It all needs to be spelled out to me! Help with what a first time mom should get!

[kalishea]

Babywearing might be just as confusing as cloth diapers for a brand new mom! I am starting with babywearing and once that is figured out I will move on to tackle the diaper dilemma!

Here's my babywearing situation:

*First time mom
*Having a summer baby with COLD winters! (but probably use it less, like only for shopping, etc. No outdoor walks.)
*Would "imagine" I would like to babywear on short walks with my dog, around the mall, grocery shopping, at festivals, occasionally to work in an office (some sitting at desk), and if it works out, to clean the house.
*Types that have caught my attention: Gypsy Mama, Moby, Hotsling & Storch
*Other brands I have heard of: Mei Tai, EllaRoo and Maya

Is there something that would work better for me based on the information I have provided?

Are any of the carriers I mentioned the same, just different brands or are they all different and unique? And if all different, where I can find out about all the differences?

What is the difference between the Gypsy Mama Bali Breeze and Gypsy Mama Stretch as far as use? (they look the same).

Are some of these better for different ages of baby? Or is there something that is good for more stages of growing?

Price is not an issue and I am not up to making my own. The only thing I think I know is that I am not real interested in the "structured" type of carrier.

TIA!

[MamaKickyPants]

Great post - it sounds like you've done a lot of thinking about what your needs will be.

First off, it's often hard to know exactly what you'll need/like before your little one arrives. Babywearing is a two person activity, and your babe will have preferences in addition to yours! So I'd say, be prepared to try a few different types of carriers until you get the right combination. Also, be prepared to get/use one or two carriers at a time, for different purposes, and that your needs/preferences may change as the baby grows.

So, that all being said, I'll address each of your issues separately and then sum it all up and make a rec at the end.

Having a summer baby with COLD winters! (but probably use it less, like only for shopping, etc. No outdoor walks.)

Owen was born in June 08 so, we are in the same situation (a great time to have a baby, btw!) In my opinion, there are generally small differences in how hot a carrier is, but the greatest amount of heat is generated by the baby itself, so don't worry too much about it. That being said, I have heard good things about the GMBBB wraps being cool (never used one myself) We used a ring sling and a mei tai, as well as a gauze style wrap in the summer.

Shoot - lsot track of time, I've gotta go, I'll finish this later today.

[clovergirl]

i've been helping mamas pick at carriers at my retail job for almost four years, so i know how overwhelming it can be! my suggestion would be to get a gypsymama (now wrapsody) stretch wrap and a maya wrap ring sling for the first few months. then if you find yourself wearing a lot you can invest in a nice woven wrap, mei tai, or a more structured carrier when the baby gets bigger and you need more support/are ready for back carries.
the wrapsody stretch wraps have just the right amount of stretch but are still pretty supportive, much more so then say a moby wrap or a sleepy wrap. the wrapsody breeze is made of gauze, which is great in hot weather but slightly trickier to learn how to wrap with and nowhere as soft and snuggly as the stretch. the wrap will be great for when you ned to wear the baby for long periods of time. it's also awesome for small babies who want to be upright but don't want their legs tucked inside a carrier.
the maya wrap ring sling (the newer lightly padded version) is a great beginner sling. i personally love ring slings for being able to get baby in quickly, like a trip to the grocery store or for a few minutes at home, etc. they do have a little bit of a learning curve but i usually recommend ring slings over pouches with newborns simply because with a pouch you really can usually only achieve a cradle hold and suprisingly some babies really hate the cradle hold! with a ring sling you can do either upright or cradle with a newborn. another ring sling to consider would be sakura bloom, specifically the pure linen. personally i prefer the sakura bloom shoulder, but i have also found that since the fabric is not quite as wide as the maya wrap newborns don't tend to get as lost in the sakura bloom and it's a little easier to adjust.

i hope that helps somewhat! do you have any babywearing groups or retail stores in you area that sell carriers? if so, definitely try to get out and try some things in, sometimes people are very suprised by what they end up liking when they can see and give things a go in person!

[Pyrodjm]

I just wanted to suggest Sleeping Baby Productions for affordable ring slings. I have a few and they are very well made and Jan the mom behind the company stands behind her work.

I own a Gypsy Mama Stretch and is is a great stretchy wrap that can be used for newborns and older children. Most stretchy wraps are not very supportive after baby reaches about 15lbs. This one is excellent with bigger babies and great for newer wrappers, since you don't have to wrap it perfectly to be comfy. The GM Bali Breeze is a gauze wrap (not stretchy) which I hear is very supportive, but you need to wrap it more carefully and it is not as easy to pop a baby in and out of it. HTH.

