Baby Carrier Recommendations? - Vancouver,WA

I had my third child last March and like you wanted something comfy and easy to use. I went with the Beco Butterfly 2 (BB2) and I'm so glad I did. I love it!!! Before purchasing it, I went to Buy Buy Baby and tried on the Ergo. It gets amazing reviews so I'm sure it's wonderful, but personally I felt it was a little bulky and not all that comfortable. Also, it does not come with the infant insert. You'd have to buy that separately or wait until your baby is older to begin using it. I bought the BB2 without ever seeing it but had read a lot of reviews on it. It comes with the infant insert and a short video showing how to put on/take off the carrier. I have to admit that initially I didn't think it was very easy to use because I was used to my old Baby Bjorn but my son is 10 months old now and my BB2 is like second nature to me. I use it for everything. Just so you know, the BB2 does not allow for forward facing. Only the Gemini does. Good luck with your decision!

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I have the Boba and LOVE IT. It is super comfortable -- you hardly feel the weight of your child, even toddlers. It doesn't do forward facing -- Experts don't recommend the forward facing carry because it isn't physiologically good for your baby. But you can use the Boba as a backpack-style carrier as well if you want your older child to see what's going on.

When my son was an infant I made my own Moby-style wrap with 6 yards of cotton jersey material (like T-shirt material) cut in half longways. Once you get the hang of putting it on, it's really comfortable and my son loved being snuggled in there.

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I own the butterfly and the gemini. I've tried the Boba and the Ergo. I didn't like the Ergo in comparison to the butterfly. Not, that there was anything wrong with it, I just preferred the butterfly in a side by side comparison. I didn't like the Boba because it just didn't fit me well (I'm short and thin with large breasts). Between the butterfly and the gemini - I love the gemini, mainly for its versatility. (I did find it more comfortable to wear, too. I do not find it difficult to use and have always been able to do it myself - though I'm sure it looks like i'm doing some weird kind of infant acrobatics when i'm putting him on my back. My baby was 3-4 months when I started wearing him facing out and he fit in it just fine (and I have small babies). When baby was 4 months old, we went to Disney world and I wore him in the gemini the entire time. I never had any back or shoulder soreness.

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Hi there,
I have the Gemini. It is definitely a versatile carrier but be warned it is not super easy to put on or take off. Doing it one handed is next to impossible. It definitely will carry a big baby (my son is 1 and we still occasionally use it when we travel). I have carried him on my back with it and I did need help to put him in there (I'm sure with practice it gets easier). I have yet to use it as a hip carrier, although it does have that option as well. I did not live anywhere where I could try on all of the options before I bought the Gemini, but if you can, do it. I think a lot of the answers to questions like "how comfortable is it?" or "will my baby like it?" depend on the wearer's body. I was also concerned about the forward facing option, which is why I went with the Gemini in the end, but we rarely use forward facing any more. If we had had this carrier when he was smaller and actually enjoyed forward facing (we didn't purchase the Gemini until our son was almost 8 months), I think the front of the carrier would have covered most of his face, pretty much defeating the purpose of forward facing. He is not a short baby but the carrier is long. Now he is definitely tall enough but doesn't seem interested in forward facing. I hope that helps a bit. Good luck!

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I LOVE the Ergo - my son is 5 and I was still able to use it just a few months ago. I didn't have it till he was 4 months old, so I can't speak to the infant insert, but it's amazingly easy to use and very comfortable. I was able to nurse him while WALKING down the street in NYC. He fell asleep on my back when I was packing for a move. Awesome.

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We bought the baby Ktan. Its like a moby wrap but less fiddly. It boasts I think 7 or so different carrying positions, and can handle baby's from newborn to toddler sized. It didn't work well for us (our baby was too wriggly for that sort of thing), but it might work well for you.

Also, since its made of jersey material, its extremely soft, washable, and comfortable.

Good luck to you and yours,
Fanged Bunny

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We own the Beco Butterfly II and the Beco Gemini. I tried the Ergo, but it didn't fit me right (it felt bulky), and also, you have to buy a separate infant insert for new babies. I don't know what the options are for the various carriers because I found it uncomfortable, so didn't really investigate.

