Best baby carrier for parks

[sailors_wfe]

Hi,
I just returned from a trip with my 4.5 month old... I took with me: Baby Jogger City Classic Stroller; Moby Wrap and Ergo carrier. Used the Moby wrap 1/2 a day.. which is more then I thought I'd wear it... I loved the moby when she was your baby's age, but not now that she's a 18 pound 26 inch long baby Up until she was about 3 months that's all I used... she loved it, could wear her facing out, facing in, in a sling possition... only downside is that it still puts stress on your shoulders, and it does take some time to put on when you're getting used to it but my DD still prefers that carrier to my Ergo I think ... anyway.. we took the stroller with us to the parks our first 3 days... but always had the Ergo stored in the basket, just in case, and she always ended up in the Ergo before noon each day, so I finally got tired of pushing around an empty stroller and just wore her everywhere.... it reallly is the best way to go... that being said, i have also tried the Bijorn, and both of us HATED it.. just our experience Good luck making your decision.. it's a tough one... I'd reccommend an Ergo, but your little one is probably too little for that, so i'd go with a more traditional sling (or Moby wrap )

 

[Tracy041500]

Definetly the Ergo is the BEST.

 

[kidneygirl]

I wore my ds in the Beco Butterfly about 90% of our trip when he was 1 month old. I tried my sister's Bjorn and took it off within 10 minutes because it was painfully uncomfortable, especially compared to the Beco. I also have an Ergo. We're going to Disney again when ds is 11 months old and I plan on wearing him in either the Ergo or Beco (haven't decided which one I'll pack yet). I like both of them equally, but my Beco is prettier.

And, I can still wear my 3 and 1/2 year old (28 lbs) every now and then in the Ergo and both of us are comfy. So, I highly recommend the Ergo or Beco because you'll get so much more use out of it in the long run.

 

[sweetmonkey]

I would totally go with a Beco Butterfly as some PP said or a Mei tai. In fact, I am taking my DS in a month and he will be almost 9 months. I am taking a Mei Tai and my Maclaren Stroller (mostly for DD age 4). I figure that way, I can ride and walk with him and he can easily nap on my chest.

I also have a Baby Bjorn. DH will wear it and I wore it more with DD who was very small for her age, but DS is very long and average weight and SQUIRMY. It is not as comfortable to me as the Beco or Mei Tai. DH will wear the MT, but it did take some practice before he felt confident loading/tying. The Beco is VERY easy and perhaps more 'intuitive' for guys- LOL! It has buckles (oooh ahh) and DH prefers that. I don't get it, but maybe it is just more manly that a 'sash.'

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

I have tried several baby carriers. I was all about buying what was cheap, but safe. My back and shoulders get sore really quick though, so the baby wearing didn't work out very well. I didn't know about Ergo baby right away, but there was no way I would have spent $100 for it. I wish I had it for my first two dds though.

I have tried Snuggli - awful. I tried an infant sling; baby did not like that. We tried framed carriers - too big and bulky. I tried the Ultimate Baby Wrap. It took too long to get on and didn't feel safe to me.

I wore one dd when she was 5 mo to DW in a Jeep carrier. That one was okay. The front of it kept coming up in her face and it left red marks on her legs. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't really comfortable either.

I finally caved in and got the Ergo. I love it! I don't hurt at all; dd was comfy and fell asleep in it several times. We used it in several positions, but when she became a toddler, her favorite was the hip position. I wore that at DW on another trip. I can't tell you how many moms stopped to ask me what kind of carrier it was. I should been paid for my advertising!

Now that she's older and getting close to 25 pounds, I can wear her on my back, and it's good to up to 35 pounds. You can also buy an insert for newborns and then you'll have one carrier from birth through toddlerhood.

 

[El&Asmom]

I wore dd2 in a Babyhawk Mei tai all over WDW when she was 9mo. It was very comfy, and as others have said, much better for her spinal and pelvic development. I also used a Hotsling and Sleeping Baby Productions ring sling for quick in/outs.
When dd3 was on her first trip in April at 5mo, I had discovered the Connnecta baby carrier. It is a cross between a mei tai and a buckle carrier. It is made out of solarweave, very light weight, and provided sun protection for dd. Again for quick up/downs, I used a ring sling.

I strongly recommend visiting thebabywearer.com. You will get a ton of help from some very experienced babywearers.

I had a bjorn for my first dd, and am so sad that we didn't have a great babywearing experience that I was able to have with my second two dds.

Good luck and have fun. It's great to be able to wear your baby at WDW taking them on rides instead of all the ups and downs with a stroller. Plus with such a young baby, they sleep so much that they will be able to sleep on you without you missing all of the action with a sleeping baby in a stroller.

