Need to order a sling for someone else asap...guidance?

[Judegirl]

I know nothing about slings. I'm starting at kangarookorner.com, thanks to advice from members here. Is this the kind of thing that's okay to buy for a friend? Is there anything I need to be on the lookout for? What should I think about before deciding? I know all the basics - her taste, frame, baby's weight, etc...but if someone bought YOU a sling, what would you have hoped they knew first??

TIA!

Jude

[Amala]

Yeah! A sling is a great gift---and I'm mailing out three today to friends who just had babies. I got them each a pouch sling from tentoes.com, but also like the pouches from hotslings (as both are lightweight fabrics for summer).

So it is definitely more than okay to buy one for a friend, and I would send an email to whomever you'd like to buy it from explaning what you're doing, as they will definitely have good information and advice for you.

Does your friend already have a sling? What I would recommend for starting is either an unpadded ring sling (adjustable so that people of different sizes can wear it) or a pouch sling (not adjustable, but with some size range). In addition to your friend's size (height, weight, bra size, etc.), you might also want to think about her partner's/husband's, as that person might want to carry the baby too!

You almost can't go wrong with a sling purchase, and if you have a little extra money, the slings at zolowear.com are really beautiful and well-made...

[megulis]

A sling is a great idea. Since I haven't purchased a sling for anyone else, I can't give you much advice. I know personally I put a lot of research into which slings I buy. I think many people think pouches are the easiest to start off with.

Does your friend have any slinging experience?
Can you kind of skim around the issue and see if she is indeed interested in babywearing in general?
Is she comfortable with wearing more traditional carriers such as the ring slings or is she only interested in Baby Bjorn type of carriers?
Does she like the idea of a non-Baby Bjorn but doesn't want anything too complicated or too "sling" like looking?

Many questions I know. For my friend, I am letting her select which carrier she wants me to buy her. There is also color preferences.

Of course, since I have a preference in slings, I think a good first sling is an adjustable pouch like the KKAFP or Maya Adjustable Pouch. I think the Maya Pouch would be a good first all year one, but I think more people fall in love and then purchase their own slings if their first slings are KKAFPs or pouches made with fleece.

Good luck!