Infant slings

Do people use slings to carry infants much at all in the UK?  I've seen plenty of people using Baby Bjorn-type front carriers and back frames, but I've only seen one woman using a sling (and I think she actually bought it outside of the UK).  I used an older version of the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder (the one sold by La Leche League) with my daughter, but it wasn't quite the right size for my frame.  I want to replace it before the new baby arrives (I'd be happy with the same style, but in a smaller size), but wanted to wait and see what was available in the UK before I bought anything.

I see the front ones quite often, and used one myself, it was a present from our relatives. Yes, they got it in the U.K., I think maybe from Big W.

I had one, but I got it off of ebay. I preferred the sling to the front carriers, as I have a bit of a bad back.


It was a Maya Wrap. http://www.mayawrap.com/  Mine came from the US.

But there seem to be quite a few on Ebay that are local, now
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pouch-Style-Baby-Carrier-Sling-made-by-RooBaby_W0QQitemZ7724498463QQcategoryZ100983QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Baby-Carrier-Murrons-Pouch-Sling-by-Freedom-Slings_W0QQitemZ7724607956QQcategoryZ100983QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

These look fantastic!  I was all set on getting a Baby Bjorn, but I think I might rethink it!  How easy is it to harness on yourself?

I found the slings fairly easy to use. I think it is definitely best to get it before baby is born, so that you can practice a little first. After the 4th time I had no problem putting it on at all. And could get it over myself really quickly. 

They are great if your little one is in the clingy mode, and you need to do the hoovering. 

Ohhhh, there is a Maya seller on Ebay as well. from Scotland

She has 5 of them, apparently

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brand-new-Maya-Wrap-sling-with-instructional-DVD_W0QQitemZ7717707991QQcategoryZ100983QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

comes with an instructional dvd, as well.

I found the slings fairly easy to use. I think it is definitely best to get it before baby is born, so that you can practice a little first. After the 4th time I had no problem putting it on at all. And could get it over myself really quickly. 

They are great if your little one is in the clingy mode, and you need to do the hoovering. 

You have convinced me!  I'll just hope they are still available when I am ready to order in May!

Thank you!

My daughter HATED slings and front carriers.  I mean, detested them.  She didn't like to be enclosed at all and therefore hated Moses baskets as well.  She went into a cotbed at 5 days and did so much better.

This time, I waiting to see what baby is like before making any purchases.

These look fantastic!  I was all set on getting a Baby Bjorn, but I think I might rethink it!  How easy is it to harness on yourself?

I found slings to be SO much easier to use than front carriers.  I had both and found the front carrier to be too fiddly and difficult to put on by myself.  The sling that I had was an older version of this one:  http://babyholder.com/otsb.htm and I loved it.  It was passed down to me from another mom, but was a size medium, and I couldn't adjust it as tight as I would like.  I need to get a size small sling this time around.  But I just tossed it across my chest and adjusted it with one hand.  Fantastic!  It was great for carrying my daughter through the airport and I could nurse her while she was in the sling, something that I don't know if you can do with a front carrier.  Once, we got off of a long flight and she needed to nurse; she lay in the sling and nursed while we walked to get our baggage.  No one else noticed at all!

I found slings to be SO much easier to use than front carriers.  I had both and found the front carrier to be too fiddly and difficult to put on by myself.  The sling that I had was an older version of this one:  http://babyholder.com/otsb.htm and I loved it.  It was passed down to me from another mom, but was a size medium, and I couldn't adjust it as tight as I would like.  I need to get a size small sling this time around.  But I just tossed it across my chest and adjusted it with one hand.  Fantastic!  It was great for carrying my daughter through the airport and I could nurse her while she was in the sling, something that I don't know if you can do with a front carrier.  Once, we got off of a long flight and she needed to nurse; she lay in the sling and nursed while we walked to get our baggage.  No one else noticed at all!

Wow, bookmarked!  That one looks so cozy too, I love that you could nurse her like that and no one noticed!

Thank you for starting this thread!

They are lovely I've got one for Jess and it worked till last year...actually I can still use it when I'm traveling at Festival with Jess...she sits on my back piggyback style...the best £18 I've ever spent!!

My dad lived in one of those Mayan slings for the first year of his life. 

I've got one shoulder higher than the other from scholiosis and the other shoulder damaged in a climbing accident.  Is there anyway a person can 'try before they buy', I wonder?

you can make one of your own sling:

http://www.mammasmilk.com/pages/makeyourown.php

you can make one of your own sling:

http://www.mammasmilk.com/pages/makeyourown.php

You always come up with the best sites.  Thanks for that one!

when you're married to a techie ..it rubs off