Favorite sling/carrier... « Back to Group Discussions

[babytoes]

I had a sling with DS#3 and I loved it! I cant remember for the life of me what it was, 8 years is a long time ago, lol! I have been poking around on line looking for a good one, but the choices are insane... way more than I thought. 

What is your favorite? And please explain why, so that we can all help each other with comparing all these options...

Thanks for the help ladies!!

[LightForest]

The choices ARE mindboggling! The selection (and number of opinions over which is best) is almost as infinite as that of cloth diapers. Last time around we went with a woven wrap (I can't remember the brand of mine) for its versatility, and it WAS great for carrying a little baby. It's so supportive and cozy. My daughter and I both get really sweaty in hot weather, though, and all the layers of the wrap were just too much for me.

When my daughter was about 11 months I got a Boba. It's like an Ergo (a type of soft structured carrier), but it can support a larger child a bit more comfortably. We're still really happy using the Boba - my daughter is now 23 months and over 30 pounds.

I'm thinking I'd like to get a ring sling for the new baby. Maybe a Maya wrap. Or a Sakura Bloom.

[happylemon]

My all time favorite is the Ergo, it is comfortable so I can wear it for a long time. It does not work with really small babies as well, so i use a stretchy wrap or ring sling the first month or two. i have a woven wrap, but as some else mentioned it gets hot, but is comfy.

[maydaymom10]

I also have a Boba that I got for my son (26 months) and love it. I'm excited about trying it with the next one. I also have a FreeHand carrier (another SSC similar to an Ergo) that I got when DS was about 4 weeks old. It's nice because I can rear-face, front-face, and back carry with it. It's a little narrower, but the seat does adjust a bit depending on the age of the child and the position you're carrying him/her. Finally, I LOVE my baby k'tan. It has the same carrying positions as a Moby, but without all of the wrapping. I got it when DS was about 4 months old and really wished I had it when he was a newborn. I'm sure this will be my go-to carrier at the beginning.

I'm kinda overboard on my carrier obsession   

[kalamos23]

I use a Moby for early on (really any stretchy wrap), Boba and/or woven wrap for when they are older. I like the Boba because it has a longer back on it, the Ergo has a short back and doesn't fit longer torsoed kids as well, in my opinion.

I really want a Kinderpack for DS! Now that we will have 2 much closer in age, I will probably get one and put DS on my back and newbie on the front :)

[ClumsySugarPlum]

I used a Moby for when my son was really little. You can do a bunch of different holds, but the only one that worked for us was front facing. That being said, I found it really comfortable and ds often would fall asleep while I did stuff around the house. One time, during my maternity leave, and this probably has more to do with my lack of sleep than Moby's comfort level, I thought to myself, "I haven't checked on him for a while. I'll just run upstairs and see how he's doing." Shocked and terrified when he wasn't in his bassinet.  when I realized he was actually strapped to my body! As he got older, he wanted to see out more, but the piggy-back hold didn't really work for us. (I'm actually wearing it in my member picture next to this post!) He would just sort of slide down out of it. For his first birthday, I treated us to an Ergo, which I love! I think he liked it quite a bit too. We only used it the piggy-back way, but it's also really comfortable. I'm planning on buying the infant insert for the new babe.

[ClumsySugarPlum]

I used a Moby for when my son was really little. You can do a bunch of different holds, but the only one that worked for us was front facing. That being said, I found it really comfortable and ds often would fall asleep while I did stuff around the house. One time, during my maternity leave, and this probably has more to do with my lack of sleep than Moby's comfort level, I thought to myself, "I haven't checked on him for a while. I'll just run upstairs and see how he's doing." Shocked and terrified when he wasn't in his bassinet.  when I realized he was actually strapped to my body! As he got older, he wanted to see out more, but the piggy-back hold didn't really work for us. He would just sort of slide down out of it. For his first birthday, I treated us to an Ergo, which I love! I think he liked it quite a bit too. (I'm actually wearing it in my picture next to this post.) We only used it the piggy-back way, but it's also really comfortable. I'm planning on buying the infant insert for the new babe.

[kalamos23]

Stretchy wraps like the Moby shouldn't be used for back carries because you can't get them tight enough and the babies can arch out, but woven wraps or carriers like the Ergo, Boba, Meiteis, etc are great for it! 

[babytoes]

I do like the look and versatility that the baby K'tan has. The only thing, is it seems to be high up, like the baby's head is right under your chin... Is that really where you carry them? I have large boobs, double D when I am not nursing! Having the baby right across them is not comfortable for me. The sling I had was a very simple large chunk of material and he was lower on my body, like under my boobs... Maybe the K'tan can be adjusted? or does it become unsafe if you place them lower? 

I really like the Hotslings, and they look much lower, under the boobs, but I haven't seen any talk about them, maybe they have become passe due to popularity...?.. Anyone have experience? I know the Maya wraps have been around forever and are huge favorites with a lot of people, but for some reason I cannot seem to love that huge ring! I know... its really silly.

I really like the looks of the Wrapsody as well... Does anyone have one?  

Maybe I'll just get them all!!! haha!!

[maydaymom10]

Originally Posted by babytoes 

I do like the look and versatility that the baby K'tan has. The only thing, is it seems to be high up, like the baby's head is right under your chin... Is that really where you carry them? I have large boobs, double D when I am not nursing! Having the baby right across them is not comfortable for me. The sling I had was a very simple large chunk of material and he was lower on my body, like under my boobs... Maybe the K'tan can be adjusted? or does it become unsafe if you place them lower? 

The K'tan is somewhat adjustable & it is sized so you might look at the measurements for the different sizes to see if a larger size would be better to accommodate you. Also, you can adjust how the baby sits & since the material is stretchy, it does loosen over time. Hope that helps. 

[LightForest]

Originally Posted by babytoes 

I do like the look and versatility that the baby K'tan has. The only thing, is it seems to be high up, like the baby's head is right under your chin... Is that really where you carry them?

In general I've always been told that the baby's head should be "kissable". I just found this useful diagram on the Sakura Bloom site - their info is specific for ring slings but the tips actually seem relevant for any carrier you use. I really like having the newborn upright with their head supported at the neck, like in the top photo in that link (this is how we carried dd as a newborn in the woven wrap). I get worried about the baby being able to breathe properly when scrunched horizontally down in the carrier (more specifically, I worry about breathing when the baby's chin is pushed down towards her chest, which seems to happen sometimes with the horizontal carries).

With that said, I'm not sure how to do a high tummy to tummy style carry if you have a large chest... I'll bet the women in the babywearing forum would have some tips, though...

[EmilyZ25]

love our baby k'tan. does all the same things as the moby, but is much easier to use. you do want baby to be fairly high up - as pp said, "kissable" - so their pictures make sense. but you can shift your lo so that you are both comfy. it's easy to play with because its just soft cotton.

[threebees]

Honestly, the best wrap I ever used was the one I made myself. Took maybe ten bucks and thirty minutes. Check it out! http://threebeescakes.blogspot.com.au/2010/07/as-warm-as-beetle-in-blanket.html
 

[revolting]

I like stretchy wraps for itty bitties and I used a piccolo for when my kids were older. It's pretty worn out. I'm thinking about getting a Boba this time around.

[Xerxella]

You guys are overwhelming me!!!! LOL

I always just used a ring sling my mom made. Pretty versatile, but not padded and it has it's limitations. I DO like the look of the k'tan, but $60! WOW! Any other opinions on those and are they worth the money?