Petit Elefant Q & A:
I recently heard from a reader, “C” wondering what kind of sling to buy:
“we’re just pregnant with our first and I really want to buy a sling, but there are tons of brands out there (with a ring, with a binkie pouch, minimalist, etc.) and seeing as how I’ve never used one before, I could really use some help knowing where to start!”
It’s kind of daunting with all the selection out there isn’t it? My sling was purchased online over 10 years ago, and I have no idea where it came from. All I know is that a stay-at-home-mom made it, the cotton fabric is tie-dye, and that it was really well made and should last all the way into grandchildren. I wore my sling almost daily through both children, and of all the products I recommend to new moms this is at the top of my list. I really don’t know what I would have done without mine. I still miss being able to squish my little bambinos into a sling and carry them around the house while I work. Or grocery shop. Or garden. Ah, those were the days…
Slings have come a long way in 10 years, but the original idea remains. There are so many benefits to “wearing’ your baby, the least of which is being able to actually get things done!
Sayurisale $50
{via Polkadot Papoose}
A few things to keep in mind:
- You should be able to throw it into the wash, often.
- Will your husband/partner be wearing the baby as well? You need to find one that can adjust to different body types if that’s the case, and the “ring” usually means the sling is adjustable.
- What’s the climate where you live? You won’t want a spandex sling if you live with heat and humidity, you’ll want to go with cotton instead.
- How long do you wan to *wear* your baby? I used my sling until my kids were 2 and 3 years old, so if that’s an option for you find a sling that can hold a lot of weight.
It’s a lot to consider, but it really comes down to your preferences because there’s a sling out there for everyone. Here is a roundup of my favorites out there right now, but this list is by no means comprehensive. If anyone has a favorite sling or a suggestion for C, please share.
Allison
Hello there! I'm Allison Czarnecki, founder + editor of Petit Elefant, a blog all about style on a budget for every part of your life: style / home / travel / family. I do a lot of how-to beauty + style tutorials, travel posts, easy recipes, home remodel projects, and cool DIY crafts you totally want to try. I'm super happily married (to a hot Polish immigrant) and am the mother of two kids, a daughter and son, all of whom are featured here on the regular. We live in the country but we're a little bit rock + roll. Welcome!
man, i should have read this before i bought one. i think i went through three before finding one that works. and then figured out that my back problems make me a bad candidate for wearing my baby in the first place.
I think trying them on is pretty helpful too don’t you?
I am new here! What a great blog :)
Just found your blog from This Week for Dinner. I love it!!
both of my babies HATED slings but loved baby carriers. my favorite is the ergo carrier. weight is distributed evenly and you can wear the baby on your back, front, or side and you can also get an infant insert for newborns. i use mine everyday for my 15-month-old.
Where’s Waldo,
I had no idea there was even such a thing as a babywearing group! What a great suggestion, thank you!
M-A,
You’re right, a sling isn’t necessarily going to be the best fit for every baby and a carrier is a great alternative option.
I have several types of slings.
I have a Moby Wrap that I love, especially when I have a newborn.
I love my Hotsling a great deal, mostly because it folds up small enough to fit in my purse and is fantastic for traveling.
Both slings have their pluses and minuses: Moby is a wrap that dad or I can use, and Hotsling tube has the perfect amount of stretch, great pattern, and portability.
A friend of mine uses a Sleepy Time Wrap and I think the design of it is fantastic.
I really dislike any sling that doesn’t have stretch. Decide what’s more important to you and then make a selection–or get one of each kind!
Love this blog!!
Also – my daughter couldn’t stand a sling, and wanted to be able to look around at all times, even as a newborn. She wasn’t happy until she was old and heavy enough to be front facing in baby bjorn. However, my son loves the sling even now (13 months old) and could have stayed in the bjorn forever. The bjorn is nice because it’s not overly feminine and my husband didn’t mind wearing it. Also check out: http://www.thebabywearer.com/lists/Sewing.html
for patterns for making your own sling, if you like/need a project. Or you might want to check friends with babies, they might have different ones you can borrow. Sorry for the scattered ideas, hope it helps!
i LOVE my modmum sling, but i would definitely recommend trying it on first if you can. i wear a large everything but bought a small sling.
Check into a local babywearing group. I know that we have one that lends out carriers to try. I tried a ring sling and a pouch and they weren’t right for me. Though, the second I put on my mei tai I was in heaven. Birthing centers may have some more info on a group that could help. Going to our local group was a life saver to me.
I love my Moby wrap! It is versatile and comfortable. A tad hot in the hot humid summer though.
I loved the peanut sling until the baby can sit up, I now have the Ellaroo Mei Hip. IT’S AWESOME! We go on nature hikes and I wear my 24 lber for up to three hours. I can also wear my 3 yr old. It’s the best carrier I’ve owned.
Thank you all so much for the help! I’ve got a lot of places to look! :)
I love my slings so much that I make them now too! Go on over and check out my slings in my Etsy shop – http://www.prairiemama.etsy.com
Great post, very informative.
I had a moby-type wrap when my G was a baby, they’re great until about 15ish pounds, but their stretchy nature is a little too much give for heavier babies. I have two woven wraps now that I’ll use. I also have two great Mei Tais that are fabulous for back carries with older babies/toddlers. And easier to get the hang of I think then wraps for the back carries.
I would also second the suggestion to find a local babywearing group. They usually have lending libraries that you can borrow different carriers from and at the regular meetings you can get tips and try out the carriers with help from more seasoned babywearers!