Why more than one carrier?

[busymama77]

Besides the fact that there are so many to choose from, custom made ones, etc., Is this why? I just see so many posts on this site and other sites about large stashes. It amazes how much some have been bought for!!! I guess I don't get the fascination behind having a ton of different carriers.....

I don't know. I have one and I paid $65 for it and it works perfect. I couldn't imagine getting another one unless I give my current one to my DH to use and I get one for myself. That would be it. I know of many other ways to spend $150! And it took a lot of selling of some items to save up that $65 and find the right carrier.

I hope I didn't offend anyone by this post, just would like to understand it all a bit more, I guess.

[paxye]

Because they are all different and have their specialities...

Stretchy wraps are great for the first few months but then don't work anymore and they can't safely be used for back positions etc...

Woven wraps are a great all round carrier but are a bit longer to put on for some... especially when a child wants in and out...

Ergo/MT's etc are great for older babies... fast in and outs but are still limited...

Slings are great for hip position and tummy to tummy and are great for nursing but not for back positions and are one shouldered so they can cause tention with older kids...

Pouches are one size and are very limited carriers... but they are great for fast in and outs and can be brought every where....

Of course there are some that just love collecting all the different colours etc too...

[raelize]

i went from having one of every kind with dd1 to only wraps with dd2. when she was little, i only had one or two at a time. she was born in september and during the winter, i only needed one. then i found one who's colors i LOVED, so i bought that and had 2. then she started to get heavier than i could comfortably carry, so i tried a stronger fabric. (3). then i wanted a shorty for hips carries as she got older. i sold my first one and bought a shorty. then i wanted a thin one for summer. i sold another and got a thinner fabric. i never had more than 3, but i would be very happy with 4 with my last baby (going to TTC next fall). if we had the money, i would probably want 6 or 7, but i could never justify more than that. i know some people have up to 30 or more. i think it is an obsession and wanting to "have" everything. i mean, that is one every day of the month. but, they are really pretty and when you use them all the time, it is nice to be able to switch it up sometimes.

[lifeguard]

It's totally a preference thing. I made our slings & wrap so the cost was verrrrry low. We used a ring sling exclusively for the first several months. If I'd made the wrap earlier I would have liked it when he was little but as it is I made it when he was already almost too big for it. Dh still likes the ring sling best but I can't do that much weight on one shoulder for long periods anymore (ds is 33lbs).

The ergo I hemmed & hawed about for a loooong time 'cause of the cost but in the end I'm SO glad I bought it 'cause we get so much use out of it & use it all the time.

I think you can certainly have only one & get good use out of it but different ones definitely have different advantages.

[lalemma]

I don't really get it, either. I think there's probably a bit of a break between families that have, say, three carriers because they use them for different situations, and people who are really into collecting carriers and buying/selling them and having the latest and the greatest.

I recently noticed that there's a "have a compulsive shopping addiction? here are some resources." sticky on The Babywearer forums. Some of the buying/selling there did strike me as a little bit at the end of the bell curve.

[cristeen]

I have several, and each one has a use. I have a water RS (bought used)we used for showers until just recently when he started tolerating baths. Now it will go in the stroller for swim class. I have a plain RS that lives in the diaper bag for those quick trips, shopping, etc where i'll need to hold him for no more than 10 min. I have a padded RS i swapped for that i use around the house when he's clingy. I have a 1/2 buckle tai that only gets used for long walks/hikes or similar - this is the one DH will use, but i cant get him on my back by myself in this one, but it has the best support. I have an onbu that is my fave, this is what i use the rest of the time, when im alone and needing to carry him for a while, need my hands, etc. I also have a Moby that we used from birth-3 mos, and a rebozo that i swapped for that we havent even tried yet.

At this point, i could get away w just the onbu and the RS, but it took trying different ones to find what works best for us.

[Nicole730]

Well I have only spent about $50 on all the carriers I have. Most are homemade and a few were given to me.

