Infant carrier help

[katie111]

I am headed to Orlando next month with my DD5, DS4, and DS 9 months. We've been to Disney before with the older ones but this will be my first trip there with a baby. I plan to bring a stroller for the baby but I'm thinking it would be helpful to have some type of carrier as well because I know I'll be holding him a lot as we're waiting in lines or if he just gets tired of the stroller. I have a Bjorn carrier which he loves but it kills my back and shoulders after a short period. Does anyone have any other suggestions for a good carrier? Also any other tips on Disney with a baby?

 

[labdogs42]

Maya wrap sling, all the way!!

 

[mommy2savannah]

I went last month with my 22 lb 6 month old. I used my bjorn to carry him and it made my back hurt soooo badly! I wish I had taken the advice of others on this board and invested in one of the other baby carriers. The entire vacation was just painful for me!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I used a mei tai carrier for our first trip to Disneyland when DS was almost 1.5. Later I found the Ergo, which has buckles instead of long straps to tie, and that was very nice. Especially since you've been using the Bjorn, you might like something like that with buckles, but with more support for you AND your baby. Another carrier similar to the Ergo is the Beco and I have heard great things about the Beco.

Please note however that if you've been doing the thing that Bjorn users tend to do, which is wear a baby with the baby facing out, you cannot do that with an Ergo (not sure about the Beco). But everyone will be so much more comfy, that baby will quickly learn to interact on the sly (LOL) with the people behind you, and to see the view you're leaving behind.

 

[Ariel8676]

I would also suggest a Beco http://becobabycarrier.com/ baby can't face out, but it is nice to be able to put them on your back and be totally hands free.
I always use a babyhawk Mei Tei..actually now i use a toddlerhawk (i dont mind tying) http://www.babyhawk.com/
A nice comfy ring sling might be another option, but i would bring that as a second carrier for quick trips...a two shouldered carrier would be the best option.
If you check out http://thebabywearer.com/ you can get a ton of info and they have a for sale or trade (FSOT)..where you can get gently used carriers for good prices so you can try different carriers and see what works best. They alo have a vendors forum where you can find out about a lot of sales!!
Good Luck!!! PM me know if you have any questions!

Also i would bring a change of clothes for the baby..and dress in layers..February is a wacky time weather wise.
When are you going??? Ill be down the end of the month.

 

[HamTown]

On our last trip, our DD, then 7 mo, spent almost the entire trip in our Bjorn. When she was awake, she was facing out, nap time I just flipped her around and off she went to dreamland. It was great. She was the easiest of my 3 by far. You didn't mention if anyone else is going with you, but I did pass her off to her daddy for a while each day and he wore her. The Bjorn is pretty accomodating.

Only tip I have is to make sure you have an extra outfit. Trying to find infant clothes in AK is not always the easiest.

 

[two-foxes]

As an owner of a Babyhawk, Bjorn Active, Belle, Hotsling and Ergo (I know I am obsessive about carriers) I would 1000% recommend the Ergo. I wish we actually owned it when we took our trip. It is an amazing, easy to use, easy to pack and oh, so comfortable carrier....particularly for an older infant. I love the Babyhawk, too, but the straps can be a pain when you are putting it on, and if you happen to be standing near a puddle, well, your straps are wet.

Good luck!


My other tips....use the baby care centers for diaper changes, if you can. Clean, warm, and leisurely changes were great compared to the dirty, loud and often crowded bathrooms. Although the amenities overall have a bit to be desired, it is a nice place to be able to take a few minutes and feed the baby in a high chair or have a quiet break to feed a bottle, too. Just beware, there is no way to really heat a bottle easily there. They have a microwave...the one CM actually told me I could heat my bottles in there...then I politely pointed out the sign to him that said "Never heat your bottles in the microwave" that was posted right next to it! Anyways, they do have a water cooler that gives out VERY hot water...if you have a larger cup with you, you can drop your bottle in that. They also have stage 2 and 3 foods there, Nestle Good Start formula, and misc first aid stuff and minor "fix it" things, as well as sunscreen, bibs, onesies, etc....If you are still nursing, they have nursing rooms, too.

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

Fellow toddlerhawk wearer here too! Actually use a toddlerhawk for my 27lb 1 year old and a freehand for my 30-something pound teeny nearly 4 year old (I carry one, dh carries the other - although she doesn't often need it, DH has been known to carry our v.large nearly 5 year old in the freehand too!)

 

[labdogs42]

Another diaper changing tip -- I changed my DS right in his stroller a number of times. I just reclined it and parked in a discreet spot and changed him (especially if he was only wet). It was way easier than dragging him and all my stuff into a bathroom to change him. I love the baby care centers, too, but the stroller was a good option when a we weren't close to a center.

 

[design_mom]

I love my Ergo baby carrier, too (and have heard great things about the Beco).

When we went when DD was 18 months, we didn't even take a stroller into the parks on two days. It was so much easier and more convenient to carry her in the Ergo and my back didn't hurt at all. If you wear it properly (belt low around your hips and tight) it transfers almost all the weight to your hips and your shoulders and back don't hurt at all. (I've also tried a maya wrap, a bjorn, and a hip hammock -- and all of those make my shoulders/back hurt after a while.)

 

[emh1129]

I would think a ring sling would be the easiest, but I love our toddlerhawk, too.
I have a bunch of carriers, but I haven't tried the Ergo yet. That one seems to be popular, too. Basically, any of those will be better than the Bjorn!

