are you a slinger?

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times... I treasured the two years I spent working at baby coco in Austin. I learned so much, met incredible women, and helped design some pretty fabulous nurseries, ahhhhhh all in a day's work!

One of our all time bestselling accessories had to be our selection of slings. Whether buying for a gift, off of a registry, for a hubby, or for themselves... women bought slings left and right.

When it came time to select my own sling for baby Carson's arrival, I'd decided against a ZoloWear "ring-sling," only because I didn't think I'd like the extra swatch of fabric that dangled about. I opted for a Peanut Shell pouch sling in a fabulous orange & turquoise print that they no longer carry.

this is the one and only time I successfully carried Carson in my sling... pretty picture perfect if you ask me. surely, I can master this!

You would think that after 2 years of selling these, I would have not only chosen the perfect sling, but would have total confidence in "slinging" my baby once he arrived. Hmmmph... not only did my sling choice not work out... but it's left me bound and determined to find the perfect one for our next bambino. After all, it seems all the more necessary to be hands-free with a toddler in tow!

There is NOTHING wrong with the Peanut Shell sling. I did, however, get it a size too big, and like all first time moms, I washed it in Dreft before it was ever used... thus making it an un-returnable item. Of course, had it been a ring-sling, I could have made the necessary adjustments and made do, but since it wasn't... it really didn't fit me right, it slung too low for me to nurse Carson without having to hold him up (thus defeating the purpose of hands free "slinging"), and because it was too big, it gave him too much room, and didn't cocoon him like it should have. So, all in all, size matters when it comes to choosing a sling. I instructed countless women to choose a sling based on their pre-pregnancy t-shirt size. I did not take my own advice.

I wished I had bought a ZoloWear sling after the fact... but I think I gave up on "slinging" all together out of sheer frustration at the time. One really nifty feature of some of the Zolo slings (despite the fact that they are made in beautiful Austin, Texas)... is that some of their fabrics are made to be worn in the water as well, which allows you to sling your baby on your hip in the summer time! I loved that concept and will SO be taking advantage of it next time around. Plus, I am sort of a believer in the ring sling's adjustability feature.

Which brings me to the real reason behind this post... to gush over a sling that is so beautiful, I want to buy it right now and stow it away for the day #2 debuts. baby coco started carrying the line after I left and I really do love everything about the entire collection. but oh my goodness, the Serena and Lily Market Slings make me swoon! Specifically, I am madly in love with The Peacock Sling, it's so beautiful... I love the colors, it's just so pretty, I'd wear it without a baby in there! I also love, love, love the Prague Market Sling in Cloud/Petal color combo... it's so light and refreshing! They are just exquisite and I will soooo be buying one IN MY SIZE (since it's not adjustable)... probably the Peacock, I just love it so much!

Speaking of gorgeous slings... this is a new design from Peanut Shell that I just saw and love, love, love!

So, lets here it... did you have a sling for your baby? Which one? Did you love it or hate it or are you like me... not in love yet, but willing to give it another go?

*****

I intended for this post to be JUST about slings, but I have to say that I cannot wait to buy one of THESE for my next delivery!