Sling Question

[cream_city]

I didn't use a sling with my son until he was about 5 months old, and couldn't believe I hadn't found out about them sooner. But I don't really like the sling we used with him -- it was a ring sling, but very bulky with padding and I felt like it was hard to adjust/keep tight.

I bought a kangaroo pouch this time -- it's fleece and snaps along the shoulder. But I bought it too late in the pregnancy to really see how it is going to fit.

I'm considering also getting a Maya sling. I never learned how to breastfeed in the sling, but I've heard it's difficult to bf with a pouch sling.

What do people think? Is it useful to have two slings, one ring and one pouch? Or a waste of money?

Also, which do you think would be better for a newborn?

Oh, and how early did you start using a sling?

I decided against a Moby wrap style sling because it looks too intimidating and complex right now -- though I know lots of people swear by them.

[KerryS]

I don't think more than one type of infant carrier is a waste of money.

I used my ring slings with newborns, cinching it tight with them chest-to-chest.

[kohlby]

I've never had anything other than a ring sling, so I can't compare them. However, I can tell you I love my ring slings. I start using them right away, as soon as it doesn't hurt too much on my c-section. I started with a padded Over The Shoulder Baby Holder with DS. And though it was helpful at the start, I had trouble adjusting it enough as I lost weight - even though I was well within the right weight at the time. I loved the unpadded Maya knock-off I then had someone make me, because it adjusted much better than the OTSBH. Plus, I used it as a toddler harness while I tried clothes on, as a seatbelt to keep a baby in a chair when there was no highchair, and as a light blanket/sheet if it was colder than I had anticipated! I used the Maya when my weight was anywhere from 180 to 96. Since I'm only 5'1", that weight range is much more on short me. I needed a sling that I could adjust a lot and liked that I could use it for a while. I stopped using it when my son was 16 months, he was 33lbs and I was at my smallest and felt like I was going to tip over. But that would have happened with any carrier at that point! With my very independant daughter, she wouldn't let me use it starting around 15 months. (And she was much better at not running off so it wasn't a big deal!)

[Meredith]

I have a ring sling that I made. I love it. I started using it regularly when Dax was about 5 weeks old, I think. I just recently learned how to nurse in it.

When he was a teeny, I used a tummy-to-tummy carry. Terrible picture of me, but you get the idea:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/meetmrsmartin/DaxInTheSling.jpg

Now that he's older, I carry him on my hip in the ring sling. I don't really have a good picture of that yet.

[Meredith]

Oh, BTW, I had an Over the Shoulder Baby Holder as well, and I had trouble adjusting it and getting comfortable with it, too. I always tried to use the cradle hold then, though, so perhaps if I had tried a tummy-to-tummy carry, it would've worked.

[SingingMom]

We have an OTSBH. Dh loves it and still uses it with 21 month old DD. I prefer a lot of different things- I've used a pareo as a ring type sling without the ring (I just tied it in knots). I love, love, love the wrap type slings, but it is true that it takes a bit to get used to tying them.

But I have to tell you, nothing has ever been more comfortable than my wraps. I STILL carry my 30 pound DD around in them, and nurse her in them.

I don't think having more than one is a waste of money, at all, at all. But I wouldn't pay much for a wrap, I'd just cut a piece of fabric. Mine cost me about two dollars apiece.

[lolabear]

i had a ring sling and could never get it adjusted right, but that was just my own fault, i had one with the rings too small, when i did have it right i loved it but it took too long to get it right and baby would slip around in there. i bought a mai tie and i love it, i started using it when dd was a few months old b/c i only got it then, but i used it with ds right away, walked around the grocery store nursing him when he was only a few weeks old. i have 2 of them, one i keep in my truck for when we're out so that way i never have to think about bringing it and one i keep at home for when we go on walks and stuff.

i want to try some other types but they look kinda expensive and for some reason im not very good at getting baby into these things other than the MT lol and i have figured out how to get my dd on my back all by myself ;)

[Wolverine]

I love my fleece pouch. A ring sling never really worked for me.

If I were in your situation, I would see if the pouch works and if it doesn't, go out and buy a ring sling later.

[KerryS]

Oh, BTW, I had an Over the Shoulder Baby Holder as well, and I had trouble adjusting it and getting comfortable with it, too. I always tried to use the cradle hold then, though, so perhaps if I had tried a tummy-to-tummy carry, it would've worked.

I have used an OTSBH with all three of my children and it's the only sling I like.

[nycmama]

I intially bought a MOBY WRAP which I love even though it has a lot of fabric. I learned to use it pretty quickly. I bought it in the summer since I have a summer baby and it was too hot to use it then but since it gets really cold in NYC winter its perfect! When he was smaller he HATED the stroller... since I bought him another a Combi because thouse tend to be cozy (which is what he likes about the moby). I recently bought a SBP Twill ring sling but I haven't figured it yet. My shoulders droop so it tend to slide and it gets really uncomfortable quick esp. with a 18lbs 12oz baby! Maybe a lighter weighted fabric? Meredith what type of fabric is that?

[HammBugga]

I liked the pouch for my infant. I could never get the ring sling to feel right. I had no problems nursing in the pouch. Once he got a bit older I preferred the Mei Tai. I could nurse in that as well but it was a little harder.

[madelsmama]

I used a pouch for the first month (couldn't figure out my unpadded ring sling for the first few weeks) and then switched to the ring sling, using the cradle carry and tummy-to-tummy holds mainly.

As the baby got older, I put her on my hip more often with the ring sling. I use the pouch sling more often now in the hip carry now that she's over 20lbs (the weight is more evenly distributed over my shoulder) and have a mei tai for other times.

Nursing in the ring sling is much more discreet then in the pouch.

[cream_city]

Thanks for the replies! I'm glad to hear it's possible to nurse in a pouch, even if only around the house. I do have my old sling still, so I guess if I need to I can try that for awhile too and get the Maya sling if I need it...

[Sashahomeschoolmama]

I used my ring slings with newborns, cinching it tight with them chest-to-chest.

This is how Seryozha has always liked to be held. I have a ring sling (actually I have a couple that I've collected through the years) that is like a Moby but is made with cotton fabric. I used it and loved it until my best friend, the day before she moved to Wales, gave me a Mei Tai style sling that she'd made.

It is wonderful. Seryozha loves it. It crisscrosses in the back so there is *so* much support. Plus she must have sprinkled sleeping powder in it because he invariably falls asleep while in this sling.