The Great Sling Debate - Hug-a-bub vs. What??!!

[Kitt3n]

I was all set to buy the hug a bub. I think it looks great because:
- all of the different positions for baby
- the manner in which you carry - ie it draws support from your back and both shoulders (I dont like the idea of one shoulder slings as I have always had problems in my neck/shoulder area)
- natural, breathable fabric (carrying a baby around in summer must get hot??)

But then i showed DH the pics of the hug a bub. He does not like the look of it and wants to look at others. As I have my heart set on the hug a bub I really couldnt be bothered to look around! Is there anything else that could be recommended that would fit the above "things" that I like?

[briggsy's girl]

have you looked at mei-tai style slings - melbel (MPM) has her site wrigglebots and has a few different types of carriers on there - might be worth taking a look at.

we've decided on a HAB - DH has no say in the matter! might still end up buying an extra one from Mel - make the HAB the everyday one - the one from mel is more a pretty one! lol

[Jennifer13]

DP was a little perturbed at how complicated it looked, we managed to find a place that stocked them and went in to 'try' it on. That settled him.

Not sure where you are kitt3n, but if any of the BB girls are nearby that have one I'm sure they wouldn't mind giving a demo. Otherwise, it was at Babies Galore, but I had to find one store that had one and track it down. It isn't at most stores.

PS You won't regret the HAB - we used it until DD was 18 mths old and she LIVED in it (read: slept - bliss!) when I was out and about until about 6 mths. It was far more useful than the pram!

[Kitt3n]

thanks guys - i'll trackdown a melbel post so i can find her store.

actually jen I am in sydney too - wanting to come to the xmas party but I just dont know if i can fit it in with the impending arrival!

edit - i just had a look at the mei tei but I cant see how it would sit on you?

[Salsa]

Im interested in knowing too. We have brought an ergo but want something sling like to put on too. Me and DH very different sizes, so we thought the HAB would work well, but since its better for a little bub, and ours is due in summer and DH is a hairy kind of guy, I thought we`d be better choosing a different style, maye like a peanut shell each or somthing similar....?

[Beach Mama]

If you have someone who can do simple sewing get them to make a HAB for you! They are super easy - simply 60cm wide and 5 mts long(sounds alot but it's not!) and then hem it! My mum made us one and DH LOVES it - my tummy is still a bit tender but he has been wearing James while playing with Izzy and loves how it doesn't cut in like regular carriers. She is also making us a Mei tei carrier that we can use on hotter days as the HAB does get warm already. There are loads of sites you can check out with patterns too - just google! Good luck with deciding!!

[briggsy's girl]

i believe some of the mei tai style slings tie similarly to HAB (but have more structure) - but some of them i was looking at on Mel's site had clips for doing up and you just adjust the straps to make them firm enough kwim? if i see mel online later i'll get her to pop in if you don't already have an answer

[suse]

A hug-a-bub is basically a stretch wrap with a pocket. You can make one yourself very cheaply and easily with some good quality cotton jersey. Stretch wraps are more commonly used with newborns and small babies, but become less supportive as babies get older. This is where woven wraps become useful. They can be used from birth through to toddlerhood, generally giving them a greater longevity than a stretch wrap. Woven wrap brands to look for are Storchenweige, Vatanai, Didymos, Girasol. These can be hard to find in Australia. If you google 'baby carriers downunder', there is a good explanation of types of carriers and where to find them. Ellaroo (which also makes mei-tais and ring slings) also make wraps.

In terms of tying a wrap, they are the most complex of all carriers to learn to tie, but are the most versatile and adjustable. There are many carries a wrap can be used in (HAB have some very cute names for what are basic wrap carries - these carries can be used with any wrap).

Some two shouldered wrap carries are (I haven't included hip carries here, which can also be done with a wrap):

Cross Cradle Carry (horizontal for newborns, small babies, and feeding)
Front Cross Carry (vertical front carry, good for feeding)
Front Wrap Cross Carry
Ruck (back carry)
Secure High Back Carry
... and many more

Google 'thebabywearer' which has links to video tutorials on different wrap carries.

A mei tai is a (more or less) rectangular body, with two shoulder straps coming out of the top corners of the body, and a waist band, which is either a single piece (usually padded) attached to the bottom of the body, or two separate straps attached to the bottom corners of the body. Depending on the manufacturer, variations can be found in body length, width & shape; strap width, length, thickness & angle; padding; inclusion of a sleep hood or head-rest.

It can be used in either front, hip or back carries, and although the principle is still the same, it ties somewhat differently to a wrap. It is not as versatile for a start. Some people find that buckle carriers based on a mei-tai design (soft structured carriers) are more convenient, whereas others find that conventional mei tai straps are more comfortable and allow a better fit.

Babyhawk, CatBirdBaby, Kozy and Ellaroo are some brands to look for in mei-tais, CatBirdBaby also make the Pikkolo, which is a buckle mei-tai.

[Jennifer13]

actually jen I am in sydney too - wanting to come to the xmas party but I just dont know if i can fit it in with the impending arrival!

