Posted on by Emily

WFMW: I need a sling!

Today’s Works for Me Wednesday is a little different… today, instead of offering tips, everyone is asking for one.

So here’s mine… I need help figuring out which sling would work best for me and the new baby.

I don’t know what kind of information you all need to make your recommendation, but here’s a few things… Being able to nurse in the sling is a must. It would be nice if it were something my husband could wear, too. The baby is going to be born in April, so something light weight and cool would be nice for the spring and summer. Price is a bit of an issue, but I don’t mind spending $ to get a quality sling, especially since our list of baby stuff to buy is significantly shorter than last time!

I don’t know anything other than that! If there’s crucial info you need that I haven’t supplied, leave a comment and let me know. I can’t wait to see what sling will ‘work for me!’ 🙂

Don’t forget to check out Rocks in my Dryer and share your knowledge this week!

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26 Replies to “WFMW: I need a sling!”

  2. I have a recommendation for two slings. The first is a Kangaroom Korner fleece pouch. This is a super great starter sling, perfect for a newborn and a new sling wearer. It is truly idiot-proof. It was not until I had a Kangaroom Korner (www.kangarookorner.com) sling that I understood how it worked. It was my third child. I had tried a basic ring sling with my first and gave up. After you have mastered the pouch, I moved to the http://www.Zolowear.com ring sling. I LOVE this sling. Comfortable, stylish and easy to use. I used this sling even now with my 4 year old. There are times when we are hiking that she will tire out and still need to be carried for a bit. I recommend the babywearingswap group on yahoogroups.com to find a sling that is pre-loved and more budget friendly. A good sling, that is constructed well and is made by someone who is well-insured and good at what they are doing is a bit pricey. But for me, even a silk Zolowear sling was worth every penny. You could also try ebay.

    I could breastfeed easily in the zolowear sling. I know some people can do it with the pouch too, but I couldn’t without embarrasing myself.

  3. I don’t have a good suggestion for you really. I received the Infantino Slingrider as a gift. It was recalled, and they sent me a new one. I never used it because Brooklynn didn’t like it. I still have it if you want to try it.

    I bought Jenny the Ultimate Baby Wrap at the recommendation of a friend of mine with twins. I think they liked it, but I don’t know if she ever tried nursing in it.

  4. I don’t have a good suggestion either, but I can tell you what didn’t work for me! I had a NOJO sling and hated it… I think other brands/types of ring slings work well though since I know a couple of other people who love theirs. Good luck finding something! 🙂

  5. I LOVE my New Native baby sling. With my daughter I had an adjustable ring sling, and I hated it… we didn’t use it too often. With my son, I did some research and decided on a New Native- I really wish I’d have had it with my daughter. I used it SO much. It’s lightweight cotton, and it washes and dries beautifully.

    And my other tip… go to eBay! There’s a lady on there who sells brand-new New Natives at a significant discount. That’s where I got mine, and I was very pleased.

  6. I have tried quite a few slings. I found that an actual sling made me very unconfortable. It threw my back and hips out. I now have a Ergobaby and LOVE it. It has an insert for infants so they actually lay sideways in the carrier. You and your husband can both use it. I think it’s good up to 40 lbs. It is very comfortable.

  7. I have the same question! I’m due at the end of March.

    Obviously, I don’t know from experience, but I’ve herad great GREAT things about the ERGO and the Mobi Wrap. I’ll probably check out both of those most. I really hate the backpack look of the baby bjorn with all of its clips and straps.

    There is a class in my area that is $10 where you can go try out all of the different carriers and slings (presumably with a doll inside?). You might check you diffrent hospitals and midwives and see if there is something like that in your area.

    Good luck. I’d love to hear what you decided later!

  9. When I was pregnant there was one day where I swear everyone and their mother told me I HAD to get a sling- all in one day. In my search, the two most important things to me were ease of use and looks. I found a website- rockinbabyslings.com. They are super cute- I could definitely nurse using it- unless you get the camo ones, it is mostly for mommies, though. It takes a bit of practice and a helper in the beginning. I got a ring sling but they have pouches too. Also there is a store in Troy that carries them so you don’t have to pay shipping.
    I LOVE it- both the way it looks and how comfy it is and Owen has always loved being in it no matter what position he is in. When I wear it out, I get lots of oohs and ahhs :)!

  10. I agree with Amy…I love my New Native Baby sling. I’ve used the same one with all three of my kids and they have loved it too. You will need to measure yourself to make sure you buy the right size (there are instructions on their website). I have the light denim color, so my husband isn’t embarrassed to wear it. Another plus is that it can be folded or rolled up and thrown in the diaperbag because it doesn’t take up much space. It is also very light weight, so wearing it in the summer wouldn’t be a problem.

