What Is Your Favorite Baby Carrier?

Hi C.,

We used the Beco with our son, which is similar to the ergo. Features we liked: very adjustable between my 6' husband and my 5' self, so we could both use the carrier; completely hands-free usage; now has improved safety features for loading baby in, which can be tricky in any front/backpack type carrier and you can choose from a variety of colorful panels. All pluses. The beco can used front or back as well.

I did like the baby bjorn for when my son was teeny little; we moved him to the beco at about 3 months or so for my husband, who used a special pad they sell for wee ones to make sure they stay snug in the pack. Even husband, unused to packs and such, could use this on his own successfully, so I'd also include "guy-friendly" in the description.

I used the Bjorns a lot in my nanny work and found that they were great up to a point--usually about 6 months or so, depending on the size/weight of your child. Friends and I have compared and we didn't notice a pronounced difference in comfort between the Lumbar support model and the standard bjorn.

Happy third upcoming "birth day" to you, too, by the way!

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I prefer my Beco Butterfly, although I'll confess I've never used a Moby Wrap but I've heard great things. The Beco is a soft-sided carrier like an Ergo, but fit me better and is a lot lighter weight (plus, cuter patterns and you can use it with tiny babies because it comes with an infant insert). Like an Ergo, it can be used on your front or your back, but it has a built-in sling for the baby that I think makes it a lot easier to put on and take off. Check out this site: http://www.frogmama.com/ She sells a LOT of different kinds of carriers and does a great job of comparing them on her site to help you decide what's right for you. She also has a fantastic return policy, which allows you to try out different carriers and then return them if you don't like them. Good luck finding a great carrier.

EDIT: Oh, also, check out Frogmama's clearance section. If you are set on the Ergo, she has one on clearance right now, as well as several other wraps, etc.

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I have three kids and have used them all! If you can afford it, it is nice to have more than one type because each has pros and cons and I find myself using different ones in different situations. Loved the moby wrap when the baby was smaller and did a lot of computer work. Agreed that it is more secure than the sling and more comfortable on the back, but cons are that it is much more bulky to store/carry, time consuming to put on, and tended to be hot (even here in the PNW). The ergo is great and I still use it with my toddler, but not as good with a tiny babe. Great for walks outdoors etc. I still love a good old ring sling for the ease of throwing it in a bag, quick to slip on and it's versatility. But definitely a pain in the neck/back if worn too long especially with a bigger child.

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My absolute fave was the Moby wrap. I loved that I could tuck my little guy in and keep him secure without worrying about that security. I used it with my dd when she was 5 mo.-2yrs. At 5 mo. we took our dd to Paris and since it wasn't stroller friendly, I used the Moby. I went on walking tours with cards and we were out and about all day. I could nurse, she could nap, or see Paris if awake. I tucked a blanket around one of the loops to keep her legs warm (fall at the time) and she was happy as a clam. We even got stopped to have our picture taken...

I liked that I could put the wrap on and leave it on all day. This allowed me to be able to whatever I needed and just slip baby in and out as needed. The first 2-3 times is a little cumbersome, but once you get the hang of it, it is a breeze. I got it right before going on our trip and it took little time to get used to it.

I tried the sling, but it hurt my shoulder and once my dd was about a year (size of a 6 mo. old) I was done with that.

I have an Ergo and like it a lot, but have only used it for my ds as a toddler when the Moby would start stretching a little too much and I was constantly tightening it.

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I was a big fan of the sling with my daughter, but my son was 9.14 at birth, so he was a big boy. I used a moby and sling for a while, then a thicker wrap, and now I've been using a Beco. I bought the Beco when I had my daughter but didn't use it much. I also have a Mei tai without straps. Love both of them.

But the Beco is great for when we are outside or shopping, etc. Super comfy!

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I love my moby wrap for my babies and toddlers. It provides a ton of positions and flexibility in size. I only have to carry one carrrier and my husband and I can both use it. It evenly distributes their weight across my back taking away back pain which I constantly suffer from using all other types of carriers. The hard part with the Moby or other wraps is the length. It does require a bit of planning in poor weather. I wear a light t-shirt, put it on and then throw on a sweater or coat so I don't overheat. Then I can take baby out of carseat and pop him/her in the wrap in seconds and run inside wherever I am going. I have nursed my baby in a Moby while grocery shopping and no one knew it. I have used it as a blanket, nursing cover, changing pads, etc, etc while travelling and so much more. The best part is it is like a 5 point harness around your child. You can literally bend over without holding your baby and there is no way they can fall out! I have cleaned house, my husband has picked up yard debris, pruned shrubs, picked up dog poop in the yard, etc all while wearing our children. It's a life saver when it comes to having life continue. I love that I can be nursing my child and go to the bathroom, wash my hands, prepare food, fold laundry, etc, etc. All while meeting their security needs. Now I have to figure out how to make my older children less independent as they are a little too self-secure for me now. LOL!

