Anyone up for a gratuitous sling porn thread?

[nickimacrae]

Something lighthearted for a Monday morning :grin:...

Been lusting after one of these for ages, but know I won't like the shoulder :cry:

Zolo ring sling - butterflies

http://zolowear.com/Images/Shop/Slings/Orig/SL-02581.jpg

[Elle Driver]

How much is something like that?

I've never been a sling gal myself! :happyno:

[nickimacrae]

£125 dollars (so plus shipping to UK) - and thats in the sale... These fancy slings ain't cheap!

[nickimacrae]

Lots of my friends have Sakura Blooms...

http://sakurabloom.com/store/bmz_cache/0/05fc8f1e98b14aeabc0716b6ae7437a5.image.248x330.jpg http://sakurabloom.com/store/bmz_cache/c/cf02baaf4e7fa00032dbae4f70993e99.image.248x330.jpg
http://sakurabloom.com/userfiles/image/lucy_jewels_f8.jpg http://sakurabloom.com/userfiles/image/suz_72_website_f14.jpg

But at $198 upwards def not cheap. :brainache:

[lucypede]

I've just bought this...
http://i16.tinypic.com/4kusu9d.jpg

For a bargainous £20! I love it!

ETA that pic doesnt do it justice, hang on!

Real pic..

http://i9.tinypic.com/5yvqh5e.jpg

[nickimacrae]

Ahhh you got yourself an Ellarioo :thumb: Do you like it? :smile:

[lucypede]

Yes i love it! You are so right about the shoulder spreading out nicely. Ireally like the padding too, and Penny was sooo comfy too! Its following your advice that I went for it! :kiss:

[nickimacrae]

Awww shucks! :oops: Glad you like it!

[grockler]

Lucypede, that sling's print is just gorgeous! Bet little Penny looks über-cute and scrummy in it.

I might try a wrappy type sling this time round although am planning to use the Wilkinet still. Found it great last time.

[DannyGirl]

They are lovely :lurve:

Oh Nicki can I pick your brains please?

I would like to get a sling, mainly for holiday when T will be about 3 months old, but I would like one which could be used from now as well. Any recommendations? Something cheapish and one which OH wouldn't be embarrased to wear. :wink:

I love the look of the ring slings.
:flowers:

[nickimacrae]

You can pick my brains DG :nod:, but not my nose :zombie:...

Well, pretty much most things could fit that bill :scratchchin:. Can I ask you some Q's?...

Are you and your DH vastly different in height, size, etc?

Are you going on hols somewhere hot or cold?

Do you want to be able to use it from now right through to toddlerhood, or are you happy to perhaps 'upgrade' at some point if you want to carry an older / baby toddler?

Is it just colours / jazzy patterns your DH wouldn't want to wear - or would say he find a ring sling tail hanging down odd? I supoose, is he OK with any shape of carrier so long as it fits / is comfy / is not a girly colour? (sorry, I have to ask these things as my DH will tollerate anything seemingly tie dye, gold brocade, pink silk .:teehee: ...)

[DannyGirl]

You can pick my brains DG :nod:, but not my nose :zombie:...

Well, pretty much most things could fit that bill :scratchchin:. Can I ask you some Q's?...

Are you and your DH vastly different in height, size, etc?

Are you going on hols somewhere hot or cold?

Do you want to be able to use it from now right through to toddlerhood, or are you happy to perhaps 'upgrade' at some point if you want to carry an older / baby toddler?

Is it just colours / jazzy patterns your DH wouldn't want to wear - or would say he find a ring sling tail hanging down odd? I supoose, is he OK with any shape of carrier so long as it fits / is comfy / is not a girly colour? (sorry, I have to ask these things as my DH will tollerate anything seemingly tie dye, gold brocade, pink silk .:teehee: ...)

Oh you star,

my OH is a short arse and is only just a bit taller than me, so about 5'7

We are going to Barbados so its :sun:

I can't see myself using it when T is a toddler really :scratchchin: if I did I'd probably upgrade to another one, but definitely want to be able to use it now.

