Favorite Sling/Carrier? - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[seraf]

Mal, Shay has been riding on my hip for a month or so. He's a really big boy, but what are you looking for with regard to readiness?

[TalkToMeNow]

Thanks for the input, everyone! Christina, my friends have an Ergo. I think I'll try theirs on and see how I like it.

So dh says he'll wear the baby if it's a SSC but not a Mei Tai. So that makes me lean towards the SSC side. Of course, I wouldn't be able to get a cute pattern if dh wanted to wear it. :( I think right now the Gemini is the front runner. I always have my old Mei Tai to fall back on! 

I loooove hip carrying! I used to use my Maya wrap for that anytime I had a short trip. My favorite part was that I could wear my dds on my hip and then swing them to my back anytime they'd be in the way. I'll probably get a new Maya at some point, as well. 

I've seen a couple of rent/ try before you buy websites out there, so I might do that with a couple of carriers. 

[Mal85]

Originally Posted by seraf 

Mal, Shay has been riding on my hip for a month or so. He's a really big boy, but what are you looking for with regard to readiness?

I'm not sure really... I mean, she isn't quite comfortable yet if I just hold her on my hip so I figured she wouldn't be quite ready for a hip carry. I may go ahead and give it a try though. Surely the carrier is more supportive than just my arm.

[birdhappy85]

I'm having even more fun with my Baby K'tan wrap carrier now that the baby is getting old enough to be worn in more positions! So fun! She's loving it too finally. I cooked-ahead a bunch of meals today in a few hours while wearing the baby. Woohoo!

[seraf]

Go Joanie!!What did you make?

[birdhappy85]

Well I had bought a bunch of chicken breasts and veggies earlier this week and never got around to using them or freezing them (I was so not on top of things)... so I figured I had to use them today or they'd probably go bad! I cooked chicken a ton of ways. I made chicken fajitas, chicken Thai curry (and added eggplant for the first time, omg so good!), steamed chicken breasts with broccoli... and now I'm about to make our *actual* dinner of steak and mashed potatoes. DH will love that..... Oh wait, he just got up to make dinner for us. Sweet.

[birdhappy85]

Alright guys, I need help choosing a SSC. I've been obsessing like crazy. For days. I was completely deadset on getting the Beco Gemini but then I became interested in the Beco Butterfly II and the Boba 3G... I'm disappointed in the color options for the Gemini. I know, that should just be a minor detail, but it's bugging me. I like how the Butterfly II seems more secure when trying to do the back carry. And I like that the Boba 3G is higher than other SSCs and has those neat footstraps for baby. Gah! When I tried on a Gemini when I was super pregnant, it seemed really comfortable. But I haven't tried on the others. I'm tall at 5'9" and currently a size 16 with a wide frame, so that makes a difference too probably.

I know lots of you have good things to say about each of these. I suppose I need to narrow it down by functionality and decide whether or not I'm okay with a carrier that just does front or back carry, or if I really need the 4 carrying positions offered by the Gemini. I just can't make a dang decision, and my baby is only getting older! I don't want to miss out on wearing her at this age. Grrr. 

Oh, and before I forget, does anyone know if I can breastfeed in all three of these carriers? I know you can in the Gemini but I don't know much about the others. I'm going to assume you can't breastfeed in the Butterfly II since it has that panel... but any idea on the Boba? Jacqueline - you have a Boba, right?

[Mal85]

If it's just the color options you don't like, have you looked into getting a custom Gemini? I think paxbaby.com is where I looked at all the different options for custom patterns.

[birdhappy85]

I have looked on PAXbaby at the custom option but that in itself will probably be too much for me because of my indecisiveness. lol. The Butterfly II and Boba 3G look comfier for baby for some reason... Is that just me? I ultimately want the best shoulder, back and hip support in whichever carrier I choose. But all three of these seem to have good reviews...

[jbk21]

No nursing in the Boba.  I personally don't use a SSC for side-carry, so that point is nil for me, and I don't do front carries.  I think you'll find it awkward and uncomfortable- a side carry position is more natural in a pouch or ring sling, I think.  

[LunaLady]

I haven't used a Beco or Boba... but I can nurse in my Ergo and I think they are similar. I just pop a boob out and it's right at baby's face. 

[jbk21]

Maybe D is just too big?  He's way above my boob, lol!  But he's giant....   I'm 5'4", so maybe someone taller with a shorter babe would be able to nurse in it.  