Hi C.,

I'm glad you asked this question...I've been meaning to post something similar as I prepare for my 2nd!

I used a Moby wrap with my 1st and LOVED it for wearing around the house. My daughter was 5 weeks early, and the hospital staff recommended skin-to-skin and kangaroo care for her early on, so she was used to it from the beginning. I always felt like she was secure, even her head, unless I was leaning forward. When she was bigger, we used it a lot before until she was about 8 or 9 months old. After that, she was mobile and was less content to be up with me rather than down exploring, and her growing arms made it easy for her to put her hands in what I was doing.

My big complaint with the Moby was using it to run errands. The long tails drag on the ground when I wrap it on myself, so they'd fall into puddles and grime in parking lots. For single-stop trips, I wrapped it before I left home, and that worked OK. It stretches a bit after taking baby out, though, so it needed to be retied if I wanted to put her back in. That left me back where I'd started.

The Moby has a lot of versatility. I didn't really try to nurse in it, so I can't speak to the ease of that. The instruction booklet does give tips, though.

I did try my sister's Baby Bjorn, and I hated that it put all of baby's weight between my shoulder blades. Someone gave me a sling (I think one of the recalled Infantino ones), and I never felt like my daughter was secure.

I'm curious to read your responses. I'd like to find a 2nd carrier that will be much easier to put on, especially for outings!

I have both the moby and the ergo. The Ergo, in my opinion, is the better investment. Not easy to keep the baby in for nursing, but great for long walks (we took out 5 mo. old to Israel and walked EVERYWHERE...no problem), hands free is no problem...there is a baby insert that is great as well...I used the moby first, but it wasn't great for long periods of time standing (for me), and once my daughter got bigger, it was harder to support her in it.

I love the Ergo. It doesn't hurt my back at all, and I love that I can eventually wear my daughter on my back- which will be nice as she gets taller.

I bought a bjorn initially bc of all the hype and "status" associated with them. I hated it. I hardly ever used it because it hurt my back and shoulders and I didn't feel good about having all my daughter's weight centered between her legs. Bjorn has a new "ergo" version, but you can't wear it on your back from what I understand.

I had my third child in November and also have a 4 and 2 year old so I completely understand the need for hands free. I got an Ergo this time around and am so so happy with it. It's really easy to use and can be used pretty early on (3 months, with the infant insert) and will last into toddler age. I had a Moby with my second child and it was such a pain to put on when I was in a hurry and needed to chase down my then 2 year old. It seemed like when I would get it on right it was either to tight or to loose and I'd have to put it on again! The Ergo is expensive but so worth the it, especially with a third child and hopefully you have everything else already so you don't have to spend money on other stuff.

Good luck.

the moby will likely be the bets bang for your buck as it is very versitlie and useful from birth on up. i find it is actually the most hands free of any carrier (once the baby falls asleep). the trick is to wear it all day and not hassle with it by taking it on and off. also find someone who uses one already and ask then to give you a tutorial.

i am also an ergo fan but it is more expensive, baby can only face inward, and i don't like the infant insert as much as a sling, so it doesn't work till they are 4 mo. or so.

I have used them all - and they are all good. My one of choice now is my mei tai. I prefer it to my ergo because it is less bulky (for the summertime) and easier to transport. Its surprisingly easy to put on after you've done it a few times.

I have a newer Bjorn and it has a great option to unlatch one area so you can breastfeed your child while using it. But I borrowed my friends Ergo once and I fell in love. It was so comfy for me and my daughter seemed so much more comfortable in it.

When we have our next baby I'll be buying an Ergo.

I loved the Moby/SleepyWrap/BabyBundler type wraps for newborn-5 months (or approaching 20 lbs). After about 20 lbs, I thought the Ergo was awesome, especially because I could wear it on my back (and get my child in it on my back all by myself.)

I love my Ergo and so does my Daughter, but it is for bigger babies or you can buy the infant insert but also I don't think they recomend useing it till baby is 8lbs, the Moby is perfect for when they are liltle and need to be more secure, and depending on how lond you want to use your carrier that could be perfect for you about 12-14 months and the babies weight and movablity start to hamper the moby, my 3yr old loves the Ergo, the only thing I wish I could do with it is turn her out when she's on my front.

Ergo is by far the best I've tried and I've tried all of those you mentioned.

