Suggest me a sling suitable for a newborn

[twirly]

My baby is due in December. I do have a pram and don't intend to carry my baby everywhere due to past back and shoulder problems, but I do want to get a sling and use it as I want and also DH will probably use it.
So can you suggest me a sling suitable for a newborn, with good back support, suitable to breastfeed and that my husband would use?
I actually don't like "sling" style slings as they don't look like you get a lot of support, I prefer ones that cross over and strap around the shoulders and waist.
I'm open to any suggestions and advice.

Thanks

Twirly

[kaismum]

Hi Twirly,

I suggest you to get a wrap. For newborns, a lot of people like stretch ones.
When Kai was little I used Hug a Hub which was fantastic. It is a bit pricy compare to other stretch wraps but it comes with a fantastic DVD.
If you have somebody to show you, you can try Kari-me. It is very soft. I think both wraps are very men friendly since it comes in solid colours.
My husband througly enjoyed using Hug A bub. He looked a bit like a tibetan monk, though. (The wrap was red. :D )

HTH.

[Slinhwearingmum ofseven]

I too would suggest a stretchy wrap, as they are brillinat for a newborn. I had a Moby and carried Gabs everywhere in it. I have a dodgy back and shoulder problems but never had a problem with any of my wraps. There is a learning curve, but stretchy wraps are very forgiving, plus you can tie it on in the morning and leave it all on day if you want, and just pop baby in and out as needed. They are not as supportive when baby gets heavier due to the stretch, then woven wraps are much better, but they are perfect for a newbie and really easy to get to grips with :)

[ailean]

Stretchy wraps are lovely and cuddly for newborns - i had a Hugabub too, which was great for learning as Jin-Hee said because of the really good DVD, but also because it was not as wide as most wraps, so you didn't feel completely overwhelmed by cloth.

Look up thebabywearer.com for loads of reviews on wraps.

The downside of stretchy wraps is they only last a few months - after that you need something more supportive (a woven wrap).

I would have let you try mine but i just sold both my stretchy wraps :rolleyes: - if we actually manage to organize this Bluewater thing in January just bring your baby along and we'll be more than happy to show you how to use whatever you decide to get.

[fazzie]

hi twirly
i got a kari me when DS was about 5 weeks old, and i wish i'd got one sooner. i too have back problems and suffered from SPD but i found it worked really well as the weight is well distributed and you are carrying the baby really close to you. I'm still using it as it is his preferred sling. whenever he's over tires or tetchy, if i put him in the kari me he's soon snoring! in fact sometimes i have to wake him to feed him or he'd dehydrate ;-)
they do say that you can use the kari me until they are a few years old but i do find he's a bit bouncy so not sure if this is true. it seems others feel the same looking at your replies.

i found the cheapest source was on ebay as the postage was so much cheaper than anywhere else, but things may have changed.

hope this helps

love fazzie

[baby-bean]

Another vote for the Moby (or any stretchy wrap really). I love mine, it's so comfy and supportive and very easy to wear. My other half wears it a lot too and looks great!

[hesebs]

Hi there! I agree with the others that a stretchy wrap is really nice. However, I never got on with one so I ended up using a padded ring sling (a huggababy). DD and DS2 really liked it.

[yukon]

I am also looking for a good wrap for a newborn (due in January), so nice to see this post.

What are your thoughts on getting a woven wrap right away? I won't really be able to buy lots of different wraps, so though the stretchy wrap sounds good, if I am just going to have to get a new wrap when the baby gets heavier, I am wondering if I could just skip that stage and get a woven wrap at the start. I have done some research and as I hope to only get one, I don't mind paying for something that is quite good quality and preferably organic, which narrows it all down quite a bit. Keep coming back to the Didymos, which looks really lovely and gets great reviews on the Babywearing website. I know there is a learning curve with all wraps and perhaps even more so with woven ones, but I don't mind that....I am sure a new baby is all a learning curve, so I am expecting confusion and am ready to learn!

Anybody have any thoughts on a woven wrap from the start? On the Didymos in particular? Or do you know any other organic wraps that you can suggest?

Thanks for any thoughts for a total newbie to wraps and babies and everything (but looking forward to it all!!).

Emily

[MoominHannah]

A woven wrap would be ok from the start, like you say, there'd be a learning curve, but if you get yourself along to a Sling Meet/ NINO meeting in your area then the curve will not be as steep :-)

One thing though, if you're going for a woven, get it now, and start breaking it in: put it over your sofa so it gets softened from people sitting on it. Use it as a blanket on cold winter nights, ANYTHING that will get those fibres rubbing together to soften the fabric so it's all squishy when your little one arrives.

Girasol Wraps come soft from the start, so that is something to bear in mind, and if you're going for a Didymos, I'd say one of the Indios is your best bet as they are beautifully soft out of the box.

HTH :-)

BTW Moby wraps are stretchy and also cheap at under 30 quid. You could then buy a second hand Didy (they are very widely available) when your baby gets heavier. This way you could get two slings for the same price as a new Didymos.

try the For Sale or Trade forum on www.thebabywearer.com for pre-loved Didymos.

[moosmum]

I have carried my dd from newborn and I love our Hug a Bub (thanks Ai Lean ;)). I too suffer with back probs but this is so comfy, I wear it everywhere. The instructional DVD is really easy to follow too. It's totally converted me, I love wraps and have a gorgeous Didy in the post to me atm :D

[fleecygirl]

If you think you're going to end up with a didy I'd go for one from the start, get a second hand one as it'll be softer and you won't lose much if you want to sell it on. Indios are lovely and soft and would be great for a newborn, there are certain carries which are quite 'poppable' so concentrate on learning those to begin with. Depending on whether you have a sicky baby you may actually want two wraps to begin with, wraps take a little while to dry and you may find your wrap so indispensable you won't want to just have the one :D

[GingerKatieSparkles]

Hi,

I got a Didymos when Maia was 7 weeks old, and found it fine from then (although I didn't feed in it, which I've been told can be trickier with a woven wrap then a rs or stretchy wrap) - I didn't have any problem with doing the front wrap-cross-carry straight away and we went on a 2 hour shopping trip first time out :-)

Although I'm tempted to get a stretchy wrap for the new baby anyway, but that's mostly just cos I want an excuse to buy a new sling :-)

Katie xx

[fayjay]

Hi Twirly

I have an 8 week old and went in at the deep end by buying a didy (indio) which freaked me out with all the material, thought I'd made a big mistake, HOWEVER, I was so wrong! a wrap is IMO the best for a newborn ( thanks for all the encouragement). Once you have got the front cross wrap sorted, it gives the most hands free carry out there as you can get baby so nicely snug on your chest. This has been a long search for me as I started out with a wilkinet 11 years ago (DS1) and then a soft pouch (good for cuddles) but wraps give the best hold of all. Saying that, I haven't tried a wring sling, so others may disagree. I have just bought a lovely fleece wrap (calin bleu) which is very warm and snuggly for these windy days.
I will hopefully see you at Bluewater for the january meet and you can try a few different slings.....
good luck for your birth

Fay