Carrier Help

[kbond]

I'm having issues with finding a good carrier. It seems like every carrier I've tried doesn't work for some reason, and I'm close to giving up at being able to comfortably wear my DD.

I've tried:

• Ring Sling--I can't figure out the rings. I don't know why, but I really just can't make it work. So adjusting the fit of the sling doesn't work well.
• Moby Wrap--This actually works most of the time. But, my daughter is incredibly long (26 inches), and I'm very short. So, at the moment, her head just barely fits under mine. I think that she's going to be too long soon.
• Babyhawk--She hates it. Arches her back every time I try to get her into it.
• Baby Bjorn--I feel like she's too far away from my body, and I feel very insecure with her in it.
• Ergo--The straps feel like they're going to fall off my shoulders, and they dig into my armpits something fierce.

I'd love to figure out how to make the Ergo work because it's the easiest to get on, and other than the shoulder straps, it feels good, and my DD seems to really like it.

Some stats. My DD is 5 months old with incredibly good head control--she's almost crawling and holds her head by herself all the time. She also sits unassisted and has a very strong core. She's almost 15 lbs, and 26 inches long. I'm about 5 feet tall, really busty right now (38G), and a size 18. I really am starting to feel like I'm just not going to be able to wear her--that our body sizes just don't mesh well. Any help at all would be appreciated.

Any suggestions?

[VOBetz]

Doesn't the Ergo come with a chest strap? Wouldn't that solve the problems with the Ergo?

What is it about the babyhawk that she doesn't like? How about trying her in a different position with that - like perhaps a high back carry, so she can see over your shoulder.

I wouldn't put too much effort into figuring out ring slings with a 15 pound baby. Just my HUMBLE opinion. I can still carry my DD, who is 27 pounds in a ring sling, but just not for very long. I think you will be more comfortable in a two shouldered carrier.

Are all these options tried with a front carry? Because it could be that you could solve several problems with a back carry.

[maddymama]

Ditto the advice on the back carry (just never with the Moby- it's too stretchy to be safe.)
We have a Connecta which we love. It's incredibly comfy in a front or a back carry (esp. with the lumbar support belt).
Good luck, it takes many mamas many many tries before they find the right carrier for them.
~maddymama

[baturay]

My first thought is that since you are liking your Moby, maybe just switch to a woven wrap at this point for more support and versatility. You can then use it also for a very secure back carry. It's got a learning curve, but since you've been using the Moby Wrap already, it won't take long before you are used to a woven wrap. A woven wrap can be used as hip, front and back carry and there are a variety of carries you can do for each.

My other thought is to still work on using your ring sling. It's great for the up and down stage that you'll be later on when she's bigger. I agree that it's not the most comfortable for long carries, but I love rebozo carry with a short wrap or a ring sling for when my kids are older and like to be up and down a lot. When I put on a ring sling, I start with the rings a little further up than I intend them to be, because they do tend to slip down as I'm putting it on. I also start with adjusting the pocket even before putting my kid in the ring sling, that way I have very little adjusting to do when he's in it. Once he's in it, I only adjust the top and bottom rail (no need to worry about the middle really, as long as the top and bottom are adjusted well). I lift the little one up, so I'm only adjusting the ring sling and not the ring sling + the baby's weight. Then I use my other hand to adjust the top and bottom rails. Hope that helps! It's worth trying to get the ring sling to work...you'll appreciate it later on.

[kbond]

Originally Posted by VOBetz

Doesn't the Ergo come with a chest strap? Wouldn't that solve the problems with the Ergo?

What is it about the babyhawk that she doesn't like? How about trying her in a different position with that - like perhaps a high back carry, so she can see over your shoulder.

I wouldn't put too much effort into figuring out ring slings with a 15 pound baby. Just my HUMBLE opinion. I can still carry my DD, who is 27 pounds in a ring sling, but just not for very long. I think you will be more comfortable in a two shouldered carrier.

Are all these options tried with a front carry? Because it could be that you could solve several problems with a back carry.

I'll try a different carry, but I'm not 100% comfortable with back carries. Any tips? I'm not sure what she dislikes about the Babyhawk; it's just really difficult to get her in and she screams.

As for the chest strap, that doesn't seem to make a difference on my feeling like the straps are going to slip off my shoulders if I move my arms with the Ergo. (Assuming of course that you mean the strap that fastens behind the neck.)

[kbond]

Originally Posted by baturay

My first thought is that since you are liking your Moby, maybe just switch to a woven wrap at this point for more support and versatility. You can then use it also for a very secure back carry. It's got a learning curve, but since you've been using the Moby Wrap already, it won't take long before you are used to a woven wrap. A woven wrap can be used as hip, front and back carry and there are a variety of carries you can do for each.

My other thought is to still work on using your ring sling. It's great for the up and down stage that you'll be later on when she's bigger. I agree that it's not the most comfortable for long carries, but I love rebozo carry with a short wrap or a ring sling for when my kids are older and like to be up and down a lot. When I put on a ring sling, I start with the rings a little further up than I intend them to be, because they do tend to slip down as I'm putting it on. I also start with adjusting the pocket even before putting my kid in the ring sling, that way I have very little adjusting to do when he's in it. Once he's in it, I only adjust the top and bottom rail (no need to worry about the middle really, as long as the top and bottom are adjusted well). I lift the little one up, so I'm only adjusting the ring sling and not the ring sling + the baby's weight. Then I use my other hand to adjust the top and bottom rails. Hope that helps! It's worth trying to get the ring sling to work...you'll appreciate it later on.

I actually don't have a ring sling; I just tried one on at the store and could not figure it out.

As for a woven wrap, I'll look into it, but I'd really like to make what I have work.

[syd'smom]

What kind of RS? I hated the padded one I was lent, but I LOVE the unpadded RS I have now. As for the ergo, I never found it really comfy for a front carry, but it is awesome for a back carry. We started back carries around 5mos - the ergo is awesome for back carries. I practiced by kneeling in the middle of my bed with DH spotting. Now we're both old pros at getting babes onto our backs (but it is kinda scary at first!)

What kind of carries are you trying with the babyhawk? If you can give us some more details, we should be able to figure out something that works!

[kbond]

I've just been trying front carries. With the Babyhawk, I've just tried with her facing in.