Which sling or baby carrier would you recommend?

[TinaMumsnet]

We're making plans to test and review new slings and baby carriers and we'd love to know which ones you'd recommend.

Choosing the right sling or baby carrier is a very personal decision. Often the best way to decide is just to try out a few from another parent or a sling library. But there are so many options to choose from it can be hard to know which one might work for you.

If you've bought and loved a sling or baby carrier in the last two years, we want to hear about it! Tell us which one you loved and why you loved it. Your comments will help us to create a shortlist of carriers to test and recommend to new parents.

Beco Gemini. We’ve been using it since DS was 8 days old and he’s now 10 months.
I use it daily and love it.

Have also used a wrap, close Cabo, ring sling, connecta and integra.

Would recommend the connecta and integra as they’re nice and thin but love my Beco Gemini. It’s so comfortable and I can see us using it for another year, easily

Ergo baby 360. Both my daughters were at risk of hip dysplasia. So for me it was important to use a sling endorsed by the international hip dysplasia institute.
Hip health should definitely be a factor in reviews/recommendations

I had an original stretchy Close which I loved for the first couple of months. And then a Rose and Rebellion SSC that lasted till around 1yr old when DC refused to be carried.

Stretchy wrap from newborn, I moved into bucked carries when my daughter was approx 5 months (I own a Nova but have used Tula, Connecta, Integra, Ergo, Sleepy Nico and Izara) I also have a Joy and Joe Benovance ring sling and now I'm starting to explore Wovens.

I also volunteer at my local sling library helping to fit slings / carriers and give advice, I LOVE it 😁

Started with a stretchy wrap and caboo for the first few months. Mei Tei is brilliant but a pain if you need put it quickly. I have an integra on order. So comfy and my husband and I can carry with it.

Ergo for newborn then on to Bjorn after a few months now boba toddler carrier.

Ringsling was always my go to carrier. So handy, fits in bag easily and can be used from birth to 4 years.
I also loved my Tula and have a huckepack toddler/preschool carrier which I would also recommend.

Ergo 360

Ergobaby omni 360! Love it.

Lillebaby Complete, bought this when my little one was 12 months and wish I’d had it earlier rather than making do with Close Caboo and then Connecta, neither of which worked well for us.

I had an nct close caboo, that I borrowed from a friend then moved onto a connecta.

Hanna stretchy wrap and then a Lilliebaby - can’t remember the name of it but it allows airflow for the summer then you can close the panel up for the winter.

Love, love my connecta (now called integra)

Also like to use my Lenny lamb ring sling a lot.

Would like to second a pp plea to ignore the likes of tomy etc they sell in mothercare and stick to the ergonomic ones!

I had a baby size Connecta and have a toddler size Tula. For me I prefer the Connecta as it can be folded small to fit inside my changing bag and I found it much easier to adjust as both myself and my husband use it. The Tula is bulkier but now that my son is almost two and getting heavier I find the waist strap much more supportive than the connecta.

Please please please introduce the test by explaining why you've not reviewed the babybjorn or other rubbish carriers, what safety rules are (and how to dress your baby / yourself i.e. forget the snowsuit) and why forward facing carry should be avoided

• Hoppediz sling (linen cotton mix)
• Ling Ling d'Amour P4 (budget structured carrier, 3 size versions from birth to toddler)
• Buzzidil with their straps that can be attached onbuhimo style (on the belt) to preserve baby's round back and mother's pelvic floor
• Boba 4g basic but very effective
• Sukkiri sling that can go in water

Integra carrier (this is run by the woman who set up Connecta and I think Integras are the ones still made in the UK).
Oscha ring slings, wraps and nook/cairis carriers (made in Scotland).
Woven Wings wraps.

Moby wrap, boba carrier, fire spiral wool and cotton mix wrap (that is the most beautiful thing I own, a wrapsody Bali breeze for the summer.

And for hiking and when ds was much bigger an osprey backpack.

Love my Isara soft structured carrier. Very similar to a Tula which I also loved when I borrowed one from the sling library but a bit narrower (comfier for me and my petit boy) and extra buckles so it can be used for a hip carry. Brilliant for about 6-12 months when he wanted to see out. Still carry him on our backs very comfortably now (19months.)

Our Beco Gemini was so comfortable with padded straps and a lovely design. Easy and quick to put on- I didn’t get on with the wraps I felt like I was in a straitjacket! Dd could also face out in it when she was old enough and you can do back carries.
I got a connecta for the summer as it packs up so small and it’s more lightweight and has a beautiful floral and bird design.

Manduca all the way. I used it from newborn to 3. So comfortable and such good value given the three years of use I got out of it.

Tula.
Used it from 4 months till almost 3 yo. Not the best for newborn, but absolutely brilliant from 4 months. No back pain at all due to weight being distrubuted to the hips and not shoulders, so could carry the baby for long time.

Close Caboo for newborns then Tula or Connecta once they're a bit bigger. It would be really helpful to have some discussion of the disadvantages of carriers where the legs dangle straight down. Not only are these potentially bad for hips (where there is an underlying issue) but they are less comfortable for both the person wearing them and for the child. They also limit the usability of the carrier because when the child gets bigger their dangling legs get in the way of the adult's legs. In an ergonomic carrier the child's legs are horizontal in a seated position. I would also like to see some information about whether the child faces in or out. I'm always surprised how many parents buy parent-facing pushchairs but then insist their child wants to face away from them in the baby carrier. If a child is in a proper position with their head close to your chin (close enough to kiss) then they can see plenty by turning their head to one side but they can also cuddle in if they want to sleep or feel overstimulated. Another useful piece of information would be the TICKS carrying guidelines since a baby carrier used incorrectly can be dangerous for the child. There are lots of groups out there that can provide advice, the Sheffield Sling Library https://www.sheffieldslingsurgery.co.uk/ is an excellent place to start.

Beco Gemini without a moment's hesitation. Works from birth without a newborn insert that others require. Has a four position carry - forward facing, inward facing, on your side and on your back. And really really comfortable.