Carrier for newborn for long walks- close baby?

[EauRouge]

Hello oh wise sling addicts.

DD2 is 5 wo now and I've been getting by with my ring slings which are ace for nipping to the shops but I find them a bit uncomfy for longer walks. I've also got a baby bjorn which I hate. I was thinking of getting a wrap-type carrier that would put the weight evenly on both of my shoulders, something like a close baby carrier perhaps.

If it makes any difference- I am 5' 4" and average build. DD2 is large for her age but I was carrying DD1 in the ring sling until she was 2 yo so I'm used to it.

I've got some mothercare vouchers to spend but the only wrap carriers they have are the close baby and close parent, I can't really see what the difference is though. Link

If neither are any good then I'll try ebay and spend the vouchers on something else. TIA :)

I'd get a stretchy wrap sling over the close carrier as it will be more supportive. The close baby carrier isn't a true wrap sling as it has rings to adjust. But if you can only spend the money in Mothercare then yes the Close Carrier is a good bet.

I think they are the same just slightly different branding - perhaps one is old stock?

Hmm, I see what you mean now. I think a stretchy wrap is really what I'm after, I'd probably only use it until DD2 is bigger and then I'd go back to using the ring sling (or decide that I absolutely need a mei tai....) . How difficult are they to figure out? Are they really just a length of fabric?

I swear by Kari Me. The baby is kind of "plastered" on you so doesn't get in the way of reaching for items in the shop and the weight is distributed evenly throughout your shoulders and back. www.kari-me.com/shop.html

Yes that's exactly what they are - I literally just bought some fabric, cut it to size and used that.

If you can tie shoelaces, you can get the hang of a wrap, especially a stretchy, because you tie before putting the baby in.

Kari Me are 95% cotton, 5% lycra, so slightly more stretchy than other wraps which are more often made of cotton jersey (which just means it's knitted as opposed to woven). Some people find them less supportive because of this, but you can't go far wrong with a stretchy wrap really.

Thanks, I am much less confused now! I've seen some videos of how to use a wrap and it looks more simple than I thought.

I loved my Close Carrier when DD was this age. I'm very clumsy and did find it easier than the Moby stretchy wrap at first and a good introduction to wraps in general. (It's structured a bit like a ready-tied cross carry with rings to adjust tightness on either side and a separate belt.)

I can't say that I found either more supportive than the other. Neither are supportive enough for older babies but both are fab for little ones.

I did learn to wrap the Moby and then proper woven carriers in due course
but the Close was a great starting option.

Hmm, well I bought myself this stretchy wrap on ebay and I'm not getting on very well with it. I've only had it for 2 days though so I'm going to persevere! I wonder if someone could help me with some trouble shooting because the instructions that came with it are fairly useless.

DD2 is only 6 weeks old and although she is big (I would guess about 12lbs, don't know for sure though) the wrap says it is good up until 36 months. The fabric is really stretchy though and despite tying it tight enough to cut off the circulation to my legs, DD2 is still dangling around my knees after about 5 minutes. ATM I am doing it like this. I've also tried the cradle position but she's too big for that.

Any tips or advice, even if it's 'buy a different wrap'? I'm happy to get another one, I'm desperate to get out walking but I can't go for long walks with a sling that's not comfy. TIA.

I swore by stretchy wraps up until my DS was about 9 months old, used them for everything from long country hikes to whole days shopping. That was the same wrap method that I used as well (the 'front wrap cross carry' I think its called, if you search on youtube you should find loads of really helpful vids, easier to follow that printed pictures I find) - so I wonder if its just that the wrap you bought isn't that great? wrong material maybe - too stretchy for the task. I have to admit I have never heard of the make.

I had a Kari Me, a Moby, a Sleepy Wrap and a Tricot Slen (yes I was / am an addict) - they were all great but the Sleepy Wrap was my favourite, the fabric had exactly the right amount of stretch, give and rigidity. I LOVED it. I still use it occasionally now and DS is nealy 19 months, albeit quite a littlie.

So my advice would indeed be 'buy a different wrap'

I just looked at the Sleep Wrap website and the instructions are much clearer! I have retied and now DD2's head is resting on my chest instead of her suffocating in my cleavage. I think the fabric is the same (95% cotton, 5% spandex) but the instructions on the Simply Good website are rubbish and their helpful tips are restricted to things like 'sing to your baby' (duh).

Thanks for your help!