Hi All,
I just ordered my first hotsling for my 5 month old daughter. She weighs about 16lbs. I ordered the cotton pouch. I was just wondering if anyone has any opinion or advice about these. I have never used a sling before only the baby bjorn carrier, which my daughter didn't seem to really like. She loves to be carried on my hip and I was hoping maybe the hotsling would be a good choice for us. Does anyone know how versatile these are or easy to use? Also how long can you use them for? Any comments would be great.
I don't have a hotsling, I have a "ring sling". A friend of mine has a hotsling and she LOVES it!
I believe you can change the babies position and you can carry them up to something like 45lbs!
I used a bjorn with my first and a sling with my 2nd (he's 3 months old). I love the sling - wish I would have known about it with my first.
Good luck carring your babe!
B.
I have a ring sling & a mei tai. I had tried on a hotsling at a local store a few months ago with my (then) 10 1/2 month old son who was 20+ lbs. I didn't find it comfortable. The ring sling is way more comfortable for older infants/toddlers because it is adjustable and not so hard on your back. I can see how the hotsling would be nice for newborns -- but the ring sling is a similar concept and would be good for newborns as well, I think.
I have a Hotsling. When I first used it, my baby cried for about a minute and then fell asleep immediately! As he's gotten a little bigger, he seems to like it less. He is just over 10 weeks old and 12 pounds. You can use it in three ways as your baby grows, so he might like it more when he's big enough to go to the next stage. I don't like how contorted he seems in it, but maybe I just never mastered the way he's supposed to sit in it. I thought he would be more upright, but instead he's kind of curled around me sideways - kind of awkward. Hope it works out well for you!
We purchased two hotslings for our newborn - one for my tall husband and one for myself. They were great - easy on the back and the baby loved being in them. He would immediately calm down when we put him in them. The big downside was that they shrunk when we washed them! I need to contact Hotslings to complain.
I don't have a hotsling - I have a Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch, and a Storchenwiege sling. Main disadvantage to the hotslings is that they are not adjustable. You will not be able to share with your husband, and you may "outgrow" it when your daughter gets much bigger. BUT, I love love sling carriers and I'm sure you will too. Please remember that it may take some time for your daughter to get used to being carried in the sling. Put her in it for a few minutes only the first day. Then longer the second day, etc. Do it when she's relaxed, happy, and you have already fed her (esp. if breastfeeding - or she'll be gnawing at your shirt!). She will sense how confident you are wearing the sling, and if you are uncomfortable or nervous about it, she will be too. After a week or so you both will be perfectly content!
Congrats on your new sling!
