Seeking Moms Who Used a Sling

lots of great options for slings on etsy.com
i'm a humongus (sp?) fan of the front carrier, the sling got to be awkward for me but am planning on trying it again when son gets bigger (sitting pos) he liked it when he was ~1mo old. good luck

My 2 youngest are 21 mos apart and I have a home daycare, so I use a sling a lot. I dont LOVE mine, but it gets the job done. I recommend reading reviews and trying on a few to find what will work best for you. A sling is a great way to deal with an infant and other kids at the same time.
S.

I have a two-year-old and 3-month-old. I use my sling every day for the baby. I have a Peanut Shell, which is similar to a Hotsling. It's great! My baby does not like to be in the cradle position, but he loves the tummy-to-tummy position. He takes a nap in his sling at least once a day.

The most important thing is that you get the right size. If the sling is too big then it won't work and could strain your back. It is kind of hard to size yourself when you are pregnant, but it is nice to have the sling for when the baby arrives. I started using it when my son was only a week old.

Good luck!

I used the peanut shell sling for my baby. It was a little tricky to get used to but the more I used it, the easier it was. It's nice because you can wear it so many different ways. I did buy an infantino brand first and returned it right away. I didn't like the way it fit at all.

A., I have never used a sling...however I have used a wrap like a Moby wrap. It is so versatile that you can get a lot for one device. you can use it in so many ways. So that is my advice. My little man loves the wrap and he usually falls asleep in it. You can check all the different holds you can do in the Moby on their website (www.mobywrap.com) Hope this helps!

I have both a hotsling and a mei tei carrier, and I LOVE both of them. The hotsling was fabulous for newborns, and it grows with the child, the yare simple to use and take up zero space in the diaper bag so you can have it with you all the time.

The Mei tei works well when they get older, the weight is distributed better across your shoulders and waist. I used both the mei tei and the hotsling for my kids up until they no longer expressed the desire to be worn, usually around age 3.5. :)

Go online and get yourself a Moby Wrap. I have tried several things and I loved this soooooo much, I could sell it!

I used the Baby Bjorn for my oldest 2 boys (now 5 and 3) and thought it was the best think ever....until I had my daughter (now 4 months) and saw at a class a mom using a Moby Wrap and now I have changed my opinion and it is the BEST THING EVER. My daughter was smaller then my boys so I was not able to put her in the Baby Bjorn right away and boy was it hard chasing 2 active boys all over carring an infant. I bought my Moby Wrap on EBAY (new) for about $40. It basically is a huge long piece of fabric (available in all differnt colors) that you wrap around yourself and slide the baby right in. It claims you can use in until kids are 3 yrs old or so (help hold them on your hip) and has MANY different ways to wrap and hold your baby (forward facing, snuggled in, nursing, on your back.) It does take some practice...but worth every penny :) Good luck!

i used slings and i LOVED them!! i have an in home child care, so it was important to me
i used a couple different kinds, but im telling you, spend the 50$ or so and get a moby wrap. they are REALLY comfortable, and though it takes some practice to get it wrapped up, it is SUPER comfortable compared to other slings out there, and you can use it for your toddler too, on walks or places you dont want your child to be loose.
its awesome.
good luck!

I used the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder with all three of mine, and I loved it. It's like a Maya Wrap, but with a little padding. And if I were going to make the purchase now, I think I'd get the Maya Wrap, since I think the padding in the OTSBH actually ends up being a drawback. It took a long time the first time for me to get the hang of the sling, but I finally watched the video on the Maya Wrap website, and it went a lot better after that. Especially with #2 and #3 (and doing day care so I have even more kids to keep an eye on!), I loved having my hands more or less free and still being able to hold the baby. I thought a lot about making my own (and the Maya Wrap website actually has instructions for that) but never got around to it. But it looks very easy, as long as you make sure the seams are extremely secure.

As a side note: My sister used the Moby Wrap, which is a completely different kind of sling. I never tried it myself but am still considering trying to find one secondhand for my 8-month-old and day care babies. The big difference is that it holds baby right next to your body, not swinging free. I guess it takes some getting used to, but if you know anyone who has one, it might be a good idea to see if you can borrow it for a while and see if it works for you.

