Hi Ladies,
I am wondering if anyone can suggest a sling. I have a newborn that is 8 pounds that wants to nurse all of the time so I am looking for a slightly hands free option. I am also running after a few daycare kids and a 4 my year old. I mainly want to use it for nursing him. I bought a SlingRider at Target and I don't think that it's going to work. The strap is as small as it will go and the baby is at my waist, not really condusive to nursing. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
I got a ring sling and a hot sling. I like the hotsling best, but the ring sling might be helpful when he gets bigger.
Thank you for all of you suggestions!!!!
I used the Maya Wrap (it is usuable in a lot of different positions and for a wide variety of ages), but people's preferences vary a lot. The best is to be able to try numerous slings before you buy one. Peapods in St. Paul has a wide selection and will help fit it for you and show you different tricks for using them.
Hello Kaia, I actually make baby slings in some really cool material. I think they are like the hotslings, but a little cheaper. I sell mine for 20 dollars and they come in sizes small to extra large. So if you are interested, I can email you some pictures. Just email me back.
H.
Hi there- I think you should check out KangarooCorner.com
She has every type of sling you can imagine- she makes a really cool fleece adjustable and last I checked she was local her in in mpls area? A definite plus!
This lady is a friend of mine that sells baby cloth products that she makes herself. I have tested her cloth diapers for her and she's wonderful. She's also a Mom of 10 kids so her slings have had some practice :o)
http://www.sweetbabyboutique.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=...
Best Wishes,
J.
Mom of 4
Kaia,
My husband and I got maybe 14 different kinds of slings from friends etc when our son was born. We both prefer different ones, some fit better than others etc. I think it's really hard to make a suggestion about something so individual...it's like asking to recommend some good shoes, but it's best if you try in on yourself. There is a group called NINO and they have meetings and a website. I think if you go to a group they have tons of slings for you to try. Their web site is www.nineinnineout.org
Good luck!!
Hi Kaia,
I recommend the Over The Shoulder Baby Holder. I like it better than the Hotsling (I have both) because I can adjust the fit more (it is a ring sling) and for me it works better for nursing. The hotsling seemed too small after about 3 months for my son. I occasionally use it again now that he is big enough to ride on my hip, but still prefer the OTSBH for comfort. It has a padded shoulder which for me is needed.
You can purchase and try both the Hotsling and OTHBH at Peapods on Snelling Ave in St. Paul. The store is at the corner of Snelling and St. Clair.
Good Luck!
J. - SAHM to 2 1/2 year old Charlie and 8 month old Joey
It looks like you're receiving advice with all sorts of different suggestions. I'm afraid I've got another new one for your consideration. My sister in law is 5'4" or 5'3" and she used and loved the NoJo baby sling for her first baby and also for her twins which followed. She had recommended it to me and I found it at BabiesRUs. I'm 5'9" and didn't have any luck with nursing. I usually simply carried my baby. My other sister in law, who was a super nurser like her sister, also had good luck with the NoJo.
I second Gabby's suggestion of the hotsling. I don't have one yet, but I saw them in a store and the sales lady put it on for me and put my 2 year old in it. I am pregnant and wasn't able to put it on at the time. It was exactly what I was looking for and want to get one before the baby is born this week.
I used a Moby Wrap (www.theslingstation.com), and it was awesome! The baby loved being in it... and it was very comfortable to wear. My baby slept in the wrap for hours every day, and I could go about doing whatever (cleaning, even vacuuming). It keeps the baby very tight to your body, so when you lean forward, your baby won't fall away from you or swing away. I really can't recommend it enough!
I also suggest the Hotsling. I had a fleece sling with buttons, but realized that the thought of the snaps coming apart freaked me out! I went to Peapods in Saint Paul and exchanged it for a hotsling. Very nice. Peapods has dozens of slings of all brands. So, if Hotslings doesn't work for you they have several others.
I would suggest ditching the sling altogether and going for a baby wrap. They are more work to get on, but you really, truely have your hands free, and you decide how low or high to put the baby. Target has The Ultimate Baby Wrap, and it comes with a DVD with instructions. But I like sleepywrap.com best, it is more secure for some reason. It is the only wrap my toddler feels comfortable being worn on my back.
I have had excellent luck with Maya Wraps. www.mayawrap.com They have a few designs, but my favorite was the original. My favorite feature was the pocket on the tail of the sling - I'd put my wallet in it and was able to shop without a purse.
The other nice thing about it is that you can disassemble it quickly into a surprisingly large sheet. I've used it a couple of times when I needed a clean place to put the baby down (e.g., stuck for two hours at the car dealership).
If you have any sewing ability, they also sell the rings and instructions to make your own. They also have a section where they sell pre-owned models on clearance.
I've been so happy with the Pretty Momma Sling. I found it at attachedtobaby.com and I know there are lots of other options there too. Have you ever tried a Mei Tai? They're great for holding baby for long periods, but not so good for nursing. I have one of each and have found them useful at different times. My favorite Mei Tai is the Freehand, which is also found at attachedtobaby.com. I think the website is run by someone local, too, so that's an added bonus! Good luck!
I bought a hotsling for nursing when Leif was a little guy and it was awesome. It is a pouch sling and they come in sizes so they are pretty snug fitting to keep your babe close. I used it for at least 6 months. After he got a little bigger i got a mei tai and used that for about 8 months.
Also there is a baby wearing group in the twin cities and if you go to their meetings you can try on all the different kinds and get help learning how to use them. http://twincitiesnino.com/default.aspx
I have a Hotsling that I've really liked. You can buy them in different sizes to get one that hangs where you want it to. I really liked this sling because it wasn't adjustable, which made it really easy to put on/ take off. Target recently started carrying a few, but peapods on Snelling in St. Paul and USA Baby in Richfield have a much bigger selection of fabrics and patterns.
Also, there is a group called Twin Cities NINO that meets twice a month to talk about, learn about, and try out slings and other natural baby carriers. At the meetings, they will let you try on slings with your baby and help you figure out how to nurse with the sling on. They also have a few carriers available for check out so you can bring them home and actually try them out! Here is a website with info. if you're interested http://twincitiesnino.com/default.aspx. Also, meeting leaders are Beth Knudsen ###-###-####) and JoLynda Anderson in case you can't get the info. you need off the website.
Best of luck finding a carier that fits you and your baby!
:) M.
