New to this Forum: Help me Sling my 1 year olds!

[TripMom]

Hi guys -

I've been slinging my triplets - one at a time- in a stretchy pouchy like sling that my doula gave me at birth - but I didn't start using until the last 6 months. They are 14 mo now and all around 25 lbs - and 2 of them LOVE the mommy time in this sling. As we spend more sling-time -- I'm interested in something that fits a little better and holds baby closer to my body.

Looking for recommendations?

FYI -- What I like about the sling I have (don't know name) is that the fabric is stretchy and is easy to move baby from hip to back?

[hopesmama]

I would recommend a mei tai. They are so great for back wearing, which is what my 13mo dd like the best. You hardly even know they are back there because the straps distribute their weight onto your hips. They are fabulous!! I wear mine all the time! When I'm exercising, cleaning, laundry, shopping, you name it! HTH

[TripMom]

Originally Posted by hopesmama

I would recommend a mei tai. They are so great for back wearing, which is what my 13mo dd like the best. You hardly even know they are back there because the straps distribute their weight onto your hips. They are fabulous!! I wear mine all the time! When I'm exercising, cleaning, laundry, shopping, you name it! HTH

Thanks. Mei Tai soft pack carrier? is that correct? i'm searching on the web . . . .

Anyoine else prefer a different type?

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Are you planning on slinging them more than one at a time?

I only have experience with a few types of sling. I used a pouch and didn't like it. I also used a closed, padded ring sling for the first 1.5 years and it was great. Then I switched to a Maya Wrap type opened ended ring sling. This is my favorite. You can get the child in really tight and you could wear two with two slings.

When DC got heavier I tried a wrap and, when I could get on well, I LOVED it but DC was older then and wanted to get up and down and the thing just wasn't practical at all.

Good luck!

[mamaMAMAma]

Wow, triplets and you're slinging them!!
For me, I had dd#2 in a pouch until she was too heavy. I then moved onto a moby wrap (stretchy fabric and very comfy). Then she outgrew the moby and we moved onto a woven wrap (sturdier fabric) and she's still in the same woven wrap now at almost 2.

[TripMom]

I am slinging 'em. : : : 1 at a time only. And I can't tell you how awesome its been . I work and have 4 little ones -- and as you can imagine -- I feel spread so thin as a mama -- like no one really gets very much of me at all. My babies started showing an interest in the sling -- and I have just gone for it -- I feel sooo close to them -- its been wonderful bonding time. 2 of my 3 are really into it - and request it. The 3rd never asks -- but enjoys his turn too.

Thanks for the recommends -- but they are kind of mixed? I was hoping for a sure-fired favorite! Hmmm still not sure which way to go - and don't want to spend the money until I'm sure. . . . you know!

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I am very biased but I really love the open tail ring sling. It's great for on the go, in and out type stuff. We're in San Jose (in the crazy off chance that you're here as well) ~ you could borrow mine to try.

[clovergirl]

a good stretchy ring sling is the mama-baby sling by maya wrap... http://www.mayawrap.com i absolutely love mine, highly recommend it.
mei tais are really nice too, especially as babe gets older since it distrubutes the weight over both shoulders. if you're feeling brave you can wear two of your littles at the same time, one on the front and one on the back in two mei tais. http://www.kozycarrier.com and http://www.babyhawk.com are two great brands.

[ladybugchild77]

Slinging triplets - you are amazing!!! I second the Maya wrap for short trips and the Kozy carrier (a mei tai for longer distances). Dd is 25lbs and I can carry her more comfortably in my mei tai now as it distributes weigt over both shoulders - plus you can carry your dc on your back, front, or hip so you might be able to do more than one at a time. I know you can do more than one Maya wrap sling at a time...Here is the instructional video...
http://www.mayawrap.com/video/videomw.shtml Ther eis info about wearing twins that might help you! It can take a while to loan if you have dial up like I do but it is worth it - trust me!
BTW, I just helped out a friend who had twins and put my older child on my back in my Kozy carrier and one of her babes in the Maya wrap on my front..It is possible!!!

[TripMom]

Update: I picked a Mei Tai!

Thanks so much for all the advice and kind words. I watched my neighbor use a wrap on her DS since infancy - and it looked so cool - but when I see the pics online - it seems like a whole bedspread worth of fabric? I feel like I could never figure that out?

So I went with a Mei Tei. Big challenge on fabric choice b/c I have 2 DS and 1 DD -- but yeah - Baby Hawk makes them reversible! So I got Pink Camo on one side and Green Camo on the other!

Thanks again mamas - will report in on how the Mei Tai slinging is going.

[TripMom]

Another Update!

The Mei Tai arrived! I love it - and thought I'd share a little - plus, I have a follow-up question.

1. Babies love to ride on my back! They could be back there forever. And it is so comfortable to have them there!

2. DS woke up last night throwing up. He is 15 months old - and this is a first. From that moment on, he was inconsolable - he cried if we put him down. He wanted to be held - all night long - but he wouldn't let us sit or lie down with us - he wanted to be held while we stood or walked around - literally, all night! At 3:30 in the morning I happened to see the Mei Tai out of the corner of my bleery eye - and I put him in it - in the front. He immediately fell asleep as I started walking around with him in it. I went and sat on the recliner - and we both finally got some sleep - we slept there until 7 am! So snuggly. Yeah Mei Tai!

3. One glitch -- I can't figure out how to sling them on my hip? The babies really like that as was doing it previously with my pouch sling. I thought you could hip-sling with the Mei Tai -- anyone, help?

Thanks in advance.

[gardenpoetry]

http://www.kozycarrier.homestead.com/instructions.html

Scroll down, scroll down and you'll see a hip carry.

HTH!

[BCmamaof6]

I'd highly recommend an Ergo! I think the website is www.ergobabycarrier.com but if that doesn't work google it.