Woven? Ring sling? Mei tai? Help!

[LittleWaveyLines]

I really want a new sling - my 5 month DD just wriggles too much in my karrime now. (Even though I am now tying it very tight it doesn't seem safe and I can't go "arms free")

I want one sling for our long afternoon walks (there's some routine! ) - so was thinking of a woven or a mei tai

I also want one sling that's easy to pop in and out of - doesn't need tying around the baby, for around the house - so was thinking of a ring sling.

Does anyone know if these are hands-free? Is the material shaped as I tried with a knotted shawl in desperation the other day, and I really had to keep one arm around her...

TIA

Ring slings are an option but can be quite fiddly to get right. How about a connecta. It is mei tai inspired carrier with buckles that can be used for a long time. I wore ours to walk up blencathra. Woven wraps are good and much more supportive than the stretchys (the 35lb is the what it is tested too not what it is comfortable wearing).

Ring slings can be hands free and baby can be tummy to tummy.

My Close Baby ring sling is great, really comfy and supportive, but I only have a 10lb newborn, so can't comment on how good it would be for a wiggly 5 month old.

I think your choices sound good. A good quality woven (try second hand Didymos, Storchenweige, Hoppediz etc) in a long length like a 5,6 or 7 depending on your size for walks. That will give you flexibility as she gets older and you can do front and back carries. Try somewhere like Natural Mamas, they have a sale board, or German eBay is good.

A ring sling is so useful, now dd is 16 mo and wants to walk everywhere I use mine more than my wovens. Again I would look for one made from woven wrap type material for support and durability, their nature means they should mould to her more than a shawl so you shouldn't have to hold onto her as much once you're used to it.

Instead of a ring sling you could try a short woven wrap tied with a good slip knot, they're really flexible as you can do back carries etc with them.

Oooh some good ideas there thank you!

Not a hijack because I have just been experimenting with tying a shawl with a slip knot... and DD keeps straightening her legs so the material slips out from under her knees so it is just hanging on by her cloth nappied bum.... I've tightened top and bottom rail - is she just not suited to ring/shortie slings maybe?

Oh and how short is a shortie? (Liking that idea if I can get her to stop straightening!)

Where in the country are you? If you google 'sling library' then you should find one that's nearby where you can go and try them out - we have a fab north east one that let's you borrow slings for £5 for 2 weeks so you could try lots?

north east sling library

precious bundle also worth looking at for different ideas]]

It's worth taking a look at the video of this young father making his own baby sling. It's had thousands of hits and shows you don't have to splash out on an expensive sling - www.facebook.com/pramsupermarket?sk=wall - when you can make your own. It's currently the top story on that page.

If using a shawl try a welsh nursing carry. Shawl is folded to be triangular and round shoulders, baby in one side and wrap end over and tuck between the two of you, kind of like a saddle effect, other corner comes under your other arm and under the baby where the weight keeps it in place.

My shortie is about 2m. To stop the leg straightening makes sure knees are higher than hips in a proper squat position and the wrap comes over the shoulders. That way they don't have the leverage to push up and out.

I find I go through phased with mine - sometimes we're in a 2 phase doing hip carries, sometimes a 4 for a ruck. Sometimes we FWCC and sometimes we DH.

Sorry - DH? FWCC? And thanks for the welsh carry - will give that a go tomorrow - looks pretty good ad I even have a welsh shawl.... just was never told how to tie it!

... and no sling libraries near me that I can see - Cheltenham...

My shortie is between a size 2 and 3, so about 3 metres. It is really useful!

I'll look for slipknot links now... I think the carry is called a rebozo hip carry.

DH is a double hammock, a back carry, my favourite. Fwcc is the front wrap cross carry, kind of the first one you learn.

Try this for a slipknot vid

We used a connecta too and it's brilliant. Completely love it. We went to holland and Sweden on holiday with it. On plane and on trains too. Baby was in it till 13 months. Even used it when I was working at the newly new sale. Ie... For a fair few hours. Cool designs too.