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Slings and backpacks

Find baby sling and baby carrier advice here.

Original poster

Sling for a newborn - no idea which one!

26 replies

BobbysBeardOfWonder · 26/01/2012 21:10

DC2 is due in May, DD will be 22mo then. I am keen to get a new sling as I only have a BabyBjorn and have mixed feelings about it now.
I've looked at pictures of different types of sling but really have no idea how to choose. I don't know yet if I'll need to bf in it but I guess it should be an option just in case.

I went to a local sling meet last year with DD but it wasn't actually that close to us, and also felt I wasn't 'slingy' enough for them Blush. I just want to carry my baby, not necessarily jabber on about it Grin no offence!

Would a Mei Tai be a good bet?

OP posts:
chocolateyclur · 26/01/2012 21:35

I have a connecta and love it. It's simple, comfortable and causes no angst - and I'm the type of person who can't tie my hair in a ponytail!

PotteringAlong · 26/01/2012 21:41

I also love my connecta!

Where are you? If you google 'sling library' for your part of the world you should find somewhere close to you where you can go out and try slings etc and then hire them - we have a fab one in the north east and it costs £5 a fortnight to hire a sling and is run by soneone who helps you with the best one for you.

I know what you mean about some sling meets (and I have a wrap as well as my connecta!) but I know the person who rubs our library does one to one sessions foe free so you could avoid the more militant sections :o

ILoveGreggsSausageRolls · 26/01/2012 21:42

I have a Hoppediz premature and newborn baby one and it's lovely. It's slightly stretchy, can be used in a variety of different positions and the fabric is lovely and soft.

I got mine from my local mum 2 mum breastfeeding support, and it was cheaper than the website, so it's worth checking out

BreeVanDerTramp · 26/01/2012 21:45

I am in same situation, due in June, will follow this thread with interest! I have found I suffer terrible back pain wearing a sling - have tried tomy one and babasling. I do have big boobs though. Couldn't relax in babasling for fear of suffocating DS.

D0G · 26/01/2012 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pootlebug · 26/01/2012 22:04

My top picks for a newborn would be either:

  • Stretchy wrap
  • Buckle carrier that is suitable from newborn if you are attracted to the idea of buckles rather than straps/long fabric
  • Wrap conversion type mei tai suitable from newborn

For more detail on each:

  • Stretchy wrap.....the Moby is great, but can be really hot in summer - I wouldn't pick it for a May/June baby. The Wrapsody Stretch is considerably lighter and cooler, but more supportive (so you can use it comfortably for longer). It is a bit pricier, but they come up for sale 2nd hand on ebay/natural mamas.

  • For a buckle carrier, I like the Connecta and the Manduca. The former is simpler to use (you don't need to use a newborn insert bit), the latter a bit more supportive for bigger kids. I don't like the Ergo from newborn as it needs a separate insert which is very warm - again, not great for a summer baby, or indoors.

  • I love the Hoppediz Hop Tye for a mei tai type carrier. It is made of lovely soft wrap material, is easy to tie, and has adjustable bits top and bottom to cinch it in to fit a newborn so it gives a much snugglier fit than many other mei tais or buckle carriers - more like the snuggliness you get with a wrap.

I run a sling library, and have carried two kids for the last 4 years, so have tried a lot. I got my sister and her OH a Connecta and Wrapsody stretch when they had their first baby, and I'll be buying my husband a Hop Tye for our new baby in a couple of months (he's not 100% confident with wraps, but I think the snuggliness of the Hop Tye is so much nicer with a newborn than anything buckled I've tried).

Original poster
BobbysBeardOfWonder · 26/01/2012 22:05

Thanks. Am in N London, nearest sling library is in S London which would be a pain to get to, and is right when DD naps... Sad

Am liking the look of the Connecta - can you bf in it?
The Moby looks comfy D0G but am slightly scared of all that material! Am only 5'3.

OP posts:
Original poster
BobbysBeardOfWonder · 26/01/2012 22:08

Thanks too pootlebug will check those out.