Kitt3n if you can't make it to the Xmas party, feel free to PM me and I'll let you know where I live and perhaps we can meet up? I work Tues-Thurs but am able to come to you on Monday and lend you the HAB so you can show your DH. I also have a DVD for it that I'll dig out that shows you how to tie it, etc. On Fridays I'm stuck at home, so you're more than welcome to visit me!

[Snowy Love]

How often will your DH be wearing the sling? I didn't get a HAB because DH saw one in the street and said no way was he wearing that so got a Baby Bjorn type one and I think he wore it once or twice - I used it alot during the week and if we went to my parents property on the weekends. Next time it'll be HAB all the way!

[Kitt3n]

Thanks for the replies guys!

DH is looking very muchly forward to wearing the baby - he says he will be too proud to stick her in the pram and will just want to carry her everywhere (how cute!). I intend to wear her as much as possible too, so we will both be using it.

I am still leaning toward the HAB - after looking at the mei teis they look as though they are more suited for once they are a few months old, not so much for newborns? Suse you are such an expert, I wish you could take me shopping!Looked quickly over TBW site - definately need to sit down and browse more in depth there.

Jen - pm'd you

Tan - I showed my mum the HAB and she said it looked too hard to make! She is getting funny as she gets older though

[~Raven~]

How often will your DH be wearing the sling? I didn't get a HAB because DH saw one in the street and said no way was he wearing that so got a Baby Bjorn type one and I think he wore it once or twice - I used it alot during the week and if we went to my parents property on the weekends. Next time it'll be HAB all the way!

I second that!

We got a Baby Bjorn because, well, really I hadn't seen any other type of carrier (pre BB days I'm talking of course). DH did wear it a few times but the majority of the wearing was done by me and I hated it. Really hurt my back and shoulders!
I was fortunate enough to get the loan of a HAB after Caleb was born and DH thought it was ridiculous but he changed his mind after I wore it around for hours at a car show without grizzling. I convinced him to have a go and he thought it was alright after that.

Word of advice, stay clear of the girlie coloured ones JIC your DH refuses to wear one for that reason. I know mine would but can't argue about black or chocolate!

[queenbee]

i bought a sling and never used it! i bought so much stuff i never used so i had to sell it on ebay. my DD never liked being in a sling. or her cot for that matter (heehee!)

[Aimz]

On our list of "What to buy before baby" we have a hugabub and a baba sling. I really like the look and features of the HAB but DH said he'd feel like a dag wearing it - he prefered the look of the baba slings. They are roughly the same price.

I bought my best friend a bear hug sling ($60) and although she hasn't popped yet - she loves it.

[suse]

Amy hon, if you're considering a baba sling, definitely one to try before you buy (same with bubba moe or babyrock or any heavily padded ring sling - or buckle sling based on a ring sling concept). Some people find them insufficiently adjustable to get a comfortable fit, myself included, I am small framed and could not get any of the rails in a babyrock tight enough to get a correct fit, especially the top rail, which meant that E exerted more pressure on my shoulders and back from leaning/sagging, and I had to use one arm to support him anyway (which made the sling slightly useless).

Correct carrying position is that your baby is above or at the level of your waist, and should be as snug as possible. In an upright position, baby's knees should be higher than their bum, and heavily padded rails do not promote this as easily as unpadded rails (especially with smaller babies)

If you like the idea of something with some padding, a Maya Wrap Ring Sling has light padding in the shoulders, but no padding in the rails.

Kitt3n, I'm not really an expert, I just happen to be a member of a babywearing group that is full of experts, and I sponge all of my information off them LOL. But I do love wearing my baby, and I have more than five different carriers, so I guess that makes me a bit of a babywearing nut in my own right.

[Smoke Jaguar]

My advice is to get what YOU want to wear your baby in (although I agree about the colours - we had a red/nougat one and that was unisex enough for DP to wear), and if your DH doesn't like it, he can either be convinced, or he can get one of his own (that HE can research, if he feels that strongly about it!), because HE needs to be comfy with it if he'll use it enough I'm not being tart or facetious, just practical.
We had the loan of a HAB and my aunt bought me (on my request) a Baba-style shoulder sling. It was great to have both because I'd use either one depending on situation, so it can't hurt to have two or more. We moved onto the Ergo at about 5 months and it was used heavily until DS was about 20 months old...then he just wanted to walk everywhere!
Anyway, having an 'arsenal' of slings is a great parenting strategy

[Kitt3n]

Thanks guys. I am pretty sold on the HAB, and now a mei tei too! And I agree MAyaness - if he doesnt like it, we can go searching for one that he does like. But I just have a gut feeling about the HAB.

I was going to grab the noughat HAB so there wont be any worries about the colours - but the mei tei - what age have you all used them from?

I think I will get that one to be really really pretty

[Cassius2]

i have to agree with mayaness on this one and go for the one you are happy with. cause you may find yourself with bubs more often than DH (especially in the beginning) and you want to have something you are happy with. that way you and DH can take your time after bubs is born to find a carrier that he likes to use and can be his special carrier for him and bubs IYKWIM. DH and i did this after much debate as he didnt feel secure using the ring sling we had and wanted something more structured so we got the ergo, and that became his...

I LOVE the mei teis too!! LOL! i want one!!