Are my carrier choices enough of a variety?

[kalishea]

So I think I have it narrowed down to a few baby carriers that I want to get for my first LO that will be arriving sometime in June..

Sling: Hotsling
Stretchy Wrap: Moby
Ring Sling: Not sure which brand yet (maybe a Maya?) Suggestions?
Woven Wrap: GM Bali Breeze or a Storch

But my concern is babies age for using these and weather. Some of these are better for newborns and some are better for a little older babies and heavier weight, right?
Also, we will have June-Sept of HOT weather here and then COLD winters. So is what I don't want to happen is to get something, say like a lightweight gauze wrap, and not be able to use it until December or something because babies not big enough...
So.. do you think my choices will be usable and not redundant?
I have looked at comparison charts and to be honest, they don't help much because the same carrier that says good for 5-15 pounds, I will them read isn't good for newborns.

Money is not an issue and I would like to try a variety of carriers, I just want to make sure that I have a good variety, rather then 3-4 carriers that all serve the same purpose.

Thank you!

P.S. Feel free to share your opinion on the carriers that I have choosen. Nothing is bought yet!

[Katie063008]

Well , I've tried the maya wrap, and a Storch. Both were very well worth the investment. We used the Maya wrap at first. Rowan liked a cradle hold for a few weeks, but quickly wanted the snuggle hold only after that. When she was about2-3 months I found constantly carrying her in the Maya wrap a bit hard so I bought a Storch (viki pattern). I use that when going out for long walks in the front cross carry. Super comfy. I have also used the back carry around the house. Comfy for me and Rowan can play with a toy back there. Now that she is 7.5 months we use the Maya wrap again around the house since it is quick to get on and off. We use the hip carry and Rowan can hang on so the weight is a bit less. In my opinion both are excellent choices. If I had to choose another carrier I think I would get a stretchy wrap for when the baby is first born since it is quick to get baby in and out of. Good Luck!

[lifeguard]

I used the ring sling (homemade) exclusively for the first 3 months in hot weather. I just recently made a stretchy wrap which is a little warmer in the heat but not too bad. I also used this wrap last week while in Canada & it worked well even with the bulkier clothes.

[syd'smom]

Here's my 2 cents (as...ahem...someone with several carriers, at least one of each type ). I love a stretchy wrap for a newborn - I think the moby might be a bit hot for the summer. You could make your own stretchy wrap (just a long piece of cotton jersey fabric cut in half lengthwise - I got 2 for $30); ot I recommend they gypsy mama bbs - which is snuggly and stretchy but a bit more supportive than a moby, and a bit lighter weight too. I haven't tried the breeze wrap, but I think I've heard that's it is not as cushy as other woven wraps. I would recommend a storch, didy, hoppediz or girasol.

You may not need both a pouch and a ringsling, as most people prefer one or the other; but it's hard to know until you and your little one have tried them.

What I recommended last summer to a good friend whose babe was due in June was an SBP ringsling (I like them made out of a wrap - head over to fsot on tbw) and/or a pouch; a stretchy wrap (gmbbs is my fave); and a 2 shouldered carrier like a mei tai or an ssc and/or a longer woven wrap. Have fun shopping!!!!!

[EdnaMarie]

Dude. You have four. We had one. I am SURE one will work, right? I had a wrap and it was fine. Then I lost it and had a podaegi and I liked that better. I notice that you do not have any with straps, per se, such as a narrow podaegi or mei tai. I like the narrow po, personally, but I think you have a lot of options there.

For me, ease of arrangement was a bigger deal than I imagined, because say you go to the grocery store- you want to get out of the car, put the baby in the carrier, and go shopping. That is hard with a wrap, but easier with a sling.

Also, I used a wrap with a newborn, and a podaegi, and a pouch (with someone else's newborn). All fine for a normal, healthy newborn that is not too tiny. Unless your baby is premature, I do not see any reason you could not use these carriers with a newborn, provided you were careful to use the right positioning and props (like a towel to give baby room to breathe, as discussed in the user's manual).