I love my stretchy wrap for the first few months

I love my woven wrap for anytime we are going to be walking quite a bit

I love my ring sling for when we are shopping or going to be in and out of the car quite a bit

I love my soft structured carrier for back carries and for carrying my toddler

I love my pouch for rolling up in my diaper bag when the toddler loves walking, but can't quite make it very far.

I do have a homemade mei tai that I don't use very often because I don't feel it is sturdy enough. My friend has a store-bought one she uses for back carries, I think if I had a sturdier one, I would use it for back carries while getting stuff done around the house.

Oh - and we have a Snugli that DH uses occasionally, we got as a baby shower gift.

And I do have an obsession with them, but I make almost all of them and use fabrics already in my stash or my mom's...so the latest and greatest thing isn't part of the obession.

[MamieCole]

I think having more than one type of carrier is a lot different than having multiple versions of the same type. Different carriers serve different purposes and get utilized at different stages. I can relate to having a couple of different colors/versions of the same type of carrier. Some people like to match their clothing, etc.

But, sometimes I see the stashes of people at TBW and it's just...

Dozens, sometimes 40, 50 versions of the same carrier. I see people listing 10 wraps at a time for hundreds of dollars each. I don't have the money to buy a $400 wrap. But even if I did, I don't think I would. Then again, if I won the lottery, who knows?

I for sure think there are some people who are addicted and have a real compulsive shopping problem. But for the most part, it's just fun to try different carriers. It's kinda like shoes...you can make do with one pair, but it sure is fun to have lots.

[SilverFish]

i don't really see how it's any different from a person who buys expensive clothing. it's not something i'm into, but if i had the money or it was a priority to me i can see it... lots of people have nicer and more expensive clothes/shoes/jewelry than me. you wear them every day, so they end up being a pretty big part of your wardrobe.

i have 3, but two were handmade out of fabric i had lying around, so i don't count them. i spent a lot of money on my mei tai (well, a lot to me, anyway), but it was after i'd been babycarrying for a few months and knew what i was looking for. i don't regret it one bit, because it's a beautiful carrier that i wear at least once a day. i would spend the same amount or just slightly more on another style of carrier if our needs change. if i wanted a second mei tai just so i'm not wearing the same thing everyday, i would probably make one myself, but i know the quality of my construction would not be at quite the same level.

[4Blessings]

I made a stretch wrap out of yards of discounted fabric. My MIL sewed a ring sling for me. I purchaed a used Kozy. My ergo was a BabySteals deal.

I have four carriers but have spent very little money on them. I find that different carriers serve different purposes for me. I miss the days of my tiny newborn in the stretchy wrap. We use the ring sling for quick trips and the Kozy for a back carry and longer trips. My DH uses the ergo to back carry our toddler.

I think anything can become an obsession. I saw a post on a cloth diaper site the other day by a woman with almost 300 cloth diapers in her stash. For one child. Yikes!

[Teenytoona]

I've had three. In the early months I used a stretchy wrap. Then I got my ring sling, which I love and is my primary go-to carrier, easy on, easy off, easy in and out and lightweight, and a gorgeous orange batik to boot. I also have a Beco because it's the most comfortable while walking or hiking. I mean I can sling her while hiking, but the Beco is preferable by far for long distances. But, she wants to be in them less and less these days... Sigh...

[busymama77]

Originally Posted by Teenytoona

I've had three. In the early months I used a stretchy wrap. Then I got my ring sling, which I love and is my primary go-to carrier, easy on, easy off, easy in and out and lightweight, and a gorgeous orange batik to boot. I also have a Beco because it's the most comfortable while walking or hiking. I mean I can sling her while hiking, but the Beco is preferable by far for long distances. But, she wants to be in them less and less these days... Sigh...

Yeah, I went throught a 'trial period' when DS was first born. We had a Bjorn, a Peanut Shell, and a moby wrap. I got rid of all three to fund my current carrier, an Action Baby Carrier - similar to an Ergo but has a MUCH prettier fabric and more lightweight! The Bjorn was okay, but killed my back and DS didn't really like it either. The PS, I couldn't never find the right fit for us but LOVED the fabric and the moby, well that was just TOO much fabric to deal with at the time and it was hot here.