OP posts:
pootlebug · 27/01/2012 08:56

There are two sling libraries in South London - South London Sling Library which runs 10-2 and Greenwich & Lewisham Sling Library which runs 2-4....doesn't solve the 'pain to get to' thing but between them you should be able to avoid nap times. Both are a change at London Bridge (or Cannon Street for G&L) and 5 minute walk from the station.

Original poster
BobbysBeardOfWonder · 27/01/2012 11:04

Ah ok thanks, that's useful to know!

OP posts:
LittleMissFlustered · 05/02/2012 16:35

May I ask a question of the Moby users? Is it a friendly sling for a fat bird like me? I'm a size 22/24 and five foot eight:) Baby is four weeks, bidding on a cheap moby at the moment:)

pootlebug · 05/02/2012 17:04

Yep - very adjustable for different sized people. Hope you get it!

pinxminx · 05/02/2012 17:07

I really recommend a manduca. I tried various others and it is so much better.

wonkylegs · 05/02/2012 17:14

I had a close baby carrier with DS & loved it. Easy to put on & pack away. And it fitted tiny 4'11" me and considerably larger 5'11" DH
I did try it out before I bought it though as I was worried about comfort & weight distribution as well as fiddliness as I have RA in all my joints including my back & hands so find I just cannot use some carriers.
It gave me my arms back and I loved having DS all snuggled close.

LittleMissFlustered · 05/02/2012 18:30

pootle I won it, £10 delivered, so even if I don't get on with it it's not a trauma. Thanks for the reply:)

pootlebug · 05/02/2012 20:22

I meant to say, LMF, that some of the videos show the last bit of tying it as crossing it over at your back and then bringing it back around the front to tie. You can do that, but there is absolutely no reason why you can't just tie the knot at the back instead of bringing the ends around to the front again, if you haven't long enough ends to tie easily at the front. £10 delivered is a great price for a Moby.

Franchini · 05/02/2012 20:23

Moby wrap is good - you can get them on line.

www.mobywrap.com/t-whatisamoby.aspx

RhinestoneCowgirl · 05/02/2012 20:28

Like you I had a Baby Bjorn first time round but didn't find it that satisfactory.

Had a Kari-me for DD (like a Moby) and she practically lived in it for first 3-4 months. So useful to have hands free to deal with the toddler! I never managed to bf in it, but I am pretty well endowed, and in the early days especially I had to get me and baby into just the right position to be comfortable.

I also had a mei tei, mainly because it was pretty Blush (did manage to bf once in it!) and obviously you can use them for longer - found it easy to get DD on my back in it from about 6 months.

FessaEst · 05/02/2012 20:29

Moby, Moby, Moby!! My life would have been less without a Moby Grin

I had a July baby who was in it 24/7 and we managed without getting too hot. (Wasn't a particularly hot summer though...) Smile

Eglu · 05/02/2012 20:31

Bobby, I have a Moby and am the same height as you. The length of fabric is fine. If you look at videos on youtube it will show you how easy it is to tie and use. That will also be helpful for Littlemiss

LittleMissFlustered · 07/02/2012 21:25

Rhinestone I've been eyeing up a mei tei(sp?) on eBay - skull and crossbones fabric!

PlayEatSleep · 07/02/2012 21:41

Hop Tye. The best thing ever. I wish I had it for DC1 and 2.

pootlebug · 08/02/2012 06:13

LittleMissFlustered - beware Ebay mei tais. Some are fine. Some are not fit for purpose (badly proportioned, not adequately sewn to ensure the baby's safety, etc) If it is a recognised brand like Baby Hawk or similar it will be fine but otherwise I'd want to know about how it is constructed.

PlayEatSleep · 08/02/2012 09:43

Mine is from Hoppediz. I cannot recommend it enough. DD2 lived in it for 6 months. I could look after the other 2 and work while she slept and fed in her sling. Perfect.

Iggly · 08/02/2012 09:48

I have manduca and a close.

The close is ok for when DD was little but now she's 9 weeks and feels less secure but she likes it more when she's awake. for naps and outings, the manduca is great especially in this cold weather. Bit fiddly for getting DD in and out quickly eg if I need to transfer from car to sling.

The manduca should take us up to toddler which is great. I keep meaning to try DS (2.4) with it.