Up to £100 to spend on my first woven...where to start?

[vaticancameo]

DH has offered to get me a woven for my birthday after I've been hankering after one for ages I'm used to stretchy wraps but haven't tried a woven yet. I'm going to a sling meet to try some but would welcome advise about brands/fabrics/sizes. I'm 5'7" and will be carrying dd, currently 4mo and weighs 12.5lbs but I want to carry her into toddlerhood if poss. So I'm looking for a quality, all-season wrap that's good for front and back carries...any ideas or advice welcome!

You should get an ergo carrier. A genuine one from a store. Try a few, I like sport and performance better than classic. They go front,b ack, side up to age 4

Erm, if she wants a woven wrap she should get a woven wrap, not an Ergo!

If you are size 8-10 or less you can probably get away with a size 5, if UK 10-16 I'd go with a 6, bigger and you would maybe need a 7.

Honestly I would go with something you like the look of! Most woven wraps will perfectly well do the job. I'd get something easy to care for too that you can fling in the washing machine - e.g. 100% cotton. Something medium weight so you can still use it in summer.

Have a look at the photos here (you'll need to join up but it's free and no spam www.naturalmamas.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?49-PICS-Wraps) to see what takes your fancy design-wise.

You will hear some people say you must have linen/hemp blends for toddlers etc. I think it is tosh. I can still carry my 5 year old in cotton. How well you wrap and what carries you choose makes much more difference than the blend of your wrap for comfort, imo.

I saw someone with one of these last week. It was absolutely beautiful. Can't give any review of how well it works with a bigger child, obviously, so marking my place to hear from anyone who can!

It was an Oscha, btw, for anyone who can't be arsed with the link.

Oschas vary in thickness, blend, grippiness, pattern etc. But every one I have tried I have liked, and all that I have tried would be absolutely fine to carry my 5 year old in. The main problem is getting your hands on one!

Brilliant, thanks! Checking out that link now.

I don't want an ergo, as I have spine probs and haven't found any structured carriers (even soft ones) comfy. But wraps spread the weight more and I can wear my stretchy all day, I love it!

Interesting, the Oscha site has disappeared since yesterday.. vaticancameo, hope you don't mind if I join this thread looking for exactly the same advice myself -- dd has just about grown out of our VSL stretchy and I'm lost without it!

Can anyone tell me whether jacquard weaves and/or diagonal stretch will still be ok for carrying toddlers?

Splinters, most jacquard weaves will be absolutely fine for carrying toddlers.

Pretty much all woven wraps have diagonal stretch - they need it to stop the wrap feeling too diggy and harsh on your shoulders.

Oscha are probably just doing site maintenance - happens from time to time.

There are a number of Facebook groups where you can buy or if not buying from there at least see what's around.

Try:
Slings and things - FSOT and advice
Babywearing FSOT
Affordable baby slings

Second hand can be good cos a well used wrap is generally softer.

Love to be natural is a decent site for new wovens.

I started with a didymos, it was about £100, I liked the pattern and apparently it was a good 'workhorse' one, good for every day and good for small babies to toddlers. Apparently some are easier to learn on than others because they get floppy and worn in sooner (another reason that I chose the Didy).

I've been doing lots of browsing/reading online and I'm going to get a size 6. I'm torn between a didymos (probably a gecko or elephant print) or a girasol rainbow... I think DH would probably say the rainbow is a big too lentil-weavery(!) but I think it's what I really want, so ATM I'm leaning towards that...

One advantage of a rainbow is it makes it easier to tighten each part of the wrap evenly as you can see what's what. Similarly you can easily tell how much of the wrap is making the seat under the baby. But either sounds lovely

I joined the slings and things group above and lurked till something grabbed my eye. Now I have er, far to many wraps.
I love oschas my fave is starry night vespers but that's a bit hard to find for retail price now.
I am also absolutely in love with a firespiral wrap I got recently they are new but also bit hard to find at moment (should be easier soon but they said they were changing pricing so not sure what it'll be)

Most wraps sell on again quite well.