Baby carrier suggestion? Calling Moms!

[cats7494]

Looking for a really nice baby carrier -the kind where you can carry them on your front...
Any suggestions? There are so many out there - but want a nice safe one!

thanks!

 

[justhat]

I have a Baby Bjorn Active Carrier. The Active Carrier has lower back support which makes all the difference if you're carrying the baby for long periods of time. I can still use mine now with my daughter and she's 19 months old (she's almost at the weight and height limits though, she's 33 in. and 23 lbs., and I think it goes up to 34 in. and 26 lbs.). Of course, neither of us really want to use it anymore (meaning me or my daughter!) simply cause she's so old, but when I have travelled by myself with her recently (up to about a month ago) it was a lifesaver to have so I could carry the carseat, diaper bag, and luggage without worrying about having to chase a toddler too.

But aside from these rare occasions when I still use it, as an infant it was invaluable. She was a newborn who couldn't be put down for the first 3 months or so she she was in it all day long so I could accomplish things around the house. She also lived in it on our trips to Disney at 3 and 4 months.

 

[scanne]

Baby Bjorn. I have one. Brand new. Only used it twice. My kids didn't like being so close. I'll sell it to you for $25 plus shipping.
PM me if interested.

 

[cats7494]

Any more ideas??

 

[leahannpen]

I just ordered this one:

http://www.kangarookorner.com/k_shop_pouches_cotton.shtml

But it does take some getting used to...I'm still learning.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

We use a Snugli for Eli right now and really like it.

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

Another vote for Baby Bjorn.

 

[Bambismama]

The Maya wrap is excellent!

http://www.mayawrap.com/

 

[Kermit]

For a newborn, a traditional ring sling or pouch is best. A lot of people like the Maya Wrap. It's unpadded, which makes it less bulky. If you have back, shoulder, or neck problems, or if you're small and have a big baby, you might prefer a lightly padded sling. Over the Shoulder Baby Holders are nice padded slings. Most people find heavily padded slings, like the Nojo, really hard to use. I like pouch slings, like the New Native. They're unpadded, and you have to buy a specific size, so they're a little less versitile. They're easy to use, but you will need a nursing shirt and maybe even a shawl or blanket to cover with if you intend to nurse in it.

As they get older, I like ones that center them on your body. It's not necessary for every mother-baby pair, but I'm 5'2" and built pretty small, and my babies are huge. My 14 month old has been in a 3T for several months. Some people can use ring slings or pouches as their babies get past the infant stage, but we just can't. My favorite carrier for older babies is the Sutemi. It's expensive, but it's wonderful. My little one is 28 pounds, and I can carry him for the better part of the day without any discomfort. I can even carry my 39 pound 2 year old for shorter stretches. I also like my Kozy carrier and Moby Wrap. The Moby Wrap is great for when you're getting the baby in and out of the carrier, like when you're running errands and getting in and out of the car a lot. You can tie it into place and leave it there, sliding the baby into it as necessary. It can get pretty warm, though.

 

[Dopeygirl]

I loved my sling and Baby Bjorn when DD was small. I purched an Ergo at 11 months and LOVE it even more. It can be worn on the front like a Baby Bjorn, on the hip like a Playtex Hip Hammock and then on the back piggy-back style (no strain like the metal backpack carriers). I have since sold off my Bjron and Hip Hammock and will use the Ergo instead for future children. It was $92 but the Baby Bjorns cost about that (I got mine on E-bay) plus the cost of a hip one and/or back one for as they grow.

The others were nice but I love the all-in-one of the Ergo.

Ergo Baby Carrier There are several places to order it online. I only found one place w/a different price (by $0.01! LOL) and I ended up ordering from them because they had a couple other things I wanted.

 

[mtemm]

we had baby bjorns and loved them. can't recommend them highly enough. so nice to snuggle in close when baby is very young, then allow them to face the world when they get a bit bigger.

 

[solferino]

A friend of mine just had her third and is sling obsessed. She loves the mayawrap, but her sister got her the http://www.mobywrap.com/ and she absolutely loves it, and her DD is very content in there, too!

