Baby Slings

Mink

I searched a bit for baby slings on this forum already but there wasn't a huge amount coming up.

Just wondering if anyone who used a sling from newborn onwards could recommend one. There's as many brands as there are buggy brands!

Also, any to avoid?

Definitely like the idea of "baby-wearing", especially as can then keep my hands free to get other bits & bobs done.

dublinlady

Mink wrote: »

I searched a bit for baby slings on this forum already but there wasn't a huge amount coming up.

Just wondering if anyone who used a sling from newborn onwards could recommend one. There's as many brands as there are buggy brands!

Also, any to avoid?

Definitely like the idea of "baby-wearing", especially as can then keep my hands free to get other bits & bobs done.

Most amazing thing I had for whole first 14 weeks was my peanutshell sling! Could not recommend it mOre!! Love love love it! There were a few weeks when being in it was the only way she would nap during day! Found it really really comfy until 14 weeks when she was a bit heavy and it started to hurt my back - now I just use babybjorn carrier if out and about but really don't wear her much now as she's so happy on the floor trying to roll!!!!

January

I've used the Mei Tai from when Ellen was two weeks old and she loved it and so did I! So easy to use (no buckles or clips) and you can get loads of different designs on ebay!

liliq

Would you consider a strechy wrap? I wish I'd known about them when R was newborn.

I have an Ergo, it can be used from newborn with an insert.

Babywearing Ireland have a great sling library where you can borrow slings for 2 weeks or go to sling meets where you can try out a few at a time! Definitely a good way to navigate the minefield I think! There's Sooo much info out there!

Avoid like the plague the likes of the Baby Bjorn/ Mamas and Papas/ Tomy "crotch danglers"... the ones with the really narrow seats, and where you have baby facing outwards after a certain time. They are so bad for babies hips, and also not great for the wearers backs.
http://www.hipdysplasia.org/developmental-dysplasia-of-the-hip/prevention/baby-carriers-seats-and-other-equipment/

Mink

Yeah going to steer clear of those crotch danglers Lilyq. They're fierce expensive anyway!

The stretchy fabric one that had been recommended to me was Kari Me, & it seems to be a really long length of fabric that you wrap lots of different ways but it looks a bit scary to me. I'd be terrified that I'd do it wrong and baby would fall off me!

liliq

Mink wrote: »

Yeah going to steer clear of those crotch danglers Lilyq. They're fierce expensive anyway!

The stretchy fabric one that had been recommended to me was Kari Me, & it seems to be a really long length of fabric that you wrap lots of different ways but it looks a bit scary to me. I'd be terrified that I'd do it wrong and baby would fall off me!

A lot of the others are very expensive to buy new, but there's loads for sale second hand- they're built to last! I bought my ergo second hand and it's in perfect condition.

There's great instructional clips on youtube if you were interested in a wrap...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ySh5HnbIxE
I don't know much about them though, as I haven't used one myself (yet )

Moonbeam

Love my baba slings, they are so convenient. A quick google will give you loads of info on them bought mine in tkmaxx.

missis aggie

I used strechy wrap first up to 5 months and now I'm using Mai Tai -cheap and very comfy. As said before well worth to check Baby Wearing Ireland library

Hobbitfeet

I have a kari me wrap great for newborn and could breastfeed easily in it too. I also got a Manduca which is similar to Ergo love it too really easy to get on and off. Both of mine were 2nd hand kari me from my sister and Manduca from German ebay was in perfect condition

lounakin

missis aggie wrote: »

I used strechy wrap first up to 5 months and now I'm using Mai Tai -cheap and very comfy. As said before well worth to check Baby Wearing Ireland library

I just bought Mei tai, just a rectangular piece of fabric, no buckles. Was wondering if the fabric doesn't mark your baby's legs? I tried to put my 7 week old with legs out and it seem to make very deep indentations in her skin...

