ok, The sling cupboard April part 1

[misdee]

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.

Hello

Complete sling novice here (well I tried a Baby Bjorn with DD1 and really didn't get on with it). DD or DS2 due in June and I really want to try again. I want to get a sling I can breastfeed in and ideally not one that required advance scouting knots etc to use (my brain was pretty much mush after DD1 arrived - I even struggled to put up the buggy the first few time ).
Can't really afford more than about £30.
Any recommendations much appreciated.

i think the easiest ones to breastfeed in personally, are ring slings and maybe pouches.

i breastfed dd3 on the go at markets, boot sales and ikea lol.

Have you tried putting him on with the wrap already round him, hold his arms and the wrap(under his arms) with your arms crossed and then lift him round onto your shoudlers. Then you run your hands down the wrap holding it tight so he can't sit up and slip the end between your legs (tightly!) whenever you aren't 'using' them.
It takes a bit of practise but it does glue them to your shoudlers a bit more. After a couple of goes like this DD1 got the hint and lay still!

Onehitwonder, I'd go for a pouch or a ring sling for breastfeeding.

Pouches are really idiot-proof to use but you have to get one that fits you to make sure it sits in the right place.

A ring sling is similar but is adjustable by threading more or less fabric through the rings. I did find mine a bit fiddly but some people swear by them.

You should be able to find versions of either in your price range, especially secondhand.

Sally I tend to lie ds in the sling then chuck him over my shoulder onto my back-that stops the riding me like a horse aspect but he still does press ups on my back. There is a tie where instead of tying it around you then bringing the ends over your shoulders and down across their back you bring the ends up across their back and can then pull their torso closer to you. It's a bit more fiddly but I've done it a few times and it does help with wrigglers. I'll try to find a link for you...

ooh have been lurking as am a beginner slinger with dd2. Have hired a close when wilkinet caused DD2 to scream her head off. Thid seems to be a success so SWEETKITTY I MIGHT BE INTERESTED.. oops, shall I CAT you ?

What type of bag do you all use when wearing a sling ??

basically this but the one I used originally crossed the ends at the front before bringing them to the back to tie instead of knotting...

this is also supposed to be good for wrigglers

onehit, I second the ring sling too.

Thanks for the advice. I have seen a few pouch ones today (they are the ones that you wear across your torso from one shoulder aren't they?) including one cheap in TK Maxx. They do look nice and simple to put on, but do they not make your back ache?

Onehitwonder, both pouches and ring slings are worn on one shoulder, and they shouldn't make your back ache if they are worn correctly (which is why you have to be careful about getting the correct fit for a pouch).

I did find one shoulder carries more tiring and never managed the advice to swap shoulders - it just felt wrong on the other shoulder.

But pouches and RS are great for breastfeeding, eating meals (with strategically placed napkin over baby), indoor pottering, short walks and long journeys on public transport as you can shift your LO into different positions in them very easily.

For long walks I'd go for a two shoulder carrier every time and I have met people who have managed to breastfeed in them, just not as many as with pouches and RS.

Can you get to a SlingMeet to try some out?

Wheelybug, I use a rucksack but I am lusting after an Onbag, which is designed to be used with slings and is so luscious.

One thing to watch out for is the difference between bag slings and pouch slings. With bags (like this sort of thing) it is really easy to have your baby in a position that doesn't support them properly, particularly their head and neck, and using the draw string bit is particularly bad apparently (I read an excellent article about bag slings but can't seem to find it again)

I think a good sling will have your baby close up against your body - I can't think of one that doesn't do this.

Examples of pouches are here although IMO the peanut shell picture is an illustration of how not to use a pouch as the baby's head is right up against its chest which is bad for its breathing.

I'd be interested to hear what more experienced slingers think about this too!

ChairmumMiaow, that's a very good point. It would be easy to confuse a bag sling with a pouch, and I wouldn't go near a bag sling after reading about them on TBW.

Discomfort for the wearer is one thing but the risk of suffocation doesn't bear thinking about.

Thanks for that advice re: bags vs pouches. The one I have seen in TK Maxx is a Baba Sling, which seems to get ok reviews in the sling section. Have any of you tried it? It is reduced from £39 to about £25 so price is tempting. A fried has also offered to lend me a ring sling today, so I should have a few options.

a fried , that would be a friend

I haven't tried a Baba Sling myself but it isn't getting very good reviews on sling forums.

Most people who've tried it seem to think it is uncomfortable to wear, bulky (a real pouch will fold up small enough to pop in a change bag, won't get much use beyond six months and is very pricey in comparison with an ordinary pouch.

I used a made-to-measure fleece pouch I bought from a WAHM on Ebay for less than £20. It was comfortable, cuddly, could be chucked in the washing machine, fitted in a change bag and, unfolded, did and still does, sterling service as a car seat blanket.

anyone want a large peanut shell in reds fllowers for £15 posted>?

onehit. |I would gert the tape measure out and check online for pouch sizing guides before bying a puch, I went through 4 different makes that should have fitted me (were right size) but just weren't right in one way or another.
A pouch is normally like these just a loop of fabric, no padded rails or anything else. (I wouldn't get a babsling either but that is obviusly up to you!)
I would not buy a bag sling either FWIW.

Slingers - I'm getting my stock and site in order ready to get a mumsnet small business advert (and changing my website name already ) but would like your opinion on stock.

So far I've only stocked babyhawk mei tais as they're so attractive. However I have to order them from america and the exchange rate is not attractive - neither is the service unfortunately, and even in stock orders take weeks to come through

What other Mei Tais would people recommend? I'm interested in baby and toddler sizes (I have no toddlerhawks atm other than my 'own' - for hire and demo)

Kozy? Freehand? Which should I try?!!

this was the article I meant about bag slings.

wheelybug - yes CAT me (email is slrobertson002 at hotmail dot com) having a big clear out and about to put it on ebay.

have emailed SK

has anyone customised a MT to add a sleep hood? i'm getting a new babyhawk and happen to have some matching fabric. my plan is to sew a rectangle with button holes to attach to MT (so as not to butcher the MT ) and ties to pull it up and tie (like an ergo)

does this sound sensible? any tips? as far as i can see the lack of a sleep hood is the only prob with babyhawks, my dd sits right at the bottom but her head still pokes over the top.

I would look into british made carriers to be honest, Rose and rebellion make gorgeous ones, and Cwshti are good for SSC lovers as an 'easy MT'
Kozy are great and really comfy, and I liked the pocket on mine, really ncie attention to detail.