that's one of us for DS and one for the bag And DS naps well in the sling so we just take turns with that (although he doesn't do the 2 hour nap but that only works in his own bed for some reason - he has 2 short ones instead)

Miamla - I have tied a hip carry on someone else but not tried it myself. Might give it a go at some point but the pouch is so small it is easy to pop in the bag just in case.

WelliesAndPyjamas · 06/04/2009 11:17

oh great - a sling cupboard

haven't got a long list to share but am still puzzling over what should be my ideal sling...

DS2 is 5 weeks old and spends a lot of time sleeping on my chest, head on my shoulder. It would more than a little handy to be able to actually get stuff done at the same time as cuddling him! Is there a sling that allows me to carry him like this at that age? I prefer the wrap slings.

I've got an infantino at the mo, on loan, but I think I can only have him lying down across my middle in that.

ChairmumMiaow · 06/04/2009 11:27

Wellies- there's a thread about the infantino
here I personally don't like bag slings - they just don't seem to offer the support that things like wraps and rings offer.

I think a stretchy wrap would be your best bet if your DS likes to sleep on your chest. Mine did that and the wrap was great. The straps will support his little head nicely. However, for around the house you might find a ring easier. I used to feed DS in it lying down, then ease him up to my shoulder, tighten it up and be able to get on with things (although this was from a little older and my DS had great head control from very early)

WelliesAndPyjamas · 06/04/2009 11:33

thanks for the quick reply
stretchy wrap sound good - any brand suggestions?> Am a bit clueless still on these!

ChairmumMiaow · 06/04/2009 11:39

I had a kari-me and I sell and hire them if you're interested - I can do a MN discount (I haven't sorted out my mumsnet advertising yet - very naughty and lazy of me)

I'm replying quickly because DS is asleep, the washing up is done and the dinner is in the slow cooker and I'm too lazy to clear up the hovel that is our lounge

piximon · 06/04/2009 12:06

Hiya, I'll join you all. I have
a Close,
a babyhawk MT,
a toddlerhawk MT,
a baby patapum,
a ring sling,
a wilkinet (I think I have two somewhere in different sizes),
a bushbaby cocoon.

but in my defence some were preloved.

I originally started out with a Mothercare 2 way sling when I had ds1, it was so awful I gave up on the idea altogether. I used a ring sing with dd1 for a months till we bought a P&T and I thought a double buggy would make my life easier.

I used the Close, DH the BB cocoon when ds3 was tiny, he's just turned one and for some time we've used the patapum (my best buy) and MTs. We use public transport weekdays for the school run and I need my hands free for holding dts (2).

I have yet to master the back carry, I just get too nervous to try it out on my own so only use it at weekends when dh is around to help, ds3 is mostly stuck on my front. I'll have to get LittleLamb round to teach me.

claireybeeinmyeasterbonnet · 06/04/2009 14:02

Can anyone help with my babyhawk? Two problems really...firstly ds doesn't really like being tied on these days (though he is fine once we're up and moving) so pushes away from me which makes it difficult to get him as close to me as I'd like.

Also I find that when I cross the straps on his bum they slide down after a while and dig into his legs. I think part of the problem is that I am v skinny so the MT is a tiny bit wide for me and I've had problems with shoulder slipping. When I can get him on right I find it very comfortable but I'm finding it harder to get him on now. The MT is less faff to get him on my back than the wrap but the wrap will always win for comfort.

I also love the way crowds of people rush to offer assistance when you tie them on in public, one friend drives me mad because she stands behind me holding ds and gets completely in my way-she refuses to believe he isn't going to fall off

And those with boys, do you match the sling to the baby or to you? For example do you go for the more masculine prints/colours or still for the pretty floral pinky ones?

CMOTdibbler · 06/04/2009 14:17

What I do is to twist the straps on my front (I have very slopey shoulders and they do tend to slip, plus this makes it very supportive), then do a lexi twist on the back.

Leaning forward helps with the pushing away.

I don't do pink, so DS has neutral slings - a black TH, and a very bright TaiTasi - pics on profile