There are some that I've seen that have carriers that are all very similiar to one another (B'roo, Kinderpack, Dream Carrier, Beco) - that's where I don't understand it all, I guess. But I do understand if you have an RS, or a wrap, and an SSC - those are all different styles and have different functions!

[FloridaBorn]

I just ordered my second wrap because the EllaRoo I have smells like throw up I just need a 2nd when the other is dirty and in the wash.

I have a Beco Gemini that I ordered that I haven't really used yet because I think my baby is just too small for it. DH says he'll use it backpack style when the LO is older, so that's why I'm hanging onto it and haven't returned it.

I really prefer the wraps. I think they are more elegant, and when you have practiced a little with them, are just as quick to take on and off as other carriers (although maybe not a sling).

[TheGirls]

I see it as a lot like shoes - one pair would probably be enough for most folks, but a few styles (3-6) makes a lot of sense. More than that and it's a matter of collecting or matching clothing or whatever. No different than collecting dolls or stamps or whatnot.

I loved a Moby for my newborn, but it's not great for older babies. I use a Beco a lot for walks now that she's heavier, but a SSC is a lot of work when she wants up & down every 3 seconds, and it's not awesome for newborns. A woven wrap is nice for winter because it's warmer and she fit better under my big coat, but it's too much work when we're going shopping. A Ring Sling is great for nursing in, quick in & out, and hip carries, but my body does better with a 2-shoulder carrier for longer wearing.

I have 5 carriers and have spent about $150 total on my stash (and worth every penny)

Now we're expecting twins and I'm expecting to change a couple of things because sometimes I will be double-wearing and sometimes DP & I will each be wearing one...

[Mom2M]

I don't have a huge number of carriers but I do have a few of the same kind in different colors. It's like an accessory to me as well as a functional carrier. I don't buy a lot of clothes, I have three pairs of shoes, etc...but I like to have different colors and styles depending on what I feel like using or what DD wants to be in or what I'm wearing/where I am going.
I got several used and figure I can sell them on TBW when I'm finished with them.
I did spend a LOT of money (for me) on a beautiful sling. Even used it's expensive, forget about new! And I love it.

ETA ok, I just counted, I have 10 altogether...one on the way. But that should be it until I sell a couple of the little baby ones!

[rhiOrion]

I definitely think there is a huge difference between having a bunch of different kinds, and having different versions of the same kind. But then some of what one person might consider the "same kind" another person might call different (for instance, different lengths of wrap). Also, I don't think there is anything wrong with either, just different.

I own three carriers: Pikkolo, connecta solarweave, and an Ergo. The Ergo was bought before DD was born. Turns out that DH and I both dislike it, so we'll be selling it soon. The Connecta is a great water carrier, and super super lightweight for summer, so we'll be keeping that The Pikkolo was the first carrier we loved, and it still gets used frequently. But, we'll be selling it at some point after my sister has her baby and I see if she wants to buy it.

We're selling it because we want something with a structured waist (likely either a Beco Gemini or 4th gen).

But, I also have a lot of carriers on indefinite loan. A moby, a hotsling (which we're actually going to try to trade/sell, my friend bought it for me to use, but we sized me while pregnant, and I lost all the weight quickly, so I need a size two instead of a three), a solarveil RS (which got used a lot when dd was tiny, but now the connecta would work just as well), and a mei tei that lives in my car.

I've also borrowed carriers short-term before to try out. Olives & Applesauce, Beco Butterfly, Beco 4th gen, another pouch, and a woven wrap- probably some I'm not thinking of.

I like being able to find out exactly what works well. So, I'm thankful that I have friends with babywearing addictions (and if you read this thread, THANK YOU FRIENDS FOR HAVING BABY WEARING ADDICTIONS!)

