i saw a lot of recommendations for the ergo, which i love for my 6 month old, but it was not great when she was a newborn (the infant insert is a headache). I loked the moby then. it seems complicated, but you get the hang of it quickly. my best advice is to go to the pump station (hollywood or santa monica) and attend one of their sling clinics. you can see and try a bunch of different carriers, and make your choice. check out www.pumpstation.com. good luck!
After trying a sling and a Snugli, I settled on the mei tai style wrap and loved it! Admittedly, it can be a little confusing at first to put on, but once I got the hang of it, it was quick and easy and so comfortable! It really reduces any kind of back strain and they are very versatile so you can carry your baby (or even your toddler) in several different positions. My son would fall immediately asleep too, so I could get things done or shop in peace, etc. You can check them out at sweetislandbaby.com or meitaibaby.com. Good luck!
We used the bjorn and it worked well, but what I ended up loving was the Moby wrap (similar to the mai tai carrier.) As someone else said, it takes a little while to get used to putting it on, but after you get it, it is easy, super comfy and secure. My son and I both loved it! My husband even wore it sometimes (though most of the time, he was the bjorn user).
YES!!! The Baby Bjorn is the best carrier you'll ever invest in! I used it for 2 of my 3 children. I recently just gifted mine away...
It's very easy to put on, even for dad, and washes well. The baby is very snug & secure in it. I chased toddlers around in it with ease!
One thing to consider about the Baby Bjorn is that dads don't seem to mind using it too (some will wear slings but some would never...I'm sure you know which category yours falls into!) It's also very secure, lasts forever, and has the versatility of allowing the baby to face toward you or away. However, they aren't snuggling right up next to you like with a sling. If you don't want to pay full price, check sites like zwaggle.com (a kids gear swapping site), freecycle, or even eBay. I think all carriers, even the Bjorn, take some getting used to as far as getting on and off, but you get used to it.
YES! The Bjorn is the best one out there and I think they just keep getting better and better!
Good luck! and Congratulations!
Moby. The best baby carrier high and low is the Moby (www.mobywrap.com). Yes, it looks intimidating to put on and I was VERY sceptical at first. I watched the demo video twice, practiced a few times, and that made it really, really easy.
The Bjorn is okay, but when your baby gets older and heavier, the Moby can't be beat. I can carry my nearly-18-pound boy in it without getting a backache, which is more than I can say of the Bjorn!
I loved the Bjorn with my son, but note that I couldn't use it right away because he was too small. I don't remember exactly when he was big enough, maybe 2 months? I am expecting soon also, and plan to use a sling (I will try my HotSling) until he is big enough, so I can also chase after my toddler!
I have the Bjorn Baby Carrier Active. Once you set it to your body, it is fairly easy. 1. Slip your arms through. 2. Snap the bottom 3. Insert baby (great head support for newborns- (facing you) or fold down "bib" for older babies who want to see the world). 4. Insert the top pin.
I haven't used it a while, but that's basically the jist of it. My husband is 5'10" and a big muscley guy, so when he uses it, he has to loosen the straps, but then it's just a matter of retightening them once I put it back on. (Once you set the main "holder" for baby at the propper height for your baby's size, you only need to adjust that part once or twice as baby grows.) The best thing about it, in my opinion is the full back support and the padding on the strapps. All others I have seen have only straps and very thin ones at that. This one is Very comfy once you adjust it for you.
My baby was 10 days old when I got it. She's always loved it. I used it while cooking, doing housework, or just out walking. I really wanted to get the "Synergy", which from what I could tell is exactly the same as the "Active" but in a lighterweight, breatheable fabric. It wasn't yet in the American market when I bought mine. That was over 15 months ago, so it may be available now. I'm sure it also costs more than the "Active" which was one of the most expensive ones, but I found it to be oh so worth the $120 (??) I paid for it. My baby is now 16 months and so we don't use it as often, but I found out I'm pregnant again so the new baby will definitely be using it. I've even washed it a few times and it still looks great! (It's black so it does seem a bit duller.)
Anyway good luck to you in finding what makes the most sense to you.
I don't LOVE the Bjorn, but it is a good carrier for an infant. Once a baby hits about 15 pounds they seem to be too heavy. Anyway, my advice is to check Craigslist or a Children's Orchard and buy used. You can get them for under $20 and it's worth the savings!
I've tried so many baby carriers. The bjorn really was hard on my neck & shoulders as the babies got older, even though it's the carrier my husband prefers. The best one is the Ergo Baby Carrier....www.ergobabycarrier.com You can do anything with it on w/ baby in toe, and it's easy to put on & comfortable. It's a MUST! Congrats!
