Baby Sling Suggestions

We invested in a Moby Wrap (found online or Ebay) and LOVE it! I have used it since my baby was 2 months old and she just turned 9 months and still use it. It is basically a really long piece of fabric that comes with a huge instruction book on about 15 different ways to wrap/tie it on you for different holds. I have a girlfirend who still uses it with her almost 2 year old (in the wrap where you hold the kiddo on your hip! The fabric is soft, stretchy and there is so much of it that it doesn't dig into your shoulders/back like our Baby Bjorn. I have a horrible lower back and this wrap allows me to carry her around with no pain what so ever! In addition to the big instruction book, I found some videos of moms wrapping themselves for the different holds on YouTube. It seems a little cumbersome at first, but definatly worth it!

I loved my Moby wrap. I still do. My daughter weighs almost 27 pounds and I put her on my back. I just need another set of hands to help me.

Sarah's suggestion is a good one, but it's called a Moby Wrap. They are wonderful, but long! I loved wrapping my newborn in it - completely hands free! And now she's 5 1/2 mths, and I can wrap her facing into me if she needs to sleep or facing out to let her see the world. Otherwise her head is like watching a tennis match - back and forth, back and forth. If you don't want something that long (3+ meters is typical length), a ring sling might do the trick. I make them myself for gifts and such, if you're interested, we could get together and I can show you the few different ones I have so you can see how each one works. Or, PeaPods in St Paul has a number of different styles, and you can try them on.

I have tried several carriers with both of my girls. I had a hand me down from my mom when we were babies, I also had a snuggly but the carrier I love is a hotsling. (you can google it) they are a little expensive but worth every penny! (and they come in way cute fabric designs!) They are sized so you can buy just the right size and you can carry the baby about 4-5 different ways. I really love it, I just got one for my best friend and she calls me about every time she wears it to tell me how much she loves it.

I just got a Kangaroo Korner Fleece Adjustable pouch and i love it. My daughter is now 5 mos and i've been using it since she was about 3mos (when i got it) She almost always falls asleep in it. I like that it's small enough to put in the diaper bag and whip out at the stoor.

I use a Sleepy Wrap (like a Moby but $10 cheaper!), but what I really love is my Ergo carrier. It's so easy to put on and is great for my back. The Sleepy wrap feels good on my back too but it's just harder to get on. My son did not like the Hotsling, mostly I think because he prefers to be upright rather than cradled (he's only 2 months old right now so that's the only way I've tried him in the Hotsling).

Don't buy a sling....my baby great nephew died in one at just 1 day shy of being seven weeks old. They give me the creeps now. PLEASE DON'T BUY ONE...THEY CAN SUFFOCATE/SMOTHER THE BABY!

Moby. I got mine on Ebay and saved paying shipping costs. I have used it a ton. I used it every day for six or seven weeks, and use it two or three times a week now. My son is 7 months old and loves it. I love it. My daughter loves. We all love it. I have a couple carries too, and they don't compare at all to the awesome Moby. I don't think you'll regret it. It can be used as a sling, and you can carry baby many other ways also. I put my daughter in it, and she is 25 months. I put my son in it, who is 7 months. Very versatile. Worth every penny!

i LOVE LOVE LOVE the moby wrap.
i didnt get it in time for my own son really.. but ive used it with kids in my child care, and its REALLY comfortable! it takes some practice getting used to putting it on and getting it tight enough... but its SO comfortable. in fact i used it pretty much all day today, and i have very little pain in my back or shoulders, which is NICE.

i could only find them online... im sure if you search for them you can find it. :D good luck! best part is that you CAN use it for older toddlers too....

I love our Ergo Baby Carrier. It is great for newborns all the way up to 40 lbs. My daughter is now 15 months old and I can still wear her on the front or the back. It has buckles and even weight distribution and good for Mom or Dad. I wish I had skipped the Bjorn and went to this to begin with. I also have a New Native Sling which worked well when she was 4-6 months old but I really prefer the Ergo. The lady at Peapods in St. Paul helped me pick out my Ergo. Good luck!

I bought myself a Moby wrap for myself for baby #2 because I didn't like either of my wraps for my 1st daughter. The Moby wrap I haven't used it yet as the baby isn't born yet but there's no size to it. You learn to wrap it and it's a nice soft stretchy material. Look up Moby wraps online and you can see them. I have had so many people recommend them to me I had to just get one.