liliq

Just as an aside to anyone who is looking at buying second hand- I have heard there are a lot of fake ergos going around at the moment. While they may seem attractive to buy, it's worth considering the fact that the dyes used in the genuine articles are non toxic and safe for babies mouths, and the clips etc are tested to high safety standards, neither of which are guaranteed with the fakes.

lounakin

I've seen those fake ones on adverts I think... anyone selling loads of them for half price I would say is fake. They are quite expensive and even on sale would never go as low as some of these prices!

wmpdd3

According to ergo's website you can compare the stiching to see if its a real one. I asked a few sellers for pi close up the stiching around the waiste buckel and got no reply! Bought mine on amazon. I've been using it for 18 months and i love it but i cant wait until i dont have to use the insert.

theg81der

Hey Mink! I knew I wanted to use one of these alot so did piles of research. Amazon is great to look at reviews and discover problems. I was going with Mei Tai originally but they`ve had some issues with wear and ripping so eh no. Went with mamas and papas comfort http://www.mamasandpapas.com/product-comfort-baby-carrier-plum-pudding/212922900/type-i/

January

lounakin wrote: »

I just bought Mei tai, just a rectangular piece of fabric, no buckles. Was wondering if the fabric doesn't mark your baby's legs? I tried to put my 7 week old with legs out and it seem to make very deep indentations in her skin...

At seven weeks babies legs are still supposed to be froggied on the inside in the mei tai.

lounakin

January wrote: »

At seven weeks babies legs are still supposed to be froggied on the inside in the mei tai.

I know, it's just that she likes to have her legs out and when they are out they poke out on either side at the knee so I didn't feel she was stretched, however the fabric looked a bit tight so I never left her in that position.
When you say froggied, how are the feet exactly? are they pointing outward with the thumbs against the mother's belly? Every time I try to put her in this position she stands up and there's no stopping her!! haha! So I end up folding her legs under her.

pwurple

Dunno what a crotch dangler is :eek: but we have a baby bjorn where her head was on our chest. She was always very comfy in it, lots of snuggles on top of mammy or daddy, usually fell asleep very quicky in it. My husband loved it as well, he was super-proud going out with her in the sling. Called it his babe magnet, as he got loads of coo-ing ladies over chatting to him.

It was a gift from one of his friends, and for this reason we didn't get one of the fabric wrap ones. They were a bit girlie for him to wear.

Hobbitfeet

pwurple wrote: »

Dunno what a crotch dangler is :eek: but we have a baby bjorn where her head was on our chest. She was always very comfy in it, lots of snuggles on top of mammy or daddy, usually fell asleep very quicky in it. My husband loved it as well, he was super-proud going out with her in the sling. Called it his babe magnet, as he got loads of coo-ing ladies over chatting to him.

It was a gift from one of his friends, and for this reason we didn't get one of the fabric wrap ones. They were a bit girlie for him to wear.

Scroll down on this link and you will see an example of "crotch dangler"
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/600148-The-SO-Pre-conception-Pregnancy-Parenting-Megathread-vs-You-are-NOT-the-father!/page4

A carrier that holds the legs in the position shown on link below is better for baby
http://www.manduca-4you.de/

Also it is not recommended to carry baby facing outwards. I know babybjorn advertise alot of their carriers with pictures and instructions of baby facing outward. Hope that helps

This link explains why "crotch danglers" and forward facing is not good for baby
http://www.becomingmamas.com/why-you-should-avoid-crotch-dangler-baby-carriers/

Mink

pwurple wrote: »

My husband loved it as well, he was super-proud going out with her in the sling. Called it his babe magnet, as he got loads of coo-ing ladies over chatting to him.

It was a gift from one of his friends, and for this reason we didn't get one of the fabric wrap ones. They were a bit girlie for him to wear.

This is something I have to take into consideration as well, getting one that OH will wear too

Squiggler

Mink wrote: »

This is something I have to take into consideration as well, getting one that OH will wear too

That's why we went for the Ergo (with the baby insert for early use). We got the black Ergo Sport, suits him and me, nice and light, easy to put on and take off (and adjust).