 

[lindsmom]

I just started using a sleepy wrap for my new little guy. I absolutely LOVE it! I've used ring slings and didn't like how they pulled on my shoulder - probably just me, but it never felt adjusted securely. With this wrap (I THINK it's like a mei tai, but I'm not sure) I don't worry at all about how safe he is - it's like I'm pregnant all over again - and the design protects my back, so it really doesn't hurt after wearing for a while. It's very reasonably priced, too, which is why I could afford to try it out:

www.sleepywrap.com

 

[Adi12982]

I was going to get a Moby, but now I will be getting one of these (after doing more research). . . http://www.babyktan.com/ You can get them for under $40 from other places: http://www.google.com/products?q=baby+ktan&oe=utf-8&scoring=p

 

[Anonomom]

I highly recommend a pouch-style sling. I have a slingling, which is wonderful -- comfortable for me and for the baby, versatile and easy to use. I got mine from mamabargains.com for $18 plus shipping. If you have time before your trip, I definitely recommend keeping an eye on that site, since they often have baby carriers. They had the Baby Ktan there just a few weeks ago.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

I have a pikkolo carrier- made by Cat Bird Baby. A buckle carrier. It is similar to a Ergo. I can wear my DS front facing in/out, hip and back. It will work w/ yound babies. It has an adjustable crotch width. I got it after DS was too hard to wear in the bjorn. I soo wished I knew about this style carrier 10 yrs ago. I orginally intended to purchase a ergo. I tried it out in a little bouqitue shop in town. It totally did not fit right. It is worn like a backpack on your chest-- straps around the back of your shoulders. It didn't feel right. Now I am a larger size on the top so I think that had a lot to do w/ it. Another customer came in wearing the pikkolo and she had the same built as I. I tried the pikkolo and it fit soo good. I recently added the support belt for carrying DS bc he is now about 28 lbs. it helps level off the weight and adds a longer carrying time.

I have taken it the last 2 yrs to WDW w/ us and it is great. Last year we used it during Tropical Storm Fay. After a while we left the stroller in the room bc of all the rain-- I wore him w/ a poncho. My poncho had a rip down the front a bit-- it gave him a view out w.o getting wet. I have been using it the past few weeks at DS19 college football games. He sleeps really well in it.

I would recommend to definitely try it out the different styles first. There are a few places on line that have good deals on them too. I was able to get the support belt for $10 from an online shop.

Good luck with your trip -- We love bringing our little ones to WDW.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I loved my Baby Bjorn with my kids. That being said, if you are a parent that plans on carrying their child for awhile, a friend who has tried every single carrier you can think of said the hands down best carrier she has ever owned is called a Kozy Carrier. She loves it!!! One of the best things about this carrier is that it is a carrier that grows with your child. It's a mei-tai style carrier that allows you to wear your child in the front or on the back. Her kids are 3 and almost 6 and she can carry both of them still.

You can do a google search for it and the website will pop up. If I had the address I'd post it directly but I don't.

 

[stacy6552]

Our Baby Bjorn gets two thumbs way up! We used it at 11 mos and again at 20 at wdw. The straps easily adjust after transferring it between parents and you dont even have to take baby out of it to do so.

 

[SaraMc]

We have a baby bjorn and love it. We have used it at Disney and at home. We have the one with the extra back support. As long as its set up to your back properly its good.
I wouldnt bring the car seat into the parks, that's just me. I usually put DS and now DD when we were out in about in thier stollers lying down. Like a pram. They slept much better than the semi sitting position.

 

[rotlex]

My wife, and I swear by ring slings. Used one for our daughter, and now again for our son. We have had the baby bjorn type, but frankly, after using a sling, similar to these http://www.theslingstation.com/ringslings1.html We HATE the standard carriers that everyone swears by. (Too many straps, places to rub, and frankly, just uncomfortable for you and the child, for anything other than a quick jaunt to the mall).

The sling allows a baby, or even slightly older child, to lay more comfortably, look around if they chose, turn into you if they chose, and even nurse while you walk around.

Seriously, look into them. My wife ditched every other type of carrier after using one, and hasn't looked back since.

 

[lolafrances]

I agree with a lot of the previous posters that say wearing your baby at WDW is the way to go. We've been twice with our new baby at 5 weeks old and again at 3 months. You can't go on some rides obviously if you are wearing your baby (and some rides won't even let you stand in line - at the Speedway race car ride they wouldn't let me stand in line with my husband to help him get my two and four year olds through the line). I also find that my baby sleeps more in the carrier at the parks than he would in a stroller.

I have a Baby Bjorn but for some reason it is hurting my back a lot lately. I used another Baby Bjorn for my first two boys and don't remember having that problem. This thread has given me some new baby carriers to try, namely the Beco and the Ergo... so thanks for that! I have tried a ring sling but just couldn't get it to fit me right!

Anyway, try a lot of baby carriers and take the one that is right for you. And use the baby care centers! They are awesome for nursing and changing diapers.

 

[AKADrea]

Another babywearer here!

I had my 3 month old DS this time and wore him primarily in a Ring Sling made of a breathable material (solarveil) and a Mei Tai made of the same material. I did put in the Ergo a few times, but saved that for my bigger kiddos.

hmm, all the pics that I have of me wearing him are on my photopass pics that I can't put on here right now, LOL! (since I was the one taking most of the pictures!)

you might like this one...my DS2 in the ergo with a portable fan, LOL!

and about having a facing out carrier....there's going to be so much stimulation at DW, it's better to have your baby facing you so they aren't overwhelmed by everything.