Wow, I'm overwhelmed by options!

[craft_media_hero]

So I am just in my first trimester with my second baby. My first is six, and tho I never had a carrier (besides the snugli and later frame back carrier), I pretty much just carried her around in my arms a lot.

This time around, I definitely want an ergonomic carrier/sling or two, or three, lol. I just don't know where to start. I looked at the forum resource, and I'm still pretty overwhelmed!

I would like a carrier that can go from newborn to tot. I'd like one with lots of wearing/position options. Also, if dp could wear it that would be great. I am 5' and he is over 6'---do we need separate carriers?

I guess I feel most intuitively drawn to the rebozo/traditional style, but with the one shoulder tie, is it going to cause back pain? Back support is important; I have a tiny frame and a history of back issues.

So what are your favs and why?

I think the Mei Tei is darling, I want one just for the cuteness factor, lol.

Talk to me, mommas. I have a while to prepare, but I want to get a lot of the details smoothed out before (plus they can be expensive, so if we're getting more than one carrier, I'd like to buy ahead of time).

[_betsy_]

I love a simple pouch sling. A ring sling may work well for you as a basic carrier as well.

I have a mei tei and while I think it's adorable, I can't seem to get her into a back carry by myself, so I never use it anymore.

[lilylumos]

I have a mei tei, but I feel the same about the back carry, it's hard to get my DD on by myself. BUT, I love it for a front carry. I have a Beco for back carry and I don't care for the feel of the front carry with it. I also have a ring sling and it was great when she was younger, but we don't use it anymore (she's 15 mths) plus we live in a very hot climate and all of that extra fabric was no good during the 100 degree summer months.

[mntnmom]

The mei tais seem to be the most flexible. A lot of the Soft structured carriers are a lot like mei tais, but with buckles. I never owned one, but borrowed one for I while. I got a similar WAHM made carrier instead, but a lot of beginner babywearers (and some veterans!) like the Ergo. It has an infant insert, can be worn for many different positions, and comes in "guy friendly" colors.
My personal favorite for running errands though, has been my adjustable Maya pouch. It is great for snuggling a new born and for carrying a toddler on my hip. They come out of the car seat, go in the pouch. It is very small and easy to keep in the car or diaper bag. Though mine is purple, and I've never gotten DH to wear it!
Everyone here has their personal favorites, but those are my votes for what you're looking for.

[katelove]

I haven't put any of this into practice yet but, for what it's worth, here is what we have bought and why...

pouch slings x3 (2 in my size, 1 in DH's size) - we liked the simplicity and popability of this for quick trips. Also liked that they could be used for hip carries (we got ones with a padded rail). We chose these over ring slings for the, probably-not-very-good eason that I have never found belts etc with rings particularly satisfactory. We got 2 in my size as we figured I would be using them more and this way I have one to wash and one to wear.

Moby x2 (1 in the blue batik print I liked and 1 in the pale green Dh prefered) - Again we got 2 so one could be in the wash. We both liked the versatility of the wrap and, on all the forums, Moby seems to be the most popular newborn wrap.

Gypsy Mama gauze wrap x1 - for when the babe is too heavy for the stretchy Moby. We went with gauze as we live in a hot climate and wanted the coolest fabric we could find. GM was the only gauze wrap I could find in Australia.

Ergo x1 - a quick, easy carrier for the times when a wrap is too hot or too inconvenient. May also be useful for extended family who aren't confident/enthusiastic wrappers. We chose Ergo over the other SSCs as it got the best reviews. Even though the Becco Butterfly is prettier

That is our current stash. No plans to extend it pre-baby but I suspect we may end up with another gauze wrap at some stage.

BTW, we plan to do the full Continuum Concept-style in arms phase which is why we wanted variety and more than one of each style.

[Alisse]

My favourite carrier so far is the chunei. I didn't get it until my ds was almost 3months old because i had never heard of it. Part of what's great about it is that i can get him in the back carry position which is something i can't do with the ergo+infant insert. I also love the chunei because it was cheaper (than the ergo), my son only liked to be carried in the upright position, it's the most comfortable carrier i have, and it's the easiest to use, (it also doesn't give you that nasty muffin-top thing that ssc's tend to give you at the waist/hip area).

But carriers are so personal to both baby and mom. I needed something that completely freed both hands but ds hated any kind of sling or wrap because he (looked like) he felt too constricted, (he'd squirm and cry).

[craft_media_hero]

Thanks for all the replies!

I've been digging and researching, and so far, I really like the look of the Sleepy Wrap and the reviews I've read. Can anyone tell me how the Sleepy Wrap differs from the Moby or just a traditional rebozo shawl? So I see on the site that the SW is from newb to 1yr, which seems like a good stretch, and it's very inexpensive compared to other wraps/carriers. Can you do hip carry in the SW? I am looking at the site, and it doesn't specify hip carry. Is that possible with all wraps? Can the mei tai do hip carry?

The wrap is able to function like a pouch? I think that I'm most drawn to the wrap carriers. I like the Moby and the Bali style, too.

I do think I want the two-shoulder support, so count out the ring sling. I just am tiny with history of back problems, so I'd rather err on the side of caution.

If my hub is big and I am little, will we need separate carriers?

He's already being resistant to babywearing, and our roommate has already started teasing him. We don't even have a carrier yet I want to do the Continuum Concept, too. I want dp to really understand it. I don't know if it's likely that he'll read the whole book. Is there like a synopsis for dads, lol?

Sorry to barrage you all with questions, lol.

I'm thinking that I'd like to narrow it down to three carriers, and I don't want to buy two that are basically the same but different names, yk? So I'm thinking a wrap (or two), a mei tai, and a pouch? But which of each? Money is an issue, also. So any recs for less expensive ones are great, too.

[staceychev]

I'm confused as to why you would buy a pouch if you want two-shoulder support?

Anyway, I used a Maya Wrap and a Mei Tai with DD. I LOVE my mei tai. I started putting her in a back carry at around 10 months by propping her up on the couch or the car seat. By the time she was a little over a year, I could swing her over my shoulder. It freaked people out a little to see that , and I still use that method to get her on my back for piggy back rides (she's 4.5). I also used my mei tai forever. I carried her in it regularly until she was about 3, and used it sporadically after that. I actually carried her on my back for a 30 minute walk over the summer, soon after she turned 4. (She's small, by the way, for her age. She's still under 35 lbs.)

[thtr4me]

You may want to take a look at woven wraps if you are drawn to the idea of a rebozo. You can get them in different lengths from short for rebozo carries, to long ones that will do carries similar to what you would see being done with a Moby. The bonus is with a good woven wrap (or 2, or 3 ) you can wear from birth through preschool.

[craft_media_hero]

Originally Posted by staceychev

I'm confused as to why you would buy a pouch if you want two-shoulder support?

See, that's why I'm here I didn't even realize that a pouch could only do one shoulder support.

I'm definitely going to start out with the wrap, just trying to decide which one(s). But I do want a secondary choice, as well. So I guess I'm narrowing it down to the mei tai and other options that have been mentioned.

Thanks for helping me out, here! Your responses are definitely helping me to wade through all the options.

btw-I do like the look of that chunei. I hadn't really considered a buckle carrier! But it looks very comfy and sturdy. More "mainstream" look for dad, too. One more to think about!