Which carrier ???

[ryansma]

have an almost 3 year old who recently potty learned I am so proud of him!
I usually wear ds2 in my ring sling - but I am finding it increasingly hard to wear baby brother and help my big guy on the potty.

So I was thinking I would have to get used to back carry but quite honestly I don't really want to. Part of why I like babywearing is having my baby right there under my nose where I can talk to him and kiss him and he is part of the action.
I prefer front carry but think back carry may be necessary for trips to the restroom.

I heard that an Ergo switches easily from front carry to back carry without having to remove baby? But have now heard this is NOT true.


What carrier would you all use and why?


Any suggestions, advice is welcomed

[Aries1985]

The Beco Butterfly switches easily from front to back without having to remove baby. I just took my cat to the vet with my 7 month old and started with her on my front, then transferred her to my back so I could hold the cat for the exam. It was SUPER easy! I had no problem doing it by myself at all. I LOVE my Beco! It's also the only carrier my dd enjoys all the time!

[pixiepunk]

i have switched from front to back (and back to front) using a MT about a zillion times. i find it easier to do in a MT than a SSC because i find it easier to scoot with a strap than a padded waist belt/webbing. but it can be done with a SSC too. the other thing, though, about a SSC is that some of them aren't very comfy for front carries - ones that don't allow straps to be crossed in the back. but if you have one that allows the straps to be crossed in the back, it's going to take a good bit of strap adjusting to get it settled into a secure back carry (because the straps need to be so much shorter for a back carry - unless you cross them in front as well, which my DD boobs won't tolerate), and then adjusting again to get into a comfy front carry. it's not such a fiddly process with a MT because the straps just tie - so there's not snapping in and out, or adjusting strap length. i love SSC's, i think they are the best for back carrying heavier babies/toddlers, but for what you want to do with it, i think you'd be better off with a MT.

check out the video in post #56 here: http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/s...=110005&page=3

i mostly back carry, but this is what i do if she needs to nurse and remain in the carrier, and how i get her back into a back carry once she's done. after doing it a couple of times it is really easy, and keeps your straps off the bathroom floor too

[ryansma]

Originally Posted by pixiepunk

i have switched from front to back (and back to front) using a MT about a zillion times. i find it easier to do in a MT than a SSC because i find it easier to scoot with a strap than a padded waist belt/webbing. but it can be done with a SSC too. the other thing, though, about a SSC is that some of them aren't very comfy for front carries - ones that don't allow straps to be crossed in the back. but if you have one that allows the straps to be crossed in the back, it's going to take a good bit of strap adjusting to get it settled into a secure back carry (because the straps need to be so much shorter for a back carry - unless you cross them in front as well, which my DD boobs won't tolerate), and then adjusting again to get into a comfy front carry. it's not such a fiddly process with a MT because the straps just tie - so there's not snapping in and out, or adjusting strap length. i love SSC's, i think they are the best for back carrying heavier babies/toddlers, but for what you want to do with it, i think you'd be better off with a MT.

check out the video in post #56 here: http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/s...=110005&page=3

i mostly back carry, but this is what i do if she needs to nurse and remain in the carrier, and how i get her back into a back carry once she's done. after doing it a couple of times it is really easy, and keeps your straps off the bathroom floor too

Thanks!! I do have two MT's a Catbird and a Kozy. I completely agree about the straps crossing in the back. I like how I can tie it on just right. I also don't see me crossing straps in front since I am also a DD if not a little bigger right now. Would you expect both MT's to work equally as well? I bought the catbird because I thought I would like the softer brushed cotton and smaller body but find myself leaning towards the Kozy. I think it's a little more flattering because it is wider and doesn't squish me as much. But now I am rambling...

The Butterfly is a SSC right?

[ryansma]

Originally Posted by Aries1985

The Beco Butterfly switches easily from front to back without having to remove baby. I just took my cat to the vet with my 7 month old and started with her on my front, then transferred her to my back so I could hold the cat for the exam. It was SUPER easy! I had no problem doing it by myself at all. I LOVE my Beco! It's also the only carrier my dd enjoys all the time!

I looked at Becos and I think they are beautiful!
Good to know - thanks

[baturay]

Oh, you have two GREAT carriers already for switching from front to back! Both the Catbird and the Kozy would work. To switch to back carry from front, just undo the top straps, scoot both carrier and baby to your back, lean forward and then bring the straps over your shoulder, do a bounce or two to settle baby into the mei tai and then tie backpack style. Easy! I've done it lots of times with a mei tai and it takes all of one or two minutes tops once you have the hang of it. Save your $ and put your mei tais to good use.