Hi
I have an awesome sling. I used one with my 4 th child and plan on using it again with my 5th due in 4 weeks. They are made especially for you with fabric you choose or she can get it for you if you let her know what you are looking for. Completely washable too. Her name is Kate Wilson-her email is [email protected]. Her phone #is 632-1301. Let her know you were referred by Darlene Young. If she has some made, she will usually send picts via email to you to choose.I think she charges $35. I totally got my money's worth! Chasing after other children from 7yrs-17 months. I used my sling for almost 1 year with my 4th.
Good luck.
My Dh and I hated our Baby Bjorn with our son. When he hit about 10 lbs., we would constantly get back aches from wearing him for more than 10 minutes.
Then we got the Maya Pouch. Loved it! I was able to carry my son around the mall for 2 hours at a time with no back pain. But my son grew out of it at about 8 months.
With my daughter I got the Maya Wrap with padding on the shoulder. I used that from the time she was about 3 weeks old to about 1 year old. It was easy to use, once I spent a few minutes figuring it out and how it fit best on me, and I had no back ache. I would carry her around in it for an hour or two while chasing down my 2 yo son at the mall.
You can check it out at www.mayawrap.com. And if you are handy at sewing, you can google the pattern and download it for free and make your own.
We used the Snugli and we got it at Target. It is the same concept as the Bjorn but we didn't have the finding for top of the line. As my husband said "it was the best $20 we ever spent"! It was a really great carrier and when we were done with it I sent it over to my girlfriend who just had a baby not too long ago. I didn't know what she already had 3 that she had gotten as gifts but I gave it to her anyway and she loves that one! She doesn't even use the other ones that she got.
~V
We have a bjorn. I don't know if it is the best, but my husband was still wearing it with my 18mo when he was a little over 20lbs. My son is almost 2 so he isn't in it anymore, but it was great for keeping him from running all over the stadium when we went to sporting events.
You have a lot of advice already, but let me put in my love for the Maya Wrap sling. It took a few tries to get the hang of it, but I was able to use it with my little and then not so little guy for close to two years. We started when he was only three weeks old, and went from there. He has an older sister, so it was nice to be able to quickly put him in and chase her around. It did have the added benefit of being a great nursing shield as well. (I even was able to walk and nurse at the same time once or twice when older sister needed supervision!) I did try the Bjorn with older sister and hated it, I could never get it to fit me quite right, even when she was a light peanut. Congratulations and Good luck!
I've tried almost all the carriers out there and the best one I've found is the Baby K'tan carrier. It combines the best of all the carriers out there-- the softness and flexibility of the Maya Wrap without the yards and yards of fabric, and the convenience of the Bjorn without the stiffness, buckles and steep price. I found this carrier right before my daughter turned one, but I wish I had it since she was born. You can use it 8 different positions and for up to 42 pounds! It supports the child's weight by being a double sling carrier (it can sit on both your shoulders if you like). You can check it out at www.babyktan.com If you're in the San Diego/Poway area, Palomar Pomerado Hospital's Boutique sells it for $59. I can't stress how much this carrier has helped my back!! Good luck
I must say the baby Bjorn is by far the best carrier out there! I had the Snugglie with my first daughter and it was very hard to put on and she hated it.....I finally decided to spend the $100 and buy the Bjorn.........it was the best purchase I've ever made! I'm using it now with my 3 month old and he absolutely loves it! I, too, have a 2 1/2 year old and the Bjorn definitely comes in handy! It's also very easy to put on/off and I can do it one handed now!
Good Luck!
Hi there...from personal experience, I love the Lascal M1 carrier. I am still using it an my son is almost 14 months old and 24lbs. I'm doing a 5K walk next week and carrying him in it. It's made of bamboo and breathes, so it is comfy for both of us. It's also very easy to clean/wash. I've tried the slings, which I REALLY wanted to use, but BOTH my son and I hated them.
Although I haven't used it, I have friends that love the ERGO carrier (they swapped out their bjorn for this one after baby 3).
Congratulations & good luck!
I had the same concerns when I was pregnant with my now 11-month old son. I tried several carriers including the Baby Bjorn (really like it but it can be time consuming trying to get it on and off), the Baby Pouch (loved it when he was little but it was stolen by the time he was 5 months old), and even the HotSling (very economical from Target no less). The best advice I got was to go to the Pump Station's baby carrier demonstration class (website: www.pumpstation.com) and try on several baby carriers before you buy one. It'll be well worth the time in money you save from carriers you end up hating.
Good luck,
Brenda D.