Babywearers...

[AGlimmeringHope]

how's it going? What carriers are you loving? Which ones could you do without? What about your LO- do they have a favorite carrier or position to be carried in?

We have a hotsling (non-stretch cotton), a ring sling, and a babyhawk. Reese and I will tolerate the hotsling, but without the stretch it's a bit too small and makes my shoulder hurt after a very short period of wearing her. The ring sling had been neglected, but I reluctantly took it out today for FIL's funeral (I didn't feel my BH pattern was in the best taste for his funeral). I re-threaded it and it worked perfect! I loved it, dd loved it, and I found it as easy and comfortable as the stretch cotton RS I had with dd1. Turns out I just didn't have it threaded through the rings properly before, which made adjusting it a pita.

Our favorite carrier by far, however, is the babyhawk. It is VERY comfortable. My traps get tight and sore easily, so the weight distribution rocks. We actually fell asleep with her in it on the couch last night. I'm going to try to get the hang of the newborn back carry so I can wear her while doing laundry, cooking, etc. I've even nursed in it easily by lowering the body of the MT to boob level.

The only position we've ever used is tummy-to-tummy in the RS and the BH and the cradle hold in the hotsling (it's the only way she'll fit in it!) and once in the RS. Tummy-to-tummy is how dd1 loved to be carried as well. And bonus points for that position because nursing in it means not as much spitting up!

[YummyYumYumMama]

moby = love, but can't figure out nursing. maybe when she's a bit bigger.

ergo is ok but will be better w/o infant insert i think. she already has awesome head control (i worked w/babies for a while and hers at 2 wks was better than many 8-10 wk olds i knew) so i hope we wont need it much longer. cant nurse in ergo eeither. alas.

[Code Name Mama]

(sigh) I'm not in love with either of my carriers.
We use the Moby the most - but it gets hot and steamy in there, I can't imagine what it would be like in the summer! We only do tummy to tummy, I can't get Kieran into the cradle hold to save my life.
We also have a ring sling, but we haven't gotten the hang of it AT ALL. I've had him tummy to tummy in the ring sling, but I still have to put a hand behind him so he's stable.
I wish there were a way to try out different carriers for a few days before buying!

[Tiny_Dancer]

We love our peanut shell all day long. I've used the moby a bit too but am lazy and don't like to take the time to "assemble" it. Haven't tried nursing in either yet. I have the new native sling also but haven't used it very much. So far, the peanut shell (not stretchy) is the easiest.

I would LOVE to have a BH Mai tei eventually. I'm too embarrassed to ask DH for one so soon after Christmas! :

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

We have the moby which he likes but I don't feel like I can get it tight enough. I have a new native and I have used that the most. I REALLY want a BH and think I'm going to get one in a month or so. And I also have a hotsling but haven't tried that yet same with my ergo.

[blue_salsify]

couldn't live w/o beloved babywearing, but i have to admit- my back is sore!

BabyHawk XT mei tai - just tried it today and surprisingly LOVE it (had only carried 2mo+ before). DD is very strong and forcefully leans her head back, w/ the BH it keeps her supported but not smothered. planning to try the high back carry once i'm not so worried about her rapid breathing problem.

ring sling (Didymos & Kalea Baby linen) - use it everyday, mostly tummy-to-tummy, i never feel great about her breathing in cradle carry, she snores more. i'm now getting more used to how to fin-tune the adjustment, there really are so many nuances to positioning in a RS.

pouch (New Native & Hotsling) - the don't fit right, in search of a used HS size 3.

home-made Baby K'Tan rip-off (like 2 pouches worn like an 'X') - like it, but need to make it smaller, nice 2-shoulder comfort and pretty fast.

Ellaroo wrap - only used a couple times so far, comfy but slow, good security

[AGlimmeringHope]

Originally Posted by blue_salsify

pouch (New Native & Hotsling) - the don't fit right, in search of a used HS size 3.

mine is the old sizing, and it's a small. I was told that translates to a 2/3 in the new sizing. if you think the size would work for you, i'd be happy to get you pictures of it...I don't see us using it again. I'm really more of a fleece pouch sort of girl

[YummyYumYumMama]

Originally Posted by AGlimmeringHope

mine is the old sizing, and it's a small. I was told that translates to a 2/3 in the new sizing. if you think the size would work for you, i'd be happy to get you pictures of it...I don't see us using it again. I'm really more of a fleece pouch sort of girl

[VickV]

My Gypsy Mama wrap is my favorite - I can get a nice, snug, upright carry that Olivia loves, and walk forever with her in it.

My Sweet Slings pouch has gotten a bit of use, too, I just don't like how smooshed up Olivia gets in there. With her gas and reflux, I much prefer more upright positioning for her, and so does she.

The BH MT works, but she seems to prefer the little more restrictive hold of the wrap. I think the MT will be our favorite when things warm up, tho.

