Escape proof sling for toddler

[TruthSweet]

I need a good escape proof, front carrying sling for DD3 as DD2 has arthritis (in process of diagnosis) and DD1 occasionally needs to ride. She had an infected knee last week so took up DD3's spot in the BJCM double and I had to sling DD3 with a borrowed sling (Thank you!).

I need a plan for when things like that happen again which is likely as DD1 has asthma and has been banned from attending school unless driven (I don't drive and DH leaves for work well before school starts) or taken in pushchair (school is at the top of a steep hill and it is very cold/exposed at the school). I have OCD too and am only happy with a front/hip carry as long as I can push pram at the same time.

DD3 is teeny (76.5cm & 9.8kg) but is an escapologist extraordinaire - she struggles about in a bog standard ring sling (freedom sling - ha!) and can wriggle out.

My friend lent me was a Baby Hawk but she worked out how to escape that pretty quickly too.

Anything else I can try?

You could try a patapum toddler? It has extra straps to stop them back arching, so might pin them in a bit more.

I expect though the problem will be now that to get them low enough to see past on a front carry, you'll need a looser sling to carry them that low, which will be easier to escape. Last time I put DS on my front in the patapum I struggled to see past him, and he's shorter than 76cm.

I'm moderately tall (5' 8") so have a longish torso so it's not too much of a problem at the moment. I have carried a tall 3y/o in a ring sling but it certainly wasn't comfortable for long and they weren't trying to escape .

I'll have a look at a pataum toddler. Does it have a minimum size to use it?

Unfortunately my OCD would prevent me from back carrying. How would I know she was alright if I can't see her face? It's bad enough with a forward facing pushchair though the windows in the hood are big enough that I can see enough of them not to freak out that they have died/been snatched (which rationally I know is hideously unlikely to happen but I can't help worrying about it but if she was on my back and she died what could I do? I have a fear that I will be carrying around a dead baby for hours thinking she was asleep.

Argh! Sorry not very cheerful at the mo.

Sling meet would be good. Does any one know of any in the W. Sussex/Surrey area?

Thanks for the sling meet details and sorry for splurging all over this thread

I'd say the minimum for a patapum would be around 9 months, actually. As long as you knew they could sit up well, and they weren't too short for the body. I'd just say probably not on the back until a year or so. I had DS in one from 14 months and he's not that huge - usually a size or two behind in clothing.

Once she's more chattery you might feel more comfortable with a back carry? If you get a babywearing coat, and then wear the thinnest layer possible between you and her, you can feel them breathing and every little move they make. I don't know if that's any help at all. Or those alarms you can get for sleeping, do they make a battery powered one?

Sling meet will be helpful for you, I hope :)