what carriers are you loving?

[nervousnelle]

At first I was all about my ring slings, but I recently discovered the Sleepy Wrap and she LOVES it. LOVES it!! Seriously I wear it like a shirt (just a nursing bra underneath) and she sleeps with her head pressed to my chest skin-to-skin almost all day. (In between reading and playing and cooing and tummy time.) I'm really sad that I didn't know about it sooner.

So, what is everyone wearing their babes in? If there's something equally awesome I want to know about it now!

[bjorker]

Wow, that sounds great! I'm still in love with our Mei Tai. It's just so easy and quick to put on, and I can nurse in it if I need to. I occasionally put her in the Ergo now too. I couldn't get into the Moby, and the ring sling I have just feels awkward to me. I also have a hotsling which is okay. And a fleece sling that is similar to the hostling, can't remember what it's called at the moment. But the mei tai is my fave.

ETA: Ah, the sleepy wrap looks just like the Moby. Basically a long piece of stretch fabric, yeah?

[mommariffic]

I could never get the hang of the Moby which bums me out

We are using the Ergo [hiked almost 4 miles in it!] and the Baby Bjorn mostly. Wyatt is the kind of guy who likes to be FREE and is happy just laying on the floor kick kick kick KICKING! He will tolerate those too though - no slings/swaddles here

[nervousnelle]

Originally Posted by bjorker

ETA: Ah, the sleepy wrap looks just like the Moby. Basically a long piece of stretch fabric, yeah?

Basically, yes. I've never tried a Moby, but I heard from so many people that the Moby gets stretched out and doesn't rebound (like a normal cotton t-shirt), but the Sleepy does. And it does! I was worried it would sag, but it doesn't yet (with my 13-lb'er). It's snug and comfy and just right. I'm wearing it now! And she's asleep! Yay

[MJB]

For the past couple weeks I've been wearing Edie on my back in the mei tai whenever I have to wear her for any length of time. So much more comfy than front carries (although I do them in the mei tai some too). I use my cotton pouch (bought handmade 6 years ago) for short periods. My husband only uses his stretchy pouch now but will switch to the Yamo (like Ergo) when she gets bigger. I've used the Yamo with her a couple times but I prefer the mei tai at this age. Oh, and we have a solarveil pouch that we both use when we shower with her.

[ProtoLawyer]

Ergo here. He hates getting into it, but loves being in it. Go figure.

[mamakaikai]

freehand mei tai. I don't actually care what brand it is, but I Love how easy it. It is easy to put on in seconds, easy to pack in a diaper bag, easy to wear (comfortable and stays put). I love it. And it looks cute.

Before the mei tai, I also owned a moby, a maya ring sling and an ergo. Hands down mei tai is the best for me.

[chattyprincess]

adore my double linen sakura bloom...how could I have ever thought ring slings look hippish??
we have a couple pouch carriers which STINKOLA in my opinion after using a ring sling I just feel like she is too loose off my body in those! lol...
I have no idea how I lived without a ring sling with my first.? its so much easier then pusing a stroller around!
I think in a few months when she is a bit bigger I will get a boba but for now I LOVE the ring sling easy to use and extra fabric for when theres a breeze...LOVE IT!

[somegirl99]

I just finally got a wrap (Wrapsody Bali Baby Stretch) and we are loving it! I shied away from wraps because they looked so difficult, but got frustrated with our other options and it is working great. Just got it on Thursday, we are now on a weekend trip for a wedding, he was able to nap in it in the airport (nice to keep him on going through security), on the plane, at the wedding, etc. They made me take him out of it for takeoff (because having a baby loose in your arms is safer than strapped to your body, apparently ) but I just pulled the wrap down to his butt and he didn't wake up. It is the first carrier we've tried that he doesn't even seem to notice that he's being put into, just pull it up over him while he is in burp position, like a blanket. So easy to pop him in and out for nursing and diaper changes / EC opportunities.

