Help choosing a Baby sling?

[Lucky4me]

I figured the experts would be here.
I'm buying one for a friend who will be traveling alone with a six week old baby and a 3 year old. She has two layovers and figures the best thing to do would be sling her newborn and push her 3 year old in a gate checked stroller. She does not want to deal with a bulky double stroller.
Any tips on picking out a decent baby sling under $75? The Mom is short, around 5'. She's looking for comfort for her and baby and ease of getting it off and on.

Thanks for any help!

 

[deannanb]

LOVED my baby nest - other brands out there - but for an infant that was the best - I have a stash of other slings and wraps but that wad the best. Can't post a link now - waiting at the doctors office

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I think a Maya wrap would do well for her since the baby is so teeny at that point. They're easy to put on (once you figure out it, she'd have to practice a few times at home) and easily foldable and will fit in a purse or diaper bag. Oh, and you can easily get one for under $75.

 

[monkey30]

I agree with the wraps, they are fairly inexpensive and work well. I used mine in WDW on the plane in the airport...even while nursing!

 

[sharonabe]

One more vote for the Maya wrap. My now 7 yr old spent the first six months of his life in mine.

 

[robinsegg]

I haven't used any of the better slings, but have loved my Moby Wrap, and my Wrapsody Bali Breeze wrap. Moby is around $40 and Bali Breeze is around $70. The Moby is a bit easier to learn, but he Bali Breeze is lighter material and more versatile (versatility won't matter much at that age).

 

[hsmamato2]

I like the simplest ring slings,just a long piece of fabric and 2 rings,they're so versatile and easy to take on/off especially with 2 small kids traveling- also can be used for a light blanket or nursing cover- don't know names- I made mine back in the day

 

[Minniemouse07]

I've had a Maya Wrap, Moby Wrap, Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch (KKAFP), & a Baby Hawk mei tai....and used a borrowed Beco on a WDW trip.

My go to carrier when ds was and infant was my KKAFP. With Dd I only had a Maya and she HATED the thing...and I never used it for ds.

Ds was in the KKAFP until he was 18mo! We switched it out with the Moby Wrap until I got the Baby Hawk.

I found the Beco to be extremely versatile to use in the parks w/ the buckle fasteners (ds was 2yo when we used it in WDW). Not sure which one I would use for a newborn... I think the KKAFP was the easiest carrier out of all of the ones I had to use on the go... just kept it on and popped ds in and out. Fleece may be too warm for a summer WDW visit though...Kangaroo Korner has cotton and solarveil (for the pool) pouches as well.

 

[BiancaBernard&Penny]

I'd go with a maya wrap or simple sling, like a Hotsling, since she can wear the baby through airport security with it. A ring sling or anything with buckles must be taken off.

 

[robinsegg]

I'd go with a maya wrap or simple sling, like a Hotsling, since she can wear the baby through airport security with it. A ring sling or anything with buckles must be taken off.

I asked and was told that *any* baby carrier would have to be taken off to be "visually inspected". I emailed and asked, specifically about an all-cloth carrier.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I asked and was told that *any* baby carrier would have to be taken off to be "visually inspected". I emailed and asked, specifically about an all-cloth carrier.

I agree...I thought the previous suggestion to wear it through security sounded incorrect.

Also...you are NOT allowed to wear the baby in any kind of carrier during take off or landing (best to have the baby in their own seat in a car seat...but, unfortunately, it isn't required). Not all flight attendants are aware of the no carrier rule so some parents may have not been asked to remove a baby from a carrier on their flights...but it is an FAA regulation that infants are NOT to be in any kind of carrier for take offs and landings except those approved by them.

Items that are approved by the FAA:
Most harnessed car seats (there are a few that aren't, check the stickers on the side of the seat, it will say if it is approved or not)
CARES harness

Items that are NOT approved the FAA(but people think are okay):
Baby B'Air
Any kind of carrier (Bjorn, sling, etc.)

You are allowed to use the above items DURING the flight...just not for take offs and landings.

Just a side note for clarity... you CANNOT used car booster seats on the airplane at all. These are seats that you use in the car in conjunction w/ the seat belt to "boost" your child into position. Booster seats require lap and shoulder belts for use and airplanes only have lap belts. Combination seats (those that utilize a harness to a specific weight and then the harness is removed to be used as a booster) are allowed in harness mode, not booster.

