Do I need a fourth carrier (sling) or am I just lazy?

[Beauchamp]

I have an Ergo Sport, which I am not using because it's too big for DD right now. I have a Moby which I used for the first two months, until DD seemed to be so heavy in it, and I was constantly adjusting it, and it stretched sooo much, she hung down, and it hurt my back. Then I got my Pikkolo, which works fairly well, but I often find myself just carrying her around the house in arms because putting on the Pikkolo takes a few minutes to get on and adjust and sometimes she ends up not liking being held to my chest anyway. (She'll push away with her elbows because she wants her arms out and want to look around...usually the Pikkolo works best when we're out and about and she's tired, or is actively looking around but is being still.)

I have been wondering about a sling, if I could nurse in it when we're out, if it would make life much easier at home, i.e. pop her in and out, put the sling on super quickly, and if I even NEED one. (Okay, I don't need one, but you KWIM.)

Slings are SO overwhelming. There are SO many out there to choose from. Any thoughts are appreciated. BTW, DD is 3 mo and about 14 lbs. I am 5'9", fairly thin, and have a sore back.

[lizziebits]

OK, first a couple of questions --

1) Are you sure she is too small for the Ergo? My SIL has a baby about the size of your LO and is using the Ergo for her DS. He fits in there well, and I would be surprised if he was more than 14#. That's the best bet for your back, IMO. I had my 35+# son in there the other day, and it was comfy as can be.

2) Are you putting the Moby on really tight before you put babe in there? I know for sure I was putting DS in there around 7 months, and later, and he was 20# by 6 months. I would just make sure it was on really tight, and then it wouldn't stretch too much.

As far as a sling, we have a hot sling, which I love for its ease of in and out, but its certainly not my most comfortable carrier. I used it (and still occasionally use it with my 2 year old) for running errands, where we would be getting in and out of the carrier a lot. For around the house, I much preferred the Moby or Mei Tei.

[ChetMC]

Slings

I've got a Beco, a homemade mei tei, some plain cloth that we've used as wraps, and two ring slings.

I find slings very useful. Mostly what I like is that there is no carrier that's faster to put on and get baby into. Also, if baby falls asleep I find the sling easy to take off without waking baby up. I know that lots of people wear their babies while they sleep, but often I'll take baby off once they're out and so I can do some stuff while they nap (like shower, or clean the floor) that I find it difficult or impossible to while wearing a baby.

[TheGirls]

I use one shoulder slngs sometimes for quick in and out things, but they're harder on my back than my Beco or a Mei Tai or Wrap. We used the Moby until about 18-20lbs before it started stretching that much, so I'm also wondering if you're tying it to loose. It has to be pretty snug before you put the baby in - don't leave room for her, the stretch will take care of that. I'd also consdier using the Ergo at that age. I started doing high-back carries in a MeiTai at about that age too.

However, a ring sling or a pouch that's too big are the only carriers I can nurse in very well. I'm very well endowed though, smaller women sometimes do better with other carriers.

[Beauchamp]

Originally Posted by lizziebits

1) Are you sure she is too small for the Ergo?

2) Are you putting the Moby on really tight before you put babe in there?

Well, I think the Ergo might be too big in terms of her legs being in the froggy position, too wide. I haven't tried in a while, though.

As for the Moby, I *think* I am putting it on pretty tight. I'll have to try again, to try to make do with what I have on hand.

Originally Posted by TheGirls

I use one shoulder slings sometimes for quick in and out things, but they're harder on my back...

We used the Moby until about 18-20lbs before it started stretching that much, so I'm also wondering if you're tying it to loose. It has to be pretty snug before you put the baby in - don't leave room for her, the stretch will take care of that.

Well, I definitely don't need something that is HARDER on my back! I will try the Moby again. I never knew you weren't supposed to leave room for the baby. I guess I have always had some amount of slack in it before putting in the baby.

[lizziebits]

Yeah, I think if you make the Moby really tight you'll find it a pretty good around the house carrier for that age. I like slings a lot, but they are much rougher on the back than the Moby.

[hjrowan]

Have you tried putting your DD facing out in the Pikkolo if she doesn't like facing in? I remember at this age my DD wanted to face out more and the Pikkolo allows you to do this.

FWIW I also have a bad back and found slings pretty uncomfortable when DD got around 3-4 months old, but at the same time the Ergo was too big so I went for the Pikkolo - it's been a good "inbetweener"!

