which sling for a 14 month old?

[rachel4]

wondering if you have any advice about which sling would be best to get to carry a 14 month old? i have been using a baby bjorn which has been great but now too small.

many thanks.

[sophiechristophy]

Ergo baby carrier is great - I still carry my daughter in it every day, and she is 19 months. You can use it on your front and back - carrying on the back is great when they are getting a little heavy on the front, and much kinder to your back.

[Pickle]

You've done well getting to 14 months using a Baby Bjorn! I managed about 4 weeks before my back got small, and my son didn't even weigh 8lbs at that stage :)

I had a Patapum, which is basically the same as an Ergo but quite a bit cheaper. It can be used front or back too.

[snowboarder]

I have a manduca for my 10m old and the 2.8 yr old fits in it too...I really like it - it does front, back and hip carrys.

[hellosailor]

The beco Gemini is basically the same as the ergo except you have a third option , forward facing front carry so the baby/ toddler can face outwards, which I don't think is poss with the ergo? Plus prettier fabric options! Though my other half still hasn't completely forgiven me for getting a floral one given that he does most of the wearing, and is ribbed from time to time by his mates over the pretty pattern!

[HollieES]

Second vote for the ergo - I use it for my 13 month old son and could carry him all day in it. Really worth the investment as you can use it up to 40lbs.

[womanofdulwich]

isnt it really bad for you to be carrying that amount of weight?

[Yak]

And a second vote for the beco Gemini. Basically, any of those types of slings that carry most of the weight on your hips will be better than the bjorn where it all hangs off your poor shoulders. I don't know how you have managed - like Pickle, I lasted only a couple of weeks with the Bjorn and my husband even now is admitting defeat and converting to the beco! The slumberoo website offer hire for about ?11 for a fortnight, I think, then 10% off if you subsequently buy a sling through them.

[Ruth_Baldock]

More votes for the ergo and beco. Carry my 5mo old and 2yr old comfortably in it (not both at the same time, obvs)

[amyw]

hi,

i'd really recommend going along to the south london sling library, you can hire slings for 5quid plus deposit and the person that runs it will be able to advise you on what to try.

[bluesuperted]

You are going to love a good soft structured carrier after all that Bjorning!

Ergo and Beco fab, I find Beco Gemini better for front facing-in carry (yes I am mad and still front carry my hefty 16.5 mo) but find Ergo comfier for back carry for some reason. Beco beautiful prints (although there is also a plain black option), can cross straps in front carry mode. Ergo more unisex design, nice pocket feature. Manduca really lovely too, would like one but no justification other than it's really well made and streamlined. All have fantastic resale value and I can't see us giving up ours anytime soon so they really are worth the money. Slumber Roo are great, Debi is really helpful and has some useful word docs comparing products.

womanofdulwich - the Baby Bjorn is likely to be bad for one's back with continual use but I can honestly say that I rarely get back pain and I carry all day every day. I use good carriers and limit what else I carry - slimline nappy bag or backpack. On the occasion I've felt a bit uncomfortable and decided to take the buggy out, I've actually felt worse and my back has been sore really quickly - think it's partly because for me personally, a good sling makes me stand up nice and straight to keep comfortable (and upright!) and partly because my posture is conversely very bad when I use a pushchair as I'm not used to it and feel awkward pushing.

[Belle]

I love the beco too, got a good deal by keeping an eye on the slumberoo website, so worth looking at that (was a flash sale, got 30 odd % off I think).

I do find the waist band rides up a bit sometimes but think that is because I haven't adjusted all the straps enough. Def find it the comfiest of any sling I've tried.

[crystal7]

Another vote for the ergo. Have carried 2yr old comfortably in it, can't wait to use it with new baby. Would like a beco too for the front facing option but can't really justify!

[Knomester]

We have a Beco Gemini (bought based on bluesuperted's advice...she is the queen of slings as far as I'm concerned!). I can't carry Baby Knomester around all day in it like some people can, but I don't think that's the fault of the sling, rather the problems I have with my back. We don't use the sling as regularly now but I can still carry Baby Knomester (now 16 months) around for an hour or so.

I've not mastered the back carrying. I find myself inadvertently leaning forwards which isn't good for the posture! When Baby Knomester was younger I carried him facing out, but once he started getting a bit chunkier I found inward facing much more comfortable for us both.

[Yak]

Slumber-roo sale now on in case anyone's interested....

[Saffron]

womanofdulwich Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> isnt it really bad for you to be carrying that

> amount of weight?

Nope. Unless there is medical reason why you can't carry the weight (eg, slipped disc etc), there isn't anything inherently "bad" about carrying 40lb (or more), as long as the sling is properly fitted. xx

I had a Baby Bjorn and a ring sling when Little Saff was <1. The Bjorn was easier to adjust, but the ring sling was better for breastfeeding.

When she was a bit older, I had a Hip Hammock (side-fitting sling), a Wilkinet (soft-tie front carry sling), and an Ergo. The HH was easiest/quickest to get her in and out. The Ergo was the most versatile for positioning (front, back, side etc), but the WILKINET was FAR and AWAY the most comfortable. Also, unlike the Ergo, you LO can face forward in the Wilki in the front-wearing position. Whereas, no matter how well-adjusted, my Ergo always shifted a little, the Wilki had a firm fit. The draw-back was that the Wilki required a little more time to put on.

I still have the ring sling and Wilki, but I don't use them anymore. If anyone wants to borrow them for a test run, I'm happy to lend (and would sell for very nominal fee). Husband still occasionally wears the Ergo, but I'm sure I could lend this for a test run too. I think we'll be looking to sell it and get a framed-style carrier in a few months!

xx

[MichelleT]

Another vote for the Manduca, I carry my 18 month old toddler in it most days.

[pernilla]

I just bought an Ergo for my 15 month old and I love it. Really easy to use on both front and back and you can carry on the hip as well although I haven't tried that yet.

I bought it for my husband as it is neutral and easy to use (I usually use woven wraps) but I end up using it all the time as it's so comfy!

[Saffron]

When travelling alone with Little Saff, I found the hip-carry postition to be the easiest to get her in/out without help in the Ergo. I had a few practice runs at home first. xx

[swagstar]

Sorry to hijack but has anyone tried the chicco caddy backpack?