Baby Carriers?

[Auraji]

Do you have one? Do you plan to get one? Which one do you reccomend?

I like the KangarooKorner pouch and I just found out today about the Baby K'tan and it looks way cool. This would be my first time baby wearing and I want something that is easy to work with. Any suggestions would be helpful, even if it is for another type of carrier. I just dont seem to make up my mind and is something I want to have before the baby gets here.

[~Katie~]

I've tried just about every carrier out there and I still settle on the same types depending on what stage we're at. My babies tend to grow very quickly so I don't get much use for pouches and don't feel they're versatile enough for me. I like to use a wrap until the baby weighs too much to use it comfortably. I just ordered a Gypsy Mama water wrap for use in and out of the water because I think the fabric will help keep us cool when its really hot outside, nothing is worse than sweaty baby wearing. For front carries and breastfeeding I prefer my Babyhawk. It has good head support and the shoulder straps don't get in the way of breastfeeding, but again when my babies get big I get tired of having to re-adjust the straps when they come loose from the extra weight. For back carries my all-time favorite carrier is the Beco, its super simple and requires no flinging of children over my back in order to get them situated. I haven't used it much for front-carries because my DS was pretty huge by the time I got it, but I can definitely see it working really well for that also since it has an infant insert.

[Smithie]

I'm sure you're sick of hearing this but - every baby is different, you won't really know what works until you try!

I have tried all kinds of things, the big winners in this house have been structured carriers like the Ergo and the Baby Bjorn. I did, however, use slings and wraps in the newborn stage with success. I have a Peanut Shell sling for this baby that I bought at a consignment sale. I chose not to get a wrap this time because we live in South Carolina now and I don't think I can stand wrapping myself up in a bunch of stretchy fabric in the blistering heat!

A Bjorn is something you should be able to pick up cheaply at a secondhand store or get free from a friend. I think it's good to start with that, and then make the investment in something pricier if you baby doesn't like the inexpensive solution. As they are washable, I see no benefit to buying a Bjorn new.

A friend of mine used a Kangaroo Korner pouch and liked it, but thought the fleece was pretty toasty even out in rainy Washington! I don't know what other fabric options they offer...

[Auraji]

That's true. I dont really like the most structured carriers, though the BabyHawk that Katie recommended is cute. I know, I know, I shouldnt be thinking about cute but about functionality. That's why I want something easy to put on, get out of and that allows for easy breastfeeding.

I know KangarooKorner has cotton fabrics, fleece, microfleece and some kind of solarveil thingie for warmer weather.

[Auraji]

Also I dont see myself wearing a wrap. It's the kind of thing that would drive me crazy and I would feel like taking off IMMEDIATELY. I dont like the feeling of being wrapped, makes me feel trapped and all the fabric would make me go nuts

[iana703]

My suggestion for you would be either a pouch easy to use least learning curve or a Beco or an Ergo type of carrier. It is a soft structured carrier but not like the bjorn, these will last you to toddlerhood not just to 12 pounds and you can nurse in them. I have tons of carriers but my workhorse after I stopped wrapping and slinging dd was my Connecta which is a soft structured carrier without the padded waist, so its like a mei tei without having to tie it since it just buckles.

[Comtessa]

I swear by the Ergobaby; when I was a nanny I used it every day with the littlest one - from 3 months all the way to 15+ months! I probably could have kept on using it for a while longer - it's a miracle how much weight it can carry without being overwhelming. It's super comfortable and the way it's structured means that your hips carry the weight (rather than your shoulders, like with the baby bjorn). I could carry the little one in it literally the entire day without getting tired. I love it for front and back carry - though I wasn't a fan of using it for a side carry, it required a bit too much work to rearrange the straps for that purpose, and it was uncomfortable if the babe fell asleep in it like that.

For flexibility (i.e., something to tuck into the diaper bag), I like the ring sling. The cotton ones are more breatheable in summer than the Ergobaby, and for really little newborns I've found they work a bit better.

