Through the past

The 1st time I really heard anyone refer to a sling was in 1996. My Lamaze teacher for my 1st child said they were a good investment because they would help prevent overstimulation when we went out. That is still a big plus with a newborn but something I still don't hear enough in the "pros" to babywearing. I didn't know a lick about slings. At the store you could get a Nojo and they looked bulky and ugly. While looking though I saw the Fisher Price Perfect Support Deluxe baby carrier it seemed like the neatest invention. I could get a front carrier to use later and a sling to use with my newborn. In essense though it was similiar to an early bag sling though the ends were at least open thankfully. The bottom was a bit rigid and structured but did bend around the baby as it was strips of something to make it stiff so between the strips it bent. It didn't last long, maybe 3-4 wks with the sling and 3-4 months with the front carrier but in essense we maybe used it a dozen times.

This was my 1st real sling. My sister managed to get this Large Over The Shoulder Baby Holder at a yard sale when pregnant with her 1st. She never could get it to work, presumably b/c of her proportions. I inherited it when pregnant with my 2nd in 1999, seen here at 3 months old in a quite creative carry. We loved it and used it for 3-4 months before it started to seem bulky and I learned about unpadded slings.
This was the 1st safe sling I made. After seeing a Maya Wrap, finally, in real life I figured I could figure that out myself for much cheaper. Later instructions and info on making them popped up on the web so things became easier. This 1st one though was made using a twin sheet cut in half lengthwise from Walmart and steel rings purchased from Lowes. My very first sling used craft rings and thankfully we learned safety before she got too big and possibly hurt. This picture she was about 10 months old but we used that same sling until she was 3.

I do not have pictures of the rest of my trials with her and Sarah. I know I tried a Podegi and a Frankencozy but got rid of both. The rest were just versions of this sling until the ones you see in my current collection.