OH is a bit of a mans man and wouldn't like anything in a girly colour, or girly looking actually. Come to think of it I might actually get him a baby bjorn and a nice girly one for me:scratchchin:

That has probably thrown you now. :lol: How about forgetting about the OH bit and maybe something suitable for just me, as its probably me who will do most of the wearing.

Thanks Nikki :flowers:

[Lady M's Mummy]

I am v interested in getting a sling for my next bubs so will be PM'ing you as soon as i am up the duffage NM :nod:

[~String~Bean~]

I am v interested in getting a sling for my next bubs so will be PM'ing you as soon as i am up the duffage NM :nod:

WSS

I don't understand why they cost so much though. The butterfly one is lovely. I rarely see colours, patterns & materials I like when looking at slings & typically, the one I like is expensive.

[nickimacrae]

WSS

I don't understand why they cost so much though. The butterfly one is lovely. I rarely see colours, patterns & materials I like when looking at slings & typically, the one I like is expensive.

Some slings I will defend on price. For instance a mei tai made in the UK where fabric costs aren't cheap, made by a WAHM who can't use economy of scale to bring down costs, taking several hours to sew. IK darm well there are WAHM selling tem out there right now on Ebay and places who are simply aren't making any money for their time and effort. :nod:

However, where the very expensive US ring slings are concerned, the craze seems to be fueled by fashion. Yes they aren't cheap to make, but there must be a fairly decent profit on those prices too :scratchchin:. Trust me the sling world, in general, doesn't work on the sorts of profit margins the gift or clothes industries do.

The Sakura Blooms do come in hugely fancy packaging which IK must bump up costs... In the main though its down to a) celebs (like Angelia Jolie) make them desirable, and b) making them more expensive gives them kudos in their own right and means folk who might not therwise use them will.

Trust me there are circles where a certain sling can be as coveted as a Prada handbag or a pair of Laboutins, and where theres desire there will always be someone to step in and fill that top sector of the market.

I try to keep my prices somewhere fair - fair to the small family run and WAHM businesses that I work with and fair to the customer. Its a hard balancing act though...

[L66TTY]

See I must just don't get those type of slings I guess I more of a utility sports kinda girl! I like the more funky styles spots and stripes are more me!!

Those butterflies are pretty though not sue I like the black background though!! Fussy bugger aren't I!

Like yours Lucypede I can really see you in that!

[nickimacrae]

Oh you star,

my OH is a short arse and is only just a bit taller than me, so about 5'7

We are going to Barbados so its :sun:

I can't see myself using it when T is a toddler really :scratchchin: if I did I'd probably upgrade to another one, but definitely want to be able to use it now.

OH is a bit of a mans man and wouldn't like anything in a girly colour, or girly looking actually. Come to think of it I might actually get him a baby bjorn and a nice girly one for me:scratchchin:

That has probably thrown you now. :lol: How about forgetting about the OH bit and maybe something suitable for just me, as its probably me who will do most of the wearing.

Thanks Nikki :flowers:
OK look - I'll tell you what I would suggest for you - and you can test the waters with your DH LOL! Size-wise you and your DH would prob wear the same size for everything anyway...

Right so coolness is the main prority here then...I think would want to think about something where your bodys not top covered up, or where and just ione layer of fabric covering baby...

A pouch could be a good idea. Not a fleece Coorie like I normally sell, but a cotton one (some have one layer construction, some a re two layer - I would stick to something one later. A Hotslings could be good...

http://www.hotslings.com/site/images_site/SC-ANA.jpg http://www.hotslings.com/site/images_site/SC-TOK.jpg

They are one layer cotton, with just a little padding along the botton rail so they are cushy against babys legs when they are older and have legs out in an upright carry. You do need to be recise with sizing with a pouch, but it might be you and your DH work out the same size and they do do masculine stripy ones and plain black, khaki, etc. There are several UK stockists of Hotslings, and I can sometimes order in for folk from one of my suppliers if you;re trying to get a particular design or size.

Ring sling wise - they are usually one layer anyway. Avoid a heavily padded one, and normally I'm an avocate of the lightly padded ones too, but in heat I would say go for totally unpadded. The padding doesn;t make a lot of comfort different for most folk TBH anyway.

