Best Baby Carrier or Sling « Back to Group Discussions

[Corinne1218]

Hey there.  This is my fourth (I have twins and singleton already).  With my last baby I had gotten the Baby Bjorn carrier and while it felt secure it was very awkward to get it on and off.  I've seen some mamas with ones the look at lot more comfy and easier.  What's your favorite?

Due 7/18/13

[rainbownurse]

This is my first, but I found this chart really helpful
http://www.theportablebaby.com/carrierfeatures.html

[talldarkeyes]

I like the Moby wrap for the newborn stage/until they get head control and a ring sling for shopping trips/short excursions. I also have a Mei Tai for longer trips but felt it didn't give me much support so I am looking for a more structured carrier, probably the Ergo.

[dayiscoming2006]

I like my baby trekker for newborn(8lbs) - 6 months or so in front carry. It works well in a backpack style carry too, but I was using an ergo or boba for backpack carry for my last. But, with my second I used the baby trekker for backpack style carry and it was fine. It got a little awkward once he got over one year old though because his legs started dangling too much. But, they seem to have fixed that with the newer addition of foot stirrups available in their accessories for $14 - they say for 18+ months. I guess it depends how big your kids are. Mine are big. Ergo and boba work OK with a swaddled baby, but since ours are summer babies, that'd be pretty hot. I think the newborn insert would make the ergo too hot as well more than likely. I've been considering a sling style for the next, but I don't know. Babytrekker works pretty well and I don't know how much more money I want to spend on things. I read that the beco front carry can cause circulation issues, I didn't have that problem with the baby trekker. Some babies really like to face forward when they get a bit bigger, even if some people are really against it. All my kids have done it and are quite fine. If you are breastfeeding, I'd pick one that can be used while breastfeeding. 

EDIT: If I could only have one carrier, it'd be the babytrekker because of it's ability to really handle newbie-toddlerhood.

[Corinne1218]

Thanks everyone!  I was looking at the ergos too.  

[Tenk]

I just posted this else where.  I have all kinds of styles, ring sling, moby wrap, mei tai, pouch, and just bought an Ergo with infant insert.  Of all of them the Moby is my very favorite for a newborn but in July (June for me) it's WAY to hot in SC at the beach to wear a Moby wrap.  I have a purple/yellow/white Moby that I'd like to sell actually because I have another one.  I bought the Ergo with infant insert so I could try using that one with our infant and see if it works out better in the heat.  I loved the mei tai for bigger kiddos, I can still carry my almost 3 year old in it even :)
 

[youngnhappymamma]

I also have just about every type of baby carrier imaginable and I think there is a time and place for each one.  Most of the time, I use the Moby or Ergo.

[skycheattraffic]

I'm looking at getting the maya wrap (a ring sling) because of the easy on/off and in/out feature. I really didn't wear DD since she was a very active, hands off kind of baby from the time she could roll over (3 months). This time though I'll need to be out and about a lot more and will need free hands to chase/grab my toddler. I'm getting tired just thinking about chasing DD while tending to a newborn lol

[Tenk]

Originally Posted by skycheattraffic 

I'm looking at getting the maya wrap (a ring sling) because of the easy on/off and in/out feature. I really didn't wear DD since she was a very active, hands off kind of baby from the time she could roll over (3 months). This time though I'll need to be out and about a lot more and will need free hands to chase/grab my toddler. I'm getting tired just thinking about chasing DD while tending to a newborn lol

This made me laugh because my toddler is completely the opposite (yet I can picture exactly what you're going through).  DD (youngest of 5) is babied SOOOO much by all her siblings though and has asked me several times when I'm going to carry her like the baby on the box (the Ergo I just got) and I told her my tummy was too big for the wait thing so she said "L can carry me in it then" and of course big sister happily said she would anytime :) I think my problem is going to be snuggling with her as much as I want to after a nursling comes along :(

[g&a]

I have a Calyx soft structured carrier and love it.  I'm not sure they're made anymore (googled and couldn't find it), but a Beco is similar.  If I had to buy one now I'd get a Beco.  They look way more comfortable than the Ergo.  Also, I like to use a ring sling for newborns.  So easy to pop them in and out and adjust to their tiny bodies as needed.

[heyitskalista]

We have quite a few carriers and each one serves its purpose.

Moby- amazing for tiny babies.  So soft and snuggly and all around wonderful!  But not so great when baby gets bigger...they start to sag and its hard to get it tight enough.

Babyhawk- LOVE this carrier.  I've used it from birth to 3 years (during which I was pregnant).  I find it extremely comfortable and easy to use.  It's my husband favourite too!

Ergo- very easy to use.  I find it hard to get a good fit...on the tightest setting, its still too loose.  The back carries are better than the front for me.

