I would love to hear what kind of baby carriers other moms have used and which ones seem to be the easiest and most comfortable to wear. With my first son, I tried to use the Baby Bjorn I received as a gift, but he never quite seemed to fit into it comfortably. I also tried the Hip Hammock which gave me a bad back and neckache and a sling that I just couldn't figure out how to use without almost dropping the baby. Any advice you can give me is greatly appreciated! I have a toddler and will need a carrier that is versatile, easy to use, and comfortable for both me and the new baby. Thank you!
After trying out a bunch of different carriers at a local babywearing meeting and hearing advice from various moms, I decided to buy the "Baby Trekker" from Canada. It is the absolute best one for me and my little guy. I have worn him for 3-4 hours before, with no pain for either of us. Thank you all for your advice!
S.,
Do you have any back problems? I loved my Maya wrap and have used if for 6 years. (Two girls). My 3 year old will occasionally want in if she is feeling sick or extra snuggly. They are also great for plane travel. The reason I asked about back problems is that so many moms need to get the carrier to really fit them. I loved how the Maya wrap grew or shrank depending on position and age.
Good Luck.
K.
I have four baby carriers; Baby Bjorn, Moby Wrap, Ergo Carrier and the Koala Carrier.
For newborns I like the Koala Carrier, it's fleece and comfy and easy to use. My son is one now and we LOVE the Moby Wrap. He is in it daily and loves to sleep or just hang out in it.
Moby wrap. It was the only carrier I found that caused NO pain! It is also REALLY easy to use. It also has a lot of ways to wear it as the child grows. They also aren't that expensive, around $40.
I used the Ultimate-Baby-Wrap. I loved it! It's super comfortable, totally ergonomic and compact. :)
my recommendation would be for you to join the Seattle Area Babywearing Network, and go to a meeting. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/seattleareababywearingnetwo... This would be a great, and free, opportunity for you to try many kinds of babycarriers and figure out which you like best. Babycarriers are like shoes or jeans, just because *I* love one kind doesn't mean YOU will. ;-) And actually, I love different kinds for different reasons/uses. LMAO!
Kozy carriers are one of my all-time favorites, Hotslings are great... if you'd like to support some local NW mammas, the Silly Goose MeiTai [http://sillygoosebaby.com/] and the Dream Carriers BuckleTai (a type of structured carrier)[http://dreamcarriers.com/] are the two that I rely on lately for my 3 1/2yo, 35+lb son. I occasionally use a wrap too but my toddler doesn't usually have the patience for it.
Hope that helps and please let me know if you have other questions. I'm in Portland, so I'm not a member of the group above, but I do know some of the moms who are members and they're very nice and helpful.
I loved my Moby wrap. Looks a little complex at first but it is really very easy. No pressure on your back and shoulders and is the safest for an infants immature spine. I used othe packs with my daughter and non were even close to as nice as the moby!! You can buy them online at Mobywrap.com. Well worth the cost!!! I took my 3 month old to Disneyworld for 9 days and it was so nice to be able to change the carrier to different positions depending on whether he was asleep, awake or nursing!!
I used the Baby Bjorn active when my son was small and switched to the Ergo when he was older. He's a big boy so got heavy very quickly. The great thing about the Ergo is that you can use it as a back carrier too. It's tricky to learn how to get them in at first but is WONDERFUL as they get older and heavier. They also sell an infant insert but I didn't try that since I got it when he was a bit older. A friend of mine swears by her Moby wrap.
You can get the Ergo at Me'n'Moms in Ballard or online. I think they have a money back trial online (or at least they did when I bought it).
http://www.mayawrap.com/
I loved my maya wrap. You can use it from newborn to 35 pounds. It is very versitile, and easy to use. I was always very comfortable and was able to nurse almost hands-free.
I used a Hot Sling when my son was a newborn, then moved on to the Bjorn. Now he is 16 lbs., so we graduated to the Ergo. The Bjorn put too much pressure on my shoulders. The Ergo distributes his weight around my waist, which is much more comfortable.
I love my Hot Sling. It's easy to use and versatile. I've used it with my 1 year old ever since she was born. She loves it too. When she was really little, I used to carry her in the sling where she was completely covered. When she turned about 4 months, I carried her in the front with head sticking out. Since she was about 8 months I carry her on my hip. When she turns about 2 I plan to carry her on my back using the sling. I think you can check out their website at www.hotsling.com - I forgot to mention that they come in super cute and trendy fabrics. Good luck.
When my daughter was first born we used a ring sling from Birth and Beyond which was great until she got bigger, then we tried the Baby Bjorn Active and it just wasn't very comfortable and gave me back and neck pain. Finally we have ended up with our beloved, versatile Kozy Carrier. http://kozycarrier.homestead.com/ We used it as a front carrier first and now my daughter is almost 9 months (18 + pounds or so) and she rides happily on my back and I am comfortable. Even if I bring a stroller for an outing I still bring the Kozy too because that is where she's happiest. Check out the website, you'll probably love it!
For a newborn I would recommend a Moby Wrap. For a older baby-toddler I would recommend a Ergo or Beco (we have both) http://www.becobabycarrier.com/. Between these two carriers you should be happy. Slings are nice for quick in and out but they don't distribute the baby's weight evenly on your body. I like carriers like Moby's and Ergo's because they don't hurt your back.
I used the Hug-A-Bub with my second and LOVED it. You can use it as a front carrier when they are newborns, and then as a back carrier as they grow. They baby can face inward (toward you) or outward (facing the world). My son loved it and I wore it all of the time. It was a bit of a struggle to put it on in the beginning, but once I got the hang of it, I could slap that thing on and him in it in no time. Their website is http://www.hugabub.com/, but I bought mine on ebay for less, and it worked great!
I tried cheaper versions with my first child and found that the baby bjorn active is the best carrier. I'm so glad I spent the money with my second and bought this carrier. I have a small child and she was able to ride in it pretty early on and she is still riding in it at 14 months. I highly reccomend this carrier.
