Dads Carrying

A couple of weeks ago, the family borrowing the Sling Library’s Lenny Lamb Mei Tai were kind enough to email me a lovely photo of it in good use. I love that it’s Dad doing the carrying as there’s sometimes an assumption that Mums do most of the carrying and that simply isn’t true. So I’ve added in a few more great pictures of Dads using some of the Sling Library carriers 😀

 

  

   

If you’ve got any photos of any of the Sling Library carriers being used, and you wouldn’t mind them being posted on the website or Facebook page, then we’d really love to have them!  Please email your photos to southlondonslings@hotmail.co.uk. Thank you! 😀


© 2012 South London Sling Library

Manduca Baby and Child Carrier

The Manduca Baby and Child Carrier is a Soft Structured Carrier (SSC) that has an integral newborn support pouch and an extendable body height so that it can be used from birth to toddler.  It buckles to your body with a supportive, padded waistband and two shoulder straps that can be worn in a variety of ways. All buckles are fully adjustable, with additional sliders for adjusting the length of the shoulder straps, so that the child’s weight is distributed comfortabley and evenly across the parent’s hips and torso. The carrier itself can be worn front, back or hip depending on how old your child is; it fully supports a child’s hips, legs and spine in the recommended position and also has a fold-away sleep hood to support a sleepy head. It’s made from organic cotton and hemp fabric, and though very strong isn’t too bulky or hot feeling on the body (so a good SSC choice for summer).  A very good quality carrier with lots of useful features and an unfussy, sporty look.

Here’s the Manduca used in a front carry:

And in a back carry:

Type of carrier: Soft Structured Carrier (SSC)

Features: Organic cotton and hemp fabric, dual adjustable buckles, sleep hood, integrated newborn support, adjustable height body for taller babies and toddlers, detachable chest strap.

Suitable for: All parents and all children, depending on carry used.

Carrying positions: Front, back and hip.

Ease of use: Fairly straightforward to use once you’ve got the knack, however fastening buckles behind your back for front carries can be a little tricky, as can scooting your baby around to your back for back carries.  The shoulder straps have adjustable length to fit different sized parents, which is great for comfort, but you’ll have to keep readjusting these if more than on person uses the carrier. SSCs are and easy and useful way to back carry an older child if you also have a small baby on your front.

Comfort: The Manduca has a very adjustable fit, and when properly adjusted, this carrier can be very comfortable and distributes the child’s weight very well.  However, as with most SSCs, it may not be possible to get the ideal fit and this depends on the shape of both parent and child.  Some may find the chest buckle digs when back carrying, and carrying without this can pull on the shoulders, which can become uncomfortable.

Overall Verdict: A top quality, feature filled and versatile carrier that’s suitable for all children and parents.  It’s a lightweight, convenient and comfortable carrier for mid length trips and holidays, though can become uncomfortable on longer trips if it’s not the ideal shape and size for you and your baby.

To hire this carrier from the South London Sling Library, email southlondonslings@hotmail.co.uk to check it’s availability and find out more!

The South London Sling Library’s Manduca Baby Carrier has been provided at a very reduced price by www.cheekyrascals.co.uk.


© 2012 South London Sling Library

Wrap Conversion Ring Sling

This Ring Sling has been professionally made out of a Hopediz Costa Rica wrap by Sleeping Baby Productions.  Many professional carrier makers offer the service of converting a woven wrap into another type of carrier.  This means that you get the added features and ease of use of the new carrier, but also the support, flexibility and comfort of the specially woven wrap fabric.  This particular ring sling has large bronze coloured aluminium rings and a very neat pleated shoulder that’s not at all bulky, and allows the rings to sit comfortabley near your shoulder.  There’s no padding to position and it can be worn on either shoulder.  I loved using this for shorter trips from the car into shops or school as I put the ring sling on before we leave, wear it while driving and it makes the transfer from the car very quick and easy!  Great for using at a busy time of day when you don’t need any fussing.

Type of carrier: Ring Sling

Features: 100% cotton, made of wide and supportive specially woven wrap fabric, “SBP pleated shoulder” so can be used on either shoulder

Suitable for: All parents and all children, depending on carry used.

Carrying positions: Front and hip.

Ease of use: Very easy and quick to use once you’ve got the knack – the rings allow you to easily adjust the sling to get the best fit without having to fiddle with buckles or straps.  The positions used change as your child develops and from 6 months will mainly be in a sitting position – at this stage a ring sling basically supports you carrying your child in a natural position on your hips (where most parents will put a child if carrying in their arms).  Very convenient carrier for shorter trips and for using at home, and useful for toddlers who only want to walk some of the time as you can just wear the sling over your shoulder and pop your child in and out as required.  Using ring slings can also be a useful way of carrying twins.

Comfort: Very comfortable and supportive to wear for shorter periods (up to about an hour), though as a one shouldered carrier it can feel lopsided or uncomfortable for longer periods or with heavier/bigger children.  The rings allow the sling to be fully adjustable to fit both parent and child, holding the child close to parent’s body and putting less strain on the parent’s back.  As there are no buckles or fastenings (other than the rings), then there’s nothing to dig in or get in the wrong place.

Overall Verdict: A supportive, comfortable ring sling that’s very easy to use and in a neutral unisex colour.  The specially woven wrap fabric makes it very comfortable to wear and easy to adjust so it doesn’t need padding.  This makes it great for keeping in your bag as it rolls up small, and means that it’s not bulky to wear.  A very practical, reliable, solid carrier that we really enjoy using!

To hire this carrier from the South London Sling Library, email southlondonslings@hotmail.co.uk to check it’s availability and find out more!  We now have a very good range of different ring slings made from woven wrap fabric with different types of shoulder to suit different preferences. To see our selection, visit the Ring Slings and Pouches catalogue page.

