Best Baby Carrier for 5 month old???

[lovepooh]

We will be taking our five month old to Disney. This is the first time we will be going with an infant. I am taking the stroller but would like to also have a carrier. Any suggestions???

 

[tanyaandallie]

Hmmmm, for a 5 mos old I would either do a mei tai or a more structured carrier like an ergo/patapum/beco. With a 5 mos old I'd probably do a mei tai b/c you can use it as a front carrier and a back carrier. The ergo/patapum/beco are all awesome carriers but not as great on the front which is how I prefer to carry babies that age.

My favorite mei tais

www.babyhawk.com

www.kozycarrier.com

www.littleleila.com

 

[toesmom]

I carry my 40 lb 3.5 year old (when needed) in ergo carrier and it's very comfortable. He likes back carry or front carry. So that's my vote and you can use it for a LONG time. Most carriers aren't comfortable once babies are a little heavier.

So, for 5 month old it would be great.

www.myfavoritebabycarrier.com has wonderful money back after 30 days policy if you don't like the carrier and free shipping I think.

Worth a try.

 

[laughinplace199]

We just got back with our 5 month old. I brought my Baby Bjorn. It worked fine for us. I actually didn't use it as much as I thought I would, but it did come in handy. Have fun. I couldn't believe how easy my little one was to travel with.

 

[JillCT]

I love love love my mei tai--so comfortable. Baby Bjorn doesn't even compare. I've been using it with my twins since they were ~3 or 4 months old, and I still use it all the time (they are 14 months now). My husband kept "stealing" my mei tai which left me stuck with the Baby Bjorn (to carry the other twin) so I made him get his own--he loves it too. I have a Babyhawk.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

After much trouble with my Baby Bjorn for my first two kids (back pain and such)....this time around I have a Moby Wrap. I just placed an order for a Gypsy wrap (lighter weight fabric for warm weather) and a mei tei. While my "little one" is only 1 month old...at 11 pounds 4 ounces...my Moby is awesome.

Wraps do have a learning curve...and despite the having to wrap it around your body with this lenghty fabric, I found it much easier than a Bjorn. With the Mei Tei I will probably use the tying option.


www.slingstation.com has all sorts of baby carriers as well as descriptions on the benefits to the particular styles.


Good Luck!

 

[juliema]

Another vote for the mei tai or the ergo here. I have both and love them. The mei tai is easier imo to get the baby in and out of and it's a bit lighter material wise so you'll be less hot. The ergo has a bit more support, but I think with a 5 month old, you'll probably be great with the mei tai. I have a Kozy and love it. Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Ariel8676]

I have to agree about the Mei tei or the soft structured carrier like the Beco or Ergo.
I have 2 Babyhawk Mei tei's and a Beco(LOVE back carries), and a Peanut shell pouch which i still use for quick hip carries..... and i love all of them!
When are you going to WDW? IF you are going in the summer months you can get a Solarweave MeiTei that would have sun protection, its breathable and you could wear the baby right in the pool(it dries super quick) http://www.sachicarriers.com/catalog.php?item=163&catid=14&ret=catalog.php?category=14 (solarweave is much softer than solarveil)
I wouls also recommend checking out http://thebabywearer.com/ you will find a ton of info on REALLY good carriers..go to he forums and you will find different sections on Asian inspired carriers(Mei Teis), Pouches and ring slings, and wraps...and there is a FSOT (for sale or trade)forum where you may be able to find something you like for a lot cheaper than buying brand new. Please feel free to PM me with any questions!!! Good Luck!

 

[design_mom]

I carry my 40 lb 3.5 year old (when needed) in ergo carrier and it's very comfortable. He likes back carry or front carry. So that's my vote and you can use it for a LONG time. Most carriers aren't comfortable once babies are a little heavier.

So, for 5 month old it would be great.

www.myfavoritebabycarrier.com has wonderful money back after 30 days policy if you don't like the carrier and free shipping I think.

Worth a try.

I totally agree that you'd get a lot of use out of the Ergo. I never used it with a 5 month old (I adopted my children when they were toddlers), but I still carry my DD in the Ergo a lot and she'll be 3 next week.

