Moby wrap for a toddler?

[AmeliaEarhart]

My boy is about to turn 1. He's tall for his age, but light - 9kgs - a bit of a beanpole like his parents! We had a Close carrier when he was small which we all (me, DH, baby) loved, but switched to a Patapum when he was 8 months as the Close was beginning to feel uncomfortable for me and the boy's knees were rubbing against the metal rings.

The Patapum is fine - comfy and easy to use - but I miss the snuggley closeness of the soft fabric sling, and being able to wear it under my coat (straps on the Patapum are too bulky). I've been looking at Moby wraps on ebay and hankering after one. Would it be worth it at this late stage? We use the sling a lot and hope to carry on doing so.

Tell me your experiences and help me decide!

It'd be too stretchy. If you like wraps then look at getting a woven one. Tbh though I find woven wraps a bit fussy when they get older, and I much prefer the Ergo over the patapum, which I found far too padded on the shoulders too.

I wouldn't - I had a moby since DS was born... had to stop using it at about 7.5 months as the stretchiness meant he was able to try a kamikaze leap!

I would recommend either a woven wrap (same sort of thing, less stretchy) or a mei tei (slightly more structured version) ... we have a mei tei now and get on great with it

I believe Moby wraps aren't particularly supportive as toddlers get older. You probably want to try a woven wrap, though they can be expensive. I don't use them (prefer buckles) but others rave about them. Don't know much about the brands - didymos might be one?

I know people at the Natural Mamas forum have a lot of experience with wraps and often use them until children are three or four.

Hopefully someone who knows more than me will be along soon.

Mei Tais are good too and it's easier to find one you can wear under coats - but I'd be very very wary of buying any from eBay as there are a lot of fakes/dubious ones on there.

If you want a wrap then as others have said you want a woven one for the support. Personally since he is a year old I would go for a shorter length wrap. I understand missing the nuggly feeling of a little baby in a wrap but realistically you are not going to be wrapping him on your front much at that age. A short woven wrap though is brilliant for just chucking them on your back in a simple rucksack.

Front or back kind of depends on child weight and what you're doing though. My son is 15months and I still carry him on my front (usually in an Olives and Applesauce buckle carrier - can't recommend enough), but he is on the lighter side and I'm normally just carrying him for 20 mins or so.

Yep, woven all the way. As a PP mentioned, Didymos is the most well known brand. But not the cheapest. Good starter brands include Hoppediz, Storchenwiege (aka Storch), Girasol, BB Slen. I'd steer clear of gauze wraps like Ellaroo with a 1yo.

The For Sale bit on Natural Mamas is great, and you're best of buying 2nd hand anyway as it should be nicely broken in. Budget of £50-60 should get you something decent.

If you want a snuggly front carry, go for a size 6/4.6m wrap.

Well, that a resounding NO for the Moby then! Thanks for saving me the money! I'll look into some of the suggestions here - the range of slings out there is overwhelming.

I still like carrying him on my front and want to continue for as long as possible. We "chat", and I don't have to worry about squashing him when I sit down on the bus

There is no reason you can't keep carrying him on your front if you want to....I know someone who mostly carries her 3.5 year old on her front (when he's not walking, of course).

I carry mine in a high back carry so that they can see over my shoulder - and I can turn my head to chat to them.

I'd go for a reasonable woven (not Calin Bleu or Ellaroo, which are fine but on the thin side) - Didymos, Girasol, Hoppediz, Storchenwiege, Dolcino, Ellevill, Natibaby....heaps of possible brands. Pre-loved is good - if you don't get on with it you'll likely get more back than if you bought new, and used wraps are easier to wrap with than new ones.

If you can get to a sling meet or sling library you can have a go without forking out the cash too.