If you are new to back-carrying babies, the Beco Butterfly II is awesome, because it has an interior sling that makes back-carrying so much easier. If you are an old-pro, though, you may find that the sling eventually kind of gets in the way a bit, so that is something to consider. However, like the Ergo, it does not allow a forward-facing option (I don't know where you heard that it does - check out http://frogmama.com, she does a wonderful job comparing the two Beco carriers for you). It also will not do a hip-carry.

My favorite carrier is definitely the Beco Gemini, though. The crotch-portion of the carrier folds in or out depending on the carry and the size of your baby, so newborns fit snugly without having to do the splits. You can wear the straps like a backpack or crossed for whichever support you prefer, and it does in and out-facing as well as back- and hip-carry (and I DO find myself using the hip-carry more than expected now that my kids are older!)

Both Beco Carriers will hold up to 30 or 35 pounds (I can't remember which one), and I can verify that, because during the Taste of Cincinnati last year, my husband and I carried both our infant and our two-year-old on our backs. 30 lb is a heavy backpack, but we were still able to manage quite well. Both carriers are more comfortable than the Baby Bjorn (I also have two of those - I love carriers) and my kids loved them (unlike the Moby, which appealed to only one of my kids).

Hope this helps!

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Ditto what A.C. from Cinci, said.
The only one of those you mentioned that I have read negative things about IS the Ergo. I almost bought one and at the last minute decided to wait.
Glad I did.
I am also expecting #3 and I will be investing in a Gemini.
I was fortunate enough to try it out 2 summers ago for 2 weeks. I really liked it.
I actually find it easier to put on than the Baby Bjorn (which I do not recommend).
It is very similar to a backpack. Not complicated at all.
Only the Gemini allows forward facing.
I like the Boba too. The only thing that doesn't sell me on it is that is says it is good for the older child only.
HTH! Congrats!

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I got a WHAM-made mei tai & LOVED it. I still miss carrying my baby, but he got too big for me to carry at about 25# last summer (plus, of course, he didn't want to be carried very much anymore!).

1 mom found this helpful

I loved the Baby Bjorn (with the extra back support--it's worth every penny) for the first 6-7 months of my babies lives. For a small person, it even allows for nursing while carrying the baby and easy to get on and off. Loved the maya wraps, but found them hard to get on. The Ergo seems to work better for larger frame women and is great because it can carry baby backpack style up to toddler stage. I didn't have an Ergo, but LOVED Angel Pack for back and front baby wearing. I received Angel Pack from a friend when my third child was 10 months and I just recently returned it now that he's 2. Congrats on your growing family. Nurse Midwife Mom

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There's no getting around actually trying them yourself.... unless you're 5'7, b cup, about 135. (or a man). Despite that carriers are "for" women, they seem to fit men very easily, but not us!!!

Short, tall, very thin, rubenesque, long rise, short rise, and large breasted women just aren't going to work for all, or even most, carriers!

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I do not like face forward models as they do not protect a baby from the vibrations of others who see her/him face on. A small child needs protection from the emotional onslaught of others which is why a model that faces the mother is the best.
Congratulations. May you have an easy pregnancy.

I had two carriers. I used the Moby wrap for my newborn through 2 yrs (I have small kids), the Moby is good for up to about 20-25 lbs, then it seems too stretchy.

I was able to use my Ergo and Moby at the same time. Toddler on back in Ergo and infant cocooned in the Moby on the front. The Ergo will carry larger toddlers and smaller preschoolers, without a problem, as long as you can carry them....

The Moby is nice because it is like having another t-shirt on and it can be left on and still be comfortable. It saves with the hassle of removing for getting in and out of the car, etc. After a few times of practicing getting it wrapped and getting a doll (or baby) into it, it becomes very easy. I took my dd to Paris and used the Moby. We used walking tour cards and were out all day. She could watch, sleep, and nurse in it and I could enjoy all of the sights I wanted. She was 5 months and she never fussed. She actually seemed to enjoy the "ride." She was well rested because you can cover them up in it while they sleep and it kind of blocks out the world around for a bit. Plus, they get to snuggle up to you just like in the womb.