Baby Carriers?

[KatWrangler]

The two carries I have I don't like. Is there a good baby carrier for plus size Mama that I should be looking at?

[ete6406]

I love my carriers. I have a ton. I use my mei tai's a lot, I have toddler hawks that I use a fair amount, and wraps. I don't use my pouches a whole lot.

I used to be teeny (size 4/5) and now I'm on the bigger side. Hope that helps, if not, let me know I can tell ya more.

[christinespurlock]

I have the ergo and love it. I know they have a waist extender if you need it. I also love my bjorn. And I've never even seen a mai tai. I just loved being able to wear my son.

[tschecter]

My favorite carrier when DS was really little was my wrap... for plus size just make sure it is a bit long... I think mine was 5 feet long, and I would have liked it to be a few inches longer, they say for a larger person about 6 feet is often enough. It does have a learning curve, though... Mine was a strecthy knit fabric, I just cut a 60inch wide strech of fabric down the middle. I loved that sine it was stretchy, it really cradled him in. I also made later on a pouch sling,.. 2, actually.. easier to use, and he still at 17n mos, loves to sit on my hip in it. I made one out of a non stretchy cotton, which I still use, and one from AP fleece, which I will be using again when the weather cools.

I also made several Mei teis... harer to make, but really nice to use, for long walks or outings.. However, I have found that even though I love my mei teis, I still reach for the pouch first, unless I know I am going to be walking for a long time, especially as he got older and wants up down more... Plus, mei tei is not really appropriate till baby can hold up their head, so between 3-4 months. Before that, I would suggest pouch or wrap.

Oh, I also tried a ring sling when he was small, but did not like that at all... just never liked the rings.

[Shanana]

Originally Posted by tschecter

Plus, mei tei is not really appropriate till baby can hold up their head, so between 3-4 months. Before that, I would suggest pouch or wrap.

Slightly OT ... I've never had a mei tai, so can't comment first hand, but my friend has a 2 month old, and was using hers almost out of the gate. She tucked him in froggy-style, and the fabric came up behind his head; he seemed to do just fine in it. Also, she tied it across his back instead of below his butt. If he needed to nurse, she would just loosen the straps a bit to drop him down to boob-height.

OP, I'm not plus size, so can't really comment on good carriers for that. You might find some good info on the babywearing forum.

[tschecter]

Originally Posted by Shanana

Slightly OT ... I've never had a mei tai, so can't comment first hand, but my friend has a 2 month old, and was using hers almost out of the gate. She tucked him in froggy-style, and the fabric came up behind his head; he seemed to do just fine in it. Also, she tied it across his back instead of below his butt. If he needed to nurse, she would just loosen the straps a bit to drop him down to boob-height.

OP, I'm not plus size, so can't really comment on good carriers for that. You might find some good info on the babywearing forum.

I have heard of people doing that, but most makers of Mei Teis will reccommend that you not... because the baby is so small yet an cannot comtrol head well, there is a much higher risk of injury. I am sure that your friend is doing as she feels best for her child, but I would not try a mei tei with a newborn.

That said, I have heard of people stuffing blankets in under and around a newborn to make them fit, but I would worry there about overheating...

[thismama]

My plan is to use my Maya Wrap sling, and get a Moby wrap or similar stretchy wrap, right away.

Later on I'll probably use my pouch, which sucks for nursing but is really convenient for in/out and switching from back to hip carry, as well as my (toddler size) mei tei, and the Ergo.

I've heard the Ergo is not fabulous for newborn, and since the babes are coming in spring, I'm thinking a Moby would be a really easy wrap to put on in the morning and leave on all day, and just pop them in and out. Anyone actually done this with a babe?

Anyway, that's what I'm thinking right now... Babyhawks are freaking gorgeous too...

[Taedareth]

Originally Posted by KatWrangler

The two carries I have I don't like. Is there a good baby carrier for plus size Mama that I should be looking at?

What carriers do you have?

[thismama]

Oh I should have mentioned that I am plus size, so I'm speaking from the plus size mama experience when I drone on about the baby carriers.

[Shanana]

Originally Posted by tschecter

I have heard of people doing that, but most makers of Mei Teis will reccommend that you not... because the baby is so small yet an cannot comtrol head well, there is a much higher risk of injury. I am sure that your friend is doing as she feels best for her child, but I would not try a mei tei with a newborn.

That said, I have heard of people stuffing blankets in under and around a newborn to make them fit, but I would worry there about overheating...