I have a couple of slings that I'll use myself, but there is no way my husband would be seen walking around wearing a sling or a wrap style carrier. He's even saying he won't use the Ergo until baby is big enough to be carried on his back!

pwurple

Oh gosh yeah, outward wouldn't work at all. The bjorn we had was inward facing, and had the legs in the right position. It had a padded band around the lower back as well, which I found to be a good support.

My back is in bits from the weight now that she is bigger and walking. Getting her into the cot is wrecking me every night.

Ayla

There are a million options out there -

We went with a EllaRoo ring sling (you know the type that drape over one shoulder with a big tartan-style ring where the fabric loops through so you can tighten/loosen as required?). This was fantastic for newborns - I never got into breastfeeding with it but I hear a lot of other moms do. It also served as a quick in-out sling when we were going to shops/etc because it only took a second to adjust. Not the best for long-term/heavy carrying, though, because all the weight's on one shoulder & it can get sore after awhile.

We also had the Maya wrap - quite simply it was 5m of fabric that you wrapped around yourself & secured around the baby. Yes, it did take a few attempts to get it right (but I used to tell everyone that we all had to learn to tie our shoelaces; this was no harder). Once babe was in there (from birth on) then they were very snug, 100% secure and comfortable to wear all day. Then, once babe got older it was simple to put them on the back - my husband (with chronically bad back problems) carried our 3 yr old on his back on a 4 mile hike with no problems. Learning to do the wrap can be intimidating, but after a few practice runs, it took less than a minute to fully secure any child in there. Would definitely recommend them!

wmpdd3

I found the 'x' of fabric in the maya wrap where the baby's crotch went was a bit thin, no matter how I tried to spread it out. I was relying on the 'safety belt' for comfort for baby.

Is it possible my babies legs could be too far apart in the Ergo? My 5 month old is very small and he looks like he is doing a flash dance split on my belly. But he loves being the the carrier.

Ayla

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I found the 'x' of fabric in the maya wrap where the baby's crotch went was a bit thin, no matter how I tried to spread it out. I was relying on the 'safety belt' for comfort for baby.

I'm not sure what you mean by this? The way we tied our babes in, there was never anything anywhere near their crotch - the fabric went underneath each leg so they were more in a sitting position (both when the were facing in & out). But there are a load of different ways to ties the wrap & I think we may have invented our own.

wmpdd3

oops, sorry its a moby wrap i have!

dublinlady

http://www.thepeanutshell.com/Products/Baby-Slings/Classic-Baby-Sling

That's the one I was talkin about!
Love slings in general!

lounakin

dublinlady wrote: »

http://www.thepeanutshell.com/Products/Baby-Slings/Classic-Baby-Sling

That's the one I was talkin about!
Love slings in general!

I've heard these ones are actually quite dangerous (when baby is inside fully)... there are even people saying they should be taken off the market!

dublinlady

lounakin wrote: »

dublinlady wrote: »

http://www.thepeanutshell.com/Products/Baby-Slings/Classic-Baby-Sling

That's the one I was talkin about!
Love slings in general!

I've heard these ones are actually quite dangerous (when baby is inside fully)... there are even people saying they should be taken off the market!

I had no problems whatsoever - she was perfect in it from 6lbs in weight to when she was about 13-14 weeks when became to heavy. I never felt she was any way compromised clearly otherwise I would not have used nor recommended it. She was hugely happy in it and never in any danger - I know because clearly I was supervising 100% of the time. I have only heard good reports about this sling. I feel your comment is misinformed.

wmpdd3

As far as I can see, all slings can be dangerous, just not following the instructions slightly can end in a near miss. I know I've gotten cocky with some of my slings only to realise 5 steps later I have to stop and reposition baby.

lounakin

dublinlady wrote: »

I had no problems whatsoever - she was perfect in it from 6lbs in weight to when she was about 13-14 weeks when became to heavy. I never felt she was any way compromised clearly otherwise I would not have used nor recommended it. She was hugely happy in it and never in any danger - I know because clearly I was supervising 100% of the time. I have only heard good reports about this sling. I feel your comment is misinformed.

