Now this is can be an expensive section. The cost of a pram, stroller, car seat and baby sling soon mount up, especially when you then take into account all the accessories such as raincover, sunshade, cosytoes and the essential changing bag!
I'm making a new baby sling this time, my last one I made was for a summer baby and was made from thick cotton but was only a very small size. I need something much more snuggly for winter up here so will be making the sling from fleece. I'm hoping that I have enough fleece in my sewing box and I've ordered special rings from eBay to make it. Oh no, disaster, not enough fleece so I had to visit the fabric shop - that is always bad for my bank account!
I managed to get a Mamas & Papas travel system on eBay which includes the car seat, pushchair, cosy toes, changing bag & raincover. Any covers which are not washable I will steam clean so I can make sure that it is spotlessly clean before the new baby goes in it.
Money spent to get around so far £48.05
Mamas & Papas travel system (eBay) £25
Sling instructions and 2 sets of rings (eBay) £6.09
2m fleece for winter sling (Boyes) £7.98
2m cotton for summer sling (Boyes) £5.98
Wadding for sling padding (Boyes) £3.00
Here's the travel system. A Mamas & Papas Freestyler Pushchair, Primo Viaggio car seat, car seat base, changing bag, raincover, sunshade and cosy toes. The covers came off easily, were machine washed on a cold setting, and the frames and plastic parts were scrubbed down in the shower and dried off.
The total money spent on making the sling was £23.05, which may seem expensive when compared to the cost of buying one ready made. However this sling has a waterproofed exterior, is fleece lined, padded and is suitable from birth up to 3 years old!
Additionally I have a spare set of rings to make another sling at a later stage, left over fleece to use for nappy wraps, spare Winnie The Pooh fabric which I will use to make a toy sling for my 3 year old (shown in the sling!) and spare wadding which was used to make the changing mat and the cot bumper.
That puts the cost into perspective, doesn't it!
