Baba sling for 9 month old?

[fruitybread]

I've tried and failed to get on with so many slings - it always turns into a hot sweaty wrestle with DS getting frustrated, and never seeming comfortable. I've tried the Close carrier (always fiddling with the rings, always lopsided), I've had a go with a Moby (can't get the tightness right, takes so long to get on and off, squashes my very big boobs), an Ergo (DS legs seem very uncomfortable in the front carry, too 'froggied' - I know everyone says babies are comfortable like that, but maybe I'm too wide?? He always prefers being carries with his legs down... - and I can't do a hip carry with it, as the strap digs into my neck really badly).

I got one best with the Baby Bjorn sport (really helped with DS when he reflux), but am too anxious about carrying him outwards, as everyone says it's bad for his hips.

Now he's 9 months old, I'm still hopeful of finding something which is a VERY quick on/off carry, which I can mainly use around the house, or take with me so that if I'm in a shop and he gets bored of being in a buggy, I can pick him up without having to do a one handed carry/push buggy with other hand.

So I won't be carrying him for long, and really, I'm thinking of something I can use for a hip 'perch'. Just to save my arms.

I've seen pics of the Baba sling being used with older children, in a hip carry style. Has anyone used it like this?

(I'm curious about whether it's safe for a newborn, as an aside - it looks very like the bag/hammock slings, like the Premaxx, which I thought were dangerous for newborns cos of the risk of them slipping down and suffocating.

Anyway - anyone used a Baba sling as a 'short ride' carry for an older baby, is the short version of my question!

TIA.

I think it's slightly less deep than other bag slings hence it not being recalled.

For a hip carry with an older baby though the bag sling issues are irrelevant - it should be fine :) I haven't used one but have used a ring sling for hip carries and found it very useful. The only thing is I'm not sure whether it would be totally hands free, whereas a ring sling is, but that comes with a learning curve so might be more wrestling with fabric etc.

Just on the others you mentioned - a Moby or Close carrier is unlikely to be comfortable for a 9 month old anyway as they are not supportive enough. The Ergo seems like it would be a good choice, what do you mean by his legs being "froggied" though? As I understand it this is where the legs are folded up inside the carrier e.g. for a newborn. I wouldn't do a hip carry with an Ergo, it's not comfortable for anyone, more a marketing gimmick. You could try a back carry with the Ergo. Either way, when you carry him in a sling, his legs should be in a position they would naturally be if you were carrying him in-arms or e.g. giving a piggyback.

But TBH if you get on with the Bjorn and it's still comfortable for you now he's getting heavier, you could just stick with that. It's not going to damage his spine if you're only using it for short periods - I wouldn't worry too much. The main reason I tend to warn people off Bjorns is that most people find them uncomfy.

baba slings rock have been using mine for seven and a half months, for house work and a short hop, i am rather rotund and have no problem using it go to local baby store and try it out, if your local to brum you can try mine for size, wouldn't be without itxx

Thanks BertieBotts - so a ring sling would be good for a short ride hip carry, do you think? I don't suppose you can link to any pics so I can have a look?

I haven't tried a ring sling in my journey through slings and carriers yet. They look like they are very quick on/off, but then so did the Close carrier!

Sorry, I don't mean 'froggied', do I - as in, not newborn legs, but with DS in the Ergo, he seems to sit with his bottom lower than his knees, and his legs sort of forced open a bit. It's this he doesn't like - when I carry him in-arms, I mostly have hand under his bottom, and his legs hang down from the hips. That's prob why we got on with the Bjorn (ordinary ones really uncomfortable, Sport much better with the back support bit).

I am keen on a hip carry, he can see what I'm doing then, which he can't if I carry him on my front facing me. He's always trying to turn round to see what I can see...

Cross post, gkys - that's very kind of you, I'm in south wales so not too handy for Brum. Good to know it works for you. I'm on the rotund/big boobs side too. I might hit mothercare today and make them get one out of the package for me so I can have a look.

fruitybread i got mine at john lewis, they let me try it out around the store before i paid for itxx also hiiychicks are great, like a bum bag they sit on it, no back support at all though, xx

gkys, I'm heading for JL this afternoon! - I've rung ahead, they've got a Baba sling in stock, I'm going to have an instore trial. If DS is awake.

Thanks for responses, v useful. I will revisit the ring sling idea too.

Lots on here - you can see that the fabric on a ring sling goes all the way up to their armpits (or above shoulders probably for a 9 month old) so it's totally hands free. I found mine a lot easier to use once DS could sit up.

His knees will be level with or preferably higher than his bum on this one - they have to be or he'd fall out! - but when you hold a child on your hip in arms, they tend to naturally pull their legs up into a sitting position anyway - whereas the holding in front of you, TBH I don't think that is a particularly natural way to hold them once they are past a few months. Perhaps that's why most front carriers become less comfortable after a while. If you imagine giving someone a piggyback too, that's also a sort of sitting position, you hold their knees, and their bum hangs lower down.

The trick with a ring sling is making sure the fabric doesn't get twisted as it goes through the rings, and knowing which bit is which to tighten (which is easy if the fabric isn't twisted) - but the best thing to do would be to go along to a sling meet if you have one locally.

FWIW, the close carrier looks very complicated to me, although I loved my moby! If he likes being able to see out, a back carry could be good as well. You can do a back carry in a ring sling once you and your child are both comfortable and confident with the hip carry, but if not, the Ergo is really easy if you still have that. Either start off on the front and scoot around or just put the waist belt on and get him to climb up as if for a piggyback. (Probably easier with a walking toddler).

Anyway good luck!

I love my Babasling! They are great from birth up to and beyond the age of 2yrs...I have used mine, with both my boys from birth and still use it with my 4 year old! I put him in the "piggy back" position and they are fab...the kids love it too.

As far as the hip carry is concerned, it is very simple and comfy and quick!!!

Check out youtube for a few clips, and their website have good photo instructions...

Babasling is completely safe, it is not a bag-sling style and is not a pouch sling...it is well-structured with buckles for even safer security than ring-sling and isn't fiddly like wraps or carriers.

The hip-carry in the babasling is perfect. On the plus side, they look gorgeous too!

Good luck,

x

Thanks BertieBotts and everyone else, that's really helpful (I wish I'd tried a ring sling when Ds was teeny now) -

So, I tried on a baba sling with baba inside it at John Lewis, and liked it - it was easy off/easy on, and DS seemed happy in a hip carry, although whether this was the novelty and attention he was getting in the store or the sling, I don't know....

So I bought it, we shall see how it goes!

(I'm not sure how it isn't a pouch sling? That's how it seems to me - hammock style - maybe pouch sling just means something else. I did wonder how you would pop a newborn in there without them disappearing into all that fabric, and I would worry about the whole 'chin getting squashed onto chest' suffocation issues. Obvs not a problem with hefty 9 month old, so just theoretical worry....)

I would call that style of sling a pouch sling as well, though I think that pouch sling "officially" refers to something which is basically just a band of material.

I haven't seen one in the flesh so wouldn't know on the newborn issue - I expect if you ever need to use it for that purpose you could find some guidance online.