Best pouch style carrier?

[GuavaGirl]

I'm trying to decide on a pouch to use when my baby is a newborn. So far I've looked at ones by New Native, Blue Celery, Kangaroo Korner, Slingling, and HotSling.

Oh my! How do I choose? My baby will be born during the cold months. I noticed some have a soft fleece option, which might be best for the newborn stage. Other than that, I'm clueless.

Would love to hear any opinions!


Thanks!

[Sheryl1678]

The only two I have ever used are New Native and Slinglings (which I believe to be similar to HotSling). The New Native does not have stretch but has a deeper pocket so I used it more as a cradle style bed for my newborn.

There was NO WAY I could stuff a newborn inside the Slingling. I couldn't use it at all with my baby until she had head control and could sit up inside of it.

That said, the Slingling has stretch and fits tighter and closer to my body so I use it ALL.THE.TIME as sort of a seat. I pop my 7 mo old and my 4 yr old in and out of it. I misplaced it a couple of days ago and I am actually losing my mind without it.

[jmo]

I have a Kangaroo Korner and I LOVE it. Great for a newborn and great for an older babe. My 4 mo old still loves it but it's just too hot for it right now. With a winter babe it would be perfect. I also have a Hotsling and I really don't like it - not roomy enough. I've borrowed my friend's New Native and I like that a lot too, but it's not quite as comfy as the Kangaroo.

[AnnR33]

Fleece Hotsling!!! It can't be beat for a newborn in winter! This is what I used for my babe that was born in November and it was awesome. It was stretchy so it hugged baby close and it was soooo comfy. I could wear it for hours when he was little.

I then went to the cotton stretch Hotslings which are great too (I have 4 )
The Slinglings are deeper than Hotslings by an inch or so and I think they are great too but for a newborn I'd stick with the Hotslings and get a Slingling for a baby that was 4 mos or older. Slinglings are nicer for an older baby since it goes up higher on their back for the hip carry.

I really dislike New native pouches because they are notoriously bad with their sizing and have fewer size options so the fit is not as good.

Remember to measure from your shoulder to your hip bone (measure on your back if pregnant) for a good fit.

[possum]

I have used a KK and a NN. We really loved the KK for my son as a newborn. He grew very quickly, so we started wrapping with 2-shoulder carries almost exclusively around 3-4 months. My husband kept using the KK until a little later. I liked that my husband and I could use the same KK pouch adjusted differently. We couldn't use the same NN.
Melinda

[Quirky]

All of the ones you mention are good brands, except the New Native which is way too oversized to be useful (or safe for a newborn) IME.

You definitely want to avoid a deep cradle/bed style position with a newborn, where chin may be tucked to chest, as that can impair breathing.

This link is specific to bag slings but the information also applies to pouches and slings that are too deep for a little baby:

http://www.babyslingsafety.blogspot.com/

Also see this link on safe positioning:

http://www.thebabywearer.com/article...ositioning.pdf