[LunaLady]

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Edited by LunaLady - 6/29/12 at 4:10pm

[TalkToMeNow]

Joanie, I'm doing a trial right now of three carriers. I'm doing it with http://www.heavenlyhold.com/. You could try that. I've been obsessing, too, so once I narrowed it down to three carriers, I ordered them. I have them for 2 weeks. It was $8 a piece. Also, this Gemini is really cute: http://www.heavenlyhold.com/item_875/Beco-Gemini-Special-Edition-Piper.htm  I was bummed by the borningness of the Gemini's, too. If I get one, I'll probably get that one.

So, my carriers arrived today. I am sooooo excited! I got the Boba 3G, the Beco Gemini, and a Baby Hawk Mei Tai. I went for the Boba first because it just looks like the one that is most comfortable for the baby. Plus, it has a freaking adorable kangaroo on it!! (Yes, I chose the Kangaroo fabric.) So, J, I have a question for you about the fit. First of all, it seems to be ginormous. I mean, I am not a tiny person. I'm 5'5 and 140 lbs. But I have all the straps (esp the waist) pulled way out. I think the waist strap is as tight as it goes.Does this seem right? Also, I followed the instructions and I think I have the strap in back on correctly, but I could feel a lot of pulling on my upper back. It seemed like the weight was not evenly distributed. Any tips on adjusting for a more comfortable carry? 

I may have Gemini questions later. I'm pretty sure I'll be good with the mei tai, as I've used one for years. I feel like a baby wearing princess right now with all these carriers! Which one will I wear to the 4th grade meeting tonight? Which one for walk to school day tomorrow? 

Re: nursing in the carrier. I haven't tried in these, but I'll let you know. I *can* nurse Jasper in my mei tai now, but I prefer not to. I don't want that to be a habit because in a few short months I know he'd demand it all the time. I know, I know, I'm a shame to proud breastfeeding mothers everywhere, but I'm just not comfortable walking through Target comfort nursing a 15 month old in a carrier. 

[jbk21]

Hmmm that doesn't seem right at all.  I'm 5'4" 120lbs and it is sometimes pretty snug on me- but I'm not sure how to troubleshoot without being there to look at it!  I can take a few photos of D in it later?  I really like it because it's easy to adjust between DH and myself.  He's a small guy though too (5'9" 155lbs).   It's currently in the car which DH has at work, so I'll try to get photos later today.  

[TalkToMeNow]

Originally Posted by jbk21 

Hmmm that doesn't seem right at all.  I'm 5'4" 120lbs and it is sometimes pretty snug on me- but I'm not sure how to troubleshoot without being there to look at it!  I can take a few photos of D in it later?  I really like it because it's easy to adjust between DH and myself.  He's a small guy though too (5'9" 155lbs).   It's currently in the car which DH has at work, so I'll try to get photos later today.  

Ok, thanks! My dh is almost exactly the same size as yours, so that will make adjusting easy! I noticed the straps are really easy to adjust, so that is a plus. I can't try anything out right now as Jasper has been asleep on my lap for the last 2.5 hours!

[jbk21]

I'd try to get the waist adjusted first, without him in it.  Then you can put him in later and adjust the shoulders.  There are a few places to adjust the shoulder fit, so it should help with the tightness on your upper back.

[birdhappy85]

Ooo yes yes yes Amanda, let me know how you end up liking each of the carriers once you get some more use out of each one! I love that kangaroo print for the Boba, by the way. SO cute. Maybe I'll look into doing a trial run with carriers myself on that Heavenly Hold website. That's much cheaper than I was facing for rentals at PAXbaby!

[birdhappy85]

Anybody have experience with the Oh Snap! Babyhawk carrier? OMG they have the cutest prints ever!!! I'm especially in love with the Starling Chicks! Ahhhhh! http://www.heavenlyhold.com/item_670/Oh-Snap-Starling-Chicks.htm   Birds birds birds birds birds

I think if I get one more bird print on something, my husband might leave me....... 

[TalkToMeNow]

Originally Posted by birdhappy85 

Ooo yes yes yes Amanda, let me know how you end up liking each of the carriers once you get some more use out of each one! I love that kangaroo print for the Boba, by the way. SO cute. Maybe I'll look into doing a trial run with carriers myself on that Heavenly Hold website. That's much cheaper than I was facing for rentals at PAXbaby!

I will! I think there's a wait at PAXBaby, so that's why I went with Heavenly Hold.

Okay, I'm still obsessing. I wore the Gemini to do errands and my lower back hurt. Then, I put the Boba on to cook dinner and managed to make my lower back hurt in it. So I'm thinking I just have to play around with them until I find the right balance/ position between weight on my shoulders/ upper back and weight on my lower back. Anyway, I took pics with the Boba... any glaring issues?