First Time SlingWearer-Overwhlemed

[FertileMertel]

I am looking for a sling/wrap. I love the versitility of the Didymos and Moby and they look very comfortable! But oh my goodness does it look complicated! Actually, I find most wraps look very overwhelming! And there are so many choices!! I am only 5 ft tall so I can't imagine having too much fabric to deal with. I also have low back issues. I really want a sling/wrap that is great for nursing and also good for keeping up with my 2.5 year old once the new baby arrives.

Suggestions for the pros?

[D'sMama]

Moby is 5.5 meters long, so that would probably overwhelm you with fabric. It also is not very supportive when babies get heavy, or for toddlers, since it's stretchy, although it is great for newborns and little ones. It's also more forgiving of bad/fast wrap jobs, so it's good for starting out.

I would suggest a Didymos or other woven wrap, in a length more like 4.2 or 4.7m (size 5 or 6 Didy), if you want to be able to do a wrap cross-carry and have it last for a long time/heavy weight.

You could also get a Moby and have it hemmed on both ends to shorten it.

If you can afford it, I would get both. Check out thebabywearer.com FSOT section for used wraps in good condition - I just bought 2 Didys in perfect condition for half retail!

Also, check out youtube for instructional videos - it only takes a few times of trying get the hang of it, trust me! It's not as hard as it looks.

[FertileMertel]

That's very helpful advice thanks! I will definately check out thebabywearer.com! Wraps are surprisingly expensive!

[baturay]

It may look complicated, but it really is not. There are many ways to tie a wrap, but you don't need to learn them all. Just pick one carry and do that one. That's all you really need and then whenever you'd like you can learn another carry. For example, start with a front carry like the front wrap cross carry (FWCC) and then later maybe learn a back carry like the rucksack. Even after wrapping for 4 years now, I still only use one or two front carries, even though there are numerous ones I can use. I found one or two that worked well for me and then just stick to those. And once you learn to wrap (which only take a few minutes to learn a carry) you can whip that thing on in just seconds. Moby wrap is cheaper than woven wraps and are very nice with newborns, but if you're budget is limited, I'd get a woven wrap instead and that way you have one carrier that you can use from day one through toddlerhood. Woven wraps can be found cheaper (even new too) than other carriers like the Ergo, Beco and can even sometimes be found used at prices that you'd buy a Maya Wrap ring sling, yet woven wraps are the most versatile carrier and can be used from birth through toddlerhood, are easy to care for, and are completely adjustable in every way to fit you perfectly. Personally, I think it's a great investement. Look also at the FSOT at TBW for great deals.

[MamaKickyPants]

What they said!:

Also, if you have back problems, woven wraps (like Didys) are hands down the most comfortable IMO and they distribute the weight really well across your back, shoulders and hips.

I hear you about being overwhelmed. The trade off for the comfort of wraps is the learning curve. It takes a while to get comfortable using them, but it is SO worth it. Try standing in front of a mirror, and practicing when your LO is fed and in a good mood.

Lots of people LOVE stretchy wraps for newborns (wovens are fine too) but keep in mind the baby will be too heavy for it by around 15-18 lbs. The advantage with a stretchy is that you can pre-tie it and pop the baby in and out. With a woven, you have to wrap around the baby, so it's a little more complicated

Wraps are surprisingly expensive!

I hear you! It is an investment, for sure. You might want to think about even making your own stretchy wrap (although stretchies are much more affordable) to try it out, if you really like ti you can make the investment in a woven, or try checking the FSOT forums on thebabywearer, there are some great deals these days!

HTH

[Malva]

I also found that you need more fabric when learning so the lenght of the Maya wrap might not be such a bad thing (can't say much about them, I've never used a stretchy wrap). As you get better at tying, you need less fabric.