 

[GoinToDisney]

I love, love, love my Ergo. I liked the bjorn, but it killed my back after my dd got bigger. Plus I worried about her spine in that thing, but the Ergo puts their legs in a different position, and it is safer for the baby's spine. I have back and neck problems and was still able to use it a lot. The Ergo totally saved my back and hip when my dd was 18 months old and cutting eye teeth. I also had to totally wean her about 3 days before that due to medication I had to take. Tried all the safe stuff, but had to move to an unsafe med. Poor baby needed to be held all day for 2 days straight. She was a chubby little thing, and I had my brother's wedding the first day of it with her on my hip, even during the whole ceremony. By the end of the night, I was beyond sore. I almost cried when I saw that she was going to need to be held all day the next day, but I put her in the Ergo, and we were both happy. I think the Ergo might be better for sharing with your dh too. It is not as feminine as some of the wraps and other styles. My dh would only use the carriers with buckles and we had to get black.

 

[tanyaandallie]

At 9 mos, I'd skip the ring sling. I LOVE the ring sling, but for any long term carrying at Disney, I would highly recommend a 2 shoulder carrier.

I think you could get away with either a mei tai or a soft structured carrier. Either is going to be more comfortable than a baby bjorn.

I LOVER our baby hawk mei tai and our BECO baby carrier. Highly recommend both.

 

[stacy6552]

I had a Bjorn. I have sold Bjorns. If I may, I's like to make a suggestion. I has been my experience that Almost always, if a Bjorn is bothering your back, you are wearing the baby too low. Put him on and tighten those straps, until the baby's head is almost up to your chin. Then do a trial run around the mall or at the baby gear store, looking for something else. I really think the discomfort is because the baby is too low.

 

[bunnyscootles]

I've got an Ergo, Toddler Patapum, (SCC's) Maya wrap, (Ring sling) Hopp (Woven wrap), Hotsling, (pouch) Kozy (mei tai) - there've been several others in and out of our house, I'm taking uhmmm maybe them all

High and tight is really important to babywearing, they are closer to your center of gravity, less pulling on your shoulders and back.
The main problem I see with some carriers is that baby is hanging as apposed to sitting in the carrier. Where the carrier puts babies weight is important too, you want all that weight spread out evenly and mostly on your hips.
9 months is a great time to move to your back, bigger babies are going to be a strain after awhile on your front anyway, no one carries a heavy backpack on their front!
There have been good carriers recommended - you would probably like a soft structured carrier, since the bjorn is what your used to. There are only about 3 carries to do with these (front, hip and back) but they are simple on and off, dad likes them, grandma can figure them out.
Most people who try on an Ergo, Beco, Patapum, or other SCC are shocked, the baby almost feels weightless!! I've had people run me down asking about my carriers lol

 

[katie111]

Thank you all so much for all the suggestions! I think I am going to go with the Ergo as it seems to be as popular as the Beco but a little bit cheaper. I will also try the suggestion about the Bjorn as I know I have definitely been wearing mine way too low based on your description. Unfortunately DH is not going on this trip as he has a conference but my sister (no kids) is going with me. She's awesome with my kids but she does have her limits so I don't think we'll be taking turns wearing the baby, I think that responsibility will fall on me.

 

[KariC]

I just had to post....after reading all of these, and really playing around on the babywearer website, I bought my first babyhawk last night. I'm so excited! Hope it comes before our trip to Disney.

(I have 2 bjorns left over from the twins, a hotsling pouch, an ultimate baby wrap - not working well for us -, and have been wanting something else).

thanks, OP for posting. thanks others for replying.

 

[glass slipper girl]

I used a Babyhawk on our trip when DS was 3.5 months. I loved it and could carry him comfortably in it for a long time. There were times when I would like to have had DH carry him some but DH flat out refuses to wear a MT carrier. I even made sure that teh reverse of the Babyhawk was just plain khaki but DH won't wear it b/c of the ties. Our 2nd trip with baby was when he was 14 months and 27 lbs. I KNEW I would want DH to carry him some so I bought a Toddler Patapum. While I like it while I am carrying him, I can not for the life of me get him into it and all hooked up right by myself. I can sort of do it when he's in a front carry but for the back, it's a 2 person job getting him in and out of there! I wore him on my back to AK and we skipped baby swapping on a few things because it was such a pita to get him in and out of there and I couldn't ride anything with him on my back. Because it was such a PITA we didn't use the carrier much at all. When I do use it, I like it but for some reason I just can't fasten the top strap behind me by myself. I have a hard time adjusting the length on the straps by myself...it's just tough all around. I used a Bjorn and a structured backpack (the hard kind...not good for WDW) with my older two and had absolutely no issue using them alone. I have no problem getting him tied into the Babyhawk front or back by myself but he's getting a bit tall for it now. Others don't have my issues with the Patapum and it is a good carrier...just sharing my frustration with it. I will likely sell it before too long. I'm going to give it a few more tries first but if it doesn't get easier it will need a new home.

 

[two-foxes]

I used a Babyhawk on our trip when DS was 3.5 months. I loved it and could carry him comfortably in it for a long time.

DS was never comfortable in the Babyhawk until he got a bit bigger...about 4-5 months or so. My his little legs wrapped around my still chubby belly didn't seem to be such a comfortable thing for him until he got a bit larger. I wish I could have used mine when he was 3 months!

To the OP, you will love the Ergo! Good choice!

 

[jasbellehontas]

I would like to ask a stupid question, please! lol I didn't do any babywearing with my DD (although I definitely should have bc she was colic). I want to do it this time around but I will be having another c-sec. Do I need to wait like 3 months before I can babywear with any of this suggestions or does it not put any pressure on the wound?