Last spring we did two days at WDW and I didn't even take my stroller into the parks. I just used the Ergo. (You can see it in the little picture to the left!) I carried her the whole time because the 30 lb girl in the Ergo was more comfortable than the diaper bag, so I made DH carry that!

Good luck,
Kim

 

[loveysbydesign]

Thanks for starting this thread! I am looking for something other than a bjorn and these suggestions are awesome! I'd sew one myself but i;m sure I couldn't do as good a job as some of the people on the sites listed in the above posts!

 

[lovepooh]

I really appreciate all of these suggestions. We have a Snugli from one of my older children and it doesn't seem very "snugli".

 

[PrincessasMommy]

I love my New Native and my Maya Wrap slings!! I wore my 8 month old nearly all day every day at WDW in the New Native last time!! So easy to pop her in & out and was able to wear her on rides!!! And I have the denim so hubby would use it too!!! I can't believe I didn't have a sling before baby #3!!

 

[mhm]

We love the Kelty Kangaroo--great back support! I've tried slings and Baby Bjorn, and barely last 10 minutes, but I can use the Kangaroo for hours!

 

[bellarella]

I'd go with an ergo or beco.

I love Mei Tais, but the straps aren't very "crowd friendly." Same with wraps. Having super long straps or pieces of fabric can be a pain in public places, especially if there is any rain.

With an ergo or beco you have the easy on and off and the option of front or back carries. I found the front carries with my beco to be about the same as the front carries with my babyhawk.

If you think you are only going to use the carrier for very short periods of time, a pouch or sling might also work well -- but go for an unpadded sling, rather than the padded ones that they sell in the big box stores. They are much more comfortable and easy to adjust.

 

[El&Asmom]

I wore my dd, (9 months at the time), in a mei tai and pouch a majority of the time we were at Disney last year. In fact Disney is the only place I have ever seen anyone in person wearing a mei tai.
I couldn't cope with a newborn again without my carriers. With a 5 month old I think a pouch would be great for easy in/out and quick trips.
Mei tais are great for walking around the parks as you'll want a comfy two shouldered carrier.

I do agree that the Ergo will last you longer, (it's the only carrier I use anymore for my 17 month old), but I agree a front carrier is better for that age. You'll get plenty more months out of a quality mei tai. Many use them for their toddlers.

Here's to spreading the babywearing love. Just be careful, it's not very kind to the pocketbook.

Oh, and I also second Babyhawks. I've tried many of the most common mei tais out there, and it's my fav.
Pouch brands that I've liked include Hotslings and Heavenly Bundle.
thebabywearer.com is a wonderful resource to find what you're looking for.

Have fun.

 

[bumbershoot]

My avatar picture shows me and DS with "our" mei tai. He was older, a bit over a year, but it was SO great to wear him in that most of the day. It was mesh, and I am right now so glad that someone is making mei tais from solarweave! The mesh of mine allowed for us to be MUCH cooler than if we had used a solid fabric one.

Last year when he was a bit over 2, we used the Ergo, which is also fabulous. I didn't get the Ergo until he was 2, so I never really used it as a front-carrier, but I'm sure it would be great.

At 5 months, though I wasn't doing Disney (nor even knowing that we would be), I was still in my pouch and Moby phase, but I think a Moby would be too hot, and even when DS was little I couldn't go very long with a side-carrying pouch. So the meitai and Ergo, IMO, are going to be the best bets.

 

[lovepooh]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone! I just love these boards. Well, I ordered a mei tai from Baby Hawk. I am wondering however if I might also like a pouch carrier, for around the house etc. The hands free thing sounds great considering I have four children!

 

[Ariel8676]

YAY another babywearer!!!!!!!!! You are going to love it!!

 

[tanyaandallie]

You just cannot go wrong with a babyhawk!!!! They totally rock!

Now when your baby gets older and heavier, a beco is my absolute favorite!

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

Could somebody tell me how these carriers you've suggested are different from a Snugli type carrier? I can't really tell from the photos, and I'd really like to find a great carrier for my baby #3. My first 2 kids didn't really like the Snugli types (fussed in them and I also found them uncomfortable or hot), and they always seemed to leave marks on the legs that made me worry.

What ages are they good for? Infancy up to what?

Thank you!