Wednesday, November 18, 2009

I need a sling (children mentioned)

Do any of you mommies have a recommendation for a sling for an older baby? I adored my baby bjorn, but karl is too heavy for me to use it anymore. I need a sling I can use to attach him to my hip so I can cook/clean/etc with him. One that will allow me to have at least one arm free.

Anyone?

22 comments:

Swinette said...

I have two basic Hotslings that I can still use to carry my daughter on my hip. She is 18 mo and just barely 20 pounds. I *just* used one y'day to carry her through Target b/c she was clingy after her 18 mo appt and 4 shots, poor girl!

otdina said...

I would highly recommend the website www.thebabywearer.com for all things baby carrying related. It is a wonderful resource.

Specifically, I just got a sling from www.sleepingbaby.net it is lovely and very comfortable.

Other options are kaleababy.com, comfeyjoey.com, kiddiecradles.com to name a few. THese are all unpadded slings. If you want a lightly padded you should google ellaroo, or maya wrap. I personally prefer ring slings to pouch slings bec they are more adjustable. I don't like my hotslings.

Holly said...

A Beco Butterfly is GREAT
We got ours from http://www.frogmama.com/

Erin said...

I have two. I have an Ergo baby carrier and I have a Maya Wrap. I love the wrap, my husband keeps the carrier in his car.

KimboSue said...

Love my Bjorn too. Miles is about to be out of it so I am excited to see everyone's answers!

Ali said...

I used a Playtex Hip Hammock when Owen got older.

Jenn BG said...

I use the Moby Wrap. You can do many different hold and I think it goes up to 35 lbs. or so. Ty is probably 14 lbs. now and I wear him mostly in a fashion like the front carriers (facing out). I would google it and see if they have a hip position. It is very comfortable. I plan on using it tomorrow night at a vendor show (trying to sell off my Discovery Toy inventory) and I am taking him with me...so much easier than leaving DH with all three boys and me having to pump. Good luck.

Krystal said...

I love my Beco Butterfly! It is a soft structured carrier and works so well. I can carry Brodie on my back or in front and even at around 29 he's still comfortable to carry. We do long walks with him on my back in the beco. It rocks!

joyous melancholy said...

I make ring slings, which are very versatile, and podegi style slings, which are great for back carry. You might prefer him on your back while cooking. The Ergo is good for that too. Lemme know if you're interested in the others, I'd be happy to make you one. :-)

Molly said...

We love the Ergo. Jesse has been in it since he was 2.5 months, only in the front carry so far. David has also been in it, riding on my husband's back. He is 2 and 26 pounds.

Me said...

Given you have back problems I'd be inclinced to avoid anything one-shouldered, such as a pouch (eg hotsling) or ring sling. I have a Scootababy which isn't too bad, it's a dedicated hip carrier, but honestly 2 shouldered is the way to go.

Lots of options! You can go with a soft-structured carrier like the Ergo, the Beco that someone mentioned, Olives & Applesauce, I quite like the Pikkolo.

You can also learn to wrap on your back using a length of specially woven cloth. I'd go for woven over something like a Moby which is stretchy and won't be anywhere near as supportive. It *is* a steep learning curve but worth it IMO.

Mei Tais are great too, my favourite kind of carrier. You can do a really easy and supportive back carry with an older baby/toddler/preschooler.

It's worth trying out carriers if you can as different ones fit different people well.

And as previously mentioned The Baby Wearer has a ton of info. There's also www.baby-carriers-downunder.com.au which has a blog and is good.

Good luck!

Krista said...

I'd ask Steph at Adventures in Babywearing. She has lots of practical advice on all types of slings from all price ranges.

Serenity said...

I LOVE my ergo. You can do front facing (even with a 20 month old I'm comfortable), on your back, and on your hip. Best $100 I ever spent.

xxx

Larissa said...

I don't have a sling, I use the Moby wrap. It's awesome. It takes a little bit to get it wrapped around yourself and baby, but it's very soft and feels very secure. Lilian is a little over thirty pounds and we still use it just fine.

mommybird said...

I love my ring sling. 3.5 yards of fabric and two 3 inch metal rings. Sew one end of the fabric around both rings and you can do so much with it. I can carry my 2-year-old or my 9-month-old in it.

Sambalina said...

I wouldn't recommend a sling, I would get a Beco or Ergo baby carrier. I LOVE mine. (I have a Beco - it's just a cuter version of the Ergo)

Cass said...

I love my Hotsling! It doesn't have a bunch of extra material like other slings. I never used it with my infants but it's perfect for older babies!

charmedgirl said...

c., from 'my resurfacing' at http://myresurfacing.blogspot.com/2009/11/gift.html founded a sling company. after callum's stillbirth, she sold the company. if you read the post linked above, you'll read about how the new owner sells a sling called "carry on my wayward son" every november and donates 100% of the purchase price to stillbirth research. callum's birthday was november 1st.

if you go here (http://www.hipmelon.com/titlepageus.htm) you will see how c. herself carried her daughter at a couple of years old; the slings are meant for newborn up to toddler ages. if you go here (http://www.hipmelon.com/productsUSA.htm) you will find the slings.

good luck!!

MrsSpock said...

We're big fans of both the Moby (only about $40 and not so hard to learn) and the Ergo. My son LOVED being carried in the back carry of the Ergo, or on the hip with the Moby.

Anonymous said...

I second Ali... the Hip Hammock is the way to go for a larger baby. They aren't particularly confined and the lack of fabric in front of you makes you downright two-handed! (It's not awesome for long usage, though, like a trip to Costco. There's too much weight on one shoulder/hip for that.)

Morgan Owens said...

Email me and let me know what you end up getting and if you liked it, I need one for Mason as well! Thanks! :)

To A T said...

I'm a big fan of my baby k'tan and I know it can be worn on the hip! It goes up to 35 lbs I think too :)