First I witch then I have a question regarding newborn carrier...

[Lucy&Jude'sMama]

Ok so my little rant... I bought an ERGO when my daughter was about 10 months old. I love(loved) it but since I got it when my daughter was older she was only into it if we were going hiking or if she needed a nap and we were out and about. I'm not an AP mommy, btw. Anyways it was very comfortable for me to wear when I was at my goal weight which was around the time I purchased it. I'm 5'7 and at the time had about 23% body fat and weighed 145. When I gained a bit of weight after having a miscarriage and loosing my motivation it was not comfortable to wear in a backcarry position because my loose skin/belly would pop out... ewwww. LOL... Actually technically it was still comfortable to wear... it just made me uncomfortable to wear it in public due to having my pouch all up in people's faces. HA! Overall though I loved it and planned to use it for my 2nd who is due in November... BUT (here is the rant part) I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE!!! I'm to the point where I'm just starting to think someone stole it. I have a very small house with limited hiding places. I'm still mildly hopefully that it will magically turn up, but I've been actively looking and have yet to find the gremlin that took it. Grrrrr!

SOOOO that brings me to my next question. I'm definite that I want to carry this baby boy coming out in November. Honestly because it seems like it would make life easier overall when I'm chasing around a toddler. I do not plan to AP... No offense to those who do it is just not for me. I plan to use the carrier for walks, for days when I just need a free hand (oK maybe half a free hand.), in the very beginning to make it easier to watch baby while I'm dealing with active toddler...etc. But I have no idea which carrier to go with... purchase a new ergo (grrr!), beco, boba, mia tai, sling, ring sling, moby... uh... there are hundreds of options! Remember I'm still hoping my ergo will magically appear so I don't really want to rush out and purchase a new one (mine was like brand new! Organic too! ) I have no experience with carrying a newborn so I don't know really what to look for.

So what would you recommend? I don't mind spending a bit of money for more comfort. The only reason it took me so long to purchase the Ergo (I did have and used the bjorn when she was younger... hated it!) was because I just didn't have the extra money to purchase it. This time money isn't a huge issue.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[JamieCatheryn]

First, I don't understand what you mean by not AP, because to me attached parenting does not equal constantly carrying your baby no matter what. It means being responsive to your child and there for him or her when needed, rather than looking for ways to get out of that much as possible.

My second child has been happy with very little carrying. With him I liked the ring sling to quickly strap him on when I needed a free hand or a breastfeeding cover in his first months. The Mei Tai (mine's a Kozy) is WONDERFUL for seriously carrying him on walks, hikes, and at the market. Good support and not too much trouble to tie it on, and good carrying options (we do forward facing, tummy to tummy, and as a toddler back carry facing me). And mine's pretty.

[Lucy&Jude'sMama]

[QUOTE=JamieCatheryn;15748257]First, I don't understand what you mean by not AP, because to me attached parenting does not equal constantly carrying your baby no matter what. It means being responsive to your child and there for him or her when needed, rather than looking for ways to get out of that much as possible.QUOTE]

I'm sorry if I offended anyone by stating I'm not AP. I didn't mean anything negative by it. I was of the impression that AP was carrying your child more often than not??? I'm not really into labels anyways, but I was just trying to convey that I wouldn't be using the carrier 24/7 or everyday... Perhaps I just should have stated this instead of saying what I did. So I'm sorry for the confusion. I didn't mean any harm by it.

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by Lucy&Jude'sMama

I was of the impression that AP was carrying your child more often than not??? I'm not really into labels anyways, but I was just trying to convey that I wouldn't be using the carrier 24/7 or everyday...

Oh, definitely not! I guess I would sum-up AP by stating you try to create a strong & loving bond with your child. (Instead of an "authoritarian" / drill-sergeant sort of relationship.) Dr. Sears is a pretty famous expert & has 8 key points of Attachment Parenting. BW is one of them, but it doesn't mean like "nearly 24/7." Certainly not.

Anyway, I recommend a wrap. The issue with your belly will be as much of a problem with a Mai Tai, but not an issue at all with a wrap.

Wraps have a learning curve, but the front wrap cross carry doesn't take all THAT long to learn. (I watched videos online over & over.) it is super, crazy comfy! The baby's weight is distributed throughout the fabric, so not all on some straps or all on one shoulder, like with a ring sling. Also, the baby is like 'swaddled' & snuggled in all close to you, so it's baby wearing PLUS 'swaddling' (although you get that from a ring sling too.)

