Top 3 Favorite Carriers?

[AdinaL]

*This thread will be shared on Mothering's Twitter and Facebook.*

This week is International Babywearing Week, and in honor of that, I have a question!

So, I have many carriers, a bit of a problem really.  Most of the babywearing mamas I know have the same problem. 

I'm curious if you have multiple carriers, and if there are different favorites for different situations, different ages, etc.

My top 3 are:

Moby Wrap - newborn stage, haven't found anything better

KKAFP - favorite quick winter carrier, once baby has head control. I was so sad when they went out of business, because 

i couldn't replace my pumpkin colored pouch that I lost.

#3 is a tie right now: Ergo/Patapum.  I love them both. but love the toddler Patapum for my big kids, more support.

Honorable Mention: all Mei Tei style carriers - this is me and my older daughter after learning how to do a side carry with a Mei Tei at the International Babywearing Conference in 2006.

What are everyone's 3 favorite carriers?

[jlmschirm]

I love stretchy/moby wraps for those early weeks. I am
A huge ring sling fan for older babies/toddlers. I also enjoy my mai tai - but got hooked on ring slings and it didn't get as much love after that. Baby #2 is due in Feb and I'm hoping to learn more about/use my woven wrap with the new little one!

[cobberkathleen]

Boba!!

[CDGAL]

1.Ergo is my favorite by far!

2.Moby for the early weeks:) 

3.and I want to try a Beco or Boba:)

[Jess DMS]

I too love the Moby for teeny babies, but I LOVE my Manduca for everything else, and also my ring slings.  

[Carhootel]

1. Didymos hemp Indio
2. Kozy Mei Tai
3. Kinderpack


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[letitiah81]

Moby is the only one I've tried that feels secure, but I've only tried a few.  Wish I could try others out just to see if I would like anything else more.  That being said, I love my moby to keep my baby close enough to kiss while I work.

[porcelina]

Newborn stage: 1. Hands down, Moby for calming baby, getting things done around the house, or working. It is such a versatile carrier, and learning the nursing tie is an awesome help when there is an older toddler around who doesn't want you to nurse!

2. Mei Tai for trips to the store (quicker to get on than the Moby, don't have to worry as much about calming)

After head support has developed:

3. Tie! Ergo and Beco Gemini. Ergo is a classic, and has a better sleep hood, which is great for covering up while nursing at the grocery store and also provides perfect support for a sleeping head. However, Gemini is more comfortable by far (more padding in the right places), and more versatile with the forward facing out option. It has more padding, the body comes up higher, and is more trim/narrow as well. It has a couple of not so great features, though, including "safety" clips requiring two hands to remove, a chest strap that comes disconnected, and awkward/uncomfortable sleeping flap where the ties to hold it up dig into baby's head. If they put on regular clips, added a longer strap on the left side, used a chest strap that is firmly connected, and changed the sleeping hood, it would be the perfect carrier.
 

I have to say I absolutely despise ring slings. It is not a great idea to have weight on only one side. I can see them working for getting a few things done around the house, but it is just so uncomfortable to not have weight evenly distributed!

[sweetpeppers]

Storchenweige Leo

Any mei tai with padded shoulder straps

a pouch-style sling for little ones and quick up and downs

[gardenersuz]

Now that I have mastered the Moby I love it and so does my 11 week old.

I can't get seem to get a handle on the ring sling yet.

My husband likes the Baby Bjorn the best.

FYI I bought 3 slings/wraps used off Craig's List for less than the cost of the Bjorn that I bought 5 years ago when my son was born. I haven't even tried the 3rd yet!
 

[TooManyDogs]

Moby is my favorite for hands-free with the little babies. A ring sling for quick trips with babes of all sizes. Ergo for hikes, walks, or longer carries. I have a Kozy and wish it got as much use as the ring sling and Ergo...maybe now that I'm pregnant w/ #2 and the Ergo isn't as comfy I'll use it more!

[Autumnshades]

Good question!

As a new Mamma I found the Moby wrap to be awesome!  Used it until my little man got too heavy for it - he had colic and cried a lot, the Moby was a lifesaver!  And besides who doesn't love that teensy tiny squishy baby snuggle the moby provides?

And I love my BOBA!  Just love it ... best decision I ever made!

Interested in trying the new Boba Air (very lightweight version) because you can store it in a little bag and it is super portable! 