[wild fire child]

I love my moby for newborn, though it can get quite warm. I can't nurse in it safely, and he wants his head out till asleep.
Once I figured out that I am too thin to cradle carry in a ring sling, I like what else I can do with it, and DH can cradle. I can nurse in it, with a sideways laying/sitting type position (feet out, head out for my picky guy).
I just ordered a Mai Tai, and that is the only thing I think might be missing from your list. I've heard they're pretty easy to nurse in, can be used for newborns, and are cooler to wear than a wrap.

Once winter comes back next year I'll probably invest in a woven, I love that you can leave a wrap on to drive, pop baby in and go. If I don't love the mei tai I'll get a gauze wrap for cooler summer wrapping, or just stick with the RS.

I don't know anything about pouch type slings, I like an unpadded ring sling since it is so adjustable and can go from my big DH to small me with just a pull of the tail.

Keep in mind your LO can have their own ideas about things...my mom loved ring slings with her first 4, but the last came and hated everything but a mei tai.

[TefferTWH]

If money was no object, I would probably get: a hotsling, a GM BBS (Aphrodite preferably), a Girasol 4.6 length, a short wrap (Serves the same purpose as a RS, and in many ways, a pouch), and a mei tai. I would skip the BBB unless you are really good already - they are hard to break in and you really need to be good to avoid pressure points. Storches are hard to break in as well, or at least that's what I've been told. I like the FSOT at diaperswappers and thebabywearer for good deals on carriers, and you can sometimes find broken in Storches there. As for the MT, I have a BH that hubby and I both like, and I think they are worth the hype.

[ryansma]

I love my Maya Wrap ring sling and have used it extensively with both boys. Ds1 was a spring baby and I carried him in the Maya all through the summer and never found it too hot, and I can be sweaty. I loved it this fall/winter with ds2 too. When ds1 got bigger I used a ssc.
I love babywearing and when I was pregnant with ds2 got convinced that I needed a million different carriers. So I bought like 6 new ones.
I still reached for my ring sling first. And I still do. Ds2 is getting heavier so I put him in the mei tai now too but just recently.
I think there are a lot of great carriers out there but I don't necessarily think that everyone needs one of each. At least I didn't. No matter how many you have you are likely to gravitate towards one. My advice, especially since you haven't bought yet and are still pregnant is to pick ONE good for babies. (Obviously I am partial to ring slings and that is what I would suggest. The tail is great for covering babe for a nap, extra coverage when nursing, the pocket can hold a nurb clothe, diaper, it's highly adjustable and easy to learn etc.) Wear him/her in it once they were born and get a feel for what you like, what babe likes and then buy more then.

[pixiepunk]

For a summer baby, money no object, my recommendations are as follows:

1) ring sling made out of a lightweight but supportive fabric (my personal fave is linen or a linen blend). SBP (sleeping baby productions) makes awesome ring slings and their prices are fab. this is always my go-to for newborns when out and about, especially one with a reasonably long tail so it serves as a cover from sun as well as for discreet public nursing.

2) Wrapsody Bali Stretch wrap. you may or may not want to wear this outside the house, depending on the weather and how easily you get hot during the summer months, though it should last you through the winter unless you have a really big baby. these are the most awesome stretchy wraps on the market IMO, last longer, work better for heavier babies (and are the prettiest too).

3) Mei Tai. My personal fave is a Kozy. But Babyhawks are also nice, and there are lots of others on the market that are good too. i love a mei tai for high back carries, and they are also a good option for wearing outside when it's too hot for the stretchy wrap (you should probably look into one that has light color straps and body so they don't absorb too much heat in the summer)

4) SSC. My personal fave is Angelpack, but there are lots of good ones out there (depending on how much $$ you want to spend). it might be hard to think about having a 6+ month old, but it will happen fast. and SSC's are my hands-down favorite for wearing heavier babies and toddlers. i can still wear my 3.5 yo comfortably in a SSC for short stretches when necessary.

