Review: Puj Go Sling

I have been prejudiced against slings. Why? Because most of the acquaintances I have met who use them have different parenting techniques than I do- and they have been pushy about their view being better than mine. So, because I am so stubborn, until I tried the Puj Go Sling, I never knew how nice a sling is!

I found this to be a great entry into sling usage. The Puj Go Sling is SO simple. It is a very wide band of pretty cotton fabric. That’s it. No loops, strings, ties, adjustments, nothing stretchy. I really enjoyed using this product. My only regret is that I did not get it earlier in Adam’s life, because it would have made my maternity leave so much easier. When Adam is in this sling, he is snug, warm, out of Anastasia’s way (she’s 2: very busy and doesn’t always look where she is going), and I have my hands free.

Click read more below to see my full post and review.

I don’t think this would have worked well with Anastasia; she didn’t like being held so closely like Adam does, but for this baby and our circumstances the Puj Sling is great. For diversity’s sake, I brought my Puj with me to visit my new niece. I was nervous about putting a floppy 8 week old into it, but it was not hard and worked with a tiny body too. Also, it took up zero space in my suitcase.

So, let's go back to “simple”. You just put baby on your hip, slip the sling over both your heads leaving one side (the “top” side) on your shoulder, then slide the bottom of the sling under baby’s bottom. If you want baby more snugly against your body, you flip the piece of the band that is on your shoulder down your arm and voila. Freedom! When I say “top” side, this side is double stitched so when you flip it down, the pretty pattern is still showing.

I was worried that the tightness of the sling under Adam’s tush and legs would bite into his skin and cut off circulation, but it didn’t. He never complained about being in this sling, never squirmed to get out.

A few practical matters…. a) Sizing might be tough if you are on the boarder-line between sizes. I am still carrying baby weight which makes the sling tighter than I thought. b) I live in Minnesota. Therefore, I wear sweatshirts and sweaters. It is hard to get the sling over me and Adam with a sweatshirt on. You will definitely need someone to help you if you are wearing layers. c) The first time you put the sling on, you will probably need help; it’s easy, but I was worried I might drop Adam since it is new to me. d) Oops. I spilled red wine on mine (no, I was not wearing it- it was on the counter and I was showing it off) - the stain did not come out. e) In this same washing, my sling shrunk. Not a lot, but enough that it is uncomfortable to squeeze Adam into it. Sadly, it hasn’t rebounded to its original size.

Now, to my review, each of four stars:

Functionality *** and a half: So easy. For babies who like to be held, you are in for a treat. The only drawback is that you do not have full use of one arm when baby is tight in the sling. When the sling is flipped down, your upper arm is pinned, but you can still use your forearm. But, when do you EVER, when holding a baby have full use of both arms? Can be used up to 24 months.

Washability and Wear **: My Puj Sling held up to use just fine, but the washability was just not right. My sling shrunk ever so slightly in the wash and the wine stain did not come out. Luckily on the stain issue, the pattern is big, so I know where the stain is, but the pattern hides it from others.

Sizing **: If you fall solidly in the middle of their sizing chart, I don’t foresee that you will have a problem even if your sling shrinks a tiny bit. Pre-baby weight, the size 3 would have been perfect (even with a little shrinkage), but I did not factor in my baby-weight size and that was short-sighted on my part. The Puj website is explicit that they will exchange sizes for you if you contact them about it (new condition, original packaging, $5 re-stocking fee).

Style ****: Pleasant muted colors with simple patterns. My only suggestion is that Puj should develop some “manly” colored options, because I think a guy would be quite comfortable using this sling without it infringing upon his manhood.

Price **: I am really unqualified to make a comparison. At $48, this is not too much, in my mind, to pay for some freedom and snuggles with baby.

Overall Score ***: If you are a better judge of your true size than I was, I don’t think there will be an issue of sizing or the slight shrinkage in washing. The simplicity of this sling is great. The patterns and colors are pretty. Adam is very comfy in his sling and likes to be snuggled up in it. Tough to wear with bulky layers.