This carrier has been bought with help from The London Door Company.

 


© 2012 South London Sling Library

Sling Hire Holiday Offer!

To celebrate the start of the South London Sling Library, we’ll be running various offers over the next few months.  Our little holiday offer is to allow for Library holidays, but lets you get more out of your sling hire too!

Holiday Sling Hire Offer:  Anyone who has hired a baby carrier that is due back during Library holidays may extend their hire period for free! The extension period is subject to available dates and must be agreed in advance.

This year the Library holidays are: from the 25th July to 7th August 2011, and also from the 11th to the 25th August 2011

For more information about the baby carriers that we have available to hire, browse the links above or email southlondonslings@hotmail.co.uk.  Enjoy your summer! 😀


© 2012 South London Sling Library

BabyHawk Mei Tai

This lovely reversible Mei Tai carrier has a pretty decorative panel on one side, but is plain on the other so it can be worn either way out.  It’s got comfortable straps that aren’t too wide or bulky, and that are nicely padded at the shoulder.  It has a lightly padded headrest area, which also helps to support the back of an older child if they prefer to have their arms out over the top of the carrier.  I found it very comfortable and supportive with my 16 month old, and it’s great in hot weather as you don’t have lots of fabric wrapped around you.

Here’s it out on a picnic in a back carry with arms in and then out.

BabyHawk Mei Tai to Hire  BabyHawk Mei Tai for Hire

And here on holiday with an 18 month toddler in a front carry:

Type of carrier: Mei Tai – fastens by securely tying the waist and shoulder straps around you to hold your baby or toddler close to your body. Find out more about Mei Tais here: About Asian Style Carriers.

Features: 100% cotton, reversible, padded shoulders and child head/back rest,

Suitable for: All parents and all children, depending on carry used.  At the Library the BAbyHawk is our favourite mei tai to borrow, and the shape seems to suit a very wide range of parents and babies. Thie one pictured is the standard sized BabyHawk, which may start to feel too small for larger toddlers by about 18-24 months (a larger sized ToddlerHawk is available). The standard length BabyHawk straps may not be long enough for all parents – some taller or larger parents may find that they need longer ‘XL’ straps, which are an additional option when ordering a BabyHawk.

Carrying positions: Primarily front and back, though can be used as a hip carrier too.

Ease of use: It does require a little practice, but most people get the hang of mei tais quickly. Compared to some carriers you get the reassurance of tying the waist straps first to help support your child securely while you tie the shoulder straps.  And like all mei tais it’s also easier than most other carrier options to do safe back carries. There are different tying options for each carrying position, but each are very quick and easy to do once you’ve got the knack, and it’s a lot easier than a woven wrap to work out how to get the tension and support right.

Comfort: Comfortable and supportive to wear as you can easily adapt the tying style to suit different shaped parents and babies. For heavier/bigger children you may find it starts to pull more at the shoulders, and that you’d prefer more padding or that you need a bigger size.

Overall Verdict: An attractive Mei Tai that’s easy to use, comfortable and practical.  Has all the basic features and padding you need without so much that it becomes bulky to wear or awkward to carry around. Definitely scores extra points for being reversible, and for being easier for Dads to learn to use too!

To hire this carrier from the South London Sling Library, email southlondonslings@hotmail.co.uk to check it’s availability and find out more!

This BabyHawk Mei Tai has been bought with help from The London Door Company.

 


© 2012 South London Sling Library

Bebina Rainbow

This is one of my personal wraps that I’ve decided to make available to the Library so that others can try it.  It’s a beautiful woven wrap made by brand Bebina and is woven in gorgeous rainbow colours.  Here’s me with my 16 month old daughter, using the Bebina Rainbow woven wrap in a supportive and comfortable Double Hammock back carry.

Woven Wrap for Hire

Type of carrier: Woven Wrap

Features: 100% cotton, rainbow stripe, size 6 (4.7m long)

Suitable for: All parents and all children, depending on carry used.

Carrying positions: Front, Hip, Back and Breastfeeding

Ease of use: As with all woven wraps, it may require some practice to be able to use correctly.  Once you have learnt, it is as easy as using a Mei Tai or any other carrier that ties on.  As it is very long it can be less practical than other carriers when wrapping outside in wet, windy or muddy conditions.

Comfort: Very comfortable and supportive to wear for a significant period of time.

Overall Verdict: Lovely wrap in gorgeous, happy colours that’s wide, supportive and easy to wrap with.  One of my favourites!

To hire this baby carrier from the South London Sling Library, email southlondonslings@hotmail.co.uk to check it’s availability and find out more!

This carrier has been bought with help from The London Door Company.

 


© 2012 South London Sling Library

Welcome to South London Slings!

We are an independent, Mum-run service providing expert sling and baby carrier advice classes and hire from locations across South London. All of our Consultants are qualified and insured.

**Please note: ALL our Face To Face services (Drop-In Sessions, Workshops & Consultations) are currently suspended. Please consider an Online Consultation or buying a vBook (coming soon) instead. Postal Sling & Carrier Hire or Doorstep Collections are still available. Visit our blog (via our Home Page) for details. **

If you would like details of how to hire/return a sling or carrier, or how to get help or advice on using one, then please see the menu above.

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Due to limited spaces, all of our Workshops & Consultations require pre-booking in advance. If you would prefer a “Drop In” Session – you can find details here.

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© 2020 South London Sling Library

South London Sling Library Blog

We use our Sling Library blog to post news announcements, carrier reviews, changes to the way the Library works, plus carrier tips and information articles. The most recent blog posts appear on the Library website Home page with the most recent first.  Older blog posts can be found by browsing the sections of the ‘News and Reviews’ menu to the right.

Any comments on blog posts are very welcome, as are suggestions for things for me to blog about!