Babasling - thoughts and experiences?

[Meita]

I'm expecting a baby in August. Went to a NCT nearly new sale recently and bought a babasling, somewhat on impulse. Meaning, if things go well I'd love to carry baby, but I hadn't gotten around to looking into the different makes and variations yet.

So now I'm wondering if this was a good buy .

Would therefore appreciate any thoughts by more experienced baby wearers. Particularly would like to know, will the babasling maybe put me off babywearing whereas I might be perfectly happy with a perhaps more expensive thing?

We also have a Deuter baby backpack which was given to us by friends, but is not suitable until about 9 months I think; and a plain wrap. I was thinking of using the wrap for longer excursions (due to it being a bit more fiddly to put on/take off), and the babasling for shorter carrying times. Does this make any sense? I'm completely inexperienced in these things.

Any thoughts muchly appreciated

I bought a babasling before ds was born and I think we've used it once. I know others who have taken theirs back. DS was prem and was lost in it. You have to have a second person to help you adjust it which is a pain.

I opted for the Kari-me sling but everyone has their own preference.

I've not heard great things about babaslings TBH. You'll probably find your plain (woven?) wrap a lot more useful. You can pre-tie some ties, so a plain wrap could be more "poppable" than you think - maybe try a rebozo carry if it's short, or something like a front-cross carry or pocket wrap cross carry if it's longer. www.slingguide.co.uk has lots of links to tying guides, handy video clips, and other things to help you get the most out of whichever sort of sling you go for.
We got given a backpack too which DP used a couple of times, but I ended up selling it as the soft slings were more useful.

I have one which my MIL very generously bought, but she insisted for some reason that I had to get the Babasling.

It is ok, I use it a couple of times a week as some of my baby classes are held in places which can't store prams. Now DD is getting bigger it is starting to hurt my back (she is 18 weeks), so I am considering getting something else instead. Also DD has a tendency to fall asleep in it with her head hanging out of it so I am constantly trying to shift her weight to where she is more supported. Sorry that is a really rubbish description of the problem, but I can't think how else to word it

Never tried a babasling - looks kind of like a utility belt doesn't it?

Give it a shot - but beware of the cradle position in these slings - it needs very careful positioning. I don't know if the babasling allows tummy to tummy but your wrap will (perhaps FWCC), and that's an excellent carry for a newborn

Thanks everyone, this has been very helpful!

I guess I will give it a shot. If it doesn't work out, it won't be too much money lost, and I've always got my alternatives to fall back on. Yes, the "plain" wrap is quite plain (off-white) but I do think it's simply a woven wrap - won't look it up right now as it's stashed away in the loft. At some point I'll have to study the various wrap-methods, and it's good to know that it's pre-tieable.

So, thanks again!

I bought a Babasling, never used it. Positions impossible to achieve, baby hated it - was like dropping him into a deep, dark hole.