[CheriK]

No question about it, for me it's a good ring sling. I wore out my Maya with my twins and am now on my second sling for DD2 (our Zolowear disintegrated & we are now using a Rockin' Baby) . I haven't found anything else as easy to put on or take off without disturbing baby, as versatile with positioning, or as comfortable for nursing as a ring sling. And easy to stuff into a diaper bag or backpack! DH likes the Ergo and I'll use it for hiking or back carry. Moby wraps are nice for brand new babes. But if I could choose only one carrier I'd get a ring sling.

[AdinaL]

The Boba Air looks really interesting!

I've heard from some plus sized moms that they have a tough time finding carriers they are comfy in, and that feel secure.  Anyone have any input?

[HopefulJo]

Moby for the early weeks.

Ergo for Dad, and quick trips, or a potentially napping babe.

Maya Tie (discontinued) for longer wearing of my toddler. The tall back will allow him to fit this for a long time, the wrap-like straps spread the weight over my shoulders and chest evenly, making it very comfortable. The fact that I can tie it to the desired tightness is great- I feel like I get a better fit than the Ergo.

[greenthumb3]

Yes. Plus sized mamas, I am interested to hear your experiences, as well.

I am a size 16/1x and 5' 9" and have the original version of the Boba. It feels too tight and the shoulder pads do not come all the way around under my arms, like the Ergo does. I have readjusted and readjusted and it is the carrier, not me or the baby (smallish for 5 months). I want to love the Boba, with it's higher fabric piece for the baby's back, stirrups for toddler's feet, etc, but it is designed a tad smaller than the Ergo.

The Ergo is still working for me for front baby carries very well and is so comfortable and the sleeping hood is perfect but for toddler back carry, I prefer the Boba because it feels more secure for the child than the Ergo did, although the chest strap is almost right on my collar bone and can't be lowered because it is sewn in the webbing. (They need to fix this issue! So irritating!)

My carrier picks: (10 years of wearing my 5 babies/toddlers in various carriers)

1. Newborn: Fleece pouch sling--love the easy-in-and-out, they fall asleep so well and then I slide it off and they continue to sleep in it on the bed. They also can curl up, just like in utero.

2. 2-5 months: Ring sling-- good for church, grocery store, discreet nursing and can be used as a changing pad or blanket or cover carseat in a pinch. Better when baby weighs less than 20 lbs.

3. 6 months-3 years: Soft structured carrier or wrap, like Ergo for front carries/ Boba for back carries / Moby-style carrier for front /back {Made my own....easy!!!!!}
 

[Philothea]

Wondering if there is a good forward facing carrier??

I've heard that the Bjorn isn't good for baby's hips/pelvis development because the baby should be 'sitting' not 'hanging' so-to-speak. My DD loved the moby for the first 3 months but now she hates it cuz she wants to see everything I'm doing. We also have the ergo which has been great for errands but again, same problem. Anyway, I'm desperate bc she loves being held (facing outward) constantly but no longer accepts going in our carriers.

[AmandaT]

1. Ergo, with or w/o infant insert (I didn't mind it)

2. Maya Wrap ring sling (great for errands with lots of in and out of the car or quick jaunts)

3. Moby for newborn

These are the only 3 I own, but I love them all and have not been tempted to branch out!

[Justmee]

1. Mei Tai. Number one, no question.

2. I have a wrap I use for the newborn stage, but I didn't really use it this time around because of the heat, also by the time he got out of the hospital he was big enough for the MT.

3. Ergo, but I only use it for back carries for older babies. I can do the MT as fast as the ergo now,and I find it much more flexible and comfortable. I usually leave the ergo in the car just in case I forget my carrier.

[LamisDove]

1) Moby

2) ring-sling

3) Mei Tei-style sash carrier

I haven't found any sling to be good for the early weeks. I had a ring sling with my first and the Moby with my second. Both babies didn't like being swallowed up by their slings. "Just carry me in your arms, Mama!" After a little while, with second baby, I tried the sash carrier. He liked it better because he could rest his head on my chest or rest it back on the carrier and look up and around. Then he got too heavy for the infant hold. He was putting too much pressure on his legs and feet, but his hips weren't developed enough to open out, monkey-style. Back out comes the Moby, where he could hang his legs out because the cloth conforms to the size of his little behind. He's loving it for walks around the neighborhood and running errands.

I am looking forward to getting a ring sling when LO is a bit older for the convenience of easy in and out.