  11. I had an Infantino Slingrider with my first and I hated it. It might be because I’m tall, because it hurt my back and it was impossible to breastfeed with it.

    With number two, I got a MayaWrap sling. They also make a pouch, but I like the sling because it’s so versatile. I nursed my newborn in it and used it as a hip carrier for my older child. It takes som practice to get used to, but it also comes with a video that coaches you through all the different uses.

  13. Try Simple Slings — I love them! There’s even one that’s breatheable that works great all summer long — including in the pool!

    Good luck!

  14. Hi! For a unisex ring sling, lightweight and super easy for beginners, I recommend a Maya Wrap lightly padded ring sling in a solid color, like maybe olive green. (This is not the old-style Maya Wrap that’s been around for several years, this is a new design that’s been out for about a year. The light padding is just on the shoulder; it’s NOTHING like a Nojo with all that bulky padding. The new style is super user-friendly.) Ring slings are favored by many babywearers for breastfeeding. It’s a learned skill, but worth learning and really just requires some quiet time to concentrate … it’s not rocket science. 🙂

    The Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch is a good recommendation as a beginning sling IMO, but it’s heavy fleece, so might not be ideal for your summer baby, and breastfeeding in a pouch is a bit trickier than breastfeeding in a ring sling, because you don’t adjust the pouch during wear. I love my Kangaroo Korner for cool weather, though.

    The New Native is also a pouch. It’s really quite deep for a pouch, and I can’t really imagine it being easy to breastfeed in, although I haven’t tried. 🙂 A couple of other pouches that are really popular with babywearing nuts are Hotslings and Peanut Shell. They’re not quite as deep as the New Native and are designed to be worn a little “higher and tighter,” which helps keep baby’s weight closer to your body, which is easier on your back. I can carry my 30-pound baby in a Hotslings pouch … not for long, because I prefer a two-shoulder carrier, but for a quick in-and-out of, say, the post office, it’s convenient.

    For two-shouldered comfort, and for managing the weight of my toddler, I do love my Ergo.

    Maybe peruse the slings at http://www.attachedtobaby.com … they have a great selection.

    Hope you find what works for you!

  15. I have the Nojo sling, and it has its pros and cons. The Nojo worked well when my baby was small. But it limited my movement in one arm. It’s supposed to work for older toddlers as well, but I ended up getting a Hipster too. Anyhow, for breastfeeding, what I highly recommend is a Bebe au Lait nursing cover, the best ever!

  17. I had just a basic ring sling for the first few months. They’re very easy to use and you can find them in any color/style. And nursing in one is SO EASY. You can even make one if you’re crafty, I’ve made sevral and they just take an hour. Probably less if you can find time without a child hanging on you. LOL

    After the first 4-6 months though I switched to a SnuggleBug carrier. They help carry the weight so well, which was awesome because I have a huge baby that kills my back. http://flutterbygifts.com/snuggle.html

  19. If you want your husband to wear it, show it to him first. My husband is as metrosexual as they come, but is still only going to wear a few baby carriers in public: the Bjorn (babywearer enthusiasts will rail against this one, but it’s easy to use), a black or navy pattern-free sling with no rings, and a backpack for an older child. We really like our Hotsling which is just a simple loop of fleece. I have a bunch of ring slings but never use them. Also a wrap, like Maya or Ultimate baby carrier is really nice and comfy once it’s on, but a total hassle to get on and off.

  21. I recommend the Mayawrap.
    It’s a simple sling with brass rings and I used it from about 2 months to 1 year. You can use it for toddlers, but I think they can either walk or ride by that time!
    I bought one on the website, second hand, for $26.
    It looked brand new, but I guess it either had irregular stitching or was a return. I had tried the NoJo and the Snuggli and didn’t like them.
    Hope that helps.
    Jennifer

  22. If you want hubby to be able to wear it, look at the ergo. It’s not a sling, per se, but you can nurse in it and carry a baby or a toddler. It’s a quality carrier, and it’s very versatile!

  23. I love my kangaroo korner — it is adjustable, and comes in many different fabric choices, so you can choose what’s right for your weather.

    The biggest problem with the New Native is that people order it too large — the baby should be at you belly button, not below it, so that your back doesn’t hurt.

    The sling is great for laying down in (the baby) and nursing, but once they hit ~4 months, the ergo is great and easy to use. A mei tai is a bit more supportive, but more complicated to use.

    Good luck!

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