I used a sling with my 3rd and I loved it. I had one from slinglings.com. You will get looks from people because not many mom's carry their little one around in a sling, but I preferred it to the other ones. My son really liked it, too. Almost as soon as I'd put him in it, he'd fall asleep. It does take some getting used to, so I'd recommend using it around the house before you "go out in public" so you'll be super confident with it.

I have a Hotsling that I've used a handful of times with my little one. He's almost 4 mos. He didn't really like it, but he would eventually fall asleep in it, which was nice. I don't like how it puts pressure on just one shoulder. I may try it again when he can sit up on his own and have his legs hang out the bottom. I wanted to try a Mai Tai wrap, but they were very expensive, so I bought a 5-6 yard piece of material (I went with non-stretchy) and I plan on using it when he's able to sit up better. There are You Tube videos that show you how to tie one.

I used a variety of slings- but my two faves were the fleece pouch, and the unpadded adjustable sling- I purchased them both at www.kangarookorner.com - it's a mom owned business that's local :)

I did not like the slings I tried because I felt like the baby was going to slip right out of it. I liked the front pack a lot better. But don't cheap out if you get a front pack- they can be mightily uncomfortable ifyou don't get a good quality one.

I was faced with the same dilemma when I had my second child. I bought the kangaroo pouch sling and love it. I still use it with my youngest (she's one) to have her sit on my hip. As you know, they're always sleeping anyway, so to be mobile and have the baby close was very useful in helping my oldest adjust without feeling replaced. I bought a wrap sling with my first and never used it because it was too much work. If I had purchased the right one it would have made things a lot easier. Good luck !

I loved my Maya wrap. Actually, I still love my Maya wrap. I used it with my DD (3 in Dec) and my DS (1 in Jan), and I still use it with my DS. Good luck!

Dear A.,

A sling is the way to go! In fact it's not a bad idea to get a babydoll with her own sling for your toddler. That way helps the toddler take pride in their status and can be a great diversion when you are occupied and he's jealous.
I had an "Over the shoulder baby holder" but their are a million brands available now. One problem is that most are too big for a newborn but do work great from 3 months to 3 years.
Check out "rebozo"- there are workshops and babywearers gatherings that can teach you to wrap the traditional way. Current moms seem to prefer these the most and swear by being able to rewrap in new ways based on the occasion and size of your new one.
Congratulations!

A.,

I used a sling with my third child and wondered how I EVER got along without it with my first two. It was a lifesaver with number 3. I used a ring sling...I believe it was made by Jo-Jo, or something that started with a "J"...it's been awhile! It was amazing how much I could get done, how much I could do with my other 2...all the while "snuggling" with my youngest. I used to call him my "papoose"...and after he mastered saying "mamma" and "dadda", he would come to me and say "poose, mamma, poose" when he wanted some snuggle time. I continued to "wear" him well into his second year. I miss those days.

I think it takes some getting used to how to use them, but they are also GREAT for nursing on the go.

Best wishes!

W....mom of 3
www.kidlutions.com

I have a sling and a homemade version of the Moby Wrap. I love both of them. The sling is quicker, but I find it harder to get baby into a comfortable position. The wrap takes longer to put on, but baby is always comfortable and it NEVER hurts my back, and I feel more secure with kneeling and bending. Also, with the sling you still have one arm that can't be used that much, with the Moby, both arms are completely free. To make a Moby, You need 5 1/2 yards of a fabric that is 20 in wide. Then you can look online to see how to put it on and put the baby in it.

hi A.,

i want to totally encourage you to use a sling...i LOVE my hotsling...and i used it from birth until now....my daughter is almost 2....i still use it....it's great for toddlers who need some grounding and attention (mama time) i think if you were to use the sling with the new baby, and every once in a while with your toddler too...it could make your toddler feel special....my girl LOVES it and it's awesome for bonding....

the hotsling is great because it can be used three different ways and the BEST two things are:

my baby is close to my body (unlike the baby bijorn with lots of padding between the two of you)

and it rolls us really small and i carry it in my purse so i can whip it out in the store if my girl is tired or just wants mama time....

now that she is two....i'm actually going to be getting a new sling....it's a wrap that i want to wear on my back so i can hike and do housework with her....i have a big kelty backpack, but i don't like it like my husband does.....

the new sling i'm ordering is this one:

http://www.storchenwiege.com/detailssizinginfo.htm

it comes highly recommended by a friend of mine...and i like how it's tied in this youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsewka-UpkA

check out ask dr. sears .com for his ideas about wearing your baby....

also a great resource for you is the website below

http://www.theslingstation.com/storch.html

good luck with your adventure!

