| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Azura Skye |
Material for Baby slings/wraps/ baby wearing.My bf, myself and Little one, who's 2 and a bit go for lots of walks without the pram, because we can't push it over the terrain that we go on (sand, rocky hills etc)... So we end up carrying her. He carries her on his shoulder, and I carry her by having her on my back, but instead of holding her under her knees, I cross my arms in the back, just the opposite of how I'd cross my arms in the front, and her butt sits on my forearms.I find it quite comfy as I'm flexible in the shoulder blades I guess... anyhow. I've been looking for better ways, because our ways are way too unsustainable, and I've found lots of different ways to hold babies and toddlers using upto 5 meters of woven material. There are lots of structured carriers that you can carry on your back like a back pack, but I like the look of the woven ones. One I really like is the Storchenwiege - has really great reviews, and is also half my surname, so gotta be good. Here's a pic: 
But it costs £60!! It's a special cross weave and doesn't stretch to accomodate weight. Anyone know either, where I can get them cheap - or where I could buy material that's the same or very similar so I can just 'make' one myself? Or - does any one carry their babas in slings etc? What do you use and recommend? : ) |
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
My two year old goes on my shoulders now - holding her hands - but then I live in Suffolk, away from the sea - and when I do visit we glow green after (not really  )
£60 is a lot - but spread over time and trips? The Mei tais that I saw being used last year by some parents seemed really comfy for all 
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| Sherbs |
What about the Welsh nursing shawl, basically just a large square shawl. There are a number of different ways of wearing it and you can find plenty of illustrations and instructions online. | ||||
| Stacey |
The one I was given is just a very very long strip of fleecey fabric.
http://www.calinbleu.com/baby_wraparound_sling.html |
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
That looks great 
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| Azura Skye |
My mum often used the Welsh Shawl, and she's shown me how to use it, but it's only one way, I actually didn't realise there was more than one way. I'll have a look on google now, thanks.
But from the one way I do know, it seems restrictive because it's not that secure and one arm is under the shawl. I prefer to have her on my back like in a rucksack. A Mai tai looks good but I dont know. 
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
I have never used one so I can't say - but we were using a sling and they had far older children jogging along over the terrain quite happily
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| Azura Skye |
jogging with a child eh? 
http://celticbabycarrying.blogspot.com Nice blog with lovely old images I just found whilst looking for Welsh Shawls - they are a bit too big for my liking. |
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| Chez |
We were given an ergobaby carrier and I don't really get on with it - although I think I will give it another go now Nenna is a bit bigger. ATM I use a karrimor thingy with a metal frame, which seems to suit my shape better.
I think that the best way to go about it is to try a few on, plus child, to be honest. |
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| Azura Skye |
Aye, good idea. The ergo looks okay, but just really bulky it seems to me. But if it's comfy then I suppose it's worth using it. Don't know where I can go and find some to try on
I've heard that some regions hold 'Sling Meets' where babywearing parents gather, and you can rent carriers/wraps etc to try for the day which seems like a really cool idea. I'd feel a bit silly turning up at one if there were any around here I think, not having a child myself! Of course, If I had my step daughter that wouldn't be a prob, doh : D |
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| toggle |
i use a ring sling with my one, | ||||
| Sally |
We used a Karrimor type back pack. Not the new fancy ones with rain cape and everything, just the backpack with a padded hip belt. I always took most weight on my hips and OH would set his up to take most weight on the shoulders.
We had two kids 15 months apart then an almost 5 year gap and two more 21 months apart. Backpacks got extensive use. However after baby four I found my back didn't take it much more. Luckily child 3 was very active and always wanted to keep up with 1&2 so she quickly didn't need carried and I passed no. 4 to OH. Then we got into cycling with baby seats.......
Youngest is now 13 and they are all taller than me! HOW time flies!
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| Sally |
Oh yes and the other thing.... after years of encouraging them up the hills with promises of picnics and whatever. Suddenly they can all romp up mountains and I have to struggle along bringing up the rear and giving them all the heavy stuff to carry!
WHEN did that HAPPEN!!!!!? 
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| Azura Skye |
What material is used with the Ring Sling toggle?
