not sure what to get

[amydiane]

I'm not a very experienced babywearer, so I'm looking for some advice. I have an 18 1/2-ish lb 7 month old DD and a 28-ish lb 2 1/2 year old DS.

I currently have a Snugli (I know, I know), a Hotsling, and a Moby D. DS loved the Hotsling when he was very small, but then he got tired of it. DD never liked to be cradled in it, but she was also bigger as a NB than DS was when he decided he was done. Recently, she liked the hip carry, but I don't find it very comfortable. She likes the Snugli, but I can't use it for very long before my back really starts to hurt (I was in a car accident a few years ago and my low back isn't the greatest). The Moby D is a recent addition and overall, we both like it, though sometimes I think I might need something different. Usually, I don't mind having to wrap it around, but sometimes, it would be nice to be able to just pop her in and go. Also, I tried a back carry recently with DD and DH didn't feel like she was secure. I would like to be able to do back carries with both DD and DS. I was thinking about a mei tai, but I'm open to any suggestions....including any on using what I currently have. Thanks!

[AlishaLukesMom]

I have a bunch of carriers, I use for different situations.
And I have to say if I could only pick ONE, it would the Baby Hawk Mei tai or the Beco butterfly. Both super comfortable, easy to use and my son passes out right away in the baby hawk and he is turning 1. I have used it since birth with him!
Good luck

[Mom2M]

I have a Moby and love it. My DD is 3 1/2 months old and 15 pounds and loves the hug hold.
I know what you mean about it being a pain to wrap it all the time but wow, it takes all the weight off my back. I had lower back surgery a couple years ago and it really doesn't bother me.
A friend of mine suggested putting it on and then having it ready when you want to pop her in and out. I wear it to the store and then only have to get her in when we get there instead of starting from the beginning. It is more comfortable when driving if you make sure the knot is on the side or in front!
Also, it stays tight enough for me to do this several times.

[ramama]

I think I would go with an SSC like the Beco. The lower belt goes around the hips so it alleviates a lot of strain from your lower back. I also like the mei tai, but I know that when my DDs were 2.5yo they wanted up, then down, then up, then down...it can be very frustrating to have to retie that often when you are new to the carrier (or it could be a way to learn the carrier quickly LOL).

[milk_maker]

Do you have a problem with the top rail gapping on your pouch? An easy fix is to fold down the shoulder to go over the top of your arm, the inside of the fabric will be showing instead of the print. That should help cinch it up a bit and make it a little more comfortable, but honestly at that weight hip carries start to become uncomfortable for long term wearing. I can still throw my three year old in my sling for a quick trip into the store for milk or bread, but anything long term I prefer on my back.

Mei tais are great because they're a very vesatile carrier when it comes to switching between front and back carries. I like soft structured carriers, but only for back carries since it usually takes a bit of contorting to get that stupid buckle fastened over my shoulders. To do that I put the baby in the carrier, get everything ready to fasten, slip my arm out of one strap and reach around to fasten the clip. Then I slip my arm back in teh carrier and go. It's a bit of a PITA.

For a back carry with a wrap, I would not recommend using a stretchy wrap like a moby. I much prefer my ellaroo or didymos wraps for back carries since they're a much firmer fabric with less give. I tried a back carry with my moby once and never could get a very secure tie. I know of some people who use their moby wraps for back carries too, but I never felt very comfortable doing it beyond practicing.

[amydiane]

Originally Posted by AlishaLukesMom

I have a bunch of carriers, I use for different situations.
And I have to say if I could only pick ONE, it would the Baby Hawk Mei tai or the Beco butterfly. Both super comfortable, easy to use and my son passes out right away in the baby hawk and he is turning 1. I have used it since birth with him!
Good luck

Originally Posted by ramama

I think I would go with an SSC like the Beco. The lower belt goes around the hips so it alleviates a lot of strain from your lower back. I also like the mei tai, but I know that when my DDs were 2.5yo they wanted up, then down, then up, then down...it can be very frustrating to have to retie that often when you are new to the carrier (or it could be a way to learn the carrier quickly LOL).

So is the main difference between a mei tai and a SSC that a mei tai is tied and a SSC has buckles? Can you have baby facing out in a front carry with both? DD seems to like facing out a lot lately.

