Baby sling

Redpunto

Hi was just wondering where people got their baby slings - you know the ones that cradle the baby - not the regular ones you can get in mothercare, etc that hold the baby upright with the legs and arms sticking out. Thanks a mil

Ayla

I got my Ellaroo ring sling and my Maya wrap on Ebay for a total of maybe £60. We've used them for both of our girls and have never bothered getting a buggy (other than an umbrella stroller for traveling). We took daughter #1 on mountain hikes in the wrap (tied on the back) when she was almost 3.

Getting a *real* wrap is hard - if not impossible - from high street shops. All you're likely to find are the tommy carriers & the like. I personally wouldn't recommend them b/c I've yet to see anyone use them for a child over the age of 3 months b/c the weight becomes unbearable. That's the main difference between the pre-formed (ie: tommy) carriers that have straps - which inevitably dig into the shoulders, versus the wraps/slings that are completely adjustable and spread all weight across the back & onto the hips where the weight belongs.

I could talk all day about these things so if you need any advice feel free to pm me

Moonbeam

got my baba sling in tk maxx

LegacyUser

Ayla wrote: »

Getting a *real* wrap is hard - if not impossible - from high street shops. All you're likely to find are the tommy carriers & the like. I personally wouldn't recommend them b/c I've yet to see anyone use them for a child over the age of 3 months b/c the weight becomes unbearable. That's the main difference between the pre-formed (ie: tommy) carriers that have straps - which inevitably dig into the shoulders, versus the wraps/slings that are completely adjustable and spread all weight across the back & onto the hips where the weight belongs.

I could talk all day about these things so if you need any advice feel free to pm me

I'd have to disagree - the Ergo carrier is excellent. We carry our seven month old in it with no problems (he's around 8kg) and a friend still carries her 2 year old in it.

It is designed to distribute the weight around your hips, so it doesn't dig into the shoulders/neck at all. It's also designed so that the baby doesn't just "hang" there like in a parachute - such a position is damaging to the child's spine. The Ergo allows the baby to sit, rather than dangle.

Ayla

%%%Ergofan%%% wrote: »

I'd have to disagree - the Ergo carrier is excellent. We carry our seven month old in it with no problems (he's around 8kg) and a friend still carries her 2 year old in it...

Great, glad you've had good experiences with it, I've heard of others who haven't. Goes to show that different products work differently with different people

Squiggler

I've also heard very good reports about the Ergo Baby Carrier and we decided that we would get one.

They are not like the tomy or Babybjorn carriers that Ayla was talking about, which I would agree are not very well designed for child or parent comfort.

They are extremely adjustable, designed to transfer the weight down onto the hips, lightweight and, all-importantly for us, my husband is comfortable with the idea of wearing it (he wouldn't be seen dead in a ring sling or maya wrap) so I won't have to do all the baby carrying, after all, I've done that for the past 9 months plus

How Strange

We just bought an ergo and the little lad loves it; he nods off to sleepwhen he's in it. When he gets older he'll look around more but it's very handy for trips to the shopsor times when you don't want the hassle of the pushchair. My husband has worn it loads since we got it and he's not the type to wear slings or wraps.

I've got back, neck and shoulder problems and I find it great. I tried a ring sling but found it pulled out of my shoulder so wasn't suitable at all. I also prefer the way the baby is positioned in the ergo. He wasn't too fond of the ring sling.

NextSteps

I have a moby wrap which I got on Amazon. I'm still getting the hang of it (involves a lot of tying, and baby objects to some positions) but it's grand for around the house. I'm not sure about wearing it outdoors, though, or for long walks. I'm thinking of getting a baby bjorn for that. Also, as Squiggler says, my partner might be more inclined to use that.

Moonbeam

A friend has http://www.sleepywrap.com/ it looks fantastic and she finds it brilliant.
Thinking of ordering one too.

wmpdd3

I have the tomy Freestyle carrier. I use it every day, especially in town with a back pack on my back. i had a bad back when I was pregnant and this really helps. She 6 1/2 months and about 17 ibs.

She really loves it, but would never fall asleep in it. I often end up talking to people who bought one but only ever used it once so I guess it doesn't suit every one.

My sister in law just has a sling, no buggy at all for her 3 month old and he loves it. I was too nervous of using it because my little one used to shove her belly out when I tried it.

wmpdd3

Wow the ergo thing looks great, i'd love to put her on my back, she'd love it. Where can you buy them?

Ayla

Moonbeam wrote: »

A friend has http://www.sleepywrap.com/ it looks fantastic and she finds it brilliant.
Thinking of ordering one too.

This is virtually the exact same as my maya wrap...both boil down to a long piece of fabric that you wrap (thus the name) around yourself & the babe. True, this type of carrier takes some practice, but no more than we took to learn how to tie our shoelaces.