I tried to use the Maya Wrap with my first. It's a 'ring sling'. I really had a difficult time adjusting it. I'm also looking for something that will work better with my second baby, so am about to read the responses you got :)

I didn't use a sling until my 3rd-now I wouldn't go any other way. I loved it. I used the HotSling water one-not sure of the name but you can wear it in the pool & it keeps the newborn safe from the sun while you watch the other ones. No big deal if it gets wet drys very fast. It was also nice to have the water one if you get hot easily-which I do. My sister has 3different slings and she seems to be using her HotSling the most too. Very easy to keep in the diaper bag. I will say for longer trips I take my Maclaren front pack one-easier on my back. The HotSling is good for the Co-Op/Grocery, Library, and things not lasting too long. Good luck & enjoy your time, they grow so fast!

Hi A.! I loved the Moby Wrap! I avoided wraps because I was too worried about the baby falling right out, but the Moby wrap keeps them secure at all times.
It takes a few tries to get the hang of tying it but soon you can do it very quickly. There are many ways to wear the wrap and you don't have a giant tail hanging down (I didn't like the Maya Wrap for that reason). You can use the wrap in varying ways for kids up to 35 pounds.
Congrats on your growing family!

A.,
You've had a lot of great responses, so I'll just weigh in briefly. I used the infantino sling with my VERY large baby boy, and he absolutely loved it. My back and shoulders, however, screamed a different story. Wearing your baby is absolutely wonderful, as I'm sure all the other moms have said. I would start researching different types of wraps and slings to see what you think you'd like best. Find a wrap or a sling that can go over both shoulders for the best support. The best thing about a sling is that you can put your tiny babe in there when he's first born. You might find other types of slings, rather than commercial ones, more comfortable. My friend sells slings and wraps on ebay, but if you look around you can find many options. Good luck!

They are lifesavers. My twins were 2 when my third was born. I used the sling as much as possible-- and absolutely needed it to

a) get the baby to feed/sleep while
b) playing with the twins or getting their snacks, etc.

I do not think I could have multitasked without the sling.

The best thing was that i became much more proficient at using the sling by the time Baby came along. I was much more squemish about putting the twins in the sling when they were born because they seemed so small (preemies) and fragile. BUt I came to realize pretty quickly that the sling was as comfortable as it got for my baby. (They do spend 9 mos. curled up in the womb.)

Be prepared for baby to fuss a little as you try to get him/ her in. That will go away once baby is tucked in and (THIS IS KEY) you begin to move. The movement is very sooting and will often prompt baby to feed (if hungry) and-- eventually- fall asleep. It will take a little getting used to for you too. Until you get comfortable adjusting the weight of baby in the sling (and on your shoulders and back) you may be a bit less comfortable than you'd hope. Again, that gets better as you get more comfortable with the sling and find the right spot on your shoulder to rest most of baby's weight on.

I highly recommend the sling. There are so many to choose from too--

I used a sling on my first, and loved it. But couldn't sling my second due to medical reasons. I just had my third and we are using and ergo baby- which you can buy and infant insert for. It is expensive but totally worth it, you can use it when they are young and then switch it to carry your child on your back. You can wear it like a sling or front pack- lot's of variety. It was my one splurge and I'm so glad I did.

I didn't really like the sling but i love the baby wraps. I used the ultimate baby wrap, it was a great value ($40 at babysrus)and came with a video so I knew i was using it right.Plus it can hold up to 35 pounds, i still use it every once in a while and she is 16 months old.

i do in home daycare so i was always moving my daughter pretty much lived it the wrap for the first 3 months of her life. the only down side is that i never could nurse with it on b/c i didn't have button up shirts or nursing shirts, but if you want to it would work with those kinds of shirts

A.,
I use the Moby and a front carrier. The Moby is a little labor intensive but you get used to it. I mostly use it around the house. When my 6 month old son falls asleep in it, it's really easy to unwrap without him noticing to put him in his bed. The carrier I use more for quick trips in the grocery store or walks when he doesn't want to be in the stroller. They both have their advantages. Good luck!