Sorry, lots of info there. I'm a certified child passenger safety technician as well as a mom so I'm familiar w/ the FAA regulations.

 

[blana]

Another vote for a Hotsling.

 

[BiancaBernard&Penny]

I asked and was told that *any* baby carrier would have to be taken off to be "visually inspected". I emailed and asked, specifically about an all-cloth carrier.

Hmm, sorry. I was told I only had to take mine off because it had "hardware" (Patapum) I had a friend who wore her baby right through the check in a didy (like a maya wrap) and talked to a mom in the MCO airport who said she went through security wearing a wrap (when I mentioned that I wouldn't have the talent to take it off and then rewrap that quickly)

But, yes, I'm also a Child Passenger Safety Tech and I second taking a car-seat. I might actually sling the toddler and push the baby in the carseat on the stroller, if the stroller can be used that way. With DD, I put her in the carrier at the airport and put anything bulky, heavier, or unweildy (like carryon or a carseat) in the stroller.

 

[Pookasaurus]

I'm going to second the beco or a ring sling - if she is new to baby wearing there can be a bit of a learning curve for wraps and slings (though I love my ring slings, too) and there is some adjusting that will be needed. With the beco I just find it easier to do things like grocery shop with my 2 kids and would personally think I'd feel more secure with the baby in a beco running through an airport, but I love my ring slings, too.

I've been wearing my son in his beco since he was 1 week, so 6 weeks would be fine. The downside to the beco is that it is expensive ($140) but well worth it imo. Its what I plan to use most at disney - the way the beco is set up you can put the baby in the carrier and then transfer the baby and the carrier either to another person or onto your back. I love my beco!

I love my ring slings, too, though. I wore my baby in my ring sling using the snuggle carry at 4 wks for my 3 year olds birthday party and it worked out perfectly. He is bigger now so I do have to adjust occasionally in the ring sling. I plan to bring my slings as well.

 

[robinsegg]

I should have mentioned that I took a 3mo to Chicago last fall and used only my Moby Wrap. It worked wonderfully . . . but we haven't flown yet, so I can only tell you what the security agency told me.

 

[doccoc2002]

Love our Moby wrap even my friend got one for her DD. My DD is 10m and she still LOVES it and it doesn't hurt my back/shoulders like the others did! You can wear it so many ways and even nurse in it if she BF.

 

[sritter78]

Ring Sling-I took DS to WDW at 6 weeks and carried him everywhere in it (and nursed him in it).

SOLARVEIL Ring Baby Sling:
An innovative fabric from Milliken, Solarveil blocks the UVA and UVB rays while keeping you cool and comfortable. There is no other fabric available with the same unique features. In rigorous laboratory testing, a single layer of Solarveil blocks 75% to 80% of UVA and UVB rays, and a double layer blocks 92% to 95%. Most of the styles are designed with a double layer in the high exposure areas to give added protection. This level of protection maintains when the fabric is wet or dry.
Solarveil also has excellent wicking properties, which is the ability to pull perspiration away from the skin. This, combined with the open knit construction that allows air to easily pass through the fabric which rapidly evaporates moisture, creates an air conditioning effect keeping the wearer cool. Millikenís VISA treatment not only creates this wicking ability, but allows for soil release and easy care. Wash cold and Tumble dry low.

I bought mine off of Etsy.com

 

[miasmomma]

I am looking to get a carrier for our trip May 31-June 4th. My baby is 15 months and about 22 pounds. I am short and lets just say "chubby", LOL! Anyway, which carrier would be best for this trip and wouldn't be so hot. I probably wouldn't use it after the trip. It will mainly be for waiting in lines where we can't take the stroller. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jdougherty]

I have used slings with both DD and DS. I have done what OP's friends is doing. I would only do it with a sling and than only with my custom sling.

DS slept the entire time. With my custom I like that I can adjust the straps as he get bigger. It's made from soft flanel (sp?) and embroided suede.

Currently I have a native sling and custom pouch sling. I shop by myself with DS7m sleeping in either sling and DD2.5 in the shopping cart.

I am taking both to WDW is July.

PM me if you would like the creator's email adress.