What Baby Sling to buy!? Post Reply

[RubyMum]

Hello,

I want to buy a sling for my baby who is due in January. Last time we had a baby bjorn, which I didn't like as it really hurt my back and the baby didn't really like it either.

Has anyone got any recommendations of a sling that I can buy that is a great baby carrier. Someone mentioned one that you can breast feed the baby in at the same time....?

Thanks!

Rubymum

[lemonzest]

Hi there,

Congratulations on your impending arrival!

I too was given 2 secondhand Baby Bjorns when my little one along. When she was tiny it was fine, and she enjoyed looking out... but I didn't rate it overall. I bought an Ergo and absolutely LOVED it. I was still carrying her (commuting for nearly an hour to CJ) until she was 18m+. And she was a chunky monkey. If I have another one I will buy the baby insert and use from birth - I can't tell you how much I love it - so comfy, and totally washable.

I think I've heard that you can breastfeed using some slings, but despite being a merry out and about breastfeeder i couldn't imagine it working for me.

Try http://www.bigmamaslings.co.uk/zen-cart/index.php for advice on which sling to buy.

Enjoy!

[lemonzest]

PS sorry, I forgot to share a tip another Mum gave me: if you go for an Ergo, buy it new from eBay (I hope they're not one of the tax dodging companies and I'm about to get a thumping! If so apologies!) We bought ours in the car on the way to spend the Christmas period with the family, and some were going for nearer £55 than the (usual?) £90 odd rrp. People aren't really paying attention to online bidding at Christmas.

[Wuzzaleena]

Ergo's are great and I would thoroughly recommend however be very careful about buying from sites such as ebay as there are alot of fakes around.

http://www.ergobaby.eu/en/blog_31-as-se ... itain.html

[Activemum]

For a small baby (say up to 8 months or so), I absolutely loved my sleepywrap. I always fed in it when out and about and it was very discreet. It is so snug and cozy for winter too. When my babies were older I bought a beco butterfly 2, similar to ergo. I tried an ergo but preferred the beco because the straps were less bulky and you don't have to take the baby out to put on your back or to transfer to another wearer. There is fabric inside that the baby sits on rather than just being held close to your body. I have used a baby bjorn and think that they are awful! Really bad for the back.

[bamse]

Beco Gemini is brilliant. Similar to Ergo but better in my opinion as you can also have baby outward facing when they get older and you don't need a newborn insert. My baby isn't a fan of the buggy so has spent a lot of time in the sling and there is a huge difference between this one and the baby Bjorn in terms of how it carries the weight of the baby. The BB hurts my back within 5 minutes but with the Beco she can be in there all day.

[mummyjen]

I loved my Calin Bleu micro fleece wrap for a winter newborn. They also do a cotton gauze version for warmer weather and/or when your baby is a bit bigger. Don't be put off by thinking a wrap is complicated - they come with excellent instructions and there are loads of videos on the web. Once you've tied it a few times, it is second nature. http://www.calinbleu.com

We also have an ergo baby carrier and they are great, especially when the babe is older and can go on your back.

[erinisle22]

There are a few local(ish) sling meets and libraries where you can try things out/hire before you buy if that would help make a decision?

http://www.slingmeet.co.uk/forums/showt ... -Wimbledon

South London Sling Library
http://southlondonslings.com/

Good luck - I've got a baby bjorn that I'll probably use with no2 due in Jan also, but my friend used a baba sling quite effectively recently. Not sure if she ever worked out how to breastfeed in it though!

[Mama]

Hello!

I had the Patapum for a toddler and it was great. It is the only one i have used with all of my children, I did a lot of tourism with a 1 year old on my back!! I am considering getting the Ergo for a newborn baby, not sure if worth the difference, but I haven't tried the Patapum for baby nor seen many reviews, which makes me think it may be better for toddlers. I got it from Littleposums (sorry if misspelled) too.
I hope you get the one that works wonderfully for you, it makes you feel so good to get it right!
Xx

[zaza107]

We used the Baby Bjorn until our daughter was about 8.5kg, and then got the Ergo which is useful and she'll sleep in it, which is good. She's now 10.5kg and it balances the weight well. The only downside of the Ergo is that the fabric meets her legs behind the knee and chafes a bit. That said, she has mild eczema, which is no doubt contributing to the chafing. I agree with the above poster who suggested you try a number of them out, if possible. All the best.

[motherbear]

Totally recommend baby carrying as a way to comfort, be close to and help baby sleep. I found the Bjorn a little too uncomfy as our baby got bigger, especially as the legs hang down straight and you have to sit with yhour legs apart! The best way to carry a baby is the M shape so legs are spread and higher, not hanging down

We had a Close one initially but being fabric it did not feel secure after our baby got bigger. It was fabulous in the beginning, tho, really comforting

South London Sling Library as mentioned previously is excellent and will give you masses of advice even if you do not borrow a sling. Email and have a chat that way, I found them fabulous

I have a Baba Sling which I am selling (if anyone wants it) but I did not get on with it as the weight was all on one shoulder and I have a bad shoulder.

I bought a Boba which is like the Ergo and we are still using it really happily and so comfortably and my baby is now a year old and 11kg. He loves it and loves being out and about iin it, his face lights up when we get it out. It is so good for tube and travel too


Totally recommend it and love it a lot.

We got it online, their website is good but I found it on Amazon a little cheaper as it was a previous design, really pretty tho.


http://www.naturalmamas.co.uk/

is a really good source of information

[lemonzest]

Just a further post to say Wuzzaleena makes a very good point about eBay - you need to be sure where you are purchasing it from so that it is genuine. I did find a (pretty much brand new!) Ergo in Fara for £15 once...

[AmandaA3333]

We're still comfortably using our Becko Gemini at 10kg. Baby loves facing out, but face in for sleeping. Not sure I would have been able to breast feed while carrying in it though (but wouldn't that be tricky with any carrier?). We bought ours when my daughter was 6 weeks old. They sell them in Twist in Balham.

[Langstoniamum]

We had both the Babybjorn Active carrier and the Sleepy wrap. My husband used the Babybjorn but hands down my fave from the start was the Sleepy Wrap. I don't think we ever really used the pram before George was about 4 months old, especially given he was such a sicky baby and could never be on his back. I'd just stick him in the wrap and he was one happy bunny. We went EVERYWHERE with it and I can honestly say, if you buy one thing for your newborn, it's that wrap. Soooooo useful and wonderful! Ours was the Sleepy Wrap Organic but the brand is now called Boba. I did so much research (as for everything else...) and I found it to be the best + it's a bargain, given how much you use it. George is now 18 months and although he's now a heavier, walking toddler, we still use it from time to time and I even use it to tie him to a chair for his lunch if we're out and about and there's no highchair.

[Langstoniamum]

Forgot to say - I was a bit scared of the tying process and how long it would take to get it on each time. It actually took me very little time to get used to it and once you get the hang of it (2days?) it's super quick and easy.