Hotslings - Stretch Baby Sling/Wrap

Slings are getting to be very trendy these days. I've even heard one mom say that they're becoming the new stroller. Luckily they are cheaper than strollers!

I originally wanted a sling because of the benefits listed by experts like Dr. Sears. Babywearing makes your baby happier, learn quicker, and feel more of a bond with the person wearing him/her, also being able to do have my hands free to do things around the house is a huge bonus! (see Dr. Sears' article on babywearing http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/T051100.asp). You don't have to start wearing your baby as soon as he's born, it's never too late to start. It's also not just for moms, lots of dads are getting into the babywearing trend.

I owned a frameless carrier (a front-pack carrier) and a ring sling. I got rid of both. They just weren't for me. I didn't like the front-pack because my baby's legs would hit mine when I was walking and I felt like he didn't have room to breathe because he was shoved up against my chest. Once he was forward-facing, the instructions said not to let them fall asleep this way. It was almost impossible for my son to stay awake when he was in the carrier, plus I couldn't tell if he was asleep or not, so that wasn't going to work out.

The ring sling was my next try. I hated it. Lots of people love them and have gotten them to work easily. Not me. It was awkward, bulky, and just didn't feel right.

I joined a babywearing group online and told them of my woes. One person told me not to give up, that she also hated ring slings. She told me to give a Hotsling a try.

The Design
I first checked them out at their website, www.hotslings.com. I must say they have some gorgeous designs. There are 4 categories of slings they have (stretch, water, fleece, and reversible), but since this review is or the Stretch Baby Sling, I'll focus on those.
-There are 21 different stretch hotslings! Some solid, some patterned. Some are quite plain, some are quite fun and interesting. A great variety to suit either mom or dad.
-The hotsling is one piece of fabric, no rings or buckles to fuss with.
-It is slightly stretchy, made of 3% lycra and 97% cotton. The reason why the stretch is great is because it gives more structure, support, and security to the sling when carrying a heavier baby or when it's been used over time.
-It can be folded up very small so you can fit it into a diaper bag or purse.
-Easy to wash, just throw it in a washing machine with like colors and hang to dry (it will shrink if you dry it in a regular dryer... so don't do this!).
-9 different sizes ranging from petite/extra small to 4X, they have a sizing tool on their website that goes by height, weight, bra size, and shoulder to hip length. Obviously very tailored! They also have slings for kids to carry their dolls/toys in!
-Wide shoulder that spreads over your back evenly to prevent back pain.
-Can be used with newborns and toddlers until they are 35 lbs. I've read that children outgrow the need to be carried before they outgrow their sling.
-There are 3 main carries: cradle for 0-4 months, front for 2-8 months, and hip or 6 months and up. There are a few other carries demonstrated on the website including back carrying and how to nurse wearing a sling. There are videos of the 3 main carries on the hotsling site.

My experience
I sized out my sling online on the Hotsling website using their calculator. I entered in my height, weight, bra size (the measurement from your hip across to your opposite shoulder is an optional entry, but it helps). It told me the size I needed, and it was right! Because the calculator isn't always right, they also give instructions on how to make sure it's a right fit. The instructions demonstrate where the sling should hang when it's on; the instructions also tell you if it feels tight, it probably is (similarly, if it's hanging below your belly button it's too big).

I was worried this sling would be just as frustrating as my last one. I was wrong! I checked out the instructions and got my baby in there and comfortable in minutes! It was a miracle. No tears (from me or my son) and no fuss. He's completely happy and seems to feel secure and I don't get the feeling like he's going to drop out at any second.

How does my baby like it? He loves it! He loves looking at the funky design (I have a white one with blue polka dots) and he definitely seems comfortable in it and will often fall asleep if I take him out for a walk in it, even if he's fussy/crying before I put him in.

So far I've only used the sling in a front carry, which is similar to a cradle carry except he isn't lying down in the sling, he's sitting up. I didn't get a chance to use the cradle carry with this sling because he's already too old for it. I haven't tried the hip carry either because he isn't old enough for that. Breastfeeding in the sling is awesome, it offers all kinds of privacy if you pull up the front/top layer of the sling. I'll update this review when he gets older and we get to try the hip and back carry!

The length of time that you can carry your child in this sling depends on the wearer and how fit they are, and what the wearer is doing. I used to have a very physical job, but I have been on maternity leave for over 7 months now so I'm not nearly as physically fit as I used to be. I can't see myself doing more than an hour of housework wearing my son, but I could probably go for a walk or shopping with him for well over an hour.

As the weather gets warmer, surprisingly we haven't had any comfort issues. This is likely because the sling is mostly cotton and breathable. One concern though is the sun. The Hotslings company does make a sling that filters 90% of UV rays, but the regular stretch slings do not offer that protection. Even with UV protection, it doesn't protect heads, bare arms, or legs hanging out. So if you do take your baby with the sling outside, use a high SPF sunscreen on him/her.

One thing I forgot to mention before is trying to get your baby out of the sling. If you're using a ring sling instead, you can just loosen the whole thing and the baby comes out easily and gently, a sleeping baby will stay asleep. With this sling, you have to tilt your baby upside down and slide him out from the back! It's not that bad when you get the hang of it, but if your baby fell asleep in the sling, he's staying in there unless you want to wake him up.

The Price
Hotslings vary in price. The reversible ones are around $64, the water/UV ones are $49, and the stretch ones range from $39-49. Kids slings are $15. I find these prices great compared to other slings and carriers on the market (I bought my ring sling for $58). In comparison to a strollers that can be in the hundreds of dollars, the hotsling is definitely cheaper!

The Service
I didn't buy my sling directly from the website, but I did email them a question at 7:30pm on a Wednesday night and I got a reply back within minutes! I'm amazed. The reply was very thorough and helpful.

This is one of the best things I've purchased for my baby and I wish I had gotten it sooner!