Baby carriers/slings

[maedelken]

Okay Moms I am looking for advice. What baby carriers or slings do you prefer. My boy is 10 months 22 pounds and very clingy. Looking for one that's easy on the back.

 

[wvdislover]

Definitely the Baby Bjorn! Loved it--it was a life-saver with a child who had colic and reflux and wanted to be held a lot. Great for shopping or touring Disney, too!

 

[Ariel8676]

Well there are a few different kinds..I personally use a Babyhawk brand Mei Tei .. http://babyhawk.com/ It is great for front carries (sleeping is nice all snuggly on your chest) or back carries..which my dd loves! (she is 12 months and 24 pounds by the way) There is also http://www.kozycarrier.homestead.com/ , http://www.freehandbaby.com/ just to name a few...if you would rather something that doesn't tie you could get and Ergo which are awesome too http://ergo.com/ , or http://ecobabies.com/catalog.php These are just a few. You could go to http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/ to find out a ton of info on any carrier out there.They even have For sale or Trade boards, so you may be able to get something you like that was gently used fo much cheaper than buying new.
If you have any other questions please feel free to PM me...
Oh and just wanted to mention that these carriers, unlike the mainstream kind, can be used up to 40 lbs...i have carried my 41 pound 3 yo in a back carry for an hour with no problems (while my Dh was carrying the baby ) Also a Mei Tei creates more of a seat(not putting pressure on crotch area), making it more comforable for you and baby.
I still use my pouch at times for a quick hip carry http://goo-ga.com/ ,but for longer carries the MT is the way to go! Good Luck and let me know how you make out.

 

[KristinU]

Another vote for the Mei Tai style - if you can sew you can make your own carriers and tailor them to your specific needs. Here's a great site that I used for directions: ABC Directions

 

[alloyd1170]

I hated my Bjorn when I used it with my son. I have back problems and I couldnt carry him for long in it. For my daughter I got several Hotslings which I love and will miss now that shes walking. So easy to use, easy on the back, and my daughter loved snuggling down in it. I used it everywhere-shopping, movies, airports, even on tours during a cruise. It was so much easier than a stroller. Most of the time people didnt realize I was carrying a baby in it. I had an employee in Walmart follow me around because she thought I was shoplifting. When my daughter stuck her foot out, the lady laughed and walked away. On a tour, the guide couldnt figure out why she kept coming up one person short until I showed her what I was carrying.

alison

 

[toesmom]

The very best for back comfort and long carrying with absolutely no discomfort for mom and very comfortable for baby is....

baby trekker


I owned both regular baby bjorn and bjorn active, the active one gets my vote between the two because of excellent back support but you can really only use it comfortably until baby is about 2 and then after than baby's legs grow usually too long so when you walk with carrier on baby's legs hit your legs.

And the bjorn active is very expensive.

the baby trekker is very reasonably priced, can be used from birth to 40 lbs and my ds is now 35 lbs and 3 yo and we still use it when going to grocery store. The baby trekker saved me at MCO last august when there was security delay at check-in and we couldn't move for 30 minutes while they sorted things out.

I was so grateful to have the carrier because my son would never have stayed in 1 place for those 30 minutes, not in my arms or in stroller and airport security didn't let anyone move. Many parents were struggling with 1-3 year olds who wanted to walk or go to the washroom. My ds was very comfortably resting in my baby trekker.

It's very very comfortable, can be worn on front or back and folds down into really small sack that can fit into any bag or in base of any stroller or on handle bars of any stroller. Can't do it with the bjorns.

I've owned baby slings, hip carriers, infantino carriers, snuggli, ergo (wasn't that great and my ds was 2 at the time)

Anyhow, the padding used on the trekker makes this one so very comfortable and you will not regret your purchase. You can buy them second hand or directly from manufacturer in Canada.

www.babytrekker.com

Your back will not hurt- guaranteed.

 

[maedelken]

I just looked at the website for the baby trekker it looks awesome. Is it similar to the ergo? If a older baby falls asleep in it is comfortable for the baby? Does it have good head support?

