Deciding btwn 3 slings -- advice, please!

[mzminty]

OK, so I used an OTSBH with dd #1 and hated it. Way too bulky.

So for this one, I'm thinking about either a Moby, a Hotsling or that other kind that's just fabric that you wrap around you and tie it in different ways (can't remember what it's called).

This is what I need it for:
1. Babywearing around the house, grocery store, etc.
2. Nursing discreetly and easily, esp when around in-laws, etc.
3. Doesn't need to fit DH as well, because we have a Baby Bjorn for walks, etc.
4. I'm 5' 2' and pretty petite, and don't want to be consumed by yards of fabric or anything too bulky.


So. Any ideas???

[poppyseed]

I have a moby, a hug-a-bub and a hotsling so I can give you my experience with these:

The Hotsling is wonderful, but I found that because it put all the weight on one sholder that it was best to keep in the nappy bag for when we were out and about, so just to wear for a short period of time.

The Moby again is wonderful, but considering you are quite petite and don't want to feel engulfed in fabric, I don't think you would get on with this sling very well, as it is a very wide stretchy fabric.

The Hug-a-bub on the other hand is a much narrower stretchy fabric, but with a bit less stretch than the moby, so I found it more supportive, and because the fabric isn't as wide, it doesn't 'swallow you up' as much.

[Hobie]

"that other kind that's just fabric that you wrap around you and tie it in different ways (can't remember what it's called)."

That's called a wrap Both the Moby and Hug-a-Bub are wraps. I loved wraps for my newborns. You can also make your own streachy wrap, all you need is 5 yards of heavy cotton interlock, cut down the middle.

[pixiepunk]

i'm not sure you'd like a stretchy wrap - they usually come in a one-size length that will likely be way more fabric than you really need. you might like a gauze wrap, like the Wrapsody Bali Breeze - it's light weight, and comes in a variety of lengths so you could get one that would fit you better but still allow you to do all the carries you want to do.

i'm personally not a big fan of pouches. you can do everything with an unpadded ring sling that you can do with a pouch, ring slings are more adjustable so they fit better in a variety of carries and continue to fit as you lose baby weight, and work much better for discreet breastfeeding. i love ring slings for newborns.

my favorite two-shouldered carrier is a mei tai - something like a Kozy will work with a tiny baby to froggy the legs in, give you both hands free, and because it's wide it works pretty nicely for discreet nursing if you're wearing a nursing shirt or nursing tank under your shirt. and it will be a great carrier to use as baby grows into a toddler, great for back carries, etc, and not as bulky as a wrap. i think a MT might work better for you than an SSC, as i know many petite mamas have difficulty finding an SSC that adjusts small enough to accommodate them. you don't have that issue with a MT since you tie the straps, vs. buckles that only tighten down so far. you might like a "buckle tai" that uses a buckle at the waist and doesn't have padding in the waist so you'd get good adjustability with less fabric dangling, and mei tai straps that you could tighten as much as you need to. and either of those options will work for your DH once baby outgrows the Bjorn (which with my babes happened very early). you might also want to do a search here for info on the Bjorn and hip development issues and spinal stress - definitely only use it for short periods of time.

[prettypixels]

If I were only going to get ONE sling, I'd get a mei tai. Ideally though, I'd have at least one hotsling (or similar pouch style sling) to keep in the diaper bag, and a mei tai also.

[iowaorganic]

I love pouches for little babies... I don't see how you could be more discreet about NIP than with a pouch or a ring sling (the rings just kind of bug me) and a nursing tank.... There is just nothing that can be seen! Also- I agree with the PP on the Bjorn- I would look for an ergo or something to replace the bjorn with. I adore my ergo- best baby investment I have ever made (well other than my spendy diapers).

[mzminty]

Thanks everybody, for your input. I'm thinking I may just have to purchase a couple!

[kaireece]

A stretchy wrap is great for a newborn. All the ones sold commercially are usually sooooooooooo long. You can cut them down to fit you better. Or get a gypsy mama wrap (they have stretch too) in a shorter size.
hth