5) sturdy woven wrap. I'd say a Storch, but Didymos are also nice, and there are lots of others too that are good. the length depends somewhat on your size, but i would say something in the way of 4.6 meters is usually sufficient for most people to do all carries they want to do. if you're petite a 4.1/4.2 is probably going to be plenty. these are really nice and snuggly and warm in cold weather

i might also suggest you look into a babywearing jacket for winter months. these are great to pick up second-hand, and spring and fall there will be lots of them on FSOT at thebabywearer. i'd look for one with layers (like the Kindercoat) so you can use it in various weather conditions. i just picked up a Kindercoat Deluxe for a ridiculous price, and while i wouldn't have paid full price for it, it's awesome to have - the shell is great for rain and wind, the inside fleece jacket part we use in moderately cold weather, and together they make an amazingly warm winter coat. and dude, so many hood options! i also have a babywearing poncho which i adore for quick on and off, and milder weather conditions

[KristyDi]

Personally with that list I'd either add an SSC (like a Beco, Ergo, or Angelpack) or a Mei Tei (like a babyhawk or Kozy) or trade off the hotsling for one of those.

I figure the hotsling is the least versatile.

I personally have 2 DIY RS, a DIY Gauze wrap, a DIY BBO, and a Beco Butterfly. I use and love them all. I have loved and passed on to other mamas 2 stretchy wraps and a DIY pouch. I'm beginning to think about investing in one of the nicer woven wraps as dd gets heavier.

I'm of the opinion that it hard to have too many baby carriers.

[baturay]

I think you could do with just one, but having more than one is really nice and it's so convenient...I mean you have more than one pair of shoes, tops, pants...

If I only had one of each, I'd pick a ring sling (Maya is a great brand, but get the lightly padded shoulder not the original shoulder), a mei tai (love Kozy), a stretchy wrap for new baby stage and a good quality woven wrap (neobulle, girasol, didymos, storch, bbslen, vatani are a few names to start looking into), and if there's extra, get an soft structured carrier, but honestly, I've never had and do just fine with a mei tai, ring sling and wrap (though I do have a few of each).

[kalishea]

Oh my goodness! I will admit.. I am a little more confused now.. but in a good way.

Thank you all for your advice!! I am going to study information in each reply and look into all of these.

I guess I may be missing the boat on not including a mei tai or a SSC.. for some reason they just didn't appeal to me. But it's not about appealing to me, its about finding the right fit for LO and I. I am going to add this to my list of "must research."

One of my biggest issues is that I don't know anyone IRL that babywears and there is not a store around to look at any of these. Everything I am learning and going off of has been reviews and pictures and suggestions online. My notebook is filling up as I try and sort through all of this.

Again, thank you all for sharing your knowledge!

[slgt]

It is so hard to know what's going to work for you & your LO! I bought a Moby for my winter baby. I was able to use it with her a grand total of maybe 6 times. Despite my desire to love the moby, it didn't work for us.

She did NOT like cradled in any type of sling or wrap - so we really had to wait until she was big enough for the Bjorn & to sit in a ring sling. I used my maya sling a lot when she was younger, just sitting against me. Worked for me, worked for her. Heat was not an issue - it's a linen sling.

Now that she's older, I just got a SSC (angelpack) which is going to work really well. So, sounds like you're on a good path to have a few options & play with them. I would hold off on getting a SSC until she's a bit bigger...you have so many great options with a newborn, and the SSCs can be a bit awkward. Personally, if you do get a SSC, I would get one with buckles not ties.

[syd'smom]

A lot of babies only like cradle carry when nursing. A lot of babes love the vertical position of tummy to tummy, which you can do with a wrap, ringsling, mt or ssc (though easiest to do with a newborn in a wrap or rs.) Have fun!

[jocelynr]

I like the Buckle Tai by Two Mommas Designs. Beautiful and custom made carriers that are more affordable than many--also supporting two wonderful WAHMs.

[VijayOwens]

That sounds like a great mini-stash! There are a lot of great ring sling brands out there, but Maya has always been my favorite. They're breathable, easy to use, comfortable, and the tail can be a sunshade, nursing cover up, etc. The pocket comes in handy too. They come in all different colors/patterns.

You can do all of the same positions in a hotsling that you can in a ring sling but the hotsling is not adjustable. They do however come in really cute colors/patterns and are really comfy and fast to put on. They fold down smaller than a ring sling in a diaper bag. You just have to make sure you get the right size. Too small and you won't be able to get the baby in, too big and you'll strain your back.

