Infant slings

Now those, Alicia, are actually cool!  And if you don't sew you could have someone make them for you.   

Is there anyway a person can 'try before they buy', I wonder?

I'm sorry that I've already given away my old one, or you could give it a try!  It might be hard to find moms here who have one tucked away in a closet, as they don't seem as popular.  Are there are any breastfeeding groups here, similar to La Leche League?  In the US, slings are popular among breastfeeding moms.  Maybe you can find someone who is between babies who would let you borrow one for a bit?

Making it is another inexpensive way to try one out, I guess!  I've also seen used ones on ebay for not very much.

you can make one of your own sling:

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

That's great!  I like how they also have a source for good rings for the padded slings on the website.  Talking to women who make their own, I've heard that it can be hard to find rings that are strong enough to use.

I'm a huge proponent of slings as well.  We received an Over The Shoulder as a shower gift, and it worked great when my son was small (newborn-4 mos).  When he was able to hold up his head easily on his own, we switched to the Maya Wrap, mostly because I think it's a lot more flexible in terms of how to wear the baby.  We used it until he was about a year - in the "on the hip" position.  By then he started getting a bit too heavy.  Plus, he was walking and wasn't all that thrilled about being attached to mommy.

There's a newish sling that's getting very popular here - it's a fleece wrap and is a solid piece (yet is still adjustable).  Here's a link.  Unfortunately, I don't know if it's available in the UK.  Two of my friends have babies under 3 months old, and they love it.  It comes in a million colors and is SUPER comfy for mom and baby.

My sling saved my life the first three months when the only way my son would sleep is if we were holding him!

La leche is here in the UK and is endorsed by Sure Start so dependent where you go you could even get a sling for free from Sure start

http://www.surestart.gov.uk/

Both LaLeche and NCT (National Childbirth Trust) have a big presence here in Edinburgh.  www.nct-edinburgh.freeserve.co.uk.  La Leche is:  www.laleche.org.uk.

NCT also published a bi-annual book which I've found incredibly helpful, Edinburgh for Under 5s, available in just about any bookshop.  A real one-stop shopping and resource guide. 

Yeah I'm trying to get volunteer work as breastfeeding coach or how my hubs graciously calls it "bap woman" 

That fleece pouch looks comfy, FunGirl!  I wish that slings didn't end up being so expensive, or I'd get a variety to try out!  It's nice to know that they resell pretty well on ebay.  I only wonder, with a style like the pouch (as compared to one like the Over the Shoulder), where the sling goes across your shoulder and part of your upper arm, does it reduce your arm movements?  I liked the Over the Shoulder because it only went, well, over my shoulder!

I'll have to keep those links for LaLeche and the other organizations.  I didn't have any trouble nursing my daughter, but every baby is different.  And it's always nice to hook up with other moms!

NCT also published a bi-annual book which I've found incredibly helpful, Edinburgh for Under 5s, available in just about any bookshop. A real one-stop shopping and resource guide.

Yes, I checked this out from the library right after we arrived here.  I would like to buy a copy when a new edition comes out.  I agree, very helpful!

I only wonder, with a style like the pouch (as compared to one like the Over the Shoulder), where the sling goes across your shoulder and part of your upper arm, does it reduce your arm movements?  I liked the Over the Shoulder because it only went, well, over my shoulder!

While I haven't used one myself, my two friends that have them say they're completely functional - they can do anything while they wear them.  They really only come down to just below your shoulder, so it's not going to limit your range of movement.

i've seen plenty of people using them here in the UK. (i even still have an unopened baby bjorn carrier as i received one as a gift)

(i dont know why i've hung onto it!)

i've seen plenty of people using them here in the UK. (i even still have an unopened baby bjorn carrier as i received one as a gift)

(i dont know why i've hung onto it!)

Too sell it on ebay!

i've seen plenty of people using them here in the UK. (i even still have an unopened baby bjorn carrier as i received one as a gift)

My question was about pouch-style or wrap-style slings, the kind that go all the way around across one shoulder (check out some of the links given) rather than about Baby Bjorn style front carriers.  Although I get the impression that both are called "slings" here in the UK.  You're right, I do see a lot of people using front carriers here, but no one using the ones that are termed "slings" in the US.

Too sell it on ebay!

i should!:) (ahh ebay is just one of those things i procrastinate doing!

i should!:) (ahh ebay is just one of those things i procrastinate doing!

They're selling well on Ebay.  I just scored a Wilkinet for £15. 

I haven't seen anyone w/a wrap-style infant carrier here yet, but I have seen many w/a front carrier. 

Hey, I just came across this website and it has great reviews on just about every kind of sling out there, as well as reviews on online vendors that sell them. 

http://www.thebabywearer.com/

You do have to register to read the reviews, but it a free registration.  If you go under vendor reviews, and then select Europe, you'll see a lot of online vendors (many of them work-at-home mums sewing their own slings) in the UK. 

They all look great!  I'm having trouble deciding which kind I want to get for when Baby #2 arrives....

Is there anyway a person can 'try before they buy', I wonder?

You can, apparently!  This shop has a sling rental program so that you can try out a few brands.

http://www.bigmamaslings.co.uk/rent-sling.htm

Man, I need to stop shopping for slings and go to bed....