I can't be misinformed about expert opinions and articles! Being misinformed means I am saying something untrue that I've heard from a third party. This is merely an opinion about this type of sling from people who've had the experience. Since I couldn't remember exactly which article it was I googled it and here's one: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35838812/ns/health-childrens_health/t/infant-deaths-prompt-warning-slings/#.T_YFpXDw-Ag
Here's the extract: "The other scenario involves slings where the baby is cradled in a curved or “C-like” position, nestling the baby below mom’s chest or near her belly. That curved position can cause a baby who doesn’t have strong neck control to flop its head forward, chin-to-chest, restricting the infant’s ability to breathe. “The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate,” said the commission’s warning. "

And the product safety specialists believe these are dangerous. That's all I'm saying.

Edit: when choosing a sling, why not go for one that hasn't been so widely criticised, involved in infants deaths and with a brand actually being sued?

dublinlady

Argue away so - I disagree and have given my opinion, I'm not here to debate yours.

lounakin

dublinlady wrote: »

Argue away so - I disagree and have given my opinion, I'm not here to debate yours.

You're a peculiar person... I'm not arguing. Someone is asking about slings, I happen to have read a few articles (therefore not MY opinion, i've never owned one of them and cannot judge) about this specific sling type so I feel compelled to share this information. You can disagree with the articles and the people who blame the deaths of their babies on the slings, it won't change the fact that a lot of people think it's dangerous.

caprilicious

January wrote: »

I've used the Mei Tai from when Ellen was two weeks old and she loved it and so did I! So easy to use (no buckles or clips) and you can get loads of different designs on ebay!

+1 on the Mei tai. I got one on Januarys recommendation from Ebay.
It wasn't much more than €30 new & was a God send for the first several weeks.

I don't use it as much now (he's 10 weeks) but that's just because he's such a heavy little pudding!

Squiggler

lounakin wrote: »

I've heard these ones are actually quite dangerous (when baby is inside fully)... there are even people saying they should be taken off the market!

Anything can be dangerous if it is misused. A car seat that is incorrectly fitted or the wrong size can result in the death of a baby. Babies have died in buggies and prams from overheating (or suffocation because of rain covers).

You're right though, parents should do their research and make the decision they think will be best for them and their baby. And then they should take responsibility for that decision.

Chocolate fiend

lounakin wrote: »

I've heard these ones are actually quite dangerous (when baby is inside fully)... there are even people saying they should be taken off the market!

I think it is the "bag" style slings that were an issue, the peanut shell ones are different.

ariana`

Hi all, question for Mei tai wearers. When baby is on your front is it easy enough to put on the sling and secure baby in/out by yourself? Also how long did most of you use it for?

Thanks for any replies

January

ariana` wrote: »

Hi all, question for Mei tai wearers. When baby is on your front is it easy enough to put on the sling and secure baby in/out by yourself? Also how long did most of you use it for?

Thanks for any replies

Yes, very easy. Tie the sling around your waist and let it hang down like an apron. Take baby up and position him/her on your front holding him, take your free hand and pull the sling up and over babies back and then hold him in with the material. Bring straps over shoulders and then with the right arm grab the left strap and bring it to the right, bringing it around the front and holding it with the rest of material. Do the same with the other strap (right strap to left side) and pull tight. Make sure baby is secure and tie around the bottom of babies back.

