[kvan]

OK...

1. Nylon or aluminum rings? What is the functional difference? I know I had huge trouble keeping my maya's fabric from twisting in the rings, and it slipped out and got looser on me all the time. What else should I know?

2. I don't even know all the names of the various shoulders...I know one is hot-dog. I know I didn't like the Maya. What are the benefits of each?

3. I know that I'd love to have a ring sling that I could use really easily for birth to toddler, without compromising too much at either end. Are there ring slings (non-stretchy only) that are better for a newborn in tummy-to-tummy than others? Does that shoulder design make a difference for that?

Anything else I should be asking about????

Thanks, ladies. I really think I want a ring-sling or ring-adjustable pouch, but I haven't been able to find this basic info. for comparison.

 

[meco]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvan 1. Nylon or aluminum rings? What is the functional difference? I know I had huge trouble keeping my maya's fabric from twisting in the rings, and it slipped out and got looser on me all the time. What else should I know?

I find aluminum rings caused the fabric to slip. I was always adjusting.

Quote:

2. I don't even know all the names of the various shoulders...I know one is hot-dog. I know I didn't like the Maya. What are the benefits of each?

It depends how you like it on your shoulder. I always see photos of people with their slings from their neck to 1/3 of the way down the arm. I could never function like this. I need minimal shoulder fabric. What are your needs? What do you prefer?

Quote:

3. I know that I'd love to have a ring sling that I could use really easily for birth to toddler, without compromising too much at either end. Are there ring slings (non-stretchy only) that are better for a newborn in tummy-to-tummy than others? Does that shoulder design make a difference for that?

I would suggest the www.wisewomansling. I find it to be the easiest to use, with the smallest learning curve. Plus practice helps a lot

This is a hybrid in the sense it is a pouch (which I prefer birth to toddlerhood) but adjustable with the sling rings. Plus kids love it

I think with the shoulder it varies person to person. I prefer a more streamlined shoulder, but some like to be able to spread the weight more evenly.

I also like an adjustable pouch like www.momandmepouch.com This is an excellent pouch that you can adjust.

baby fussing...more later :0

 

[Tupelo Honey]

The size of the rings and type of fabric really have more to do with how easily the fabric goes through the rings. Also, keeping the fabric spread so that the outside edges of the fabric are at the outer edges of the rings really prevents slipping, too, because it allows the ring to "lock" with the baby's weight like they are supposed to. Any sling will slip when not used correctly.

Personally, I just prefer the look of aluminum rings to the nylon, and find that nylon rings can be harder to adjust because of their grip.

It sounds like you would like a fan-shouldered sling like the Ellaroo lightly padded, or a pleated like the SBP or oopa. Or you might enjoy a folded-shoulder pouch-RS hybrid. The Wise Woman as someone mentioned is a good one. There's also the babyspace AP and the TenToes slings have a folded shoulder but not the sewn pouch seam at the "seat" like the other two. The WW is the only one of these with a closed tail.

The Zolos also have a very easy shoulder, and are of course beautiful.

 

[kvan]

WOnderful! Thanks!
What's an SBP?

 

[kvan]

Nevermind, I found it

How does the size of the rings effect slippage? Is larger better or smaller better to prevent slippage?

 

[Tupelo Honey]

Larger rings would allow the fabric to be more spread out, so with a thinner fabric, it could allow the fabric to slip. maller rings bunch the fabric up more, which can make it harder to pull through the rings. With something like solarveil, for example, you need small nylon rings. But then with something like a silk brocade sling, you want bigger rings because the fabric is thicker, or there may be two layers. There is one brand of really pretty silk slings that uses these tiny rings, and I just can't figure out why they would do that!