Originally Posted by Mom2M

I have a Moby and love it. My DD is 3 1/2 months old and 15 pounds and loves the hug hold.
I know what you mean about it being a pain to wrap it all the time but wow, it takes all the weight off my back. I had lower back surgery a couple years ago and it really doesn't bother me.
A friend of mine suggested putting it on and then having it ready when you want to pop her in and out. I wear it to the store and then only have to get her in when we get there instead of starting from the beginning. It is more comfortable when driving if you make sure the knot is on the side or in front!
Also, it stays tight enough for me to do this several times.

We really like the hug hold for napping, and the other one that's similar, but facing out (joey hold?) most of the rest of the time. I do pre-tie and leave it sometimes, but sometimes I feel silly wrapped in all this fabric for no apparent reason.

Originally Posted by milk_maker

Do you have a problem with the top rail gapping on your pouch? An easy fix is to fold down the shoulder to go over the top of your arm, the inside of the fabric will be showing instead of the print. That should help cinch it up a bit and make it a little more comfortable, but honestly at that weight hip carries start to become uncomfortable for long term wearing. I can still throw my three year old in my sling for a quick trip into the store for milk or bread, but anything long term I prefer on my back.

I hadn't noticed gapping, but last time I tried, I didn't have it on very long. I think it was a combo of her weight, like you said, and possibly the size....I have retained some belly this time around, and it's probably making the sling fit tighter. It also doesn't help that it's in just the right spot for DD to kick!

Mei tais are great because they're a very vesatile carrier when it comes to switching between front and back carries. I like soft structured carriers, but only for back carries since it usually takes a bit of contorting to get that stupid buckle fastened over my shoulders. To do that I put the baby in the carrier, get everything ready to fasten, slip my arm out of one strap and reach around to fasten the clip. Then I slip my arm back in teh carrier and go. It's a bit of a PITA.

Good to know, I will keep that in mind.

For a back carry with a wrap, I would not recommend using a stretchy wrap like a moby. I much prefer my ellaroo or didymos wraps for back carries since they're a much firmer fabric with less give. I tried a back carry with my moby once and never could get a very secure tie. I know of some people who use their moby wraps for back carries too, but I never felt very comfortable doing it beyond practicing.

Yeah, I had hoped that the Moby D would be okay since it has the woven panel, but after trying it, I'm not so sure. I probably should give it another shot since practicing will likely help....just not sure if it will help enough.

This is very helpful, keep the suggestions coming, please!

[springbride]

My go to carrier for the pop in and go carry is the Ella Roo Mei Hip. 2 bucks, adjusts easily. Lots of strange looks in the grocery store.

I do have a more traditional Mei Tie as well, I'm a big fan of both.

ETA:
DD is 8 months & 18lbs. I have also used it with my 2.5 year old niece.

[staceychev]

I used a Maya Wrap ring sling and a Babyhawk Mei Tai (the older kind, from 2005) until she was about four. They served totally different purposes. I started with the Maya Wrap around 3 weeks, and the Babyhawk at about 5 months. By 7 months, I was wearing her on my back, and she really liked it there. Personally, I found it much easier to wear her on my back, even at that age. Just easier on my frame, you know?

[Mom2M]

We really like the hug hold for napping, and the other one that's similar, but facing out (joey hold?) most of the rest of the time. I do pre-tie and leave it sometimes, but sometimes I feel silly wrapped in all this fabric for no apparent reason.

Yeah, I know what you mean! It does look silly with no baby...

[Beauchamp]

We have an Ergo Sport and a Pikkolo, and I like both for different reasons.

The Pikkolo does FFO, and I can get her higher up in it, versus the Ergo. The Ergo is comfier for longer periods, and it's the one we use for napping on-the-go. It seems to have a higher back/shell than the Pikkolo, so she can "see" more and move her arms more in the Pikkolo. The straps are longer on the Ergo Sport (better for DH than for me), shorter on the Pikk.

The Pikkolo does an easy hip carry that is actually quite comfy. I just remembered this and tried it out over the past few days. I am going to try a higher back carry soon, too. I like the two-way adjustable straps, also. (you can adjust the baby closer to you OR higher up, whereas the Ergo kind of does both at once.)

I don't have Beco or Babyhawk experience, although they look cool, I am trying to ease up on buying carriers. Babyhawks have awesome fabrics!