Manduca - anyone got one? What do you think? Alternatives?

[philbee]

Sorry about all the questions (?). Am trying to find a good SSC carrier that DH and I can share to carry from newborn (prob about 4kg) upwards. He doesn't like anything that looks 'hippy', e.g. wraps, ring slings (both of which we already have, sigh) or things with patterns on. We are both about 5'9", and similar build (I'm about a 12 usually). DD was about 4kg when born, and has always been tall.

Is a manduca what we're after? It looks right, and I like the adjustability. Are there other options? Am a bit balking at £90, tbh, so not looking to spend any more than that, certainly. All recommendations and reviews very welcome.

I really love it. I'm 5'6" and size 10. I tried the manduca and the ergo and far preferred the manduca. I definitely make use of the zippy extending back, and crossing straps when carrying DS on my front.

The newborn bit doesn't look too faffy. I used a stretchy wrap initially and if I were to have another I'd do that again, but equally the manduca newborn insert looks far better than eg the ergo one.

Thanks! I think the ergo looks a bit bulky for us, and I've read it's not great for bigger LOs. Will look into the manduca a bit more, and am also thinking about a connecta, but they're less padded and supportive, so I think DH might not like that. He gets dodgy shoulders sometimes.

DH also wants a Manduca. We have a Connecta and a Beco Butterfly already but he likes the look of the Manduca. Rather than fork out straight away I found a sling library closish to me which hires out for £5/fortnight or £7.50/month and has it in stock so when DC2 arrives I am going to test it and see. If it is significantly better than the Butterfly I will sell that. I'm not giving up the Connecta though, its lovely and comfy for a little one and very easy to put on.

I think I'll try to resist the buying urge and do the same. We have a sling library near us as well, and DH did use the stretchy last time for a bit, so we do have other options. I'd like to make sure that it's really comfy, as my experience with SSCs hasn't been great, so I used wraps and a ring sling with DD. My friend has a manduca, so she may be willing to let us have a go with hers as well for a few days.

But I want to get the list narrowed down to what will work for us (I need crossable straps at the back, needs to be quick, needs to be not 'hippyish'!) so that I can go and be a bit focused about it, as I doubt my brain will be in great shape at that stage! Once you order they tend to come in a few days anyway, don't they? Tbh, I think that DH won't want to carry much beyond 18 months / 2 years anyway, as he just finds it hard, and doesn't have the practice to build up the muscles, whereas I'm at home more and carrying more anyway. So something that would work for that period would be good, and then we can sell it on if necessary.

I finally paid the money and bought a manduca and it is great. My five month old ds is really heavy, about 22ibs,and I was really struggling to hold his weight for long in the ssc I had. I can take him on dog walks etc for ages and is much easier for dh to use as longer straps. I also cross at the back and it is so easy. I just wish I had had it from birth and although the ssc I had was great, it wasnt as comfy as the manduca.

We have one and I love it.

I chose it mostly for the crossable straps (I think the Beco might do that too, but the Ergo doesn't), but actually these days I often don't bother crossing.

I like it. Takes the weight really well onto the hips. Very adjustable. Have never used it for a newborn, but have done for a three year old recently (sshhh, probably way above the weight limit, but she was very tired and I was in a hurry) with no ill effects on my somewhat dodgy back.

The Beco Gemini can be used with crossed straps, facIng in / out, on back etc.

Oh, I had a connecta too. Was easy, small to roll up in a bag, but it didn't work for me much past aged one as it dragged on my shoulders too much.

I love my Manduca- really comfy and looks quite sporty, definitely no hippyish . When DS is in it I get loads of 'doesn't it kill your back' comments but I just smile smugly! I have a connecta too which is great for popping in a bag but as it's around the waist rather than hips I find it pulls on my back muscles after a while, but I do still love it.

Manduca was a little cheaper on Kiddicare- I found a discount code that got it for around £76.

Thanks everyone. I think I'll wait until the baby's born and see if we can borrow my friend's for a few days to try it out. Then we can give it a good test to see if it will work. I have wrapped my wrap on DH before and he finds that that pulls on his shoulders, so we need something as snug as possible.

Having used a Didymos and a Manduca, because the Manduca sits on the hips, it pulls less. BUT you need to fiddle with all the straps, etc, to get it perfect the first time. Just doing the shoulder straps won't get you a comfy fit.

I thought I wanted a manduca, but after trying it and a few others from a sling library I went for a hoppediz bondolino. I found it much easier to get a comfy fit and is still pretty good with DS (18months). It does have tie straps so might be too hippyish! I definitely second the recommendation of using a sling library if you have one nearby

Sorry, minor thread hijack, Does anyone have any thoughts on the new caboo dx - hardly any reviews yet and just wondered what more experienced baby wearers thought in comparison to those you've mentioned above - I know you cant put on back but other than that? Or simply the normal caboo in relation to those mentioned above? Going to try to get to sling meet in a couple of weeks but not sure if they'll have it yet? Thanks in advance!

Normal Caboo? Well I had one when it was just called a Close.

I did like if to DD1, because it was pre-formed and you didn't have to tie anything. But actually the design meant that there were two long 'tails' down the back and as DD got bigger I could never get it tight enough. I'd say a Didymos or similar woven wrap is a better all rounder. Things like Kari me are lovely and soft for little ones too, but don't last as long.

Sorry, don't last as long because not as supportive.