Just wondering what type of carrier or sling is recommend that anyone has used to carry a newborn. We have a Baby Bjorn but I know that the baby needs to be older with head control to use it. Thanks.
hi shana belly blessings
I personally used a sling (http://www.hotslings.com) same one for both my daughters but its because i'm 5'1" and the carriers were much too cumbersome. not to mentuon my firstborn was 5wks early and so very tiny, it was safer and easier to carry her close rather than fumble plus she was too small for a carrier. My second daughter was larger to begin with but again its much easier that she's close to me-one piece, easy on and off. They have a video and instructions on the site as well.
Hi, Shana-
I also used a hotsling. You could try a ring sling, which is more adjustable. Hotslings are sized based on your height and weight/circumference, so as I lost weight, I had to get a smaller size.
I would skip the Bjorn. It doesn't position the baby's hips correctly and can be bad for them. I'd go with a carrier like the Ergo or Patapum. Lots of info on www.attachedtobaby.com. We actually started using the Bjorn from about 3 weeks. If they are facing inwards, the flap folds up for neck support. I never had concerns about my son's head bending backwards. I have the Bjorn air, and the back support and design is just poor compared to an Ergo or similar carrier. I actually have a Yamo. In any case, I can still comfortable carry my babe at 22 pounds in my Yamo, but he just got way too heavy for the Bjorn around 12 lbs. Killed my back, despite the "extra support" of the Air version. Anyway, then i found out about the hips thing...
Mobywrap - look it up - it keeps the baby right next to you and it's easy to tie.
If you don't like the Moby wrap, Kelty has a good front pack with BACK SUPPORT. Don't get one without real back support - straps over the shoulders is not back support. Get something with a real panel down the back. I wacked my back out by using a Baby Bjorn once after having used the other two for months and months.
But I would say the Moby wrap is really the nicest and easiest on teh back.
We loved the Baby Bjorn. I am 5'1" and my husband is 6'4", I liked the fact that they sold one with extra long straps for tall men. We have twins, now 10 yrs. old, so we got our money's worth with the carriers. Hope this helps,congratulations.
~tonya s
I have used the peanut shell sling with both my kids. It is washable (huge plus!) and easy to roll up and put in the diaper bag. I bring it everywhere with me and even wear it in the house when my son wants to be held for long periods of time.
Here is the link: http://www.goo-ga.com/
Angela
Mom to a 2.5 year old and an 8 week old
I've used a lot of different things...
I found the moby and the ergo to be the best -- moby works well in the early stages (until +/- 20 lb) and is really portable, ergo works well throughout and has a LOT of support; I can still use it for shorter periods (on my back) with my 30-lb 2-year-old (this justifies the cost somewhat, it is a bit pricey at just under $100).
One thing that seems daunting at first with the moby is the wrapping (it's a loooong piece of cloth that you wrap around yourself), but once you get the hang of it, it's a non-issue -- I found it easiest when, say, I was going somewhere in the car, to "pre-wrap" myself and then when we arrived at our destination, I could just put my daughter in.
the hotsling -- I have a similar one, one thing I didn't like was the lack of ability to adjust it. My husband is the primary caretaker and we needed a solution that worked well for both of us. Plus, my kid didn't really like the position she was in, in the hotsling.
Good luck, whatever you decide! and try things out at home and keep the receipts in case something doesn't work!
Hi Shana,
I had wonderful success with the Maya Wrap.
I bought it from a doula in San Jose. She came to my house and showed me how to use it and it only cost around $50. There was also a DVD in case I forgot what she taught me - but it really is easy to do and doesn't shrink when it's washed! This was a BIG problem with another sling that I had because once it shrinks - you don't have the length to wrap it.
The doula was Jeanna Lurie
408.275.1250
[email protected]
www.mindfulmama.net
It is really easy to do and so easy to adjust and works for all sizes of baby/toddler. I traveled to England with my daughter by myself when she was 10 weeks old and it was fantastic. I don't know how I would have managed without it!
They have a website too: www.mayawrap.com
but it was faster to get it from Jeanna (...plus I like to support other "Mamas")
Take care and wishing you well for the birth of your first little one!
Sheila
Hi Shana,
You can actually use the Bjorn for babies as small as 8 lbs, you just face them forward with the front part of the carrier folded up and tightened slighltly to keep baby's head cradled - plus there's a little loop at the leg hole on both sides that you hook over these buttons to make the leg holes smaller, to make a more snug fit until they reach a certain weight.
As for carrier vs. sling, personally my hubby and I swear by our Bjorn! In all fairness I never tried a sling - they just never looked very secure and I imagined baby flopping all around as I moved. I have always liked dual-strap backpack-style bags over the "messenger bag" style as well. But lots of women swear by slings so I'm sure they are great too, especially when baby is small and a sling would keep them in a more natural position, but I can't imagine how they work for a bigger, more wiggly baby that wants to look around at everything...
I think it will mostly come down to your preferences and what you feel comfortable with. And we're not there yet, but I would bet that ANYthing is going to kill your back and shoulders once baby hits about 15 lbs! :) Good luck and congratulations!
