Can I 'live' without a baby carrier? - Page 3

[RiverandJulie]

I would have gone crazy without carriers.  I am active and like to be doing something, and by wearing my baby I can still do a lot (albeit slower).

I used a moby until he was about 15 lbs, then it didnt work as well.  Now I have an ergo that I love.  Check out Diaperswappers.com  people sell used carriers there.  If you stay on top of it you can get one for a very reasonable price.  I think mine was $50.

[JudiAU]

Are you planning on having another child? You will NEED one when you have a toddler and a baby. You need those extra arms. Might as well get it now and enjoy.

I don't think a bjorn is terrible if it is used in a limited day. But I find the ergo much more comfortable.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by katelove 

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

Well, it's better than having all the weight right on the crotch, but all the weight on the thighs is still going to be causing problems over time. Plus, if that baby were slightly shorter in the torso, she'd be strangled.

I got my Gemini last week and tried the forward-facing carry just to see what it looked/felt like. My daughter's legs didn't hang down like the baby in the pictures. They stuck out at 90 degrees like she was sitting on the ground with her legs out in front of her. I doubt it would be comfortable for her for long. And yes, they do need to be tall enough to see over the backrest.

DH does a forward carry in a wrap when he takes her for walks in the morning. She *loves* it and, as soon as she starts to get a bit tired, he turns her round again. I don't think we're damaging her but I guess I don't know for sure. I think it's probably ok though.

Yeah, if it's for a limited time and she's tall enough to fit, then you're fine.

I think there's some stuff non-baby wearers do that we can imitate for short periods without harm, it's when we're looking at babywearing as a way of life that we need to be cautious what we do hour after hour.
 

[BethHH]

I wanted to throw one more carrier into the mix - I have a Manduca and *love* it.  It's very similar to an Ergo, but I appreciate the padding on the hips.  I'm 5'9" and it seemed to fit me better than the Ergo.  My 6'2" husband liked it much better, too.

I do use a stroller (facing me) frequently, but I live in a city and use the stroller as a car.  We're often out for the whole day and I find I can't carry all of the gear (blanket for the floor, toys, etc) and pick up groceries.  That said, if I'm going anywhere crowded or mom-frequented, I always go with a carrier.  I don't want to battle for a "parking space."  I also bring it along when I play badminton.  When she gets fussy on the sidelines, I can put her in the carrier and hold one hand behind her neck.  I can't go for every drop shot, but I can still have a lot of fun.  Lene usually falls asleep while I'm playing!

We're travelling internationally in a week (I live in Europe, we're going to the States for Thanksgiving) and I'll be leaving the stroller at home. 

[WhiteHorse]

If you are not daunted by using a wrap, it is VERY easy and super inexpensive to make one. You don't even need a sewing machine. I had an Ergo carrier with my youngest and he was fine in it but I wanted something lighter and less bulky to wear while I was packing and moving. He was 20 months at the time and weighed about 23 lbs so they are not just for infants. I am poor so I went to fabric store and bought the right length/width of fabric. At the time I had a sewing machine and hemmed the edges but you don't have to do that. I used a medium cotton-linen blend which is strong but also not heavy - like pants fabric. Not as soft as the moby but my little one didn't care - it was blazing hot out. I think I paid less than $20 for the fabric but if you find a poly blend it will be even cheaper. The fabric must be a WEAVE fabric not a knit. The knit fabrics are too stretchy and may not support your little one. My wrap is packed away so I can't measure it, but it should be the same dimensions as the Moby wrap.

By the way, I didn't use my carrier until mine was around 3-4 months, then he wanted to see everything and be right where I was all the time. I didn't like hauling the huge infant seat around at the grocery or out at the park. I just wanted to walk around hands free and get stuff done. Babies love the closeness and it's easier when they get tired they can just zonk out (or bf).

[sobamom]

If money is a concern, I would strongly suggest finding a store (or even a class or babywearing group) offering a variety of carriers that you can actually try wearing your baby in because, as you can tell by the number of replies you've gotten, everyone likes what they like, both mom *and* baby! As she grew, my daughter changed her mind several times about which carrier she would tolerate, so be prepared for that as well. Or you might have a kid who doesn't like carriers at all.

[TSomm]

I would not have survived without my Moby.  Since then I've invested in many other carriers.  Just bought a Hotsling for $10.  Go to babysnazz.com/secretsale.  I'm not sure how long the sale is, but it's a good carrier, cheap.

[germin8]

Okay, I'm convinced.  I bought one.  Got an ergo from eBay.  I would have wanted a Beco... but, won the Ergo bid, my 2nd choice.  Mei Tai 3rd.

I'm finding that my DD now likes to be up in my arms watching everything... so, it seems like the right time to buy one.

YES, I should have gone to a baby wearing class.  If only I had known... I hope we like the Ergo.

Edited by germin8 - 11/17/10 at 3:18pm

[Smokering]

I'm curious about this. I always assumed that's because it's bad for their spines but on the Ergo site it claims babies shouldn't be worn facing out because it's overstimulating for them to be unable to turn away when the sights and sounds are too much. I'm not that worried baby is going to be scarred by looking forward now and then - although my little guy was quite happy to face in well into toddlerhood - but YMMV.