When my own DD was a baby/toddler I used a sling and found it absolutely invaluable. Especially after mastering carrying on the back. It was so nice not having this big, bulky padded thing with straps everwhere to carry around in the diaperbag.

 

[PaulaSue]

I LOVE my NOJO sling and Maya wrap. I got a Kelty Kid for a present and I hated all the buckles. The Kelty Kid pack took forever to get Nicole in it. With my slings it is quick and easy and on my way.

I would have NEVER had a second baby or 3rd without my sling. It is the only way I got anything done since the girls loved being held all the time and it was great for Brestfeeding in and not showing anything. Even now with my youngest almost 2 1/2 years old, I use it often.

 

[Tracey1974]

I have a Bjorn as well and thanks to justhat's suggestion, Christopher spent most of the time in WDW last month in it on me. He faces out now and loves to see everything. I orginally wasn't going to register for it and thought it was a bit expensive, but I did get it as a gift and have been very happy with it.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Is your husband/boyfriend going to use the carrier as well? Just to let you know, if he has an athletic build, a Baby Bjorn may not work on him. I am 6'2", with a 32" waist and wear a size 42 jacket. When I base the fit on my shoulders, it gaps on my waist, and if I base the fit on my waist, it's way too narrow on my shoulders. We returned the Baby Bjorn and my wife and I purchased a Peanut Shell sling from Goo-Ga each individually fit to our body type and they work great.

 

[justhat]

I have a Bjorn as well and thanks to justhat's suggestion, Christopher spent most of the time in WDW last month in it on me. He faces out now and loves to see everything. I orginally wasn't going to register for it and thought it was a bit expensive, but I did get it as a gift and have been very happy with it.

Glad to know I was of some help! Now where is the cute picute of Christopher with his Mickey ears in the Bjorn?

 

[Stacey2grls]

The best carrier by far in my experience has been the Baby Bjorn carrier. I was a nanny for 7 years, I used it with 4 seperate babies and the difference was incredible! When I had my own children I stupidly tried a cheaper version, what a joke! I went out with my daughter when she was weeks old and she was falling out! As soon as I purchased my own Bjorn I realized how foolish I was. You barely feels the babies weight as it is evenly distributed through your back and hips. I ended up using it for the first year it was so great. I have reccomended it to numerous people and they all agree, it is totally worth the extra money.

 

[Kermit]

Speaking of men using the carriers, my DH will use my Sutemi. He carries the kids on his back with it. I carry them on my front. It does come in sizes, so if your DH and you are too far apart it may not work, but I'm 5'2" and DH is 6'2", and we're able to use the same one. DH is slim. If he were heavy at all, we'd have to have two different ones.

The Sutemi is very similar to the Ergo. I couldn't decide between the two, and then I read in a review somewhere that the Sutemi fit in a diaper bag more easily, so that was how I made that decision.

 

[amarberry]

It seems like the world is divided into Bjorn vs. sling-type carrier people. When DD was younger, I bought both. We loved the Bjorn, but hated the sling. Try and find a baby store that carries a variety of baby carriers/slings and try them out with your child to see which works best for you rather than making a costly mistake.

My DD is 15 mo. and about 25-26 pounds. We decided over the summer that she was getting too heavy for the Bjorn, but I really wanted to graduate her to a similar type carrier (I was actually eyeing the Sutemi). I found a store a couple of hours away from me that carried a large selection of carriers and stopped by one time when we were driving through the area. After trying out several, I found that the Baby Trekker (www.babytrekker.com) worked best for us. My DD can face outward (her preference) and it is very, very comfortable.

 

[KirstenB]

Another vote here for the Bjorn Active Baby carrier! It is so comfortable. With a 6 week old, we carry her for hours, so good back support is crucial. I have a Nojo sling which I bought 7 yrs ago for our older dd. Never could get comfortable with that. Someone gave us an Ergo carrier, which I hope will work when our baby outgrows the Bjorn. I'm especially looking forward to WDW in March with a carrier for when you have to park the stroller, but have to wait in line for rides. Don't know why I didn't think about this with dd #1. My brain was probably in new Mommy fog still!