I suppose the good thing with the backpacks is the child can be taken out of them easier than having to fiddle with rearranging knots all the time with wraps. hmm! |
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| Helen_A |
Wraps are fantastic... so are MeiTais (also known as MT, or ABC (asian baby carrier), ringslings, SSC (soft structured carriers, such as the Ergo, Patapum, and Connecta)... (yep, I have stash, lol, and it gets used )
Um... For ease of use and quick getting used to I'd suggest the Connecta - made here in the UK by a WAHM (work at home mum) so def. downsizer friendly and lots of choice in colours.
There are UK makers of MTs/ABCs as well - I can send links if you'd like them. A couple of them are in Wales if you want to do really local (and I think that at least one is a welsh speaker as well, and knows lots about blanket carries too).
Um,.. other than that, I can suggest the natural mamas forum as a good place to ask questions on carrying. Lots of the sellers post there as well, so you'd discover a fair few places to buy generally. Oh - whatever you get they are def worth the money. They also have a really good resale value so if you get a 'good' one so if you decide that it isn't for you (and it may well take you trying a few to find the right fit for you, its rather like shoes in that respect - and yep, there are places you can hire them to try out first ) you won't lose money (or not much money) - oh, and there is a FSOT on the natural mamas forum as well, so you can buy 2nd hand to start with too...
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| Azura Skye |
ooh thanks for all the info Helen_A!
Because I only have her on the weekends I suppose, well, I'd like to just get it right first time
But good to know that they have resale value. I don't know where to go to Rent them out. I'll have a look at that forum, thanks for suggesting it. |
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| AnnaD |
I use a mei tai and it's brilliant. They are expensive but well worth it. I've been using mine since Hazel was born and am still using it 7 months later. | ||||
| Azura Skye |
Yeah I like them too, (well from the looks of them) seems like they can fold up small, but are easy to use. I've seen lots of photos of handmade ones, so I could give them a go as they don't require 'special' material like that Storchenwiege. |
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| Chez |
Do you want one in a hurry, AS? And are you going to the welsh midwinter meet? I can bring my ergo for you to try and a toddler to demonstrate with, if you would like?
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| Azura Skye |
Ooh that's a very kind offer I don't know if I'm coming to the meet, but if I am, I'd love to take you up on that and try an Ergo.
Otherwise, yes, I'd like to find something soon, because we've been going for so many rambles this month and twice we had to carry the pram! This week is the first week for a while that my back hasn't hurt from carrying her, because last time I carried her on my back with my arms wrapped around her bottom so that was much better. I try not to carry her on my hip at all because she's heavy. If I manage to go to Swansea anytime soon I'll try and find material. There's no material shops around here, crazy! Plus, I get to babysit my little nephew who's 12 weeks old now and again and I'd like to have a sling to carry him around too
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| Clara |
I have an Ergo, I´m 5ft2, it´s not at all bulky. We live a mile from where we can park our car so I´ve done a lot of miles with it with both my kids, I´ve also been up 2500m peaks with it, it´s just as comfortable as a rucksack, but I can´t wear one of those because I´m so short. I was using it for no 1 on my back until she was 20 months (and then only stopped because I was too pregnant to wear it). Though since I bought my Ergo, there is a now a European equivalent called a Manduca which has a couple of minor details in the design which I think are improvements. If you go to Big Mama Slings they have a returns policy. |
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| toggle |
it's cotton, about as thick as curtain fabric, with padded edges |
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| Helen_A |
If you are buying to make a wrap to carry a 2y.o. you'll need a furniture grade fabric - linen or cotton pref - that measures c. 90cm selvage to selvage, and has very little stretch down the length (a little on the bias or the width is fine). The av. size 12 female who is five foot 6" or less will need around 5m to do the most supportive carries (this allows for some shrinkage in the wash, and a hot wash is rec. to do this and tighten the fabric a little) and because you won't have the 'tails' (a woven in taper) that made-to-be-wraps have.
For the cost of the cloth you may want to think about buying a Calin Bleu wrap instead ( http://www.calinbleu.com/index.php ) as she has some slings in the sale for under £30 atm. |