Boba- this is my husband's.  I think its meant for taller or broader body types but he loves it. 

Ring Sling- Love for newborn and quick trips.  If I wear it for too long, it gets uncomfortable.  It's great for putting baby to sleep though because its easy to slip on and off. 

Woven wrap (we have two...a shorty and a long one)- by far my favourite!  They are SO versatile and incredibly comfortable.  If I had to chose one, a woven wrap would be it.  They do have quite a learning curve but it's worth the time to learn!
 

[dayiscoming2006]

I want to revise what I said. I could manage with just the babytrekker, but the ergo or boba have been more comfortable with a back carry because of the design. I would definitely want a babytrekker and either the boba, ergo, or similar carrier for the backpack style carry. I don't know if there is really any one carrier that can really do newborn to toddler very well. 

[lolliegee]

I love a ring sling for a newborn. It's so easy to pop them in and out and nurse in it. Once they get a few months old, it's only comfortable for short periods, because it makes my back hurt. I do know that some people love them and are able to use them into toddlerhood. I was able to use it again later for a hip carry. Pretty comfortable for that and once again, you get the great popability factor. Awesome for when you're getting in and out of the car a lot.

I also have a Sleepy Wrap (now called a Boba Wrap), which is similar to a Moby, but not as heavy. Great when you're going to be wearing babe for a long time because it's soooo comfortable. Also has the popability factor, because you can tie it on and leave it and just take baby out or back in as needed. So soft and snuggly. Can't wait to use this again. It is a stretchy wrap so, baby will outgrow it and it can only be worn on the front.

After these, I moved to a mei tai. I loved this because it's so easy to adjust and nurse in. Also, since it's tied instead of buckled, it's really easy to switch between mom and dad. Great for back carries too, but the one I have has straps that are a little on the narrow side, so started getting a bit uncomfortable when baby got to about 18 months.

I also have an Ergo that I used a lot, but he preferred to be worn on the front. Which was definitely comfy, but I had hoped to wear him on my back more. Hopefully, this baby will like a back carry. I'm also thinking of looking more into wovens. There are so many people who swear by them!

[coalifetime]

My favorite is the long german woven wraps like

http://www.storchenwiege.com/  and http://www.didymos.de/en/

After giving all my maternity and almost all of my baby stuff away.... for some reason I still have my babywraps.  I was saving them to wear my grandbabies or friends babies in ;)

I sold my ergo and I will eventually buy one of those again.  My husband enjoyed using it for back carries during the toddler stage when I needed him to wear the child for a while in order to induce sleep!  My husband is otherwise just fine using the wraps for front carries for the child's first few years.

I enjoyed ring slings, did not enjoy pouches, and never tried the mei tais.   I am really looking forward to all of the bonding with babywearing again.

[yilonne]

I have a long cotton didymos indio and one short cotton-linen and one longer cotton-linen didymos jaquard
Two natibaby long but one of tham should be selled and buy on other one didymos
i am in love with one girasol too...
and i have a long je port mon bebe
shhhh
and i have a hungarian ssc what is wonderfull is the baby i becoming havy

I am planning to use linen wraps for summertime and maybe je port mon bebe if its not so hot

[coalifetime]

Originally Posted by yilonne 

I have a long cotton didymos indio and one short cotton-linen and one longer cotton-linen didymos jaquard
Two natibaby long but one of tham should be selled and buy on other one didymos
i am in love with one girasol too...
and i have a long je port mon bebe
shhhh
and i have a hungarian ssc what is wonderfull is the baby i becoming havy

I am planning to use linen wraps for summertime and maybe je port mon bebe if its not so hot

I am drooling!!!!!!    What a stash!

[nicoled80]

For my first we had Moby Wrap, an infantino carrier that's kind of like the Baby Bjorn, and when he was 5 months or so I discovered the Ergo.  The Moby Wrap was great for the newborn phase because I carried my son in it swaddled in his blankets (he's a January baby so was nice to keep him warm that way).  But it is ridiculous to get into (impossible to not touch the always wet ground here in Oregon so I'd have to get into it before we left the house).  Once he could hold his head up, my husband loved carrying him in a front pack like the Baby Bjorn that allowed our son to face forward and look around.  Once I had the Ergo, I never used anything else.  My son preferred to cuddle into me not face out when I was carrying him.  I always front carried.  And it works pretty well to breastfeed in it and use the sleep hood for privacy while you walk around.  I'll be getting the infant insert so I can use it earlier this time.  Though I will watch out that it's not too hot this summer.  I quit carrying my son in a carrier when he was one and a half.  He's a very active little guy so him walking to burn energy became a priority.  There are a lot of new carriers that came out in the last three years though so it'll be hard to not shop for the lastest and greatest.  Having a sleep hood and being able to breastfeed in it will definitely be a requirement.