[octanebeetle27]

For my last three babies I used a Maya Wrap and I really liked it, esp for the first two. My old lady back started aching while using the wrap with the third child so this time I am trying a Moby Wrap. It looks like it will more evenly distribute the baby's weight.

I tried a Snuggli with my first and it hurt my back right away (carrying a 6lb baby!).

Oh and if you have a maternity boutique store in your area, a lot of them have different carriers and are more than happy to spend time helping you try them out and seeing which you like. Might be kind of a fun outing for you and baby when you are ready to get out and about!

[Amydoula]

I got a Moby wrap, an Ergo and a sling from this WAHM (www.kiddiecradles.com)

[mamayarn]

For easy on, easy off and breastfeeding, the winner in my stash is the thin cotton ring sling. I have one from here: http://www.sweetpearingslings.com/sh...ableslings.htm I didn't get it until DS1 was 8 months old but as soon as I tried it I knew it would be great for BFing in the beginning.

I have a bunch of wraps - one new Moby and 3 homemade. You can just go to the fabric store and buy cheap fabric, 5 or 6 yards (depending on your size). I can wrap DS1 on my back but I don't know how to do a back carry with a newborn. I know there is a way. Of course it works on the front as well and you can BF in it pretty easily.

I carried DS1 in a Baby Hawk when he was only a few days old. Fabulous. BHs are made well but you can get the same style of carrier from many places. It's just two sets of straps to tie but some people like the structure of a buckle or clip instead of a tie on the waist strap. I can see the virtue of that but ties are what I have so I deal. I let DH choose the colors so that he would wear it too.

I made a pouch and it came out too small to do a cradle hold with a newborn, but it turned out to be perfect for hip carries from 3 months on. I can still use it, in fact, although I just can't for long.

Before I was pregnant, from the time DS1 could sit in a hip carry the ring sling or the pouch were the easiest options to keep in the car and throw on and off when running around. The Baby Hawk keeps him centered on my body instead so if I was going to be browsing, I'd choose that instead.

I also own a Snugli. It wasn't awful but just not as good as any of the above options for me. When DS1 was a little older we got a frame backpack carrier. DH likes it but again, I'd prefer any of the above options.

[Miasmamma]

I have 2 BabyHawks, a Hotsling and a MobyD wrap. I am thinking of a simple ring sling though, at least for the beginning.

[major_mama11]

My favorites are the Moby Wrap for younger babies and the Ergo was awesome for older babies and toddlers. I ordered a Hotsling this time but haven't used it yet- figured it might be cooler in the summertime.

[ScootchsMom]

Originally Posted by Auraji

Do you have one? Do you plan to get one? Which one do you reccomend?

One? No. Try.....

2 handmade Mei Tei carriers
1 stretch wrap
1 woven wrap
1 hotsling
1 Ergo
1 ringsling
and a Snuggli that I don't really use

I'm a carrier addict, lol. I'm bringing the stretch wrap to the hospital when I have the baby too, I figure I'll really freak the nurses out with my "weird" self, lol.

[SunCB]

A wrapper here!! There are ways to wrap the material and baby around so not so much is around the body. Think I am a wrapper probably bc my boys were 20+ lbs by 3 months so 1 shoulder carriers did not work well for me. Wrapping is what I started with bc I got a $6 cotton gauze wrap (6 yds) from Wal-Mart. I finally got a BabyHawk when DS1 was a yr old. I have tried Kozy Carrier and like it. Not much of a soft structure person though I have on Olives & Apples Toddler.

This time I purchased a RS (forget the brand) to have early on. I have the pouch that never worked for me bc DS2 grew to fast by the time I got it then sent it back bc of sizing then it was returned to me.

I would definitely try to meet up with someone who has a variety or get to a mtg. Oh, a friend has the Baby K'tan and says it is great until her DS got to be to big since it is a stretchy type fabric.

