Baby carriers

[murphy]

Hello everyone - hope this finds you all well.

I just have a query re baby carriers.

I have a Tomy carrier which has been great up until now. Bub is now facing forward in it but it seems she is just getting too big for it. Although she is only 14 weeks, she is a very big baby. I love the freedom that a baby carrier gives me - makes walking along the beach very enjoyable!

I was wondering what baby carriers you guys are using and to what age/weight you can use it to. Is anyone using slings?

Thanks in advance for advice :)

Murph

[mamafelix]

Hi Murph

I used a padded 'ring sling'- which goes over one shoulder and is adjustable through the rings- with Felix until a few months ago (he's two). It was great once he had good head control and I could put in him upright, but for a bub younger than that I'd recommend something a little firmer. A non padded ring sling would be fine though as you can pull it tighter to your body.

For this next baby I'm getting a wrap- similar to a hug a bub- which is basically a long piece of material which you wrap around and tie- and can be used for many positions including a back carry. I'm also considering getting a Hmong or asian style baby carrier which is is a pocket (where the baby sits) with two straps that go over both shoulders- all soft material- just for easy in and out which you need when the baby is a litle older- you can also wear the baby on your back (when they're older- maybe 6 months) with that style.

For more info on different carriers I'd check out www.carryingaway.com (australian site- you can buy slings from here too) or www.mamatoto.org (international- but information only not sales). There are loads of photos and reviews of the different styles and the mamatoto site has a comparision chart of all the different types so you can see what features each has.

The mamtoto site also has links to patterns if you are crafty enough to sew your own!

hth

[jarrahsmumma]

hi guys,
i have bubba moe sling which my mum bought me from the Balmain Markets in sydney and it is great, like the one mentioned before it is ajustable and can be used up to 2years old-ish.

Jarrah used to just love lying in it like a hammock against me but as he got older (7wks) he just wanted to be up and able to see things, this was a problem for a week until he got better strength. Now at 11 weeks he's right as rain and loves a little rock in it before bed it puts him out in a few minutes and it saves my poor old back too.

I'm sure you can buy them over the internet too, i love the closeness of the sling and have used mine since we came home from hospital. I have always thought that the baby packs look a bit like that thing from Mad Max.

peace
Nel (Jarrah's mumma 6.1.05)

[Hukuna Matata]

I too use a sling and a wrap. I use both constantly and my ds is 6 months old. Can't see myself stopping anytime soon.... I bought the sling over the internet. It is a hatchling sling - best $40 I ever spent (however still yet to get my $250 out of my pram). I made the wrap from instructions on the mamatoto site - great site about sling...

Austin powers voice 'I'm a slinger baby, yeah!' :D :cool:

[Mummabear]

Hi all,

I'm due with my first in 14 weeks and am SO excited. I think I've looked at every website available for slings/carriers and the best that I have seen is an Australian site babaslings.com - their website was so comprehensive, with step by step instructions, including pictures and the positions just made the most sense to me out of all the carriers I look at.

Having said this though - I'm a firm beleiver in word of mouth, we have purchased quite a lot of our baby stuff based on recommendations from other parents that have actually used them - so if you know someone who has used a particular sling/carrier and they loved it - you can't get a much better recommendation than that!!

Happy hunting.....

[mandison]

One little tip that may help with finding yourself a good sling or carrier, especially if you don't know many people personally who have used them, is to check out eBay.
Do a search on baby slings or baby carriers. Then look at those that are being sold brand new or only slightly used.

In many cases these are the slings I would be staying right away from! There is a
reason they are being sold on eBay. The really great slings and carriers are the ones that aren't there! ;)

[murphy]

Just a quick note to say thanks to those who responded to my request for info on baby carriers. The carrying away site suggested by Mama Felix is a great source of reference. Have decided to go for a 'Baba Sling'.

Take care

Murphy