Loved my Baby Bjorn! I used mine right from the start with both of my kids. What I preferred about it vs. the sling was that my husband would wear it too, so it wasn't always me carrying the baby around. It's good for the Dad to be involved in some of the "heavy lifting" too! =)
Also I really liked the Bjorn when my kids got a little bit older (6 months or so). I would take it to places where a stroller wasn't convenient, and the baby was right up at eye level with everyone. Both of my kids loved that.
I actually used the baby bjorn with my newborn and she was fine with it. when they aren't strong enough to hold their head up, you carry them facing you. my daughter used to just lay her head on my chest and fall asleep. when she was about 3 to 4 months, she could face everyone else and check out what's going on while i was walking. so, you can definitely use the baby bjorn with a newborn. i had no problem. and they get to heard your heart beat while you carry them.
Hi Shana,
congratulations and I wish you well with your upcoming birth experience.
We used the Native Carrier sling and found it excellent for newborn and smaller baby. We used it a lot as we had an infant with reflux that needed holding and comforting constantly. Once you become used to them most slings allow you to position baby in a number of ways.
The Moby Wrap was not available at the time my son was young. I would have chosen that if it was. I have had several friends use them and have seen them demonstrated and used extensively at professional conferences (I'm a Lacation Consultant). I like them a lot. They can be a little daunting to appoach the first few times as they seem like a complex wrap of a lot of cloth. Once you have learned the technique (which is fairly easy to do) then they are quick, easy, and fully adjustable. If you Google them you can find out more on their website. I believe they even have a video there of how to wrap. They are also washable and have a very good reputation for quality.
I hope this helps. You mostly need to find the product you are most comfortable with.
Katrina H.
ps We also had a Baby Bjorn but though we used it some we did not find it as successful, comfortable, or easy as the slings.
I had a baby bjorn I inherited that I used with my first child, now 3.5. He was in there at 1 month. The issue was that he was too big for me to carry comfortably in the bjorn after about 6 mos. (I'm 5'4" and 100lbs)
I bought an Ergo for the second baby - she's now 1.5 years old and I'm still carrying her comfortably in that. I put her in there when she was brand new and she curled up cocoon style. There was a phase around 2mos-4mos that she was too big but too small to be really comfortable where I carried her primarily in our new native or the bjorn.
We also inherited a new native - I was too scared to use this with my first child, but it got a lot of use with my second - and depending on the situation it was better than the ergo - i.e. dinner dates, times when I wanted the baby to sleep and I wasn't moving around a lot, and then that phase where she was not the right size for the ergo. Make sure if you do go the new native route that you buy a size that fits you. The sling should hang above your hips otherwise the baby hangs loosely off you.
Moby Wrap is great! It's:
i. versatile (it can be used as:
** sling
*carrier:
** in the front
*** on the back
*** for discreet breastfeeding,
*** in a cradle position
*** or upright)
ii. comfy (for u and baby)
iii.easy to wash
iv. easy to use
v. even works for twins!
We have a Bjorn but it hurts the area between my neck & shoulders. The best thing is the baby is against you, so s/he feels secure, it can be swaddle-like in that way.
The only drawback is I don't know how appealing it is to men. You can find them at Good Samaritan Hospital's breastfeeding store.
http://www.parentingandbreastfeeding.com/contactus.htm
We used a Weego & Snugli's for our twins. The Weego is supposed to support the hips better by keeping the legs in a froglike position. The Snugli was passed down to us & worked ok but I found my friend's Bjorn to be easier to get them in/out when they could face forward (head control).
Hi,
I have 2 little girls and have only used the Baby Bjorn and loved it. They need head control to face out, but to face in towards your chest, they only need to be 8 pounds and there is enough support that they don't need to have great head control.
Cheryl
My favorite is a Moby Wrap. Check it out online. www.mobywrap.com I LOVE THIS! I used it with my 2nd baby, and wished I'd had it for my 1st baby. I have never had back pain after wearing it all day. I sprained my back 3 months before I got pregnant with my oldest son, and I used the Bjorn and I could only wear him for an hour before my back was killing me. With the Moby Wrap, I can wear my son ALL DAY and it doesn't hurt my back at all! I absolutely recommend this to every new mom! When the kids get older, I also recommend the Ergo baby carrier (you can also use it while they are infants, you just have to get the infant insert). Their webpage is www.ergobabycarrier.com Enjoy carrying around your new little blessing!
In my opinion the slings that you tie yourself are the best. We also had the sling that went over one shoulder, at that was good once our daughter was a month or two old, but as a newborn, having her snuggled right there on my belly or chest comforted her more. It also worked better for us because my husband is much bigger than me, and we could wrap him up in it to carry her too. We have a bjorn and it is great, but when babies are really tiny dangling feet just don't make them very happy. Good luck and congratulations!
You have to get a Moby wrap! It is the best thing I have ever bought! There is a million different ways to wrap baby,it also supports your back much better than a bjorn.
i loved my infant sling from walkingrockfarm.com
check it out. it was perfect. i think they have to be about 8 lbs. to use.