 

[toesmom]

It really is the very best carrier out there, head support is excellent, it has a very nicely padded piece that is at baby's head. If baby falls asleep, its head rests on this padded piece like pillow.

I found out about the trekker after I bought my ergo. I tried my ergo carrier with my ds who was 28 lbs at the time and front carry was not very comfortable and back carry was really awkward I found. When putting him in the carrier, he didn't like the strapped in feeling on the back. But with the baby trekker front carry for heavy baby is so comfortable (and baby can face in or out). Back carry also works great, but my ds seems to prefer the front and he's now 3. And I'm completely honest when I say I've never tried a better carrier.

As soon as I found the trekker (bought mine used through craigslist.org) I was amazed at how comfortable is was. Really simple to use and my kids hated strollers prior to 3 yrs of age so I always had to use carriers which is why I can vouch for the comfort of the carrier.

I hope this information helps you because I had to return a number of carriers because they were really not comfortable after 1/2 hour of wearing. First 15 minutes were fine and then you start feeling where it's not all that comfortable. You won't have that problem with the trekker.

 

[maedelken]

I had a Baby Bjorn with my first two children and for them it was fine. They were small girls. When they got older it began to hurt so I just stopped using one. Thank goodness they weren't clingy. Now my boy is 10 months old and he is 22 pounds. My 2.5 DD is only 25 pounds now. So my boy is much heavier then what I am used to. He is also very clingy and still nursing. Did you nurse with this carrier? He loves being with me all the time. If I put him down he will crawl after me crying cute but trying sometimes. So thank you for the good advice on the carrier because as you see I need a good one. The Baby Bjorn was useless when he turned 6 months it didn't stay in the right position and killed my back!!!!!!! Hah stroller he would rather me carry him as well as push the stroller. My 4 year old loves that cause she gets a ride.

 

[michellev]

Mei Tai's are awesome! You can make your own or there are tons out there to buy. Check Ebay. You can wear the baby on the front or the back (you'll definitely want your 22lber on the back ), they are easy to tie and are extremely comfortable. I prefer a wide strap on mine.

 

[poohfriend]

loved it until baby was about 18 pounds.

I bought a hipster by platex at that point...okay, but nothing I would brag about.

wish i'd known about those others! DS was very clingy!

good luck

 

[toesmom]

my ds is over 3 now and still nurses (I can type that in and not be embrarassed because no one knows me here)... anyhow... you can still nurse with the trekker, you just loosen the strap on one side and off you go. In fact, last year at disney we were at BWV (DVC members) I used my trekker to put him to sleep for naps. He still liked to nurse to sleep then so once he fell asleep in carrier I got him out and onto bed, so it worked fine for me.

Don't worry about him being clingy, a lot of babies and toddlers are that way, a little trying on mom, but really teaches you quickly best way to parent.

My ds is 3 and he's much better now. In fact, he actually prefers stroller over my arms these days. Never thought it would happen.

I still have my trekker for my January trip to disney as it's excellent to use in airports, around DTD, in the parks especially when he doesn't want to sit in the stroller. Probably after January I'll sell it as we don't use it as much now that he's older. But it's been the best of all the carriers I've tried.

The trick to avoiding any back pain is to fit the waist belt very snuggly so your waist takes most of the weight. Again, your back will be fine even with the little one in front carry position as that's what my son wants most of the time and he's over 35 lbs.

 

[clori]

at 10 months I wouldn't get a dedicated front carrier. I loved my baby bjorn but even with two kids who were under 17lbs at a year I preferred hip carry by one year. I now use either the kangaroo korner adjustable fleece pouch for cold weather, combi urban hip carrier for rainy weather or mei tei hip carrier for most of the time. My dd is 2.5 and 23lbs. I agree don't worry about a clingy baby. My 2.5 year old is the opposite and absolutely will not use a stroller and doesn't always want to be held (sounds good but isn't always a good thing).