[baturay]

I really like having a ring sling for quick carries and especially for nursing. It's kind of an essential one in my stash. I don't use it when I'm going to be carrying hm for a long time, but for those quick times, it's really nice to have.

For the Moby, I agree...tie it tighter. If worn properly, she'll be snug on you and not hanging.

[Beauchamp]

Originally Posted by hjrowan

Have you tried putting your DD facing out in the Pikkolo if she doesn't like facing in? ...I...found slings pretty uncomfortable when DD got around 3-4 months old

I haven't tried the Pikkolo FFO yet. The Pikkolo hurts my neck even when she's FFI, so I wasn't so psyched to try it. I am constantly pulling the straps down by my sides to try to keep the "X" of the Pikkolo straps off my neck. I like it because it's easier than the Moby, but it also kills me that I spent $130 on another carrier that hurts.

Originally Posted by lizziebits

Yeah, I think if you make the Moby really tight you'll find it a pretty good around the house carrier for that age. I like slings a lot, but they are much rougher on the back than the Moby.

Much rougher scares me. And bums me out.

Originally Posted by baturay

I really like having a ring sling for quick carries and especially for nursing. It's kind of an essential one in my stash. I don't use it when I'm going to be carrying hm for a long time, but for those quick times, it's really nice to have.

For the Moby, I agree...tie it tighter. If worn properly, she'll be snug on you and not hanging.

I have tied the Moby tighter lately, just to make use of the carriers I currently own. It's been much better. Although, I tried a FFO--- sort of like the "Lotus" carry, just with the legs poking out/down, rather than inside the seat/pouch in the booklet. But this position tends to hurt my stomach when I have her tied tightly. Also...when I tie it so tightly, I feel like I am really bending her legs and feet to get her in. So much so that I have to loosen/untie it to get her out easily.

I was loving the idea of a sling for nursing especially. But not if it's REALLY painful. I don't wear the Moby all day because it gets in the way when we're nursing. And thus I am tying/retying all the time.

[baturay]

Originally Posted by Beauchamp

Also...when I tie it so tightly, I feel like I am really bending her legs and feet to get her in. So much so that I have to loosen/untie it to get her out easily.

That's usual actually...I have to do the same (bend my little one's knees to get his legs in the wrap). To get him out, I just peel off (out of the way) the wrap crosses and panel. I grab him from under his arms, then peel off the wrap, pull him out some and sometimes peel off the wrap again to fully get him out.

I was loving the idea of a sling for nursing especially. But not if it's REALLY painful. I don't wear the Moby all day because it gets in the way when we're nursing. And thus I am tying/retying all the time.

It hurts you to nurse in the Moby? How do you mean? Also, do you have a picture you can post? I know it's a pain to have to take, download and then upload a picture, but it helps sooo much to trouble shoot.

[Comtessa]

I agree, a sling is harder on the back than either the Moby or the Ergo, so I'd warn against that if your back already bothers you. I'd go with a ring sling over a pouch sling, but that's just personal preference - I can't get the pouch sling to fit over my shoulder in a way that feels secure and comfortable. The ring sling adjusts easily to accommodate the baby's various positions, too.

The ring sling is easier for nursing than a Moby, and definitely for ease of on/off, but my DD doesn't like it much at the moment - I suspect she'll like it better once she's big enough to be comfortable in the hip-carry position.

My DD is 3.5 weeks older than your DD, and I'm just now able to put her in the Ergo without the infant insert. I think I waited until she was 12 lbs. to try the Ergo in the standard "froggy legs" position. She loves it now, and I can wear her on my back in it too. I find it easier on my back than the Moby, though the PP's are right - tying it tighter will definitely help with that problem. I find a tight front-facing carry easiest on my back for long periods of time.

So, the moral of that story is, try the Ergo again in a couple of weeks. You'll probably find that you like it better than other carriers, since it's definitely better on your back. And don't worry too much about squishing the baby in the Moby - mine likes to be a little squished, I think it makes her feel secure. You might also want to try the Moby in a high supported hip-carry (there are instructions on the website) - for a bit of a change to the weight on your back.

If you want to try out a sling, pick up an inexpensive ring sling from Craigslist or Ebay - they're easiest to use, least expensive, and it's no great shakes if your LO doesn't like it, you can always cut the rings off and make a baby dress out of the fabric.