Our mei tai is also working pretty well, I like it for longer walks and DS is pretty comfy in it, but it's just more difficult to deal with when he wants in and out frequently because of the straps, plus I can't sit down with him in it. We have a Mei Tai Baby which is great, the bottom cinches up so he can have legs out (he only tolerates froggied legs in the wrap), and it has the Zippy panels so we can change the look.

Not so much luck with the ring slings...beforehand I thought this would be the carrier of choice, being able to nurse in it and pop him in and out, but it hasn't worked out that way. He tolerates nursing in it in cradle position if he is really hungry, but that is it. Doesn't like cradle position, doesn't like legs froggied, and he is not big enough to have his legs out for tummy-to-tummy (not enough of the sling under him to hold him securely). It was worse with my first RS, the design just didn't work for us, I got different ones which are much better but I think these will have to wait until he is a little bigger. I hope he does end up liking it because I also got a solarveil one to take him in the shower with me.

I think he will really like a high back carry in the Mei Tai, but I'm a little scared to try it until he can hold his head up, even though I have a padded headrest for it.

[chiromommy]

My linen Sakura Bloom RS and a loveyduds bamboo wrap are my go-to carriers right now. I have put her in the Kozy a few times, but she's not a fan yet. She has vetoed the cradle carry in the RS for the last few weeks so we are tummy to tummy if I'm using that one. The Loveyduds is awesome. Stretchy and cool enough for the 100 degree weather we have been having. I have not tried putting her on my back yet, but that is always more comfy for me. I need to order a new ergo now that she's bigger.

[megincl]

I'm really liking my gauze wrap and the mei tai.

For those using Ergos, do you have the infant insert? If not, how do you get babe to not flop all over?

And for those with babes on the back, I'm dying to get there...what had you take the leap? How do you support the tiny babe while getting her/him set? And neck support?

I've got a didymos that I've used a few times but definitely need some help as it's feeling really bulky. This thread is a good reminder to get in touch with the local babywearing group.....

[chattyprincess]

somegirl...dd was born july10th and she is safely being carried in our ringsling with legs out (being in and frogged was becoming a screamfest about 3 weeks ago!)...

[somegirl99]

Originally Posted by chattyprincess

somegirl...dd was born july10th and she is safely being carried in our ringsling with legs out (being in and frogged was becoming a screamfest about 3 weeks ago!)...

Good to know...I've done it, but I felt like there isn't enough fabric under his butt/thighs to hold him in securely (and I think he felt it too). It worked ok / not great with a linen RS, but he was sliding out with a silk one, which tells me it was just friction holding him in place with the linen (I always had my arms around him too because I was nervous, good thing I did). He does have a really long torso and stubby little legs, so either that's the reason, or probably just me being incompetent with it. The support group I went to before was mostly about SSCs and wraps so they couldn't give me much RS help. Thankfully he doesn't mind being froggied in the wrap.

[craft_media_hero]

We have a Sleepy Wrap (love it) and a Mei Tai (love). We tried two hotsling-style carriers that we received before the birth, and I didn't like them, felt like he was too scrunched up and at a weird angle.

I like the Sleepy Wrap because he will always always go to sleep in it, we have figured out how to nurse, and the shoulder part of the wrap will cover baby up if you need a little privacy due to popping off and spraying everywhere issues which we've had a lot of lately. I also like that it's easy to shift him into the cradle position in the wrap, and he feels really secure and 'bouncy' when riding forward facing. Easy to un-froggy his legs if he starts stretching out and wants to pop them out the sides. Also like that the shoulder wrap part will support his head while sleeping so that I can still be hands-free.

Love the mei tai coz it doesn't drag on the ground as much if you're putting it on outside the car or smth. He also seems more stimulated in the MT, so it's nice to ride him ff and he'll stay awake longer and "participate" more whereas the SW just conks him out. Also, I have the MT Baby brand and there's the little snap at the bottom so you can pinch the part under his bum closer together so his legs can stick out without so much space btwn them. Can't wait to try the back ride in it! And I wish I had ordered the head support/nap pillow accessory because when he falls asleep I am using one hand to keep his head up. **eta- the MT was the first one for us to figure out nursing in, and it still seems a little easier than the SW because he's not as mushed up close to me so it's easier to help him reposition his head.