[JamieCatheryn]

I have a ring sling I bought with DS that works ok, great for putting on easy and nursing privacy, though it's D rings and gathered at the end in an inconvenient way so once baby has any weight to speak of it digs in to the shoulder. Maybe I'll make myself a new one really quick this week. My dad bought me and the new baby a Kozy Carrier mei tai that I just love, I even tried it on pregnant with my then almost 3 year old (30+ lbs!) and it was comfy!

[Lunaria]

I am a wrapper at heart. My old standbye is a long piece of cotton guaze I got from the fabric store and my ds who is 2 and 34 lbs still goes in it on my back. I also have a Moby D, but I found the simple cotton guaze wrap more versatile and comfortable.

However, I've never found it possible to breastfeed in the wrap. I have breastfed while slinging with a simple piece of cloth knotted to form a sling. Slings are easiest to breastfeed in I think.

I have to say I would love to get a Mangobaby mei tai. It looks so comfy cozy and beautiful too. I've never used a mei tai before but this one looks a lot like a wrap....I think it'd be easy to breastfeed in this one too.

Jenny

[jenneology]

I am an enthusiastic fan of the Moby Wrap for young infants and the Ergo for walkers and toddlers. I'm excited to try the Baby K'tan that I'm borrowing from a friend. I'm hoping that the K'tan will be easier to take off and put on than a Moby, making it easier for use around the house and quick babywearing excursions. The Moby is awesome for walks and long periods of time, but I wanted to find something that was easier to slip on and off. To me the K'tan feels more secure than any type of sling I've tried. I hope you try it and like it. I'll be trying it and I can report back!

[Auraji]

There are so many options! I wish I wasnt so broke and I could buy several, but I can only buy one atm and that's why Im inquiring so much. I need to make sure it's the right one, so like some previous mamas have said, I should probably wait until DD is here.

Jenneology, once you try the Baby K'tan please let me know how you like it. I just found about it today and it's the one Im inclined the most to get. From what I saw in their site it's a simple design, but versatile at the same time. I think they advertise it that you can carry a child of up to 42 pounds in it.

[scrappingmom]

I first got a ring sling with #4 and LOVED it (before i'd had snuggli type things and refused to use them they are horrible!) it was easyto just pop on and slide baby into, nurse, walk, garden, hike part of the apalachian trail with a 3wk old... yeah its great for all of it I even carried #4 on my back at 18mo, a week overdue with #5 playing mini golf (by the way AWSOME counterweight for preggy belly!!!! toddler on back in a sling, it was the best i felt the last 2 months!) I love the range it can work for but teh one bad thing is, the weight end up on one shoulder and can get rough at times.

I ended up getting some stretchy, knit/wove sort of look fabric for like $50 a yard so figured i'd try making a wrap, didnt want to spend the cash becasue like you said, i didnt think i'd like the fabric wrapping me up. I wore it swimming, to the fairs, all over in life, at teh store everywhere, a little tug here and scoot there and i could easily nurse AND walk with other children in tow, pushing a stroller/cart or whatever. on real hot days i'd just put teh wrap on with no shirt and once wrapped up just give a couple tugs to make sure i was desent. if i was out somewhere i woud just slide baby in and out and keep the wrap on. I found if i wrapped it just right it was like a built in back support too. I'm absolutely in love with the wrap now and sort of went crazy when i found out i was preg again... i now have 6. The great thing is, the fabric i got, i split in half length way so i got 2 wraps out of each piece, kept one and gave the other as a gift!

I even got my metal head, airborne ranger, to tough for anything DH to wear the first wrap, he said the other day if i found camo fabric for him he would wear one to carry the 21mo

i'd strongly suggest getting some inexpensive fabric and trying a wrap, pick fabric you would use for something else just incase you dont like it... you can make one for under $10. dont even have to stitch it if you get something that doesn fray.

As someone mentioned, you could see if a maternity store or the like has some to try out. We dont have any that i know of Possibly even a good heath food/healthy living sort of store might carry a few??? They might know where to look if they dont.

[Overthemoon]

I love my Mei Tai from Sweet Slings. I've tried so many carriers (after 3 babies) and this is by far the most comfortable. I wish I would have found it sooner.