Baby carriers/slings

I’ve got a bizzi grown one and I absolutely love it, it was about £80 but there is sometimes sales on or could look on vinted. It feels really sturdy and comfy and it’s so easy to pop on and off and they have some gorje patterns x

Go to a local sling library and try some on and get fitted for one properly as you'll feel more confident wearing it. Many of them rent them out too.

https://amzn.eu/d/cO68El8

@Robyn I’ve never heard of a sling library before I’ll have to have a google x

@Liv bizzigrowin are lovely patterns but they're not suitable until baby is about 3 months old, maybe longer if they're pretty small. That's because the panel isn't adjustable so you can't make it smaller to match the length of baby's legs, so using it when they're too small can over extend the legs which isn't good.

@Jessica use this to find your local sling/carrier experts https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/sling-pages/

I absolutely love the Ergobaby Embrace for the first 7/8 months. It’s perfect for little babies. Simple to use and soft for baby.

@Lauren I’ll have a look at this one! She was 6 weeks early she’s over 9lb now but I don’t know she just seems lost in the 360 x

@Charley oh I hadn’t realised - it says from birth on the website! (Or from 7pounds) By panel do you mean the bit that goes around your waist, as you can make that smaller and thinner, I used a material wrap when my baby was born and then transitioned her into the bizzi grown when she didn’t feel too tiny! X

@Jessica Definitely look at the Embrace. I got it from my local sling library but wish I’d had it from the get go. The one I bought before baby was born ended up not being suitable at all until she was close to four months and in the end I sold it as it was just too many straps and buckles and not very comfy feeling. My baby wasn’t a preemie but she was small at 6lbs 3oz when she was born and we started using the embrace when she was around 8lbs or so so sounds like it will be perfect for your baby. It isn’t a forever carrier, I started finding it didn’t feel as supportive once baby was bigger around 8 months and now we use a Beco Gemini, again a sling library find that I would never have discovered without them! You can get both carriers on Vinted too.

I have 2 ring slings from Oscha slings. Love them both, can be used from any age, you just have to have a bit of practice with them to get the hang of them. I looked up a ton of YouTube vids, and tried different things. Deffo second a sling library first though if you have one nearby, see if the ring sling style suits you before buying!

Diono carus. It has a diaper bag attachment and an infant insert. My 2yo still can fit into it. They also have great customer service. Replaced the whole carrier when my dog chewed one of the buckles I had an ergo and it was awful.

@Ellie I’ve ordered one of these they’re on offer currently it’s the 3 in 1 not the 4 in 1 although I can’t see much difference between the two if I don’t like it I’ll send it back xx

@Jessica I found it really comfortable, especially for extended wear (like walking a husky). I have a larger chest (38 DDD) and was able to fit my son in no problem (others he looked very squished.) My husband was also able to wear it comfortably. The full back coverage provides so much support. I started wearing my son when he was about a week old, just to get out of the house. I'd go on short (1km) walks around the park. There was one point when he was too big to do work around, but too small to put on my back, but he was sitting at that point so I'd just stick him in the grocery cart or in his chair and do house work. It's also very simple to get them in and out. It may seem complicated at first because of the different clips and reading the instructions are a little weird. Once you're trying to strap your child in, it's so much simpler. I'm definitely going to use it again with my second. I think the only difference between the 3 and 4 is the diaper bag

@Ellie should be ideal then I just want something she feels supported in when I have to bend down to pick up the dog mess on a walk 😂 x

@Jessica have you got the infant insert for the 360?

@Fiona no it’s the newer model you don’t need the insert for this one x

@Liv the baby wearing UK FB group frequently has sling consultants mention that it's not adjustable small enough until they're about 3 months (or comfortably 0-3 clothing usually) Soft wraps are great for tiny ones, especially when they're still pretty scrunchy.