Best Baby Carrier for 5 month old???

[rsmithx]

I use a ring sling 80% of the time and a pouch the other 20% when I wear dd, who is now 14 months. Wore her when she was 3 months on a trip through Europe. Also used a Bjorn for that trip, and Rome was brutal with the heat. Our worst day was the day I used the sling cause we were both too hot. My advice is to invest (or make) a solarveil sling or pouch. www.sleepingbaby.net - Jan makes beautiful slings (I have one) and also gives directions to make slings as well. I made a Mei Tai, and though I'd say 98% of people really enjoy them, I don't really like mine now that she's older, and when she was younger a back carry didn't work for more than 15 minutes. I use a rigid backpack instead which I love (Tough Traveller brand) www.hotslings.com also has a solarveil pouch. (I find my ring sling much more comfy long term and the pouch much easier to back carry)

 

[LilGMom]

We used the Baby Bjorn with until the boys were around 8 months old and then they had surpassed the weight limit so they went into a backpack carrier which we loved. Of course I can't remember the name of it and it is in the closet of the baby's room so since he is sleeping I can't check the name. But it had a kickstand (made taking off by myself if there was a table around easy and made eating easy), a little detachable carrying pouch on back and mesh pockets on the side that we put water bottles in.

 

[tanyaandallie]

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!

Well, imo, a mei tai is 100 times more comfortable than a snugli or baby bjorn. They are also much more ergonomically correct as they hold your baby in seated position. In a bb/snugli that baby is hanging from the crotch which is not necessarily the best thing for their spines. A mei tai (or a ring sling or a pouch) also can be used much longer and is much more versatile than a snugli. These carriers can be used from birth well into toddlerhood. They can be used in many different carries. The mei tai is the most similar to the baby bjorn in that it is used in a front carry but it also makes and excellent back carrier and can be used as a hip carrier as well.

There is a huge world of slings out there!!! If you go to www.thebabywearer.com you will find tons and tons of excellent information regarding slings.

 

[design_mom]

Could somebody tell me how these carriers you've suggested are different from a Snugli type carrier? Thank you!

The Ergo has a thick, padded waist/hip belt and transfers most of the weight to your hips. (It seriously does, I can still slide my fingers pretty easily under the shoulder straps when my DD is in it.)

Like the mei tai, it positions your baby in the seated position instead of hanging from his crotch. It can be used for a front carry (belly to belly), a back carry or a hip carry. It has a special insert for very young babies (I haven't used that), but can be used well into toddlerhood. I still use it regularly with my DD who will be 3 next week. I can carry my 6yo in it too, although I usually don't.

The ergo has snap-buckles, so once you get it adjusted to fit your body you don't have to adjust it much between wearings. Just snap and go. I believe the mei tai is retied each time you put it on.

Here are some photos of the Ergo which might give you a better idea of how it works: http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/gallery/2/index.html

 

[alloyd1170]

I used Hotslings with my dd (wish I had with ds!). I dont know when you are going to WDW but if its summer time, you might see about a solarveil version. It acts like a sunscreen and the mesh-iness is much cooler.

alison

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

I use an Over The Shoulder Baby Holder sling with DS. I wore him around SeaWorld in January and we were quite comfortable. He's nearly 3 and he still asks to go in his "baby bag".

 

[loveysbydesign]

Which front type carrier would be easiest to keep on for rides..like it's a small world, peter pan etc.

 

[tanyaandallie]

You can use pretty much any of them on the rides. I wore my ds in our babyhawk mei tai when he was 7 mos old. We rode pretty much all the rides with him in there. In the fall he was 20 mos. I wore him in my beco on many of the rides. I hear you can even leave them on your baby but it wasn't comfy for me to ride a ride with him on my back so I always took him out. Not to mention at 20 mos he really wanted to be part of the ride.

 

[Ariel8676]

Any of them really...i've kept my girls in pouches (i have a Peanut shell), my Babyhawks, and my Beco...and if you have them on your back and they are awak, just flip them around to the front and relax..lol

 

[LA2006]

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

LOL AMEN! I was up to 5 slings when DS was little. I still use my Kozy in airports w/ him and he's now 2 1/2. I did borrow my friends peanut shell when he was running horrid in a store at the end of last year in a hip carry. I wouldn't recommend one for a larger baby. I liked my mammas milk adjustable pouch much better for longer periods. I did have Ergo lust when DS was little, but I just couldn't justify 6 slings. I agree the long tails can be rough w/ crowds when wearing a mei tai, but if you have help one can keep them from dragging through the ground. So much more comfortable for long periods of time than the bijorn. You also get many more months of use with them.

 

[El&Asmom]

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

LOL AMEN! I was up to 5 slings when DS was little. I still use my Kozy in airports w/ him and he's now 2 1/2. I did borrow my friends peanut shell when he was running horrid in a store at the end of last year in a hip carry. I wouldn't recommend one for a larger baby. I liked my mammas milk adjustable pouch much better for longer periods. I did have Ergo lust when DS was little, but I just couldn't justify 6 slings. I agree the long tails can be rough w/ crowds when wearing a mei tai, but if you have help one can keep them from dragging through the ground. So much more comfortable for long periods of time than the bijorn. You also get many more months of use with them.

My husband wishes I stopped at 5 We want to buy into DVC, and my husband keeps telling me that if I sold off my stash, that we could have a nice contract. They're rather addictive. Especially the FSOT board over at TBW.

 

[moparop]

Glad to hear that you are trying the MT! I love mine! I don't know how I made it through DS #1's first year just using a Bjorn.