Okay, good info to have . Like I said I don't have one, so wasn't sure on the specifics . FWIW, my friend has decided she likes her Moby and Maya Wrap ring sling better, so she's not using the Mei Tai right now.

Originally Posted by thismama

I've heard the Ergo is not fabulous for newborn, and since the babes are coming in spring, I'm thinking a Moby would be a really easy wrap to put on in the morning and leave on all day, and just pop them in and out. Anyone actually done this with a babe?

I used my Moby with dd, and absolutely loved it. With my bad back, it was wonderful having the weight on both shoulders, and the fabric is so so soft, and I was able to spread it really wide and distribute the weight. That said, it was HOT. Between all the fabric, and babies being little furnaces, and my internal thermostat being a little messed up (from pg/birth/post-partum), I got super sweaty. She was born in July, but I don't think I got the Moby until maybe September, when it starts cooling off here, and it was still pretty hot unless I was inside with the A/C cranked. I found myself taking it off unless I was planning on putting her in it right then. It also gets kind of stretched out, so if you're putting the baby in and out repeatedly, you'll probably need to re-tie it occasionally to tighten it up.

I bought a Maya Wrap ring sling when dd was around 9 months old, and recently tried it with some of my friends' newborns -- loved it. I don't do a cradle hold ... I put the baby up on my chest as if I was holding it with my arms, and then put the sling on. It works wonderfully, and is very comfortable. The babies seem to love it too. There is a much steeper learning curve with this sling, though. One of my friends -- who is super mainstream -- was gifted with a high needs baby this time around. I am teaching her how to use all of my carriers, and the ring sling is the one her baby likes best. It has taken her a few weeks, and several "lessons" with me, but she is finally getting the hang of it. IMO, the time put into learning how to use this sling really pays off.

But a carrier like the Moby still can't be beat for distributing the weight evenly. I imagine I'll use my ring sling until babe gets heavy enough to start bothering my back, and then I'll go with a wrap more.

[snazzy_mom]

I still use my moby wrap. It has been the easiest, most transitional carrier that I have tried. I can face him out, I can face him in, I can lay him down.

I love it.

[Galatea]

My favorite is a ring sling, but now I have a messed-up neck, so I guess I will be using my Ergo as soon as it is safe. I have an Ellaroo wrap, but I find it to be a pain in the butt and only good for long walks. I have a bunch of pouches, but don't like those as much as ring slings.

[cyrusmama]

I had a ring sling with ds and he loved it. As he got bigger, I switched to a Mei Tai and he never liked it. I also have an Ellaroo wrap and will probably try it with the new babe. (Ds also didn't like it). I really would like to try a hotsling this time and maybe a moby too. The hotsling is sized up to fit a size 26-28 taller mama so, I think it may be our new favorite carrier.

[Mama*Moon]

I'm am plus-sized with humungo boobs (What an intro!) With DD she pretty much lived in a HotSling and then later a Peanut Shell (both pouches). Mei Tei's never really worked for us - she didn't like them and I just plain looked silly wearing one!

-MM

[KatWrangler]

Taking notes here!

[Vermillion]

Originally Posted by KatWrangler

Taking notes here!

Same.

I didn't sling DS when he was a baby, I just carried him everywhere until he was 3 and half... My back can't take that again and with two 5 year old boys (well 6 by then) to chase around, a sling is going to be an absolute necessity

[alegna]

Originally Posted by tschecter

I have heard of people doing that, but most makers of Mei Teis will reccommend that you not... because the baby is so small yet an cannot comtrol head well, there is a much higher risk of injury. I am sure that your friend is doing as she feels best for her child, but I would not try a mei tei with a newborn.

That said, I have heard of people stuffing blankets in under and around a newborn to make them fit, but I would worry there about overheating...

As long as the MT has a big body (I love our Kozy) it should be fine. They're more supported than in many slings.

-Angela

[forestrymom]

I don't consider myself plus-sized but some might. I love my RS and my mei tai. I would carry a newborn in either, and the MT is wonderful for my toddler! I still use the RS for quick trips in and out of someplace. If the straps are long enough on the MT you can wrap it just right to make sure a newborn can't fall out. Its a comfort level, and the mor you use it, the more comfy you will be with different carries, etc!

[heatherRN]

Which ring slings do you ladies use? I used my fleece hotsling a lot for my first and then my MT and now my Beco. But, my dh is a big guy and could not use my pouch (he used a bjorn) and my ds loved being in a sling. I would love to get a sling we can both use! I tried an adjustable sling and it didn't work our sizes are just too different.