The Moby might be too hot for a summer baby (though I had a June baby and found that everywhere I went INDOORS was freezing from the A/C). So if you spend a lot of time outside I would just do the RS, pouch, and Gypsy Mama woven wrap. LOVE those. The GM stretch wrap is thinner, more breathable, and more supportive than a Moby, so if you must get a stretchy wrap those are great. Don't get me wrong, I love Mobys, I just consider them to be a 3 season carrier, not year round. But that's me. My sweat glands go into overdrive when I'm nursing.

Of course I couldn't LIVE without my mei tais, but I think you can wait a bit. I like to start out with pouch, RS, and wrap and then around 3-4 months start doing front carries in a mei tai, and at 6-7 months start doing back carries in a mei tai (you can also do them in your GM wrap). But that's just my approach. Some start using mei tais right away, some do back carries much sooner than I do. I just love that new baby smell!

Hope that helps,

-Vijay

[LianneM]

I personally couldn't live without a pouch in the early weeks/months. They are small so you can keep them in a diaper bag or purse, and they are quick to put on. My babies lived in them for the first 4 months or so. Then I switched to the maya so they could be upright more.

After that, I really like the mei tai, for holding for a long time. It's too much to hold a heavy baby on one shoulder for a long time. The wrap would serve the same purpose, I think. Both take time to get on and it's tricky to put a big, squirmy baby on your back alone, I have found, which is why I just ordered an Ergo

[kalishea]

Ok, new plan... been doing a lot of researching and reading and may be starting to understand! But I do still have some questions:

1- So maybe I don't need a Moby- if they are a little hot for summer and are best for newborns (under 15lbs, right?) that would count a June baby out, right? I registered for this at target, should I keep it on my registry?

2- I am leaning more towards not getting a pouch sling and more towards just a ring sling.. but I also registered for a Hotsling at target, should I keep it on my registry?
(no one I know even knows what babywearing is, so if it's not a registry item, I am not going to get one unless I buy it, that's why I am pointing that out)

3- I do want a Ring Sling... I have looked into a Maya, Sleeping Baby Productions and a Sakura Bloom. Where I am getting confused is material: It looks like the Maya Lightly Padded only comes in one material, while the Sakura Bloom come in linen and silk and the SBP come in a couple options too.. these ring slings are best for newborns right? So I would want a fabric useable in June- maybe they would all be ok? Also, at what age/weight would be normally have to give up our ring sling? Maya's website says until 35lbs, but I heard that's not too accurate?

4- I also want a wrap- but still a little confused on stretchy or woven based on when my baby is born:
GM Bali Breeze- hard to learn, not best choice for newborn but good for summer? (which won't work for us because we have a newborn in the summer!)
GM Bali Stretch- good for newborns
Storch or Didymos- better for 6 month old then a newborn?

5- I think I will wait and invest in a mei tai or SSC for older baby- what age?

Is any of this right or am I only thinking that I am catching on?

[baturay]

I'd keep the Moby in your registry, since it'd be a gift anyway and I personally still wore mine during the summer.

All of the ring sling brands you named are excellent. It depends how much you can afford to spend. The best of the best is the Sakura Bloom Luxe. It's like air and it's very supportive. But, the others you mentioned (Maya Wrap and SBP) are also excellent ring slings. To tell you the truth...I'd go with the color you like on these, as they are all good ring slings.

For wraps - woven vs. stretch. Woven is very much used for newborns. Many wrappers (and I do too) use woven wraps from day one. Some never even use a stretchy at all! I think stretchy wraps are great to learn to wrap with, but you can also learn to wrap with a woven. If you go for a Gypsy Mama Bali Baby, try to find one used, as they are stiff when new and take a while to get nice and soft. There are also lots of options for woven wraps, besides Storch and Didymos. And with these brands (as well as the other options available), I'd go first with the color you like most, as they are all excellent wraps, but if you love the color, you'll enjoy wearing it more.

[Toolip]

Originally Posted by jocelynr

I like the Buckle Tai by Two Mommas Designs. Beautiful and custom made carriers that are more affordable than many--also supporting two wonderful WAHMs.

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