[ryansma]

Originally Posted by baturay

Oh, you have two GREAT carriers already for switching from front to back! Both the Catbird and the Kozy would work. To switch to back carry from front, just undo the top straps, scoot both carrier and baby to your back, lean forward and then bring the straps over your shoulder, do a bounce or two to settle baby into the mei tai and then tie backpack style. Easy! I've done it lots of times with a mei tai and it takes all of one or two minutes tops once you have the hang of it. Save your $ and put your mei tais to good use.

That was what I thought UNTIL today!
I have only worn my Kozy around the house and it seemed to work just fine. So I thought I would try it out this afternoon while shopping at Target. OUCH!
My the end of my trip I was getting really uncomfortable. I don't know what I did wrong. I even tried adjusting it a little which is easy enough because it ties. But I have a massive headache now :
I thought for sure a two shouldered carrier would be better because ds is 19 lbs but I wore him at the library this morning in my ring sling with NO trouble - or pain.
I'm frustrated now.

[maymorales]

so is the pain in your shoulder or your waist? I'm no mt expert but I think maybe the baby's position is off?
Aside from Beco's, there's the Pikkolo which you can forward face in or out. This may give you more options since you enjoy the forward carry position. At the same time, it is relatively painless and easy to switch baby onto your back.

Do check out TBW for advice and articles on adjusting your mei tai first. Perhaps there's an easy fix so you don't have to buy another carrier.

best of luck!

[baturay]

There are a couple of reasons why it may have hurt to wear it in a back carry.

One is that the straps were not snug enough and there was too much of a gap between your little one and your back. Try this...once you pull the shoulder straps over your little one, hold them up high above your head straight up and then bounce a couple of times. That will settle your little one into the seat of the mei tai. Then pull your arms down and finish the tying while making sure to tie nice and snug. Your little one's torso should be touching your back.

But, even if you did the back carry perfectly...you need to still work up those carrying muscles that you've never used before.

Though, most likely, it was due to the carrier not being snug enough.

Keep working on doing the carry really good and don't give up. It takes practice, but back carries are so worth learning. Total life savers.

[pixiepunk]

Originally Posted by baturay

There are a couple of reasons why it may have hurt to wear it in a back carry.

One is that the straps were not snug enough and there was too much of a gap between your little one and your back. Try this...once you pull the shoulder straps over your little one, hold them up high above your head straight up and then bounce a couple of times. That will settle your little one into the seat of the mei tai. Then pull your arms down and finish the tying while making sure to tie nice and snug. Your little one's torso should be touching your back.

But, even if you did the back carry perfectly...you need to still work up those carrying muscles that you've never used before.

Though, most likely, it was due to the carrier not being snug enough.

Keep working on doing the carry really good and don't give up. It takes practice, but back carries are so worth learning. Total life savers.

:

and i love my Kozy (well, Kozys ) - they are really good supportive carriers for heavier babies.

[ryansma]

Originally Posted by baturay

There are a couple of reasons why it may have hurt to wear it in a back carry.

One is that the straps were not snug enough and there was too much of a gap between your little one and your back. Try this...once you pull the shoulder straps over your little one, hold them up high above your head straight up and then bounce a couple of times. That will settle your little one into the seat of the mei tai. Then pull your arms down and finish the tying while making sure to tie nice and snug. Your little one's torso should be touching your back.

But, even if you did the back carry perfectly...you need to still work up those carrying muscles that you've never used before.

Though, most likely, it was due to the carrier not being snug enough.

Keep working on doing the carry really good and don't give up. It takes practice, but back carries are so worth learning. Total life savers.

I was wearing it in front carry. I haven't attempted back carry yet.

[baturay]

Oh, well even in the front carry, do the same thing to make sure the straps are nice and snug. Your little one should be pressed up (though comfortably) against your chest. If there's too much of a gap, then it will hurt.

Also, are you using specific instructions on using it? I really like the kozycarrier.com instructions.

When I first wore a mei tai for the first time few times, I was hurting all over. I ended up selling it. Then determined, I got another one again and practiced at tweaking my carry and it really became comfortable for me to use. The key is making sure you are truly doing the carry correctly.

[ryansma]

I do feel like the straps were snug and babe was close to me. I even adjusted where they cross on the back - it feels best to me lower.
Ds2 was arching a little at one point to see ds1 maybe that was part of my problem


I am not giving up yet