A friend and I have been talking a lot about slings these days. We have been sorting out those that are too difficult to use, too large for a petite woman (note: I, unfortunately, am not the petite one!) or too complicated to lay baby down in once she is asleep. I have a few ideas on my favorite brands and those that look really promising.
I have used the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder for three of my four children. The padded batting kept the baby in place, while the pouch was large enough to fit my big babies quite well. It is an easy sling to use and comes in many fabric choices. This brand has been around for years and is a comfortable sling for both baby and mother. There are instructional videos put out by the company to assist mothers in wearing their baby correctly. I found the video very useful when learning how to change positions, how to lay down a sleeping baby, etc.
Not until someone bought me one of these from the Snugglebug Shoppe, did I even consider switching brands. I like this fit considerably better as it does not have the padding on the shoulder or edge of the sling (which I now find cumbersome after using the one without it). Also, an added benefit is that the tail can be pulled completely out of the rings when not in use, whereas the OTSBH has a safety ring at the end to ensure that the tail never slips out of the rings. With the Snugglebug, the tail is so long that it could not slip out (it hangs an extra two feet from my shoulder) . I found this ring free tail feature helpful to be able to use the sling as a nursing cover or changing pad (in a pinch). It is easier to wash and dry as well, due to the lack of padding. My sling has strong plastic rings, rather than metal which get pretty hot in the summer sun. It is made in the style of the Maya Wrap sling which several of my friends swear by. The Maya Wrap or Snugglebug are able to be used by any sized person, the tail would simply hang longer on a petite person and would be shorter on someone like my husband (6'3). Snugglebug has some really neat batik prints that are original, festive and fun.
Another up and coming sling company is Hotslings. I saw a woman wearing one of these at the zoo the other day. When I complimented her on it (as well as her darling baby), she said she loved it! I have a friend who uses one of their carriers and raves about the ease of use. Wearing baby is as easy as slipping them in a little hammock. There are no rings or tail to mess with but instead, the sling is one large piece of fabric sewed end to end. Some are even reversible, making one sling as versatile as two. I do not believe, simply by looking at it briefly, that this sling would be able to hold a 35 lb. toddler very well.
Hotslings brand come in many sizes, fabric choices (stretchy cotton, fleece, etc.) and a bunch of fun, funky prints. They even have a pool-worthy sling! I wear my sling in the pool all the time, so this makes sense to me. Mine always gets faded from the chlorine and sun. Brilliant!
I like this one and this one because the patterns have a bit of a Gypsy flair, don't you think?
Regardless of the choice of sling, I find it helpful to have two on hand. Inevitably my baby will throw up in one just before we leave the house, rendering it useless until it is able to be washed. And breastfed babies are notorious for explosive diaper messes, another reason to keep a spare around. (There's something about the baby's position in the sling that helps that process along!) I keep my old one from the previous child as a second, in case of such an emergency, but use my newer, fresher one for the times we go out of the house.
When buying a sling, there are many variables to consider: cost, sizing, fabric patterns (never buy one you don't love), ease of use, comfort of baby and practicality. Find one that fits all your criteria before buying it. Try on a friend's if you can. Most companies will not allow returns on babyslings.
I will publish a post of "sling wearing tips" including different positions for different aged babies in the near future. In the meantime, snuggle those babies and have fun!
I like your Snugglebug sling :). I bought a ring sling for the first time to use with my little one and I'm delighted with it. I have this Freedom sling http://www.freedomslings.co.uk/Freedom%20Sling.htm in lilac. Nice and light and cool for the summer! I'm hankering after one of her Murron's Pouches as a second sling. I like that they are made as a home business by a mother of twelve who knows from experience what works.
Posted by: Kathryn | July 20, 2006 at 01:04 AM
Kathryn, the Freedom sling looks very comfortable! What color did you choose? It is so good to support the home businesses of moms, especially those with 12 kids! :)
Posted by: Rebecca | July 21, 2006 at 05:49 PM