I love my wrap!

How Strange

wmpdd3, www.hipbaby.ie sell the ergo. Your little one will definitely sleep in the ergo.

wmpdd3

Oh my GOD, €100,

Oh well, I'll keep an eye on Adverts!!

Ayla

€100 is quite the bargain if you use it instead of a buggy

Squiggler

wmpdd3 wrote: »

Wow the ergo thing looks great, i'd love to put her on my back, she'd love it. Where can you buy them?

I got it from www.hipbaby.ie as was already suggested, but you can get them on ebay too.

Seriously worth it, at least we think so.

How Strange

I never had any luck finding one for sale on adverts because the few that are advertised are sold very quickly. Maybe put your own ad up on adverts looking for one so someone selling one might contact you. I bid for some on eBay but the prices were in sterling so I always got to the point where it was no cheaper than the irish websites when you allow for the exchange rate and delivery.

NextSteps

I got a Baby Bjorn Active and had a first run into town with it the other day. Baby (5 weeks) loved it and slept the whole way. It's a little hard on the shoulders but otherwise very comfortable and I think we'll get use out of it.

neeb

Lots of the new ergos on ebay are though to be fake. Just letting you know.
I had en ergo with DD and it was great, we went everywhere in it. So much handier than a buggy.
You get good money when you sell them secondhand too, I sold mine for 70 euro when we were finished with it.

mrsberries

Just wondering what age you started to use the Ergo on your baby? Ours is almost 4 weeks and this would be a godsend as she loves to be in our arms

Also, lots on ebay. Am tempted to buy, what makes you think they are fake?

sillysocks

We have an Ergo, haven't used it too much yet but I think for younger babies you're supposed to use the Heart to Heart insert with it. If you google it you'll probably find more info on the insert.

LegacyUser

Does anyone have feedback on a babasling?

Moonbeam

I have 2 of them,they are fantastic and can be used up until the child is about 2stone pretty comfortably.
Both my girls love/d being in it.

wmpdd3

mrsberries wrote: »

Just wondering what age you started to use the Ergo on your baby? Ours is almost 4 weeks and this would be a godsend as she loves to be in our arms

Also, lots on ebay. Am tempted to buy, what makes you think they are fake?

I am really tempted to buy on e-bay but they show all the signs of being fake. Sellers with very few sales, or lots of sales of a different item and now 12 ergos for sale.

The price is just way out of my league, just have to wait for a second hand one! Even if you did get a fair bit of the purchase price back by selling it.

3DataModem

We carried our twin in Baby Bjorn active slings until 1 year / 25lbs!

If you fit it correctly (and adjust it regularly) it distributes weight perfectly.

How Strange

mrsberries, you have to use the infant insert with the ergo until they are 4-5 months old. It lifts them up on it and protects their neck. The insert costs about €25.

mrsberries

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I am really tempted to buy on e-bay but they show all the signs of being fake. Sellers with very few sales, or lots of sales of a different item and now 12 ergos for sale.

The price is just way out of my league, just have to wait for a second hand one! Even if you did get a fair bit of the purchase price back by selling it.

Ive bought many things from ebay but after I posted this I decided I wouldnt risk a baby sling for fear of fakes! Ill check out baby bay/adverts or just invest as hopefully we'll have more little ones to carry around :D

cormie

Looking to get one of these as a gift but only have a budget of about 25/30eur, is it possible to get a decent one at this price? It's for the dad so back support etc won't be such an issue as they haven't just given birth and would be ok holding the weight of the baby, for a while anyway I didn't think they were so expensive (seeing ones for 120eur!), would be nice to get a neat, traditional simple material wrap around one, would want the material to be good quality, organic if possible!

Oral Slang

There are a few on Adverts that are brand new. Also some girls I know have gotten peanut shell ones in TK Maxx for something like €15. They're normally about €50.

January

I have a Mei Tai that I bought on ebay and it cost €30 with delivery.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Baby-Carriers-Backpacks-/100982/i.html?_nkw=mei+tai

Most of those are reversible, so if daddy doesn't want to wear design he can just turn it around and it will be black. I have to say I love it, baby looks so snug and comfy in it and it's so easy to use...

cormie

Mentioned I was thinking of buying one to my mam and she said that as far as she knew, they weren't good for babies, bad for back posture and stuff?

January

Only if you are wearing them incorrectly, there are plenty of internet videos on how to wear them properly and there are sling meets regularly around the country so other parents can give you advice on how to wear.

cormie

Hehe, thanks for that, I wouldn't want to put the baba at risk by getting a cheaper one if that's the case, I'd prefer not to get one.

