making my own wraps/slings

[Susan Mac]

I'm looking for some advice...

I had a Baby Bjorn with my son, but it hurt my back considerably, so I sold it. He and I both much preferred it when he was in my arms, not the pram, so I'm keen to carry this next baby but have a four year old also to take into consideration!

I want to try a wrap, a ring sling and a pouch. I don't want to pay $100 each for them and find they don't suit me, especially when I know I can sew the lot for well under that price!

So, a few questions:

1. Is it worth having a pouch and a ring sling, or should I just choose one?

2. What fabric do you recommend for a wrap and for a ring sling, considering I am having a summer baby in the tropics? I already have a piece of denim and some quilting cotton in a funky print in my cupboard that I never used, and will use those together to make a pouch if I go down that line.

3. Is there something I'm not thinking of that I should be?

Ta

[Thalia]

so I'm keen to carry this next baby

What do you mean carry? Like everywhere? To what age? You risk all sorts of RSI type injuries. I got very bad tennis elbow from carrying DD in one arm & it's taken 6 months to fix. Baby Bjorns are great, but as you found they can put a strain on your back. How old/heavy was your son when you were carrying him? We've got a BB which was good up to around a year & now have a backpack which is much more comfortable than the BB & you can carry more weight.

[Susan Mac]

I usually just carried DS over my shoulder, or on my hip.
I'm mostly just thinking of when we are out shopping, or walking the short distance to kindy, and maybe here and there at home - not all the time.

DS was fine to go into the pram once he was big enough to sit up a bit and look out - four months or five months. But i would still carry him and push the pram if he was upset till he was a year or more.

[1st for Jess]

Hi Susan, I've been thinking the same thing. They're very expensive for essentially a strip of material!

Would love to hear how you go and if you found some good patterns to follow.

[4babycinos]

I used a pouch sling for dd2 for the first 5mths, but I hated that I had to constantly lift the sling over my shoulder, as she would slip further down.

I used a wrap from 5mths -10mths, which we both loved. I looked into making my own, as its just 5mtres of fabric x 40cm wide. I just couldnt find the right fabric. They either had too much give or not enough give. You need to find something that is a little stretchy, but not too stretchy that bubs is going to be loose all the time and you will have to re tighten.

This time I'm going to go a ring sling in a linen - should be nice and cool for a summer bub. Tossing up at the moment to make my own or buy. I decided ring sling over pouch because you can tighetn when needed, plus I think they are more versatile than a pouch sling.

HTH

[Susan Mac]

Yeah, thanks for that. I was thinking linen might be a good choice for a ring sling.

It might just be worth my while to just make a linen ring sling and not worry about a pouch. My concern with a pouch is that I couldn't use it after a few months anyway.

[Susan Mac]

I bought some linen shirting this afternoon to make a ring sling - and it was on clearance for just $4 a metre! - is that going to be suitable?

Still don't know what to get for a wrap.

[HeyMissA]

I had a baby Bjorn but it hurt my back so brought a sling and it still hurt my back. Was better than the baby bjorn though. I do find it hard to get her into and out of the sling so didn't solve my problem of wanting something to slip her into and out of quickly when I duck into the shops.

I brought my sling off ebay for about $30 as I couldn't justify paying $100 for a piece of material. I don't think I could have made one (or put up with the frustration of making one - i'm not a great sewer) for under $30.

I went into the baby shop and tried on all the carriers to see what would suit best in the end and decided to cough up and buy an Ergo carrier and my problems have been solved.

[4babycinos]

I bought some linen shirting this afternoon to make a ring sling - and it was on clearance for just $4 a metre! - is that going to be suitable?

Still don't know what to get for a wrap.

Bargin, but not sure, I know that the ring sling I want to get is made from 'Irish Linen'. Have no idea if there is different types of linen - thickness etc. I would assume so :confused:

If it seems to thin you could always double the fabric for strength..

[Susan Mac]

Yes, that's the only thing, I'm not sure if it's actually too thin and I need something a little thicker.

[korfire]

I like the ergo baby carriers as you can carry bub on the front, side or back. They are a bit exy but i think worth it. I also like the breeze baby ring sling, so breathable and light.

I carry my babies everywhere, its only natural.