[baturay]

You've already done most of the work because you've narrowed it down to exactly what you need it to do for you!

So, based on what you wrote and what I've seen work well for similar needs, I'd suggest first and foremost a stretchy wrap to start one. Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Breeze is a gauze wrap, the Bali Baby Stretch is the stretchy wrap. Personally, I don't like the gauze wrap bought brand new. It takes a long time to break that one in and there's the issue of pressure points when wrapping because it's so thin. But, I do love her stretchy wraps and own and use it often when I have a newborn. My other favorite stretchy wrap is a Moby - also easy to use, comes with great instructions and it's quite affordable.

After a stretchy wrap is no longer cutting it for you because your baby has reached 15-18 lbs, I'd evaluate your needs again. If you are loving wrap and how much support it provides, then I'd invest in a good quality woven wrap. Some brands I personally own and love are Neobulle (wide and supportive, pretty colors), Hopp (wide and supportive), and Didymos. Once your baby gets older and heavier you'll need something with great support and also good width for easy back carries (as well front carries).

If you are not loving wrapping, then a good mei tai would work or a soft structured carrier. Some good ones are Kozy, Babyhawk, Calyx, Beco and others. They are not quite as versatile as a woven wrap, but do provide support and comfort and are pretty easy to use, especially the soft structured carriers.

What I don't recommend for a newborn though are pouches. They are hard to get a good fit with and newborns are so squishy that it's hard to get a safe carry in a pouch. They are better left for bigger babies. If you are looking for a one shoulder carrier, then I'd go for a ring sling and in particular a Maya Wrap Lightly Padded.

Hope that helps! Feel free to PM me though if you have any questions. I love helping others find a carrier to meet their needs and I've tried a ton in the last 4 years of babywearing.

[StayAtHomeMama21]

well I was about to post that I needed some help but that def. helped. My only thing I would add is I had the Mya Wrap with my first son and I don't know if I wasn't wearing it correctly or what but it just didn't work with me. I still used it until he was a year, but i wasn't happy with it.

Maybe I just needed some step by step help!

[baturay]

Originally Posted by StayAtHomeMama21

My only thing I would add is I had the Mya Wrap with my first son and I don't know if I wasn't wearing it correctly or what but it just didn't work with me. I still used it until he was a year, but i wasn't happy with it.

Maybe I just needed some step by step help!

Or it may have been the original shoulder Maya Wrap? I had one of those too to start with and really disliked it. Then they brilliantly came out with a new lightly padded ring sling and fell in love with it. They changed the shoulder, so that instead of fanned, it's a stay put lightly padded shoulder. They also updated their rings and now use light slings that are perfectly sized for easy adjusting. I don't recommend the original shoulder only because I've seen so many have trouble with it, but the lightly padded --- sweet.

[kalishea]

Well, I just wrote a big long reply and it disappeared when I did Spell Checker. So much for trying to have the right spelling!
So... I may have to summarize for time sake:

First of all- Thank you All for your help! Things are beginning to get clearer.

Clovergirl- Unfortunately I am not aware of any retail stores near me to actually see and try different carriers. I am going to be a first time mom, so maybe I am just not aware of any. I did check the internet for something local- no luck. Thank you for your advice!

Ok, so I want to see if I have actually learned something... Please tell me if the following information is wrong:

Types of Carriers:
Ring Slings- examples: Maya, Sakura Bloom, Sleeping Baby Productions? (and some are padded?)

Wraps- examples: Both Gypsy Mama's, Moby, Storch, Neobulle, Hopp, Didymos? Wraps can come in different materials, like stretchy, woven, gauze?

Pouch- examples: Hotsling?- not as good as a ring or wrap style??

Mei Tai- a type of carrier, not a brand, right? Better for older babies who can hold their heads up?

So, it sounds like I couldn't just say- I am going to buy a ring sling, a wrap, a pouch and a mei tai and try them all- because they are going to very a bit based on fabric type and brand?

Thanks again for all the help so far, and let me know if I am on the right track...

[baturay]

Wraps- examples: Both Gypsy Mama's, Moby, Storch, Neobulle, Hopp, Didymos? Wraps can come in different materials, like stretchy, woven, gauze?

Wraps come in different materials - woven and stretchy. Gauze is considered woven, but a very thin woven. Super thin woven wraps are really nice when learning to wrap and some really like them for summers, but going too thin (such as gauze) also means more pressure points when wrapping.

Pouch- examples: Hotsling?- not as good as a ring or wrap style??

Yep, Hotsling is a brand that makes pouches and it's a good maker too. Pouches are not bad, they are just not that easy to use properly with a squishy newborn. There are better options for that stage. Pouches are great once they are bigger though.

