Product: Non-adjustable Pouch Sling

Manufactured by: Rhubarb & Custard

Price: R280.00

Available from: Rhubarb & Custard (online orders)

Website: http://www.rhubarbandcustard.co.za/

Review Date: 23 November 2008

When Luba was about 4 or 5 months pregnant, we went to our first baby expo in Johannesburg. If the complexities of what was to come in baby products hit us there, because everybody had the biggest and best and "only this one is good for your baby" was basically touted at every stand!

Be that as it may, we went looking for a few specific products, and one of them was a baby sling. Now, we found the one we were looking for, and I was ready to buy, but wife said we must first look around a bit more... good thing because otherwise we would not have found this sling.

The Product:
These slings are know as a Non-Adjustable Sling Pouch, which is essentially just a tubular piece of material folded double with a rounded stitch that makes a bit more space for baby's bum. They come in a variety of colours and inner linings and are quite fashionable.

Review:
Now, the gadgeteer in me wanted something that will last for a while, so I was not too happy with the idea that this sling is not adjustable. Lucky for us, the Owner of the company was there to show off her goods (what a sales lady! She knows how to move her product!) and quickly confiscated a nearby 2 year old to show how the same sling will carry a newborn to age two. The mother of the child she used most certainly bought a sling as well, because the expression on her face when her daughter sat nicely in the sling was just heavenly (that sold it to me)

Adjustability out of the way, what was nice is that small babies can lie in the sling, and a small double fold on the shoulder can pull them tighter to your body. Normal use is fine, and older kids can sit on your hip but supported by the sling (so they essentially sit in the sling) which transfers your child's weight from your hip to your shoulder, making him much easier to carry.

Being photographers we are used to carrying heavy gear bags (usually about 15 to 20kg backpacks) when traveling and slingbags with a camera body and some lenses (about 4-7kg) when walking around a location. The one thing that no bag manufacturer has ever gotten right, is that no matter how thick the padding on the strap is, the continuous pressure on the muscles on your shoulder next to your neck will result in a shoulder spasm after a day of even carrying only a 2kg bag. It's just how your body works, and will happen every time.

Long story short, this was my biggest fear in a sling, that I will by carrying a 4kg baby on that shoulder muscle for a few hours at a time.

Now, the really great thing is that this particular design doesn't have a broad and narrow section, so the weight distribution actually runs very wide, and flat over your shoulder and down your upper arm, putting most of the pressure on much further away from the finicky muscles close to your neck.

We ended up buying two (one for me and one for wifey) This is the sad part. Because they are not adjustable, we can't wear the same size, but on the flipside, Luba could get a pink one, and I got a blue one.

In Use:
So practically... how do they work in real life? Well, good, actually. Better than expected. It took a while to learn how to get baby in quickly and get him settled, but once inside, everything  goes well. I would not suggest you wear this sling for hours on end because at the end of a three hour session, your back does start to get a bit stiff. This might be due to too many car accidents and whiplash, but that is about my limit.

The great benefit of the weight being on the shoulder and arm instead of on the shoulder close to the neck is immeasurable. I have spoken to a few sling owners that have mentioned they love their adjustable slings, but after a while the muscles in their necks and shoulders just force them to hand over to partner.

The manufacturers claim that you can easily breast-feed in the sling. Luba has not been able to master that technique, so maybe it's something to do with body type, and/or size of baby. Either way, not everybody will get that part right.

All in all I love my sling. It's made of nice quality material, and I use it everyday. If baby is fussy, Into the sling he goes until he is settled (about 5 minutes, and he is gone) and from there I go about with most of my daily routine. Obviously you can't do everything with baby in the sling, but working on the computer or eating is possible and preparing things around the house is much easier. I actually wrote this review with baby in the sling (today just wasn't a good day for babes, and a little close comfort works wonders!)

I also prefer to carry baby in the sling when visiting with friends or going out. It amazes me how many people (and I am talking of totally random strangers) feel they have a right to touch, hold or stroke your baby without your permission. If you did that to my wife, there would be serious trouble, but because it's a cute little baby, it's supposed to be ok?! Well... I don't want to be rude, and it's not a good idea to whack any old lady in the shopping mall, so the sling solved this problem perfectly. The baby is covered completely, you can lift the edge of the material away so that people can see baby, and then just close it up again, as soon as their hands start to move in (It also helps to look and turn slightly away just at that moment... leaving the illegal "toucher" a little baffled and confused)

I don't think I will still use this sling when baby is 2 years old, I will most probably go for a backpack design at that point, but right now, this sling does the trick perfectly. Especially at three in the morning when baby does not want to sleep!

So. is this the perfect sling? I don't know, but it comes about as close as I can imagine.

Would I buy it again? In a heartbeat!

 

Pros:	Cons:
High quality material Wide shoulder strap design Washes well, doesn't shrink Stows away smallish Actually some really nice designs and patterns Breathable, not padded so it doesn't get overly hot	Not very adjustable Caused some back pain for me after long use (but not more than any other sling would)