You may want a "stretchy" style wrap like the Moby or Sleepy wrap. The downside is that they are hot (but with a November baby, may not be an issue considering your location) but they are "poppable" (fairly easy to get baby in & out for diaper changes without redoing the whole thing.) They're also fairly cheap - I believe a brand new Moby is $40! Not bad. Whereas a "woven" or gauze wrap is $60 or more.

The other downside of a stretchy wrap is they aren't as supportive beyond about 15#. (Sleepy wrap claims it's not an issue - I dunno, I have a Moby.) Moby claims they work up until something crazy like 30#, but most disagree from what I've read. Besides, as DS approached 20#, front-wrap-cross carry was no longer comfy, so I needed back carries & it wasn't as supportive for that. (Again, it seems most agree that stretchy wraps don't work for back carries.)

Definitely look into buying used! You can really get a great deal on some that are even like-new! Check here as well as other babywearing focused sites.

[finn'smama]

nak

i agree, go for a wrap! i like a stretchy for a newb and it is pretty east to learn a Pouch wrap cross carry. there are two stretchies for sale on the tp for less than $35 right now.

[MoonStarFalling]

Interesting but you don't have to carry your baby all day long to be AP.

I have the tummy issue and that is why I shy away from SSCs. I prefer a wrap mostly but also love a ring sling for faster trips and newborn. The maya wrap ring sling is a great value. I would go with a non stretchy wrap instead of a moby (too hot, too long, can't wear baby after 20 lbs, can't do back carry safely).

[rhiOrion]

I love SSCs (soft structured carrier) like the pikkolo, connecta, etc (I have an ergo but I don't really like it). I had really wanted a Beco Gemini when DD was really tiny, but by the time it finally came out she was already four months old and didn't need some of the features of the Gemini that were so appealing. But it might be a good one to look into.

I have the tummy issue, but I just try to where a more loose shirt where it looks like my shirt is just bunched up a bit, instead of my belly fat. I also figure I just had a baby, I'm allowed to have a bit of flab!

[Adaline'sMama]

I love my moby. Carrying her in it as a newborn was so perfect. Now that shes a little older we are thinking of getting an Ergo. I would get a moby ($40) and hope the Ergo shows up eventually. Either way, I love the wrap for the newborn age.

[happysmileylady]

Originally Posted by MoonStarFalling

Interesting but you don't have to carry your baby all day long to be AP.

Also, you do not have to be AP to baby wear either.

OP, I do not consider myself AP at all (in part because I don't believe in labling a parenting style or philosophy, and in part because I commit one of the cardial sins of AP, which we won't discuss here because it's not relevant.)

Anyway, I am not AP, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE ring slings. Like a wrap, they do require somewhat of a learning curve, though IMHO, not nearly as much. I am not all that familiar with the Ergo, but with my first, I had one of those buckle carrier things, and I used it all of twice. I found ring slings with my second, OMG, SO SO much simpler. Easy to adjust, easy to use, easy to get the little one in and out of, easy to store, just easy.

One of the biggest reasons I love them is because they work so well with the way I naturally carry a baby. I am always popping the little one on my hip, from the moment they have the head control for it. And the ring sling is so great for that. It does work great for the new squishy ones too, when my dd2 was 2 months old, sitting in the sling was about the only thing that kept her settled.

One disadvantage I have found is that I just cannot master a back carry with the ring sling. I know it can be done, I just can't get it. I can't get it tight enough to keep my leaning 2 year old from leaning right out. Also, some folks have problems with a one shouldered carrier, which a ring sling is...but it's been my experience that the shoulder on the sling is important for getting comfort in this area.

[Juvysen]

honestly, I think the fact that you're putting your baby in a carrier when you're out and about makes you FAR more AP that most mainstream parents out there I don't carry my baby constantly at home, but I consider myself fairly AP (I do do the other stuff, though - bedsharing, breastfeeding, etc.)

Anyway I have to agree on the moby-style wrap for the newborn phase. You can make your own, too, there's tutorials online and it's easy (no-sew, just cut)... I made my own woven wrap, too, which is better when baby gets heavier or for putting tiny babies on your back. Also better for hotter weather.