January

Doesn't matter if it's cheap or not, it would matter if it was a known brand and was a fake as you'd have no comeback off the manufacturer then. I have a Palm & Pond Mei Tai, which is the one I bought off ebay and it's really good. It's really a matter of trying with baby wearing, not every sling suits everybody and you may have to try a few before you get the perfect one for you. Which is why you can go to the sling meets and borrow from the sling library to see which you like before you buy.

http://babywearingireland.com/index.php/Sling-Library-Babywearing-Ireland

Moonbeam

Some of the upright type slings are reported to be bad for small babies but most of the modern ones should be fine.

wmpdd3

@Jan, would you reccommend your one from birth, well 4 weeks?

I need the insert for my Ergo, but the sling above is the same price! It would be nice for the first 3 months.

cormie

Maybe not the best thing to buy as a gift for someone then, it's not for me and I don't want to get something unsuitable.

January

wmpdd3 wrote: »

@Jan, would you reccommend your one from birth, well 4 weeks?

I need the insert for my Ergo, but the sling above is the same price! It would be nice for the first 3 months.

Mei Tai's are suitable from birth but I only started using mine at 6 weeks (it took me a while to research which one I think would have suited me, and then ordering it and delivery (that only took 3/4 days). You fold up the material if the baby is smaller.

wmpdd3

I'm in the South East and I cant find a shop that sells the Ergo insert. Anyone know of anywhere that sells them anywhere in the country?

I have a few friends who work on the road that could pick one up for me. The postage on the website makes it too expensive for me.

How Strange

I think you can only buy it online. I couldn't find it for sale anywhere in Dublin. I bought mine on hipbaby.ie and postage was €4.50

sillysocks

Hipbaby.ie for me as well!

wmpdd3

Perfect, ordered.

Kash

Hope it's ok to ressurect this thread from a few months ago - but was wondering if anyone has any experience of using the Ergo (or another carrier) with big boobs?

I'm a 36G at 15 weeks pregnant, and assume they will only get bigger after the birth. Am I kidding myself that i will be able to wear these things comfortably?

wmpdd3

I think is would be fine there's loads of extra belt to extend it. Until i got pregnant again i had me 10 month old in it. I also had my 2year old neice in it for a walk, plenty room. you can have it so the new borns head doesnt even reach the boobs if you want but you have to adjust it before you side down!! I can measure how much is streaches out, if it would help you, i only have 40dd boobs so far!!!!!

Kash

That sounds promising.
I've never even seen one in real life, so i'm just finding it hard to imagine how it will fit!

Ayla

I used a wrap instead of a pre-formed sling and found the wraps amazing. You can completely conform the fit/knots to work for you & babe so it doesn't matter what size/shape you are it'll be 100% comfy & secure. I (and hubby) used the maya wrap and would 100% recommend it. Our (male) friend who is *large* carried our baby around for a bit and loved it too...with 5m of fabric it barely fit around them but everyone was still comfy.

wmpdd3

Kash wrote: »

That sounds promising.
I've never even seen one in real life, so i'm just finding it hard to imagine how it will fit!

I will be carrying a newborn in it in the next 3 weeks hopefully, ill send you a pic if it will help. You'd be fine holding off buying one until baby is born I think as you will probably not leave the house for the first few days and mine took about 3 days to come from amazon.

What is it about the ergo that you like?

Kash

I liked the fact that the baby was sitting in it rather than being supported via the crotch... I'd read some horrible findings about the Baby Bjorn et al affecting the baba's spine. A photo would be fabulous, but only if it's no hassle - you'll need to be focussing on your little one

I was thinking of maybe going into Mothercare and trying a few on to get an idea...

The slings look good, but I can't tie a knot to save my life, so I've a bit more faith in buckles!

Cat Melodeon

Kash wrote: »

That sounds promising.
I've never even seen one in real life, so i'm just finding it hard to imagine how it will fit!

I use a Patapum soft carrier that I got 2nd hand and it's grand. I've been using it since herself was 3 weeks old - she's 10 weeks now - for shopping, taking the dogs for walks etc and it's very comfortable. You wear it like you would a rucksack but with the baby at the front. I'm 40E and currently size 18 by the way. If it fits me, it'll fit anyone!

Cat Melodeon

Forgot to mention there's a sling wearing demo on next week in the Citywest Hotel (Monday 30th January at 3pm) if anyone is interested. It's being held at the Friends of Breastfeeding support group (which runs from 2-4).

www.babywearingireland.com/forum
https://www.facebook.com/babywearingireland

January

The one advantage of wraps and slings over carriers is they have no buckles... trying to buckle a baby into a carrier when you are on your own is tricky and something that takes a lot of practice...

I'm a size 16 and a 42E and have a Mei Tai carrier. They are fantastic. Baby is so comfortable in it.