My daughter is 10 months and I'm still using the sling. I don't feel any strain from carrying her.

lounakin

Mei tai is really easy to use on your own, but the straps do lay on the ground so be careful where you lay them! My issue is that my daughter stands up while I try to put her in a froggy position so I have to readjust the mei tai time and time again

ariana`

Thanks for the replies

Anyone know if Mothercare or anywhere else stocks them? I know they're on eBay but wouldn't mind seeing/feeling one before buying?

lounakin

I don't think mothercare has them but i know there's a thing called a sling library where you can try different ones and rent them for a couple of weeks: http://babywearingireland.com/index.php/Sling-Library-Babywearing-Ireland

January

If you're anywhere near Dublin 15 you can come and see mine no problem and try it out. There is also, as lounakin said, the sling library where you can take out two slings at a time and try them out.

TooManyDogs

ariana` wrote: »

Hi all, question for Mei tai wearers. When baby is on your front is it easy enough to put on the sling and secure baby in/out by yourself? Also how long did most of you use it for?

My little girl is 2 and half and I'm still using my mei tai sling. It's on my back though, I switched her from my front to my back when she was about 7 or 8 months old because it was giving me back pain but she's perfect on my back. I find it invaluable.

lounakin

I also think it's pretty common for people to have more than one! I have two (for now): a Mei Tai and a wrap, a big long piece of material. My baby much prefers the wrap, but it's awkward to take on a place for instance, because it takes longer to set it up. She settles and sleeps in it really well. I bought the Mei Tai specifically for a plane journey I'm taking in 10 days. She doesn't like to be in it as much but it feels more secure, better on my back and easier to handle on my own. I'm thinking in the future I'll buy one of those carriers to put her on my back for very long walks and things like that.
One drawback of the two I have and I didn't think of: it makes me and the baby sweat a lot. I'm going to a very hot place for a few months and I won't be able to keep her in the sling too long as she will surely overheat...

TooManyDogs

lounakin wrote: »

One drawback of the two I have and I didn't think of: it makes me and the baby sweat a lot. I'm going to a very hot place for a few months and I won't be able to keep her in the sling too long as she will surely overheat...

I made my sling and one of the websites I got a pattern from was saying if you're from a hot climate you can make a mei tai without the fleece lining so that it's really cool for the baby, I know they'll still be getting your heat but at least some of the insulation is gone. So if you're handy with a sewing machine that might be an option

lounakin

TooManyDogs wrote: »

I made my sling and one of the websites I got a pattern from was saying if you're from a hot climate you can make a mei tai without the fleece lining so that it's really cool for the baby, I know they'll still be getting your heat but at least some of the insulation is gone. So if you're handy with a sewing machine that might be an option

I don't have a lining on me already! She still get a heat rash every time with only a vest on!

Ayla

I don't know what material the mai tais are made of, but different material can breathe differently, making it more (or less) suitable for hot climates. Cottons = good; poly/wool/fleece = bad.

Keep in mind, different sling/wraps have been used (and are still used) in just about every climate, so the chance of overheating is slim if the right material & position is used.

annamcmahon

Ariana, babywearing Ireland do sling demos too where they demonstrate different types of slings. There is one on this Thursday in Lucan. PM me if you want more details.

They will lend you 2 slings for 2 weeks for €15. The details are on the page linked in a previous post

TooManyDogs

lounakin wrote: »

I don't have a lining on me already! She still get a heat rash every time with only a vest on!

Mine is 100% cotton so would nice and cool without the lining. Your poor baba though getting heat rash

lounakin

TooManyDogs wrote: »

Mine is 100% cotton so would nice and cool without the lining. Your poor baba though getting heat rash

Mine is 97% cotton... I guess the 3% is the killer! ha ha

fitzcoff

caprilicious wrote: »

+1 on the Mei tai. I got one on Januarys recommendation from Ebay.
It wasn't much more than €30 new & was a God send for the first several weeks.

I don't use it as much now (he's 10 weeks) but that's just because he's such a heavy little pudding!

Can you send me on the link for this sling, please and thanks

ariana`

January wrote: »

If you're anywhere near Dublin 15 you can come and see mine no problem and try it out. There is also, as lounakin said, the sling library where you can take out two slings at a time and try them out.

I'm not in Dublin but thanks for the offer. I'll check out the sling library.