Cotton would be fine, thats what most ring slings are made of. There are solarviel (a UV protective, highly breathable fabric which can be used in pools) ring slings. Great for holidays but I think you lose a little of the comfort for general use back home. I know http://www.natya.co.uk/ does them. Single layer silk ring slings can be very light and cool but not the brocade ones - but then it would be a fancy sling prob that your DH wouldn't wear, and then you would be buying two slings so that could end up costly. My fave option is a linen ring sling - linen is soooo adaptable to different weathers - breathable in heat, but cosy in cold. It mould so nicely around baby and parent too. The AngelTails I sell are lien but there is a distinct lack of other linen slings in the UK :puzzled:... I hate to sound like I'm pushing y own products though so will think who else does a linen RS.

http://www.bitsforbairns.co.uk/shop_slings/angeltails_inaction_no13.jpg

Wrap-wise, I normally rave over stretchy wraps for ickle babies (like the Moby, Kari Me, etc) but in intense heat it would be like wearing 2/3 extra t-shirts, so I'm discounting that. As non-stretchy wraps go, being that linen wraps are like kargaroo poo to get right now, I would recommend a Calin Bleu gauze - http://www.calinbleu.com. Just plain colours so I bet your DH would be fine with one. Although in the pic the front cross carry has been tied with three layers of fabric over baby I can tell you how to do it with just one.

http://www.calinbleu.com/images/chocolate225.jpg


I'm thinking a mei tai, the other option, might be a little warm. They tend to be a bit enclosing on a little body (great for keeping snug through a British winter!). There are lots of ladoes IK use them in hot places, like the hotter states in the US though, so I wouldn't disount it totally.

Please excuse the typing here, I should be sleeping LOL!

Does that help as a starting point - feel free to fire back questions - IK I've brushed over a lot of the practicalities of whats the easiest to use, etc! :lol: (you know, the important bits :doh: :rolleyes:).

[~String~Bean~]

Some slings I will defend on price. For instance a mei tai made in the UK where fabric costs aren't cheap, made by a WAHM who can't use economy of scale to bring down costs, taking several hours to sew. IK darm well there are WAHM selling tem out there right now on Ebay and places who are simply aren't making any money for their time and effort. :nod:

Ah OK I can see that.

I like this one
http://zolowear.com/Images/Shop/Slings/Orig/SL-01535.jpg

[DannyGirl]

Wow Nikki what a comprehensive reply thank you very much :bow:

I will have a think about them and then decide.

Is it easy to wear a handbag and also a sling? Does it get in the way? I mean with the ring slings.


String Bean I love that sling :lurve:

[nickimacrae]

If you want to wear a handbag you do it generally over the shoulder which has the sling on, with the strap over the sling (or I do anyway, maybe thats just me? ). A wide strap is easiest to keep it from sliping (good old friction). I've also worn an across body fabric bag over the sling (going the same direction). You can also manage a small back pack fine too.

[cheeky_biscuit]

My SIL sent me a hotsling as a baby present (she is in America where they're half the price, according to her!) just a plain beige one and it's fab. I took Holly round the supermarket in it, she just nuzzled (? is that the word?) down, fell into a contented sleep while I pushed the trolley & chased DD :teehee: It was very easy on the back, I hardly knew she was there! I didn't take a bag with me though (DH had his wallet :teehee: ), so I'm wondering how you get out to say baby clinic with a bigger bag?

[icclebunny]

how you get out to say baby clinic with a bigger bag?

Rucksack change bag when using a front carry in a ringsling :thumb: or frotn carry with a mei tai:wink:

[cheeky_biscuit]

Rucksack change bag when using a front carry in a ringsling :thumb: or frotn carry with a mei tai:wink:
now would my husband actually kill me if I told him I NEED a rucksack? :teehee: :puzzled:

[Firefly]

*fans self*

I'm fast becoming a sling-addict!

I loves em!

Current wish list includes a polka dot ring sling, and a rainbow coorie pouch. Oh, and one of those yummy pretty ones Nicki's selling :tongue:

*alerts DH to christmas list opportunities* :wink:

[nickimacrae]

Honestly - its downhill all the way from here! :tongue: I absolutely refuse to count exactly how many dofferent slings I've had in the last 4 years (someone one told me I was the Emelda Marcos of slings)! :lol: :oops: