twin slinging

Just wondering if any of you have used a sling/slings for your babies. If so, what kind do you have? Did you find it practical?

 

I have a sling and I use it for 1 baby at a time (Sean mostly), I just haven't figured out how to get both of them in it at once. I don't know what kind I have, it's a hand-me-down I got when Dave was a baby and the label is long since gone. It's sturdy though! I find it practical, putting a baby in a sling is pretty easy, even when you're by yourself. I like mine better than I like my baby carriers.

 

I've never slung both of them at the same time. I'm sure it would have been possible at the beginning, but I was too nervous to and now I'm not sure my back could cope. OTOH when needed, I've put one in a sling and carried the other - generally on days when they both need a bit of mummy.

We started with a Maya ring sling, which I do like although I've always found it a bit of a faff. I made a pouch from Jan Andrea's wonderful site when they were a couple of months old and used it a lot for the next few months (my sister took it for her newborn and I've not had a chance to replace it). I used both the sling and the pouch for nursing, around the house and short journeys.

I've just made myself a 'Beth's Mei Tai' which is very comfortable for a slightly bigger baby.

 

I have the Karma Baby sling and LOVE IT!! my DH has one also!!
they come in so handy!! my girls love them too!!

www.karmababy.com

this sling was actually designed by my peri's daughter!!

 

I double sling them...

here are some pics:
double sling

I never carry them in the same sling anymore. I was able to do that from birth to 3 mos, now I use two. I carry them in the sling twice a day every day to get my son to and from school.

 

I bought a mobywrap which I love.
I go out daily with my twins (and my girls, of course) and we don´t have a stroller at all, and it works out fine. It wasn´t that expensive (45 Euros), and there are two slinging techniques for twins in the explanation book - I used slings for more than two years on each of my singleton girls, but mobywrap was the best concernig price/quality relation.

The Karen Gromada website (linked from BF board) also shows some techniques, but I think only for babies who can hold their head upright.

But watch out wearing it - I went out with my one week old twins both in the sling, and because the babies are so visible, not hidden in a stroller, people keep asking and asking and asking. I counted, and I had 14 comments in one hour

It´s hard to stay calm when the 10th person askes you "Wow, is there two of them? Can I have one? " (How very, very funny and creative )

And: First time you might need a partner to help you picking up baby two when you´re already wearing baby one. Stability comes when both kids are in the sling.

 

quote:
Originally posted by HelenClyde:
I bought a mobywrap which I love...there are two slinging techniques for twins in the explanation book - I used slings for more than two years on each of my singleton girls, but mobywrap was the best concernig price/quality relation.



I would LOVE a Moby, do you sling them together in the Moby? If so, do you have pictures. I've been wanting a moby for months and my two are past the age of sharing one wrap.

 

I didn't get my sling until the girls were past the age of sharing but they did great with each in their own sling. There's a picture of another TS mommy on our website carrying her two babies in separate New Native Baby slings. The New Native Baby instruction sheet has directions for slinging newborn twins together in the same sling.

I found the sling so easy to use and much preferred it to the carriers like Baby Bjorn or Snugli. I've even used my sling to carry one of our toddlers back down the mountain after she got tired of hiking. We have our slings ready and waiting for this next baby.

 

Quote:
I would LOVE a Moby, do you sling them together in the Moby? If so, do you have pictures. I've been wanting a moby for months and my two are past the age of sharing one wrap./Quote

So, I love to show you some pics! I created an account on photobucket for the first time, I hope it works:

My boys in the sling

From above
And another fine pic!

Ok, I hope you can see the pics now.

 

Thanks so much for all your suggestions. We'll definitely be looking into some of these more and hopefully find something within our budget. I don't have a sewing machine so I can't make one of my own, although some friends of mine would maybe be able to.

We have a Snugli carrier from when DD was a baby, but as a newborn she HATED it! She didn't like to be facing in because she couldn't see the "world," so I didn't use it much until she was about 4 months old and could face out. A sling seems to be much more versatile even from a young age! And looks way more comfortable too. I love the idea of babywearing! I basically just carried my daughter a lot but that's not so practical with two babies.

 

HelenClyde! how do you fit them both in the moby? I see the instructions online and have tried briefly, but it looke like you wear them differently?..not in the 'pouches' but in the outer wrap part? does that make sense? Thanks for any other advice.

 

Nevermind that last post...my mind isn't working clearly these last three weeks What kind of wrap are you wearing in those photos Helenclyde?

 

I´m wearing the moby with the extra red cloth in the middle, I don´t know how they call it in english, but the red thing is just for decoration.

First I put Mehmet in one pouch (as in the instruction the one closer to my body), which alsways feels to loose to be of any good.

Then I hold Mehmets head with one hand while picking up Miro with the other (which needs some practice, but then works out fine. I put him into the second pouch - mostly his head is then slightly higher then his brother´s. The whoole thing then still isn´t good enough to walk hands free BUT then I pull the so called "logo section" (that´s how they call it in the instruction, just the piece of cloth around your waist) up, and that puts everything together. When they want to sleep, I pull it up even higher, so it holds their heads.

So, when you put on the sling, make sure the pouches are big enough for the babies, but the logo section is relatively tight.

 

And what I wanted to ask Erykah:

The slinging technique you use, do you have two slings for it? It looks like that on the photo. And then, is it the normal hip hold, just twice? And how do you put them on/in?

 

where do you find a moby? it looks interesting.
thanks
Michelle

 

I found the moby here:

www.mobywrap.com

I´ve got the "Moby D black with red silk", I think that works fine because the red thing isn´t too stretchy, so it keeps the babies stable.

When you look at "instructions", you´ll also see the twin techniques.

 

quote:
Originally posted by HelenClyde:
And what I wanted to ask Erykah:

The slinging technique you use, do you have two slings for it? It looks like that on the photo. And then, is it the normal hip hold, just twice? And how do you put them on/in?


Yes, its a normal hip hold. I put both slings on, put one in the bottom sling and tighten. Then the other one goes in on the other side. Its fairly easy but I always put them in over a soft surface jic.

 

I used the New Native Sling up until about 18 months when the girls got too heavy and shoes kept interferring with easy transfer. I just popped them in without any fuss or adjusting and off we went. I usually carried the other on my hip for short distances. I also had an OTSBH when they were younger, but found it too bulky and hot. I did occationally double sling them when they were tiny, but it wasn't quite right since I didn't have two of the same sling. I was off balance since the slings were at different heights though my girls weighed almost the same amounts.

Getting a sling was one of the best purchases I ever did. I loved it and have used it on occation when they are sick still though now they fight over who gets to be in it.

Even though the girls are probably going to be my only babies, I'm not giving up my sling anytime soon. Good purchase whatever kind you get. I got mine on ebay for $20.

 

I got a sling and a baby carrier and Jamie would go in the sling because Danny didn't like to lay down when held. But now Jamie doesn't like to lay downso we had to buy another carrier.