Sling for a teeny baby

[KD0706]

DD2 was prem, is still in hospital and will likely be under 5lb when she comes home.

I am hoping to get a stretchy wrap type thingy (v technical here!) for her.
I'm thinking something that she can either be froggy position tummy to tummy, or in a cradle position so I can feed her while carrying her in the sling.

Any thoughts/recommendations ?

(if it's relevant, I already have a connecta integra and I still carry DD1 - 22 months - in it. I love it but I want something cosier for while DD2 is teeny)

Thanks for any guidance.

How about a moby ? They are v cuddly for tinies.

I had a ring sling when ds was a baby, and it was great for feeding in, and tummy to tummy - it was an Ellaroo with padded rails

I had a Moby stretchy wrap and it was brilliant, it took me a lot of practice though to get it wrapped just right. I also have a connecta but only used it once baby had good head control.
I searched youtube for a kangaroo carry which was really useful but not as secure for going out for longer walks.

I could never get the hang of feeding in a sling so can't help there.

Thanks for the replies. Thinking about it more I think ideally I'd like something which either has clips or can stay tied between uses. So I'm not having to tie the baby in each time. Does that make sense?

I don't think I could ever be one of these women who gets a piece of fabric, hems it themselves and miraculously ties it around them and baby with the help of a you tube video.

I'd go for a pouch or ring sling then - super simple to use, and once you have a ring sling set to you it needs very little adjustment each time

I'd still go for a stretchy wrap - you can leave it tied and just pop her in and out using the stretch. I honestly don't think a pouch or ring sling is that simple to use - they look like they should be, but there's actually quite a knack to getting it just right. Stretchy wraps are much easier. A stretchy will support a tiny baby much better than a more structured carrier (e.g. a buckle carrier) because it molds to her body shape so much more.

I really would not feed a preemie in any sling. To be honest I wouldn't feed a 'normal' weight newborn in a sling either, because of the risk of them choking. Feeding an older child who is upright, and can unlatch by themselves much more easily is a different thing, but as a nearly-qualified babywearing consultant I wouldn't advise trying to feed a small one on the go.

Pay particular attention to the TICKS rules for safe babywearing when she is tiny www.cot2tot.co.uk/imagesTICKS_final.pdf

I had all of them! The pouch/ring slings aren't as secure so if you lean forward or are up and down a lot with an older child you still need a hand on the baby, but are quick and easy to get baby into.
I really recommend a stretchy wrap though. I used mine to walk to toddler group, then could keep baby tied up sleeping with me while playing with my toddler.

I have a kari me stretchy wrap, i leave it tied and pop my twins (both) in and out as desired, although perhaps i should say that past tense as they are too big to go in together now :( they were teeny prem babies too and the sling was the single best thing i have bought so far

Thank you everybody. Stretchy wrap it is I think. Will look into the Kari me.

Thank you pootlebug for your comments and the link. I think I had some sort of idealistic vision of latching DD2 on and charging around after DD1 while she feeds. I think in general I have an idealistic view of how it will be when DD2 comes home. Ah well I'll learn I'm sure!!

Just re read and I see the mobi gets a few votes too. Will investigate... Thanks

Just wanted to report back that I got the Kari me stretchy wrap. It seems really good (prem DD2 only came home on Wednesday).

DD is only 5lb and I'm carrying her in the cradle position. It was easy enough to tie and pop DD into.

Just putting my consultant hat on.... Please be careful with the cradle position. It can of course be done safely but particularly with a preemie make sure she is nice and high and tight, and her chin isn't nodding to her chest. There's a good video here showing positioning magiccityslingers.wordpress.com/2007/07/20/how-to-carry-a-baby-in-a-stretchy-wrap-awesome-video/

On the whole I think it is easier to get a good safe position upright rather than cradle carry, but you do both have to be comfortable too.