C.,
There is a group called NINO (nine in nine out) who are sling advocates. I haven't been to one of their meetings, but hear that they usually have a collection of slings that you can try out before you spend money on one. Personally, I found that I loved the Kangaroo Korner pouch sling while my baby was little and then a very stretchy wrap sling when he was bigger. I LOVED the wrap sling which was just a very long stretchy material (like jersey or t-shirt material) You could wrap it in tons of ways and it kept the weight on both shoulders which was great for me as my baby was big one. =)I would really recommend going someplace like Peapods in St. Paul where you can try on the slings and try them out. Finding a good fit is super important. That NINO group should have a schedule online if you search for it.

Hi C.,
I didn't use a sling. I used a Sara's Ride and I loved it. It was a good weight distrabution. check the internet for info.
Blessings,
S.

I just got a sling from Kangaroo Korner as well, my son is two months old (but VERY big and chubby, lol). I love it, it's really comfy and it works very well. I can even breastfeed him while wearing it! We have a baby bjorn that we used with child #1, but my husband likes it much more than I do -- I felt like it rubbed awkwardly on my breasts. The kangaroo korner sling doesn't feel awkward at all. Good luck!

Hi there C. I have a kangaroo Korner adjustable fleece pouch that I bought when my twins were little!! And I think I used it maybe twice jsut for the fact that it seemed like they both wanted to be held at the same time and that was hard!! Im actually looking to sell it. It is in perfect condition I pad $72.00 for it and I would be willing to sell it for like $35.00 if you are interested!!! Just let me know you may have already got one!! Not sure!! thanks M.

Hi, C.!

I highly recommend the Maya Wrap. I used one for both of my children. Super comfortable and very versatile. You can do a newborn hold, breastfeed with it on, a sitting position for older child or toddler and a back-riding position. It is way more comfortable than something like a baby bjorn. And I really did not like the other slings that I tried in the store at all. Good luck!

Two words...MAYA WRAP! I LOVE IT!!! I bought the Maya Wrap online when my daughter was an infant, now, she is two and I can still use it for her!!!! It is awesome! I am a small woman, 5'7" but 110# and I can still tote her 30# body in it and it doesn't hurt my neck or back! Very versatile! I think there are at least 8 different ways to carry your child using it! Front carry, side carry, back carry and on and on! Look it up on the net! Definately worth the price! AND it is very easy to use, comes with DVD for different positioning and it is not hot or cumbersome!

I used a pouch sling for the infant stage http://www.kangarookorner.com/p-26-adjustable-fleece-pouc... (a nice cuddly fleece one for winter) and a moby wrap http://www.mobywrap.com/ for when he was older. The pouch was great because I could just slip it on and off and I felt that it was very secure. The Moby Wrap had a much steeper learning curve, but once you figure it out it is so versatile. We continued to use it through age 2 as a back carrier. We also received a Baby Bjorn as a gift, which my husband would use more often as he deemed it more masculine than the slings. However, I thought the straps on it really cut into my shoulders, especially when he got to the heavier end of the range.

I think it is called a Moby sling. But these are great and very adjustable so you can use then in a lot of different ways- from feeding to hip, back, front. I didn't have one with my daughter but I am going to get one now. The key thing is to practice because you'll be scared to death that you are going to drop them but once you get use to it, it is a godsend.

There is a place in the cities that helps you find the right sling/wrap for your baby and lets you try them on. Read my article on it; http://www.examiner.com/x-4832-Minneapolis-Early-Childhoo...

Personally, I prefer using a Sleepywrap, but slings are nice, too. It took me years to find a sling I could use.

I have a "rockin baby sling" that you can find online. They are a little more pricey but work GREAT! They are completely adjustable, easy to get used to, and work for infants - toddlers. They come in tons of colors and babies just love them. I think it makes them feel like they are in the womb. My 2 month old daughter falls asleep practically the second she's in it.

We love our Moby Wrap!!

Have you considered a wrap? I prefer them to the sling because it balances the weight on both shoulders and can be used as long as you can still carry the baby. My almost 2 year old still goes in the wrap. If you sew or know someone who does you can make one pretty easily. Otherwise I do make and sell them for $30-$40. If you would like instructions to make your own let me know and I will email them to you.
Good Luck
~M.

HI C.:

I would check with your local hospital gift shops. I purchased myself and my sister-in-law a sling from the hospital I gave birth at in the gift shop. They were the adjustable sling and came in many different designs. The salesperson was also very helpful with showing me the different positions and ways to adjust the sling for the most comfortable usage.

Hi C.! I am a little upset that one poster was so adamant about not buying a sling. Slings are not dangerous. Please don't let that make you worry. I have a Moby wrap and I loved it!