We had a second-hand Bjorn, a pocket sling, and a Moby. My DH occasionally used the Bjorn because (in his mind) it was simpler to use than the other carriers. I used the pocket sling very early on with DD and it was great for those growth-spurt periods when she nursed _endlessly_ -- I could get her in there and she was able to nurse while I had my hands free to use the computer, walk around shops or town, or (sort of, one-handed) push around a stroller, if we were out and about.

I used the Moby the most, but when DD was teeny she wasn't a big fan of being shoved in there (you have to tie it on you first, then slide the baby in one limb at a time). I also found it awkward to get her out if she fell asleep in there, and I often didn't want to let her sleep in there because I was HOT from (usually) walking around with her in there and I needed a break. It also got very little use early on because DD was born at the beginning of the summer and it was just too hot to have that many layers of stuff. Hence why we bought the pocket sling. When she was a bit older, I used it a lot when I helped out a friend for our weekly babysitting trade - -her daughter, the exact same age, would ride in the stroller and I'd put DD in the Moby and we'd be off walking around town. The Moby did feel really secure, though, and it was the most versatile of all of the options. We last used it when DD was 18 months and she wanted to be carried around London when we were visiting there -- so we did the back carry with her for a bit. But she wasn't really used to it, and so we didn't use it a lot that way. I'm sure if we'd used it more frequently it would have been even more helpful that trip, and we probably could have used it a bit longer.

I borrowed a ring sling on occasion when DD was going through a horrible period for a couple months of teething and needing to be constantly held and rocked to sleep (4-7 months or so). But she hated being squished to be put into the pocket sling or Moby. The ring sling made it easy to get her in and comfy without squishing her too much. Consequently, since I'm expecting baby #2 this fall, I'm making my own ring sling to add to our complement of carriers. :)

All this to say, I guess, some babies will be happier in some carriers than others, and some babies won't care as long as they're close to you. So be prepared to try different things, borrow things from friends, if something doesn't work for you.

I have used and liked:
Infantino sling (but has since been recalled, and, in retrospect, I wouldn't use that style again)

Sleepy Wrap (just like the Moby Wrap) -- my favorite as far as comfort, but definitely works better in cooler months so you don't sweat. I mostly used it around the house, as it takes a bit of effort to tie it on the go. In cooler months it is great for going to the park, as when my son got tired of being in his stroller I could just pop him into my wrap (which I had already put on before leaving home.) I also loved it for grocery shopping, but would be sure to put it on at home so I didn't have to fumble with it in the parking lot.

Kelty Kids front pack - great for taking kids on a walk, to the zoo, or grocery shopping. Easy on/off.

I have also used an Infantino front pack but I have never been confident of its support level, so I find myself still carrying the baby anyways, since I'm hesitant to let go.

ergo! I still can comfortably carry my 3 year old in it!

I would definitely go with the Ergo. It's a bit spendy but totally worth it!! I have three, also, and I can still put my 4yo in it and be comfortable. :)

I love using wraps. They are by far my favorite and most versitile carrier. I have then in several different styles. With longer ones I can do a front carry that I can easily nurse in or a back carry for when I need to get thing done. With shorter ones I can tie them in a one shoulder carry so that it is easy to get the baby in and out. I can also do simple back carriers in the shorter wraps as well. I would suggest looking into a woven wrap instead of a stretchy one like the Moby. It has a much higher weight range and will be more secure. They make them in linen blends for use in the summer so that you don't get to warm. If you are interested in learning a lot more about all the different carriers our there I would suggest visiting www.thebabywearer.com.

I have used a sling, and other front carriers, and now I have an Ergo. GO with an Ergo, you will not regret it!!!

If you can only have one carrier, I highly recommend the ergo since it's longer lasting than the moby and also easier to get on quickly when your older kids are anxious to get out of the car! If you can afford both (you can find them used) then both are really nice. Newborns tend to love the moby since it keeps them so snuggly and there are no hard parts.

Get an ergo! It's not cheap, but it will save your back!

I absolutely love my ergo! Because of its design, it works like a backpacking backpack. The waistbelt carries most of the weight of your baby with the shoulder straps just keeping him/her close to your body. I have issues with my pelvis being hypermobile, so I can end up with a lot of pain if I'm not careful - but this hasn't ever been the case with the ergo!

Good luck choosing the right carrier for you :)

Mei Tai carriers!!! Like the Kozy or the Babyhawk. Or a woven wrap like a Didymos or Girasol.

Even distribution of weight and very very sturdy. Can be used from birth until you can't carry your child anymore!

I used a front carrier for the most part, then when my daughter got too big for it, I used a Playtex Hip Hammock, which was very nice.