I've heard that too - in a slightly different context, a discussion about babies facing outwards in strollers. I get the principle, but DD HATED facing me in the pram and LOVED facing the world, so... yeah. (She also hated babywearing, but I wish I hadn't given up on it so soon. I didn't realise there was a "learning curve", found the Ergo with the newborn insert incredibly hard to manage, couldn't breastfeed her in it, and didn't have the time/energy/money to investigate other types of carriers. I ended up just holding her all day, which no doubt did all the good developmental things, but was a right pain!)

Even when I was holding her without a carrier, she liked facing outward so she could kick her legs and see people smiling at her. I probably automatically switched positions when she got fussy though, which is harder to do if you have to re-tie or re-wrap a carrier.

[ryleeee]

personally i could NOT live without a baby carrier! i think my ergo was the most important and worthwhile purchase i ever made!! it has paid for itself a thousand times over. plus, it is amazing the amount of weight you can lose quickly after having a baby with breastfeeding + baby carrying!

[Tine]

Originally Posted by germin8 

A lot of you have mentioned the Mei Tai... which was one I considered... but, I think my DD would prefer to face forward... and I'm hesitant... thinking it's too much work to put one on by myself. So, I sorta stayed away from them, but kept eye-ing the Mei Tai. I should mention: My DH would use the carrier too.
 

DD was a total clingon. I swear, she would never have napped or stopped crying -- and I never would've gotten anything done -- if I hadn't had a baby carrier. DH and I each had our own Hotsling, and we used them until DD was up to about 1 yr. old. After that we bought a Mei Tai specifically so she could ride on our backs and so we could both use the same carrier. It was challenging the first time I tried putting it on by myself...but only the first time. I got the hang of it really quickly. I promise you it's not hard. :)

We totally got our money's worth from that Mei Tai. DD loved to ride in it all the way to age 3. When she was bigger, we used it for hikes and for walking-instensive outings, like outdoor festivals, or when we knew her little legs would get tired but a stroller would've been a giant pain in the kiester.

[tzs]

what about those new products by infantino which look to me basically like less expensive versions of a mei tai and ergo?

[luv-my-boys]

I agree with other posters that carriers are really subjective for mama/baby and can even change over time as your baby develops.  I used a nojo baby sling with all the boys and loved it.  It really allowed me to get things done (I only wore when out in place of stroller) and even dh loved it.  It allowed us to forgo a stroller as much as possible when we traveled plus it was really easy to adjst between the both of us (ring sling).  I ended up selling it before this baby came along so I went with a balboa baby (ring sling) and like it as well.  I personally like the ability to whip my ring sling on and plop baby inside quickly, I really HATED the others where I need to do buckles or tie around my waist as I have lots of little people to keep track of and really needed something fast and easy.

[BetsyS]

I thoroughly enjoyed my carriers with babies #1 and #2, but I'm having a hard time getting into the groove with #3.  He just hates to be in any sort of carrier.

I do use it, mostly for shopping that needs to be done with all 3 of my children, to free up my hands.  He's at that awkward in-between stage where he can't sit up, but he wants to, so no sitting in the grocery buggy yet.  And he's too big for his infant carseat, so no other options besides the sling or the stroller. 

Hopefully, once he can sit up (he's 5 month old, so very close), he'll be happy in a hip carry.  He's my first one that didn't love the  carrier, beyond his first month in my pouch sling (it got awkward once he hit 13-14 lbs).  Go figure.

[weliveintheforest]

I think this summer you will love having an Ergo!  So nice for outings and walks. Once you get used to putting it on it is very fast and easy... it's just like learning anything new.

[mymackey]

I can NOT live without  my Moby wrap!! :) I wish I had gotten one earlier w my first- would have saved a lot of crying and I would have gotten a lot more done!! this baby I can NOT live without one!! and I like it better, personally, than the bjorns bc you can adjust it and wrap it different ways. but any baby wearing 'device' is worth it. take the time to read Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey karp- excellent book and you'll wear ur baby everywhere!! skip the stroller and buy the wrap!!! :)

[CBEmomma]

I love mine. I have several carriers (4 wraps, 2 MTs, 4 slings, 2 SSC) and I've used every one of them for a good amount of time. With my oldest I used mostly a Moby Wrap for him. He's small and gains weight slowly. He's almost 4 now and I still use a Ergo or Boba with him when we're on long walks and he gets tired. I have a 21 lbs 7 month old who is in a carrier on a daily basis. He loves to be held, but he likes being in carriers to feel that tight closeness. I still use a Sleepy Wrap, BaliBreeze Wrap and Boba for him. I used a stroller maybe 5 times with my first and only once (at the zoo) with my second. Sometimes we bring a stoller along, but it's not for the kids it's for carrying our stuff.

