Baby Sling, Worth The Money Or Not?
My 11mo is going through a phase of wanting to be held all the time and my SIL had a sling for her baby when she visited which gave me the idea of maybe getting one for my boy to free up my hands. Are they worth the cash and which type, a ring sling or a bubba sling.http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Enviro-Baby-ORGAN…http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Brand-New-BUBBA-S…
Tips anyone?
I use ring slings for my 12 month old. They’re more adjustable, so if you little one’s legs are uncomfy, you can adjust the sling so his bum is higher. Mei tais are very comfortable for all involved parties, but they take a lot more time and effort to get baby into.
I vote ring sling.
I can’t believe how many of you feel like a ring sling doesnt’ work for an older babby! I used mine on my (then) 4 year old, who was darn close to 40 pounds. It’s not comfy for long periods, but for a one year old who needs to be carried for half an hour or less, it’s great. Easy and quick to get into and out of.
Hi,
I have been using a baby bjorn up until recently and have now changed to a hip carrier as it is better for my back as it has a support band that goes around your waist and a sling for over your shoulder. If you baby is the type that likes to see everything like mine then dont bother with a sling as they are very restrictive in that sense. I have a friend that has a 1yr old that is 16kg! and she uses a sling but the baby is a very quiet and less active baby. Ebay sells heaps of carriers, buy a cheap one and try it out if it doesnt work for you both then just relist it. Good luck
I bought a very expensive baby sling but didnt like it. I then bought a baby bjorn which actually supported by baby alot more and I felt comfortable with him in so I could do things around the house.. I personally prefer the baby bjorn. I would suggest going to a shop that sells them and ask if you could put your baby in it whilst walking around the shop to see if you and your baby feel comfortable. I didnt find them comfortable at all but they look great
A sling isn’t going to be the best thing for an 11-month-old, he’s going to be getting too big and you probably won’t find a sling to be comfortable for too long since all the weight is on one shoulder. You would do better with a mei-tai type carrier like the Kozy Carrier or Babyhawk or a soft-structured front carrier like the Ergo. Getting one of those would definitely be worth the money though.
You can most certainly use a sling for an 11 month old. I still wear my 16 month old in a ring sling, and I used it for my 2 (who is now 3) year old at one point. It all depends on what’s comfortable for you and your baby. You don’t *have* to stop using them at a year. You can use a sling as long as you’re comfortable. There’s no need to switch to a different baby carrier if it works for you.
If you sew, and you’re on a budget, you can try making your own. That’s what I did: http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/ind…
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Cert-Organic-wrap…
A moby had several different carry positions you can use.
It is worth the consideration.
I found a constant hip carry to be hard on my back.
Those women don’t look hands free. If you have a sturdy carrier just allow his legs to dangle once he realizes he’s not going to fall he will be fine.
OH look a GIS’s link, if you go to classes at the top left, they have free babby wearing classes down under! That was a great link GIS! I dont even have a babby and I saved the link!
You should look in to the weight limits of the slings you are looking in to. Generally 11mos. is pretty old for a sling as they typically weigh more than the recommended weight limit, or has been my experience.
Try to find a used one for sale or shop around at yardsales for one. That way, if it doesnt work, you wont be out a lot of money. You can always see if your sister still has hers??? Just a thought so you dont waste money.
For a backpack, Kokopax makes a great lightweight one.
http://www.thebabycarriers.com/product_info.php?products_id=28
I know some people LOVE their slings. I, on the other hand, wasn’t a big fan….or should I say, my baby wasn’t a big fan. He just hated being in it. But, like I said, I also know people who love them!
they hurt ur shoulders when carring a tiny baby so i dont thing using one for a 11mth old will be a good idea. your 11mth old need to start to learn that he/she cant be held all the time
Hey Meppa…I would look into something like a Beco or other sturdy carrier. I still use a Moby wrap with Ben (29lbs) but it gets tough on my shoulders. And a ring sling really is for younger babbies.
Slings are actually supposed to be very good. They’re snug and warm so they help babies fall asleep and they cry less… some insane statistic like 60% less.
the sling/pouches are for young babbys up to a yr old. even at a yr old, it can get uncomfprtable after a while to hold babby. b/c all the weight is on one shoulder/hip.
for an older baby you want a wrap or mei tei. both options give good support and distribute the babby’s weight evenly to both your shoulders and your hips/back. so you won’t be straining,
you can make your own wrap w/out even sewing. http://wearyourbaby.com/Default.aspx?tab… but if you want to buy, something like the mei tei would be easier to use (IMO)
EDIT: also, for an older babby, get a WOVEN fabric. it’s more sturdy. the stretchy fabrics are for younger babbies so that it’s easier to take them in/out. but they STRETCH, so you have to keep adjusting. and they don’t give as muc support as woven.http://babywearer.com/
this is an awesome site that gives real comparisons about the different types of carriers and the different manufacturers.
smurfy: yes, you *CAN* use a sling. but it’ more uncomfortable. and if she’s just starting out, at 11 months, why not get something the baby can use now and grow into instead of something he’s going to grow out of shortly? i’ve carried my girls in all types of carriers. hands down the mai tai is my favorite b/c it’s as comfy/adjustable as a wrap but with less fabric.
dd1 is 3 and dd2 is 16 months. still occasionally use the sling, but usually go for the mei tai (for both girls)
Honestly I have both and it depends on the situation and what you are doing with your hands ect which you will use more. I would get a wrap to papoose the little one to my back, it’s so much easier to clean the house this way rather than the baby hanging off the front of you in a tube or ring sling.
Have you considered a wrap carrier? A baby at that age will want more freedom to look around, kick and wave their hands and a tube or ring sling -like the two you are looking at- are kind of restrictive for a babe that age. Wraps are flexible to covert to a dozen different positions and allows the baby more freedom. http://www.peppermint.com/wraps.html
Shop by type of sling.http://www.peppermint.com/shop-by.html
A good website to show the many different kinds of slings. But by all means buy it on ebay, it’s so much cheaper that wya.
Also, have you considered sewing one yourself? Some slings like the wraps are simply a long length of slightly stretchy jersey fabric, so it’s a no sew sling. The easiest kind!http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/sli…http://www.mayawrap.com/n_makecarrier.ph…http://mykarmababy.com/pages/BabySlingPa…http://www.thebabywearer.com/lists/Sewin…
And just an all around great site but has an awesome page on slings. http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sling.…
Any other questions, email me.
~Divine