I have a sling and I loved it! It was the Maya, and we used it all the time. She was such a fussy baby and hated her carseat/stroller, so the sling saved my sanity. When she got older we moved to a mei tai style carrier, which are really comfortable and versatile. I ended up making several of them myself, it's quite easy and fun, and we still use them once and a while at 18 months.

My great aunt made me one and I loved it. I used it while doing things around the house, eating meals, etc and still being able to hold my baby close to me (he was my first and only right now). I would recommend trying it out to see if it works for you.

Well, you definitely need a way to hold the baby, but each baby is different. My first baby looooved the Baby Bjorn baby carrier, and my second baby hated it. Second baby looooved the sling though.

I can't remember what brand mine was. Ask around, as I think there are a few little differences in comfort and ease of use.

When my daughter was born 8 monthes ago, I had a newly 3 year old and a 18 month old boys and had always used a sling with both of them and still do if one of them is sick and wants to be with mama all day. But I wanted something more secure for this new baby because I was going to have to be chasing toddler boys also. I LOVE THE MOBY !!!! It held her securly to me, I could bend over and pick up a crying 18 month old and never feel like she was going to fall out. It can be a little intimidating at first but go on u-tube and watch videos of people putting them on, it is much easier to see it for real. She is now 25 lbs and is getting a little to heavy for it so I just bought a Beco Butterfly 2 this is also great, and I can use it with my big kids also. I like it better then an Ergo. (Just start Googling these carriers if you're not famililar) I also have a Mei Tai that I mad and I love that also but I wanted something that I could put on fast in a parking lot (the mei tai I had to tie around me and the Beco has clips) Good luck! Anymore questions go to Diaper Swappers they have a baby wearing forum and a for sale section. You could also contact your local LLL and see if they loan any out, that way you could see what you like in person or see if there is a baby wearing group in your community they to might have some things for loan.

My input may seem somewhat dated as my children are grown, but back when they were infants, I got a cuddler. It had straps over both shoulders and held the baby, facing me, in the front. It also had a stiff top portion so that there was both protection and support for the head. It was comfortable and worked really well.

I had a sling with my first daughter and I really didnt like it.. this time around I will be trying a shawl that way you can wrap them up many different ways depending on what you are doing. I had it recommended to me from a friend that absolutely loved hers.

I guess my shawl is a wrap whether its a moby or a maya..

I tried a sling with my daughter and she hated it. Even at a few weeks old, she wanted to look around and couldn't do that with a sling. So I ended up switching to a Baby Bjorn and it was a life saver. At first, she had to face in, but she could still see a little looking off to the side and that seemed to keep her content and I could still have two hands free to get a few things done around the house. So I'd suggest trying the sling first, but if it doesn't work, the Baby Bjorn might be something else to try.

I love my MOBY!!! I use it all the time. I used it every day for six weeks. I actually put my toddler in it the other day too! So it it true when they say it is so versitile. I am on number two also, and highly recommend it. You only have two hands, and sometimes two people will need both :) GET THE MOBY!

p.s. I got mine on e-bay, it was new, and I didn't have to pay shipping.

Hi A.,
I've used a couple of different kinds of carriers with my kids. When my first daughter was a baby, I had a ring sling and then a Kangaroo Karrier, and I loved them both because I could carry her in a variety of different ways and she had good support if she fell asleep (which happened a lot). The slings were also great to nurse in -- she still needed some support from my arm at first, but later it made for hands free nursing plus the sling acts as a privacy cover-up when you're out in public. Now with my 11-month-old I just got an Ergo carrier and I LOVE it. It's sort of like a cross between a mei tai and a Baby Bjorn -- it adjusts like a Baby Bjorn and has buckles/clips rather than ties like a mei tai, but it also has a hip strap and unlike the Baby Bjorn, baby can ride in front, on the back, or on your hip. The hip strap is a lifesaver with a heavier kid, and it still looks "techno" enough that my husband likes wearing it, too. The Ergo is kind of pricey, but I think it's worth it because it's saving me money I'd be spending at the chiropractor otherwise! :) Someone mentioned this already, but I too would encourage you to visit Peapods so you can try out all the different styles of carrier and see which one you like best.
Sara

I agree with Anne-Marie...the Moby wrap is GREAT!!! After getting used to putting it on, I found it so much more comfortable!!!