Baby Wearers: Wrap vs. Sling

I LOVED the mei tai for Luke... but I didn't start using it until he was over a year old. (I didn't know about them until then.) But I used it until he was two or so!
 
I LOVE LOVE LOVE wraps. I have scoliosis, and they're the only ones that distribute the weight enough not to hurt my back. I live in Louisiana, and it's not too bad, even in the summer. I don't have any pics of Eli in my newer wrap, but it's a Storch Vicky, and I absolutely adore it. The pricier ones are well worth the cost because of the high quality.

http://www.storchenwiege.com/- New Folder/vicki.jpg
 
Some of the slings and MTs you're showing are so cute! But just FYI, not all slings and not all MT are created equal. I don't know these Etsy brands and they could be wonderful, but you may want to check out reviews (if they're available for that specific maker) at a site like The Baby Wearer. I'd hate for someone to spend all that money on a sling that wasn't comfortable, then figure they just didn't like ring slings.

I had a MayaWrap ring sling (the purple one on the previous page), and I loved it. I used it from birth to about 24 months with 2 of my kids, and it was my go-to carrier for hot days. I had a few other RSs, but if I were only going to have 1 I'd have been very happy with that one.

I drooled over the Sakura Blooms when they came out, but no way could I have spent that much on one. I sewed and made a lot of my own carriers, so I ended up making a silk ring sling for a lot less. It cost me about $50 for the silk and about $10-15 for the Sling Rings, and it was gorgeous! I didn't use it much until they were older (9 mo or so) because I was afraid of it getting spit up on and ruined, but it was fabulous with older babies and toddlers because it's so strong and folds up so compactly. So if anyone here sews, that's a great way to have carriers in exactly the fabric you want for a lot less. Here's one of the few photos I have of my silk RS. Lauren was almost 2 and sleeping in it at my sister's wedding. (For those of you learning to use RSs, those rings are too low. Between the silk and the slippery dress, it just wouldn't stay in place.)

SilkRS_rach3975.jpg


I'll also add that I didn't like either the Ergo or the Bjorn much. I prefer front carries even with toddlers, and the Ergo wasn't as comfortable for me in a front carry as a Mei Tai was. I do back carries when I need to, but I like the snuggle factor with front carries and being able to talk to the child more easily.
 
Last edited:
I suppose it's personal preference, but what would you all suggest for me starting out, having never done any baby wearing before. And I'd like to use it with Swerbaby as soon as possible, so we can both get used to it. Is one style "better" (for lack of a better word) than the other? If I could only get 1, would you suggest a ring sling or a mei tai?
Or, should I use the Moby and see how I like baby wearing before investing in either?
 
it is personal preference... I would say that for newborn I would opt for the ring sling or the Moby over a mei ta... a mei tai is hard to get really snug and supportive when your baby has no control whatsoever... they're used to being curled up and it's easier to for them to feel snug and curled up like they were in the womb with a ring sling or the Moby.
 
Once I got the sleepy wrap, I loved it! The ring sling always made my shoulder hurt but the wrap was awesome and Bekah loved it. I used it whenever we went grocery shopping (so easy to nurse in since it covers so much) and she liked when we played Wii and I had her in it.
 
It's definitely personal preference. Over the entire first few years of my kids' lives, I probably used mei tais most and ring slings second most, with pouches and wraps coming in well behind those 2. But like Heather said, I used the Mei Tai less with a newborn and more from 3 months+. I think I'm in the minority, but I found mei tais the easiest to nurse in so I used them a lot even when my babies were still little and light and comfortable to wear for long periods in a ring sling.

If I were having my first baby now and wanted to buy as few carriers as possible, I think I'd start with a ring sling. A Moby is nice with a newborn, but they outgrow it very quickly. In my mind, a ring sling is a better investment because you can keep using it through toddlerhood. If you like babywearing and want to keep doing longer carries when your baby gets heavier (say by 6 months or so, but it's different for everyone), you'll eventually want something that distributes the weight over both shoulders, like a mei tai, Ergo, or woven (non-stretchy) wrap. But you'll have time to figure that out once your baby is here and you see what works best for both of you.
 
Last edited:
heathergw said:
Oh, and I have one more thing to say about ring slings :p

make sure that if you are buying from Etsy, that they use "SlingRings"... they are specific rings that were made specifically for the weight of babywearing... do NOT buy rings or ring slings that are made with craft rings... they will bend and break under the pressure... even with a newborn the rings take a lot of pressure so they need to be extremely strong.
Click to expand...

The etsy seller I bought from (the one linked by Kellie) does use these rings, just FYI.
 
Thanks ladies. It makes sense that the ring sling would be a better buy to start, since you can use it from infant to toddler. I think I'll send Jordan a link to that one I linked above and tell him I want it as my birthday present. :)
 
I just found Maya Wraps on Amazon :) So I think I'll snag one of those to start out, and if I like the ring sling then I can get a really pretty one later :) Yay! I'm excited! I'm gonna try and order today/tomorrow so I can have it in time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top