Mei Tai- a type of carrier, not a brand, right? Better for older babies who can hold their heads up?

Yep, type of carrier. Brands are those such as Babyhawk, Kozy, Freehand (FH), Ball Baby, and others. Some brands have head rests and some don't. Freehand does not, but Babyhawk and Kozy does. Lots of them actually have head rests.

So, it sounds like I couldn't just say- I am going to buy a ring sling, a wrap, a pouch and a mei tai and try them all- because they are going to very a bit based on fabric type and brand?

They do vary based on who made them. There are some brands that are well known and loved by many and you'll see their names pop up often in answers to questions. I personally have my favorites after trying a bunch of different types and brands, but they are my favorites because they worked really good for me. Someone else may not love them as much. But, if you start off with the brands that have been recommended in this thread and others, you'll have a good chance at liking them too, since these are brands that many have been happy with. And if you don't like them, then there's always the option of selling them and trying something else.

Is there a babywearing group near you? Attending a meeting at one is a great way to try on carriers.

[MamaKickyPants]

Now I don't have to finish! Everyone's given you such good advice! Let us know what you decide on! By the way, if you can negotiate the 'For Sale or Trade' forums on www.thebabywearer.com, there are some amazing deals to be had these days - you can try lots of different carriers that way.

[kalishea]

Thanks MamaKickyPants for checking back!

And thanks again to everyone for the help...

One last question... do you think it would be excessive of me to get a few different types of carriers to start? Here's what I am thinking... first baby, LOTS of gifts (I think I am having 3-4 showers!) and prior to posting this, I registered on Target for a Hotsling and a Moby because they had both of those. What if I leave those on the registry and possibly receive those as gifts and maybe I can buy myself a wrap and a ring sling too? I am going to check out the trading post and I have seem some on ebay too. So I guess my question is, if I get more then one for a newborn, do you think I am going to be overwhelmed more so then if I focused on trying one at a time?

[baturay]

I think your plan sounds great! And fun too! Lots of babywearers have more than one carrier.

[maymorales]

Hotsling and Moby are great registry items. I personally love the Moby for the newborn stage. Can you add a ring sling to your registry, say, at Babies-R-Us? I believe the Ellaroo ring sling is at BRUs now.

I suggest you wait to purchase a carrier on your own until you've tried your registry gifts. I suspect one of the carriers will suit your newborn needs. Once your babe is past the 3-month mark or, as wisely suggeested, the 15lb. mark, then start thinking about what your baby's needs are. eta: this is the time you'll know your baby's preferences and your own, as well.

Mei tai's are very versatile.

But don't forget the ease of a SSC like the Beco which allows you to easily back carry from an early age for those nice walks and shopping trips.

Congratulations and welcome to the loving world of bwing!

[TefferTWH]

Great advice here. My baby is now 2 months old, and we are loving the Moby (although I wish it was a BBS in Aprohdite!). I'm just starting to like the mei tais with her, and I've all but abandoned my pouch sling that I loved with my son. I'm currently shopping and saving for a decent woven for when she weighs out of my Moby D.

I think that no one's advice is nearly as good as just having a decent stash and working with them. I had no idea that I would like wrapping as much as I do, and I NEVER thought I'd like anything better than my hotsling, LOL. Each baby is different and your preferences and needs in wearing will evolve.

I have to second the comment to check out the FSOT at TBW and also at diaper swappers for good deals.

[sarah1122]

All I have to say is that babywearing is a fine art. Its good to have a stash and figure out what works for you and for your babe.

We happen to be wrappers (we're in a cold climate).

We've used a Moby with DS since birth...now he's about 15 lbs and we're graduating on to woven wraps. A stretch wrap like the Moby is like a set of wrap training wheels (or as one TBW poster put it recently the "gateway drug" to wrap-fever)....its easy to use and you can figure out if wrapping is for you. The stretch wraps like the Moby are great for babies up to about 15lbs (ds is starting to sag a bit in his these days) and for being able to pop the baby in and out if you are doing errands. A Moby is a great idea for a newborn.

When your babe is a bit bigger you could try a woven if you like wrapping....and thebabywearer.com is the place to learn about woven wraps. You'll learn a ton just perusing the FSOT boards. They are a world unto themselves with many brands, lengths, patterns and thicknesses. We currently have a Moby, a didymos and a girasol.

It is not such a big concern with a newborn, but if you do invest in a more expensive wrap or other carrier down the road I would HIGHLY recommend getting something that is organic cotton...my 3 month old ds chews on his didymos wrap all the time and I feel so much better knowing that it isn't full of chemicals.

On to the diapers! Took me MONTHS to figure that one out!