Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling Review

If you're a fan of the traditional padded ring sling, but don't like the bulk around your shoulders, the Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling may be the baby carrier for you. The padding is concentrated right where you need it for comfort, but this sling still maintains a sleek profile. Easy to wear and care for, the Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling is a nice choice for a first-time baby wearer.

Baby slings and carriers have come a long way in recent years. I have long preferred the comfort of a padded ring sling since they tend to feel better against my shoulders, but that comfort often comes with a feeling that you have a huge pillow stuffed between your neck and shoulder. In the summer, that kind of bulk quickly becomes unbearable!

I was excited to try out the Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling because it had a lightly padded shoulder section but still looks sleek and easy to carry in a diaper bag. This sling has a few limitations, but overall I think it's a nice choice, particularly if you're new to babywearing and want a sling that is easy to use. You don't need to learn any fancy tying methods or elaborate carries to use the Balboa Baby Sling. You simply put the shoulder portion over your head and onto your shoulder like a messenger bag strap (across your chest), slip baby into the deep pocket that forms in front of you, and pull the adjuster tail until the sling is snug and comfortable.

The shoulder padding is just right for comfort, and I like that it is easy to position the shoulder portion on your body. As long as the adjuster tail ends up in front of your shoulder, you're pretty well guaranteed to have the shoulder portion in the right spot. The padding extends along the sling rails, too, adding comfort for baby, as well. This sling should fit a wide variety of shapes, though I found that the pockets can end up in awkward spots for larger parents.

The Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling has a tail that is about 8 inches long. That's enough snugging space for most parents, but less adjustable than some slings. The bonus is that you don't have a long sling tail to get caught in things.

The fabrics available for this sling are great - very soft, almost silky, but still machine washable for inevitable baby messes.