But, if it came down to it, here are the ones that I would want to own: A pouch or RS and a good SSC with a structured waist. Really, I'd even be okay with just one good SSC. They're what we use almost all the time- but I do like having something cheaper and fast in my car. The rest are just gravy

[Carhootel]

Originally Posted by paxye

Because they are all different and have their specialities...

Stretchy wraps are great for the first few months but then don't work anymore and they can't safely be used for back positions etc...

Woven wraps are a great all round carrier but are a bit longer to put on for some... especially when a child wants in and out...

Ergo/MT's etc are great for older babies... fast in and outs but are still limited...

Slings are great for hip position and tummy to tummy and are great for nursing but not for back positions and are one shouldered so they can cause tention with older kids...

Pouches are one size and are very limited carriers... but they are great for fast in and outs and can be brought every where....

Of course there are some that just love collecting all the different colours etc too...

I didn't get it at first either but now I have a pretty good size carrier stash - yes, they all have different uses and yes, I have spent more than I should on a few of them. The most important thing to me is that I get to carry my baby (now toddler) in a way that's comfortable for both of us. All of our carriers are used and loved!

And you know, some people buy shoes (I have 3 pairs - sandals, sneakers, casual), some people buy purses (I just carry an inexpensive diaper bag all the time), some collect baseball cards (which is what my DH calls my carriers ), I buy carriers. At least for now. I'm sure my interests will change as my child grows and the carriers you see on FSOT going for big bucks have pretty amazing resale value IMO - sometimes you lose some, sometimes you make some.

Speaking of buying things - have you seen some of the diaper stashes on diaper swappers? We're a prefold and plain old cover family for the most part so I'm amazed when I see people with 30+ goodmamas and whatnot. To each their own though

[April Dawn]

I generally just use one carrier at any given time, but I have gone through maybe about 8 carriers total since DS has been born. One will work for a while, but then DS will grow too big, or need better mobility, or my back will need him held higher or lower for comfort... so I'll switch. I'm not personally all that into choosing different fabrics for custom carriers and such, but some of my friends are.

[busymama77]

Originally Posted by Carhootel

I didn't get it at first either but now I have a pretty good size carrier stash - yes, they all have different uses and yes, I have spent more than I should on a few of them. The most important thing to me is that I get to carry my baby (now toddler) in a way that's comfortable for both of us. All of our carriers are used and loved!

And you know, some people buy shoes (I have 3 pairs - sandals, sneakers, casual), some people buy purses (I just carry an inexpensive diaper bag all the time), some collect baseball cards (which is what my DH calls my carriers ), I buy carriers. At least for now. I'm sure my interests will change as my child grows and the carriers you see on FSOT going for big bucks have pretty amazing resale value IMO - sometimes you lose some, sometimes you make some.

Speaking of buying things - have you seen some of the diaper stashes on diaper swappers? We're a prefold and plain old cover family for the most part so I'm amazed when I see people with 30+ goodmamas and whatnot. To each their own though

HA - that's a whole different thread!!! But yes,I know what you mean. The organic BG AIO's, goodmamas, etc., Amazing!

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by Carhootel

I didn't get it at first either but now I have a pretty good size carrier stash - yes, they all have different uses and yes, I have spent more than I should on a few of them. The most important thing to me is that I get to carry my baby (now toddler) in a way that's comfortable for both of us. All of our carriers are used and loved!

And you know, some people buy shoes (I have 3 pairs - sandals, sneakers, casual), some people buy purses (I just carry an inexpensive diaper bag all the time), some collect baseball cards (which is what my DH calls my carriers ), I buy carriers. At least for now. I'm sure my interests will change as my child grows and the carriers you see on FSOT going for big bucks have pretty amazing resale value IMO - sometimes you lose some, sometimes you make some.

Speaking of buying things - have you seen some of the diaper stashes on diaper swappers? We're a prefold and plain old cover family for the most part so I'm amazed when I see people with 30+ goodmamas and whatnot. To each their own though

It's also very important that Carhootel buy lots of carriers since my long-term loaners are all from her

I'm an enabler.