Best-All-Around Baby Carrier

[soveryblessed]

I'm wondering what you all think is the BEST type of baby carrier to have from newborn +. I had a Moby Wrap and didn't really care for it too much...with three kids, taking the time to wrap it can be a pain and I could never get it to feel snug. Anyone have other suggestions?

[alegna]

I use mei tais from birth on and love them. Especially the kozy.

-Angela

[joeys_mom]

The Ergo Carrier gets my vote! We used this with DS from birth.

[CindyCindy]

Wrapping your little one should not take that long. How long to you feel it is taking? It should take about one minute to get on and 10 seconds to "pop" baby in. Sounds like you aren't pretying it tight enough. I suggest trying again, making it tighter. Remember it is stretchy, so you are going to have to pull it up around baby, it should be very snug and super comfy.

That being said I like all carriers I think they all have their place. If you only want one, an Ergo isn't as versatile as a mei tai. You can't do high back carries and they don't fit certain body types and I do better with other Soft structured carriers, because the Ergo digs into my sides under my arms. So they all fit everyone differently. But with a mei tai, they pretty much fit about anyone.

If you are looking for something SUPER fast, get a pouch or a ringsling. They don't have as much support as a mei tai, soft structured or wrap though.

I also have three kids, but I find taking the time to use a woven is more helpful in the long run. I can cook, clean and then go for a walk with my kids and never fuss with the wrap, all the while, baby is as happy as a clam.

[pixiepunk]

IMO a mei tai is the easiest, most versatile and useful carrier from birth to toddlerhood. i agree with alegna, i think the Kozy is awesome - snuggly for newborns with legs in, but very supportive for older/heavier babies and toddlers. nice tall body that can be rolled down if you need to with a little one, but great for supporting older kids so they don't lean. and they're very easy to learn how to use and can be used by people of a lot of different sizes. and lots of different ways to wear it and ways to tie it on so it's easier to find a sweet spot. much more flexible in that way than, say, SSC's, which can not be worn high on the back, for example, and some don't allow you to cross the straps in the back for front carries.

woven wraps are definitely up there, but IMO if you only have one carrier a woven isn't the most versatile because if you have a nice long wrap to do supportive cross-carries with then it's too long to do rucksack and rebozo carries with, so in that regard you are somewhat limited in what carries you can do based on the length of your wrap. they also have a much steeper learning curve.

as for the moby, it is very quick and easy with a newborn. but as the pp said you have to pre-tie it and do it nice and snug so you can just wear it and pop baby in and out. but frankly i don't like stretchy wraps much, and i certainly don't find them very versatile. my babies are always big and they outgrow a stretchy wrap (in terms of being too heavy, making it bouncy and uncomfy for me) within a couple of months. and really there's not too many different ways to wear them.

[soveryblessed]

Thanks a bunch for sharing your advice! That really helps a lot! :-)

[*MamaJen*]

I like a pouch sling for newborns and an Ergo or Mei Tai for bigger babies.

[Googy]

Of all my slings/carriers, my Lightly Padded Maya has gotten the most use. That thing was the center of my life for a long time!

[almadianna]

MT or a wrap.

[MoonStarFalling]

A linen ring sling would get my first vote. It's the fastest, easiest to use and no dragging tails.