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Slings and backpacks

Find baby sling and baby carrier advice here.

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Original poster

Moving on from a moby

13 replies

ActionCat · 14/01/2010 16:57

I currently have a moby sling which I love and have been using it since my baby was born. He's now 4 months old and although it's still quite comfortable to wear, I'm sure at some point, he'll start getting too heavy for it. So what would be a good sling to buy next?

I'm looking at either woven wraps or mei tais. Which is the most supportive? I'm guessing that the woven wrap would be? But I'm also guessing it would be more difficult to put on. Also, do mei tais allow more 'wiggle room' for the baby? Mine is liking being a little more independent and is not so cuddly anymore He's happy enough in the moby when he is asleep and when I'm moving and there's plenty to look at but if I stop and he's awake, he starts to get a bit agitated. Would a mei tai be better for him?

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:

TaurielTest · 14/01/2010 20:14

Both super-supportive if you get a decent one. Woven wraps are more versatile, but then I suppose mei tais are handy for popping on and off. You could always get one of each, second hand to try, then sell on the one you like less. Personally, I'd go for a German woven wrap (Didymos, Hoppediz, Storchenwiege) in about a 4.6 m length, or a 4.2 if you're petite - if you can tie your Moby, you're already a good way up the learning curve! I switched from a Moby to a Didymos when my DS was about 8 months.
If you haven't come across it already, www.slingguide.co.uk has lots of info.
With the wiggle room question, is your LO always tied in a front wrap cross carry (facing in?) If he has good neck control, what about trying a back carry with the Moby to see if he likes it better up there?

sasamaxx · 17/01/2010 23:45

Yeah WSS!
Or maybe a connect which is like a mei tai you don't have to...well...tie

sasamaxx · 17/01/2010 23:45

That should say connecta not connect

thisisyesterday · 17/01/2010 23:48

i love both

with ds2 i mainly used my cwtshi mei tai
with ds3 i am mostly loving woven wrap (with a bit of toddlerhawk thrown in here and there)

i don't think either of them allow much "wriggle room" because you'll want them to be nice and tight so they don't pull on your shoulders

BertieBotts · 17/01/2010 23:58

Ooh I thought I had this all sussed, until this week.

I loved a stretchy wrap when DS was small. I could use it up until he was about 7-8 months comfortably, and I am small and weedy. Make sure you are tying it tight enough, it's supposed to be as tight as a skintight top when you first put it on, then you put the baby in and it will feel slightly uncomfortably tight for the first 5-10 minutes but then as they and you move around it sort of loosens it up a bit and is very comfortable.

I thought I would graduate to a woven wrap, but DS was so wriggly I could not do it up around him, especially on my back, I could never keep him still enough and it took 3 of us to get him in it, which was no good.

I bought a ring sling to wear at a Christening (matching my dress ) but didn't get on with it as it was only on one shoulder and I found it hard to adjust, so it got left in the back of the wardrobe for ages.

I bought a Wilkinet thinking that something more structured would be good, but when I got it it seems it's not really suitable for toddlers, only smaller babies.

I have just ordered myself a toddler Patapum (DS is 15 months and I have been mainly using the pushchair and occasionally using but getting frustrated with my other slings) and am looking forward to that. I quite often give DS piggybacks around the room which he loves so I hope he will be more willing to go on my back.

Also, this week I have been using my ring sling again around the house and without really thinking, scooting DS around onto my back and it is fantastic! But does pull on my shoulder so I could not use it for long at a time.

Am anxiously awaiting the Patapum as I think that a stretchy wrap and then soft structured carrier (Ergo etc) is probably the best value for money combination, so hoping it works as well as I am expecting.

thisisyesterday · 18/01/2010 00:06

bertie, i was like that with my wrap with ds2, just didn't quite get on with it (had moby when he was small)
hence using the mei tai

i do think though that it does get easier if you persevere.
i hid all other slings and made myself use it for a week of nursery runs with ds1 and it got more enjoyable! def the most comfortable.

sasamaxx · 18/01/2010 00:08

They think they don't like it until they are up there and secure. Then they love it

BertieBotts · 18/01/2010 00:17

Yes but it takes too much to put it on, so I got frustrated with it. Annoying in a way because I loved how supportive the stretchy wrap was, and I like the colours and the versatility of a wrap. I am excited about my patapum though I like how it is designed specifically for toddlers.

sasamaxx · 18/01/2010 00:21

But it has wierd straps that you have to kind of 'thread' their legs through and totally bewilder me

Original poster

ActionCat · 18/01/2010 14:53

Thanks for all the replies Yes, very tempted to get both - but they are much more expensive than the stretchy wraps! I'll certainly try eBay anyway.

I am worried about how to tie a woven wrap and to tie LO onto my back but I guess it just comes with practice. I remember when I first got the Moby, it took quite some time to get it sussed. But I simply had to keep trying because I don't have a pram!

OP posts:

JackBauer · 18/01/2010 15:25

Has anyone mentioned the Yahoo babywearers group? I got loads fo my carriers on there.

I had a woven and a MT, the MT got used more for in and out and popping to shops/school run etc but the woven was invaluable for long journeys/walks.
The back carry took ages for me to get right, I finally got it after watching loads of videos on you tube and practising witha large doll

BertieBotts · 20/01/2010 08:49

sasamaxx you really worried me with your post, so have just done more research on it and found this article - it seems they are more important with an older toddler, who will be happier to hold on while you do the leg-threading, or you can always put them in your front and then move it around to your back by taking your arms out. I think it will be worth it for us as DS is a back-archer Thanks for mentioning it though, as I wouldn't have found the article otherwise and probably would have got stuck!

BertieBotts · 20/01/2010 20:48

Just wanted to quickly update and say my Patapum has arrived and it is fantastic - I didn't find the extra straps too fiddly, I just did up the waist clip and put DS' legs through, then scooted him around to the back and put my arms into the straps. It is so comfortable, much more comfortable than my temporary wrap I have been using (made from a duvet cover) and so easy, I think I was doing the wrap wrong because they are supposed to be really comfy.

I haven't tried using it for any length of time yet but I think I might go on a bit of a mission tomorrow to find a friend's house from the bus, it's a bit of a walk. I am so sad, I can't wait!

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