I also have a Solarveil RS that should be nice when she has neck/head/back strength and we can do more of an upright carry in it, as well. Right now, she's even more smooshed in there than she is in the pouch.

[LaLibertad]

Originally Posted by Momma2DoubleCuties

We have the moby which he likes but I don't feel like I can get it tight enough.

This is my problem with the Moby. I never feel like it is tight enough around my waist. I keep practicing and try to get him into it every day to see if one day it will just click.

I got him in a newborn vertical hold in the Maya Wrap and he enjoyed it for a while. We may attempt a WALK..OUTSIDE today.

[DucetteMama21842]

My Babyhawk Mei Tai!!!!!!!!


I was surprised at how easy it was to get on all by myself! And I love having her so close in it, but with enough room for her that she doesn't feel squished and I have to keep check her room to breathe (which I was previously worried about). Love the feeling and it doesn't hurt my back. I actually get loads of dishes done while she sleeps in it.
Again..

[wholewheatmama]

Love the Moby wrap! Iris loves it too. But it is a pain to put on. I usually put it on and leave it on when I am going to use it. Have only done the newborn hug hold so far. I agree it gets hot in there for her, so I can't imagine using it in the summer.

We hated the ring sling and the pouch for cradle holds. She would only tolerate it if she was totally conked out before being put in it. I'm experimenting with tummy to tummy holds, which she tolerates better. The slings are more poppable than the wrap, so that's a plus. I think I need to rethreat my RS too because I'm having trouble adjusting it. It was a hand me down, so I haven't had much chance to play with it yet...maybe I'll love it when I can adjust it more easily. Gotta say, though, these do hurt my back after wearing her for a while. Love the weight distribution of the wrap.

Haven't been successful nursing in anything yet. Gotta practice that more.

I really want a MT. Do I need a BH or can I go with a knock off (read=cheaper) brand?

[VickV]

Lynn, a cheaper brand will likely work just as well - BH are awesome for their fabric and resale, but as long as the basic components are the same (especially padded straps, IMO) you should be fine with a cheaper one.

Or you could check out thebabywearer.com FSOT forum and look for a used BH, or look on the Trading Post here at MDC

[Code Name Mama]

Originally Posted by wholewheatmama

Do I need a BH or can I go with a knock off (read=cheaper) brand?

i second that question.

for mamas comfortable w/ring slings, i'd love to see pics of how your babes are laying in them. i feel like kieran is just stuffed in there and is not comfy!

[VickV]

Here are the MT reviews at TBW - might help in finding a well-recommended BH alternative: http://www.thebabywearer.com/cgi-bin...ews.pl?meitais

[mama2rey]

I don't know how you can have a newborn and not babywear. My DS does not like-AKA REFUSES to be put down. What has saved us is the Moby. I wear him around the house and he sleeps peacefully in there. The only hold I know is the newborn hug hold. I have not mastered nursing with it yet-since I have barely mastered nursing-and since I use an at breast supplementer it's a bit of a challenge.

I have an ergo and a couple of slings-the sling scares me-though I may need it for a funeral in a couple of days as it's black....

[*MamaJen*]

It sort of surprises me, but we've been using the New Native pouch sling the most. We're starting to venture out of the house, and it seems the easiest for travel--no tying or positioning. His back seems really curved when he's in it though, with his chin pushed down, and I start getting scary thoughts about positional asphyxia and I wind up propping up his back with my hand. I know you can buy a pillow for it. I tried the folded up blanket under his back but it didn't quite work. He loves the sling though and he falls asleep like a light when he's in it.
We've been using the moby around the house and that's working out nicely. I haven't even tried the Zolo or the Babyhawk yet, but I think I'm pulling out the Zolo today.

[kittywitty]

I use the moby when I use one, but I've only been out of the house twice, and just held her most of that time.

[Belleweather]

I love my moby, but I don't think it's going to be the go-to carrier for going out of the house, which is what I bought it for. Unless we're going somewhere that I'm going to be wearing the baby for a while (without having to go outside or get back into the car) it just seems like it's more trouble than it's worth to get it on and get him set up in it. And I can't nurse in the dang thing to save my life.

DH is rocking the KKAFP, again, but I'm not loving mine as much. I had to size down to a medium, where as last time we could both use the same carrier which was a big part of the love.

I think I'll dig out my ring sling and rethread it and see if that works. Otherwise, I'll have to find the red silk Mei tai I've been working on sewing for over a year and finish it up. I didn't think I'd be into the Mei Tai with a new baby, but since everyone else is perhaps I'll bow to peer pressure.

[minsca]

I use the hotsling the most... in fact I bought another one yesterday. The first one I had is fleece and so comfortable and soft for the winter one. But bulky and I wanted a sling that I could put in the diaper bag in case I ever forget the sling at home (which of course has never happened before ) I also have a moby wrap which I used for Sofie, I had lost it but found it last week. I tried three different positions in it with Avye, and I like all of them. The only thing is I don't like the hassle of putting it on. The sling is a lot easier that way.