Sling/carrier

Ergo
http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/

Beco Butterfly
http://www.becobabycarrier.com/

Mei Tai
http://www.meitaibaby.com/

Occasionally you can find a good deal on these carrier or you can also find them used, but typically they are pretty spendy.
If you can find a friend, store or local baby wearing circle that has any of these carriers to try them on before you buy.
Here is another good link for you.
http://www.thebabywearer.com/

And a Happy Mother's Day to you too!!

mei tai. i've tried lots of them and it's my favorite by far! it works for my 40 pound three year old and my 14 lb baby!! so it'll last... i found a pattern online and made my own... if you have any sewing skills it's not too complicated. just a rectangle with long straps, basically.

pikkolo from quirkybaby.com. I loved the customer service and the carrier, you will see is the MOST versatile. You can carry in all positions and even has an adjustment for carrying younger babies face out with a crotch narrowing device. Love love love it. I'm surprised more moms don't know about it!

I have a "buckle" tai...a mei tai that buckles instead of tying. It is called a Calyx...www.mamabydesign.com. I loved all the fabric choices she had. I believe it had a 35-40 lbs. weight limit. I still use it occasionally with my three year old to get her through the airport while sleeping. It has been invaluable for at least two years.

Ergo baby carrier - LOVED it - used it in NYC (was able to nurse my son while walking down the street in Soho). It carries up to and beyond 40 lbs, so you can definitely use it for a while. You can carry front or back, and it's very easy to put on by yourself. I think you can find it easily by googling ergo baby carrier. Enjoy!

I have a Baby Bjorn brand carrier and it's wonderful! I have a 3 month old right now and she loves the carrier, especially whenever we go grocery shopping. It's very comfortable for her (very padded) and for me as well. It carriers her in the front. Before your baby can support his/her neck well, you have the baby face you and it provides good head support. She used to fall asleep in it all the time. Plus, now that she's bigger and able to support herself better, she enjoys facing out. The front (which was for head support) folds down so she can face out and look around. I think it was about $79 at Babies R Us. I got it as a gift, and LOVE it!

I LOVE my Beco Butterfly! I tried out the Ergo, the Baby Hawk Oh Snap! and a Mei Tai, all of which are also toddler-carriers, and the Beco was by far my favorite carrier. Each one fits slightly differently (especially depending on your body type) and has different great features, which makes it difficult for me to say which one you will prefer.

I highly recommend http://www.thebabywearer.org and http://www.frogmama.com/ Both are sites about baby-wearing, and both have great comparisons of different carriers. TheBabyWearer is a forum where mothers discuss different carriers, ask advice about them (much like this site) etc. You do have to sign up with an email address, but they don't spam you or sell your information. FrogMama is a mom in California who sells these products (at the same rate you can find them elsewhere, no added costs), but she's very helpful (she even has videos comparing different carriers) and (this was my favorite part) she has a fantastic return policy, so if you want to try a couple carriers out and then return those that don't work for you, you can! This makes it a lot easier for those of us who don't live near shops that sell these carriers. Please check out the sites to make sure that you get the carrier that is best for you.

Ergo Baby Carrier - the absolute best carrier you will ever find. Works as a front or back carrier and holds up to 40lbs of kiddo. My son is 27months and I still use it for him when I don't feel like lugging a stroller.

Updated

Ergo Baby Carrier - the absolute best carrier you will ever find. Works as a front or back carrier and holds up to 40lbs of kiddo. My son is 27months and I still use it for him when I don't feel like lugging a stroller.

The Ergo is good up to 90 lbs and parents love it. bigbluetrunk is currently offering a giveaway for one.
http://www.bigbluetrunk.com/editorblog/776

I love my HugAMonkey! I started using mine when my daughter was about 11 months and it can hold up to 35? lbs. It's one piece, washable cotton and easy to put on. My daughter loves it and so do I!