[Steve's Sweety]

I am in love with one of the Ellaroo fabrics (Maija) and I have been wanting to get a new sling that I can actually wear DS (21 lbs) in, as we have a KKAFP and a Maya and I cannot wear him for more than about 20 mins in either w/o being in pain.
So I was thinking of going for something I can wear on both shoulders and found the Ellaroo.
However, I am quite um...challenged when it comes to slinging, so I'm just wondering if it would be a waste of money and time for me to get one and try to make it work?

 

[ledzepplon]

I have the ellaroo, and I think I even chose the same fabric! I loved it when dd was smaller, and I wore it in the wrap cross carry almost exclusively. Now that she's bigger (15 mos., 23 lbs.), she wants to face the outside world more, and honestly, I never really got the hang of the other carries (I tried the rucksack and never felt like she was secure, and couldn't get the hang of the hip carry. I will admit that I didn't try that hard, but dd was not that willing to be experimented on. Plus she likes to get up and down a lot, and the ellaroo takes a little bit of doing and undoing--at least it did for me.)

The biggest advantage of the ellaroo in my eyes is that it really distributes the weight evenly and is very comfortable.

I now use my hotsling all the time. It's so easy and dd LOVES it. I haven't had any pain wearing it, but the longest dd wants to stay in it is about 25 minutes anyway.

But I can't wait for baby #2 so I can use the ellaroo again.

I hope this helps!

 

[Patchfire]

I was a little intimidated when I first heard about wraps - after all, I couldn't get ring slings to stay where I wanted them/tight enough/all that. And they're supposed to be 'easier.' Well. I

my wraps. I'm getting ready to sell my ring slings, because I just don't use them at all. The wraps, I can 'get' easier, for whatever reason. I say give it a try!

 

[Quindin]

I am ring-sling challenged bu LOVE wraps!! They are soooo much easier IMO
I still can't do back carries by myself, but I am getting there

 

[Mizelenius]

Here's the thing about wraps . . . you only "need" to learn one, good carry. If you give yourself that goal and plenty of practice, you will do fine. Once you master one tying method, the other ones will become more intuitive.

I found the instructional DVD from Children's Needs to be helpful. Also, while the EllaRoo isn't my favorite for comfort, it is certainly very comfortable and easy to manipulate . . .and great for summer.

I will say, however, if you want to do back carries primarily, IMO a mei tai is easier.

 

[Quindin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mizelenius Here's the thing about wraps . . . you only "need" to learn one, good carry. If you give yourself that goal and plenty of practice, you will do fine. Once you master one tying method, the other ones will become more intuitive.

That's so true! I never thought about it... But since I mastered the WCC, I figured the rest out without having to follow instructions!! Back carries wtill are hard, but I know how they work now.

 

[Steve's Sweety]

:LOL led - Do all the wraps take a bit of doing and undoing?

How does a hotsling compare, being that it isn't something that can distribute the weight evenly? (Though maybe if I had something more comfy, distributing the weight wouldnt' be an issue).

Patch - I finally am able to use my ring sling in the hip carry and used to use it in the tummy to tummy too. It took me a really long time to get that far though. I can't get it to stay either, and all the shifting drives me crazy plus I just can't get it really comfy.

Miz - Right now I am interested in mainly the hip carry I think...maybe the front carry too. The main thing I am worried about is learning and being able to use it by myself. I had DH take a look at it and he doesn't think I would do well with it. But I still want it.

 

[Quindin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve's Sweety :LOL led - Do all the wraps take a bit of doing and undoing? How does a hotsling compare, being that it isn't something that can distribute the weight evenly? (Though maybe if I had something more comfy, distributing the weight wouldnt' be an issue).

Well, you were not asking me, but woven wraps don't need to be done and undone all the time IMO. Stretchy wraps on the other hand need to be readjusted with heavier babies because they tend to sag after a while

As to the Hotsling question. IMO, Hotsling are one of the most comfortable one-shoulder carriers there are. because the weight is spread nicely acroos your back. I LOVE my Hotsling and my Heavenly Bundle pouches!!

Having said that, I think that the ideal is to have BOTH a pouch and a two-shoulder carrier for when you know you will be carrying the baby for a long time or if you have a very heavy baby. I love pouches when I need to have the baby easily in-and-out with no fuss (at church or when I will be in and out the car a lot) but I love MTs and wraps when I know I will be holding DS for hours .

My baby's personal favorite right now is facing out sitting like a Budha in a pouch or wrap mimicking a pouch.

 

[ledzepplon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve's Sweety :LOL led - Do all the wraps take a bit of doing and undoing?

Sorry it took me a while to reply! I really don't know the answer to this question for sure, since I only have one wrap. But I'm sure there are some carries that are easier to get kiddos in and out of without undoing/redoing. I just wasn't able to do it with the front carry.

 

[Steve's Sweety]

poli -

Ok, I guess I don't know if an Ellaroo is woven or stretchy then...

We do have a pouch - it's a KKAFP. We loved it when DS was a newborn - he would lay down in there and nap when he wouldn't lay down in our arms or the Maya (in the Maya he only liked being upright). I tried it once with the hip carry and didn't feel secure - he leans back too much. Would that not be an issue with a hotsling?

led -

NP, it takes me a while to get back to my *own* thread. :LOL

 

[crystallynn]

Have you thought about a mei tai? It is a good 2-shouldered carry. Not as versatile as the wrap, but easier to learn.

 

[Steve's Sweety]

The only things I've thought about are a Sutemi or Ellaroo - I probably should look into it more but I just fell in love with the Ellaroo fabric and got hung up on that.

When you say not as versatile, do you mean you can't use it for certain carries? And how is it easier?

 

[Quindin]

MeiTais only allow back, tumy-to-tummy and hip carries
Wraps can mimic all carriers if you know how to use it

MeiTais are much easier to learn and easier to put on, but wraps are more comfortable

I personally like that I have both a wrap and a MT because they are good for different reasons. I just recently bought an Ellaroo wrap Larae and I am in love- sooo pretty!! As for MeiTais I have a Freehand and I am on the list for a mamabydesign and a Kozy.

You might want go give the MeiTai a try first if you are concerned wraps night be too complicated- they are soooo easy to put on.

 

[merpk]

Practice is key. Was very intimidated by wraps, too ... but practice is key. Really. A lot of it. Once or twice or a dozen times isn't enough.