Experienced babywearers, recommendations on soft-structured carriers?

[PhrenchMama]

Hi there!

I have a eleven-month old (twenty pounds). I was hoping to get a good SSC that would still allow us to get a lot of use out of it; good for both back and front-carry. I'm 5'8'', slender build... I don't know if that helps, but I figured I'd give you as much info as possible!

I was looking at ergo, beco, boba, and I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks so much for your help!

[ElaynesMom]

I love my ergo. It's definitely been our most used carrier and I still use it frequently with my 25 lb 2.5 year old d I've never tried the other 2, but the Boba doesn't come with a sleep hood, if you need one.

Another one to look into would be olives and applesauce. They are similar to the ergo, but are a bit bigger and might last longer. The new ones also come with an infant insert so you could use it with future children no problem. I've been thinking of getting one as our ergo is starting to feel a little small. The maker has recently started doing wholesale, so they are now available through a few retailers. All the info is on her site

http://www.olivesandapplesauce.com

[ThankfulMama]

My DD is 17lbs and I am liking the beco for both front and back carry. I haven't tried the others though, I previously wore her in a wrap.

[Quirky]

The Beco, AngelPack LX, and Babyhawk Oh Snap all work well for women with slender builds, and are also taller than the Ergo so work well for taller babies.

I think the big thing with the Beco that you have to decide if you want or not is the internal safety harness -- on the one hand, it makes back carries a piece of cake, because you buckle baby in and swing her on like you're putting on a backpack. On the other hand, it adds an extra step, and back carries really aren't that hard to master with practice, especially when you start out using the hip scoot method.

The AngelPack LX and BabyHawk Oh Snap are nice because you can cross the straps on your back for a front carry, which many find is more comfortable than having the shoulder straps go under your arms backpack style and then having to fasten the chest clip behind your neck.

Like the Boba, the BabyHawk Oh Snap also doesn't have a sleep hood. Both are tall carriers though and there are after-market universal sleep hoods offered by WAHMs such as Monkey Pockets so that's one option.

[kelantan]

Ergo!

The Ergo. I would recommend this above all others (especially after it just saved us once again with our crying toddler).

I'm 5'10" and my husband is 6'3". Both slender. We LOVE it. Really. It fits wonderfully. It is a lifesaver. Our little boy falls asleep in it in minutes EVEN when NOTHING else works (ie tonight). I cannot say good enough things about it. It is our best purchase made for our little guy. We still carry our 20 lb-er on our fronts still and it doesn't hurt (i'm prone to migraines) and on the back you can hardly feel him.

I haven't tried the other two, but from what friend's have told me, the Boba and Beco are good if you are shorter... the Ergo is a little bit large for someone under 5'4"... but if you are tall the Ergo fits like a glove. I love it. Really. Really. Really.

[clovergirl]

you've got some good advice already. just wanted to point out that the new version of the boba (2G) which comes out in march does include a removable sleep hood, if that's a deal breaker for you.

[MamaKickyPants]

I love my 18" Olives and Applesauce. I found the body height of the Ergo much too short for my back leaning toddler. The ergo body height is one of the lowest of any SSC out there. I also find the O&A waist padding to be more comfortable. Plus, it's so pretty!

[AlishaLukesMom]

I would recommend a Beco Butterfly or a Mei tai.
I can never get the back carry on the baby hawk figured out, but I am sure more practice would help. The Beco is super easy to get onto your back.

Both are great and distribute the weight so I never feel him

[RedPony]

I'll second the BabyHawk Oh Snap. I'm 5'5" myself and getting more slender every day (woo!) and it fits and feels great. I am going to be picking up one of those hoods very quickly!

[confustication]

I love my Nana's Jetpacks they're comfortable in both a front and back carry, and the body is tall enough that there's a lot of support for my 5 month old, and my BIG 19 month old isn't able to get much 'lean' in.

LOVE!


Here's a pic of it after a walk in the mud and ick yesterday- excuse the mud splatters! DS is 5 months old and very long. We've recently transitioned to back carries most of the time, but the straps also cross in back for a comfy front carry.

I can also comfortably carry my almost 40 lb 19 month old. Nope, not a typo, almost 40 lbs- he's a big kid. I can do a couple hours with him without major pain.

[misstorri]

I love my Beco and highly recommend it.

[gabeycakesmama]

I love love love my Beco - I had an ergo and returned it, I found the straps really thick and bulky. Back carries are really easy, I don't find the internal harness is that much more of a pain to fuss with, and there's an infant insert included, so you can use it with a tiny baby in the future as well.

We use ours a few hours every day and have for 16 months now - it's in great shape.

Plus, it's prettier than the Ergo, by far

[kittywitty]

Beco!!!

i had an ergo and it was good, but my Beco was heaven. Nothing has compared since!

[HarperRose]

Having used a Mei Tai, Ergo, & Beco (and Pouch, Wrap, Ring Sling, sarong, and simple piece of cloth ), I would suggest an Ergo or a Beco. I really liked how light the Beco was (not that the Ergo was heavy), but I am not going to dis my Ergo, either.

[almadianna]

I love my Olives and Applesauce too.

Do you have a babywearing group near you? They might ahve some that you can try on and see which works best for you.

[ramama]

I love my Beco! I am also slender, but shorter at 5'2" and it fits me great. It is slimmer feeling than the Ergo, IMO (I can't stand the uber-thick shoulder pads and waistband of the ergo). DD2 is now 4yo and 30 lbs. and I can still wear her very comfortably and the body of the carrier still comes up high enough on her.

[dachshund mom]

Just to throw another out there, I love my Pikkolo. It was great when DD was smaller because the crotch cinches and you can use it forward facing. It's still very comfy with my 11mo, but we mostly use a sling now since she wants down a lot (then down, then up...).