[jenrose]

First, a safety concern:

Do not ever make no-sew carriers, especially the no-sew ABC out of frayable fabrics like canvas or denim, as the straps will tend to tear whenever you adjust the carrier. Fleece and jersey and interlock work for no-sew carriers (especially wraps, I'm not fond of the designs of no-sew ABC's) because they don't tear very easily, and the raw edges roll. Denim frays like crazy, and tears easily, same is true for canvas. When you make a homemade carrier, I strongly recommend taking a look at Jan Andrea's craft site, her recommendations for fabrics and whatnot are very safety conscious. 

It is possible (I've done it) to make a safe, reasonably comfortable carrier out of a pillowcase and duct tape, but you end up using a lot of duct tape and people look at you funny. In an emergency, it is possible to make a reasonable back or hip carrier out of an uncut bedsheet. I've done that too.

As a gag, I made a mei tai entirely out of duct tape once. It wasn't bad, actually, but it requires quite a bit of understanding of the underlying structure and tensile strength of the duct tape to do it safely. I still have it, but it's not the one I reach for.

Can you live without a purchased carrier? Sure.

Is it possible to find used, safe carriers for not a lot of money? Yes.

Is it worth investing $80-100 in a really good structure carrier or mei tai? Absolutely. They last for years, and maintain resale value well.

As for facing out... I was skeptical of the position until I watched my best friend hauling her child around sans carrier, face out on her hip. It was the only position the little girl was really happy in in-arms, she really wanted to see out. As long as one is willing to turn a child around if the kiddo is sleepy or overstimulated, I don't see that it hurts anything, and I think getting people panicked that it's somehow neurologically damaging is unnecessary.

I'm also skeptical of the spinal damage claims related to the bjorn. I don't think most Bjorn carriers are all that comfortable, and that's reason enough for me to avoid them, but I also don't think they're probably "damaging" to the child. There are more physiologically appropriate positions for babies to be carried in for both parent and child, but "more physiologically appropriate" simply means more comfortable for parent and child. Wide-hip splaying tends to develop deeper hip sockets, which is why they keep babies splayed when they have hip dysplasia. But you're not going to dislocate a hip *not* doing that position.

For facing out carries, wraps, crossed carriers and the Pikkolo stand out. I've not reviewed many of the newer carriers (Shiny's five now, we haven't done babywearing in a while with her very much, and my stash is deep enough that I haven't felt an urge to buy more since my niece was born), so my experience is a couple years out of date.

But for sheer comfort and long-term use, mei tais win for me. For heavy children, my favorite carrier is the Calyx, from MBD, a structured carrier which distributes weight better than anything else I've tried. Larger, designed-for-toddler mei tais also work well for the big kiddos. Shiny's 40 pounds now, and I wore her not long ago in a Scandinavian baby carrier and it wasn't bad at all.

It is possible to wear a child facing out in most mei tais and structured carriers, if you put the kiddo in with crossed or froggied legs. But it's not the most comfy for the parent. I like high back carries especially well for giving kids a view of the world while not killing my back.

[AAK]

Originally Posted by germin8 

We own a used Bjorn. But, after I heard from two friends about the pressure on the spine they create since the baby hangs from the crotch... I've been thinking about buying a different carrier.

We got the Bjorn for free, and I'm not excited about paying $80+ for a used Beco or Ergo.

I am a SAHM and haven't used a carrier with my 4 month old (~13 lbs). As she gets bigger and heavier... maybe I will need one.

Tell me what I would NEED one for. I just want to hear it; it will encourage me to spend the $$$.

I didn't like the Bjorn--I found it uncomfortable.  I was so glad I didn't spend any $$$ on that carrier (borrowed from a friend).

However, I wouldn't EVER want to have a baby around without having a carrier.  I really liked the basic ring sling.  Easy to learn, easy to adjust, many different positioning options for baby and toddler.  As my children got older (and heavier) I preferred my ring sling that had a slight give to the fabric.  Before then, I preferred my more compact model.  You can find well made ring slings for under $50.  Many WAHM do the sling thing without charging a fortune.

I have used a Mai Tai styles too, but didn't prefer them.  They are better if you need a more balanced distribution of the weight.  I haven't ever tried a wrap.  Most people love those for the newborn phase but never seem to go on to learn how to use them for older children.  

I tried the Ergo and the Beco.  I loved the Ergo, didn't like the Beco.  My children didn't like either because they couldn't see what was going on.  But, if you have serious issues with your back, they may be the way to go.

Is there a babywearing group in your town?  We have one and you can try out a bunch of carriers at a meeting to see what you like.  They also help you learn how to position your baby and adjust the carrier.  

Anyways, in answer to your original question: NO, I can't "live" without a carrier.  But, you don't need to spend a fortune either!  It is one of the 3 things I feel that I actually NEED when I have a baby in the house.

Amy
 

[ecoteat]

Yay! I'm glad you decided to get an Ergo. When I got mine when dd was not quite a year I felt like HOURS were added to my day. Before that I used a padded ring sling or a mei tai, but the Ergo was way better. It is by far the most valuable thing I had for dd. I think I probably used it this summer for the last time this summer in NYC. DD was 4 and I knew she'd get overwhelmed and tired. We don't have a compact stroller, and she's only about 32 pounds, so she was in the Ergo quite a bit that trip! She has logged many, many comfortable, happy hours in it. I got it used from a friend for $40.