I'd like a shower/water sling or ring sling type, but what we have is pretty great for now.

[chattyprincess]

Originally Posted by somegirl99

Good to know...I've done it, but I felt like there isn't enough fabric under his butt/thighs to hold him in securely (and I think he felt it too). It worked ok / not great with a linen RS, but he was sliding out with a silk one, which tells me it was just friction holding him in place with the linen (I always had my arms around him too because I was nervous, good thing I did). He does have a really long torso and stubby little legs, so either that's the reason, or probably just me being incompetent with it. The support group I went to before was mostly about SSCs and wraps so they couldn't give me much RS help. Thankfully he doesn't mind being froggied in the wrap.

Do you have the sakura bloom? we have a double linen from them which is what we use. they have GREAT videos on thier site for help which I loved (I had to go watch to sort out how to do it lol). Basically they are squatting in the sling with thier heinys sitting below thier knees...at first I didn't think there was any way that carry was safe but now that I know how I totally get it lol. you do a "wall of fabric" on your chest that instead of across your chest it is under your breasts, you reach up under the sling and guide the legs down, fit the heiny into the "seat of the sling" and spread thier legs then you tighten it. The trick is to not tighten the lower middle portion of the sling too much or you lose the seat and make them straight as a board (which they will slip out of...possibly). I make sure the seat fabric is tucked up under her knees really nice...I read a tip and it really helps that once you first put them in, to bend over (holding baby of course!)and adjust the sling around you and pull the legs up/fit heiny in. This helps SO much!!
eta
http://www.youtube.com/user/sakurabloombabysling#g/u

[MJB]

Originally Posted by megincl

I'm really liking my gauze wrap and the mei tai.

For those using Ergos, do you have the infant insert? If not, how do you get babe to not flop all over?

And for those with babes on the back, I'm dying to get there...what had you take the leap? How do you support the tiny babe while getting her/him set? And neck support?

Edie is about 13 lbs. and is very solid; she has been holding her head up and doing "mini-pushups" for a while. She just doesn't flop anymore. I put her in the Yamo (same as Ergo) without an infant insert. To put her on my back in the mei tai I use the "Santa toss" method. This only works if they have good head control. Also, I did it with my second a lot so I have practice. I started it about 2 mos. with him and at 6 weeks with Edie.

[lrgs]

I love my Moby wrap......at first she really didn't seem to like the carriers but she seems a lot more calm in them now. The Moby is especially good for when she's sleeping but now that she has good head control she likes to be in there and looking around too. I have a Beco that is hit and miss.....I thought this would be a user friendly carrier but I'm finding it harder then it looks. She was too big to use the infant insert but she seems to small to have both her legs out of the carrier (like it's way too wide for her legs) so I usually tuck on leg in and have one out. This seems to work most times but it just depends on her mood. I also have a Maya ring sling but we haven't really tried that one yet.

[welsh]

I am so disappointed with the ring sling I bought. It's a huggababy and really thick and padded. I struggle to tighten it.
I knew I should have splurged on a Sakura Bloom and now I'm stuck in $^&*ing Moscow and can't shop!!!!!!!!

I haven't tried her with the infant insert in the Ergo but will do tomorrow now it's getting cooler outside. She's small, only 9lbs, but overheats easily.

[Love Wins]

Right now, I'm loving my Moby style Baby So Smart wrap. And so is she! I had an actual Moby too, and that was great. But 2 weeks ago, I was using my Lillebaby all the time. I haven't really got the hang of my mei tai. My Hotsling is blah, I'll probably use it more when she can sit up. Love the Ergo!!! AND....drumroll...I just ordered a water ring sling for showers and the beach!! SO excited to try it!

[lrgs]

I've never heard of a water ring sling..........we're going on a winter vacation in a couple months, probably to Mexico so this might be something I should look into.