 

[bellarella]

I will add my $.02 for Babyhawks too. They are the most comfortable for me (and I've tried just about every type of carrier out there).

I have to say, though, that I'm using my Babyhawk less and less now that I have a Beco. I don't find the Beco quite as comfy as a Mei Tai, but it often makes up for it in convenience. I bought my Beco for Disney because I can get it on and off quickly with no straps dangling and it can be used for either front or back carries. It also rolls up into a bulky fanny pack like bundle so you can wear it with a baby in it (it's not super attractive, but better than a Mei Tai or Ergo).

The beco is similar to the Ergo, but less bulky and has a taller body. I found it a lot more comfy than the Ergo, which I ended up returning.

And any of these beat the Bjorn hands down.

 

[tanyaandallie]

I am another lover of the mei tai. Mei Tais are wonderful at distributing the weight. 100 times more comfy than a baby bjorn. You can nurse in them. You can carry your baby on your front or on your back. You can even do a hip carry (although not my favorite carrier for a hip carry).

I don't have a baby trekker but it sort of looks like baby is hanging more like the bb. That's something I wanted to avoid as it's not great for baby's spine. The mt keeps your kiddo in a seated position which is much better for their back and spine, esp. if they are going to spent a ton of time in there.

I have/had a babyhawk, a kozy and a llmt (www.littleleila.com) and loved them all. My fav is the babyhawk but that's b/c I prefer a shorter carrier.

Another great option is an ergo, a patapum or a beco (www.ecobabies.com). All of these carriers are awesome for a back carry. The beco works for a front carry but I don't like it as much for that as my mt. These more structured carriers are simply amazing for back carries. They are so darn comfy. I carried my ds (20 mos) in the beco all through disney. He fell asleep in it every day. No back or shoulder pain at all.

 

[toesmom]

The trekker baby carrier actually makes a "seat", so the baby is not hanging like the baby bjorn carriers. I carried both my kids almost all the time and my ds now 3 ALL THE TIME when he was young in the baby bjorns and he is completely healthy, no problem with his spine whatsoever.

The reason I switched to baby trekker (I also tried ergo, 2 types of hip hammocks) was because he was getting heavier and although bjorn active is great, his legs kept banging into mine while I walked so he just got too big for it.

My ds 3 really enjoys being in the baby trekker, so it's great for baby/toddlers/older toddlers and mom/dad.

 

[katerkat]

I have:
a Snugli
a home-made pouch sling
a home-made Mei Tai
a home-made Moby
(not to mention, three strollers!)

For long time use, I prefer the Mei Tai, hands down. Russ took two naps in there in WDW last week. (23 pound 21 month old) And several just plain snuggle hours in there with mommy.

 

[texasthree]

I used an over the shoulder baby holder. Easily found on ebay. Its a sling that can by positioned in several different ways. Its great for carrying an older baby more on your hip and still have a free hand.

 

[earthyfamily]

I too have back problems and tried tons of slings with my youngest. I finally found one that both she and I love, when she was about 6 months and she's turning three in two months and we still love it. It's a ring sling from taylormadeslings.com. We tried a couple of different ring slings and couldn't find one we liked, so I was if-y about trying it, but it is so comfy, so easy to use and i can get her in and out even now with her long legs, all on my own. I use it at Disney World too and can get a good 4-5 hours wearing her before I start wanting DH to wear her...which he will. Another good thing about this sling, it's very adjustable. I'm short and wide and he's tall and skinny...the medium fits both of us perfectly. Plus if it gets dirty we just throw it in the washer and let it air dry. And it's really beautiful and comes in lots of different fabrics and prints to choose. Hope that helps.

 

[SaraMc]

We have the bjorn active. We really like it, well.... DH does. I find even with all the back support it has my back sometimes hurts. DS is 4 months old and about 16lbs ( quite normal for my family) Now that he is more active we are noticing a slow down in weight gain. ( Yahoo !!Jumperroo ang rolling over skills) We are taking it with us in Feb, not for walking around too much ( well we might ) but for on rides that he can go on ( pirates ect)