I currently have the Native Carrier sling. THis sling is great but I can already tell it won't last long as my baby will soon outgrow it. I'd say I have one more month of use. The slings are also difficult when bending over. So, I'm looking at different carriers such as the Bjorn,backpack carriers, and the hip carrier. I'm really leaning towards the Ella Roo hip carrier as I feel baby is most secure when there are straps and buckles rather than just stretched material held together by a ring. If any of you aboslutely LOVE your carrier or HATE your carrier,please let me know. I'd like to buy a new carrier this week so recomendations would be appreciated. One that lasts up to toddler years would be best. Thanks.
I love my Baby Bjorn! It is much stronger and more comfortable than the cheaper brand, which was so flimsy I did not trust it.
Good luck!
M.
"Mom on a Mission"
www.GoodHealthMadeSimple.com/M.
I use the Maya Wrap (a similar ring sling) from day 1 to 2-3 years old, it's always worked great for me!
A.
I have several carriers. I LOVE my Beco for ease of use and comfort. I also have a few wraps (one DIY, and 2 wovens), a mei tai and a ring sling. I think they all work great for different things. I've used the ring sling at a party where I knew my daughter would be passed around alot, and a wrap at a party where I knew she'd fall asleep within a few minutes of arriving. The Beco is great for the grocery store because I can pop her in and out easily. I second the suggestion of visiting the new store on Plano Road in Richardson to try a few things to see what works best for you and your little one. You could also visit thebabywearer.com to read reviews of different carriers.
I really would suggest a Baby Hawk Mei Tai carrier. No hoops, buckles (on the one that I got) to pinch or bind both the carrier and the carried! I have tried ALOT of different kinds of carriers and this one rocks! It's SO comfortable and you can carry on front, back and hip. It really helps to keep the weight balance and both sides of your body and causes no pressure anywhere. It carries a child up to 40 pounds but I'm not sure if you'd want to do that! It's pricey but will worth it. I tried another that was similar and had to send it back because it had no padding on the shoulder straps. I ended up finding a great deal on a used one on Craig's list.
C.
I really love my ergo (ergobaby.com) I didnt get it until my son was over a year old, but before that we had a beco (becobabycarrier.com) both are fantastic and super comfortable and you can use them for a front, back or hip carry :) I had the ellaroo hip carrier, but after my son was a year old, I had to sell it.
I have the Envenflo Snugli--it was $19.99 at Babies R Us and is rated one of the best. I like it b/c the baby can face front or back.
K.,
I have two and love them both, I think each has it's own advantages. They both worked great for different stages and activities. One is the Baby Bjorn and the other is the Ultimate Baby wrap- http://www.thenestingplace.biz/ultimateBW.html I included a link in case you have not heard of that one. I breast feed do it worked great for feeding, it allowed me to be discreet & have some privacy. The Bjorn was easier to learn how to use then the ultimate baby wrap, but it was easy too once you got the hang of it. I could wear the wrap for a longer amount of time, it also made me feel like Layla was held more securely to me. I did love them both.
HTH,
R., mother of Layla 17mos
My best friend has a Beco, and she thinks it's the best carrier ever, and people always ask about it when we go out in public. It's very sturdy and well worth the money.
http://www.becobabycarrier.com/
I agree w/ previous poster about how great the baby hawk was when i tried it on. However, you may want to evaluate whether you want a mei tai w/ all its straps or not. some people don't use their expensive mei tais b/c they figure out afterwards that they're not into straps.
Baby Bjorns are really great until about 15 lbs which is when my back really started to ache. thus the bjorns don't have much longevity.
If you like the bjorn type carrier, you may want to consider the ergo carrier, and if you like prettier fabrics like mei tais w/o the straps (aka structured carrier) then maybe a beco. There's a couple more brands of structured carriers but i am no expert. You should goto a NINO meeting in richardson or visit Peppermint's baby boutique in richardson (1778 North Plano Rd). the nino meetings have tonz of carriers that you can try & see how u like them. when i went, i really wanted to try the kozy mei tai b/c i heard most pple liked it, but i found the baby hawk to be more comfortable to me.
i went w/ the ergo & i would recommend it w/o reservation. I went w/ the ergo b/c my husband doesn't mind carrying w/ the ergo but i know he'd never try to figure out how to carry in a mei tai. i find that for longevity, a carrier that's on one shoulder won't last too long for me (but i have weak shoulders too). My 22 mo (over 25 lbs) old still wants to be carried when sick & the ergo's come in very handy. I don't think my weak shoulders could handle a hip carry as well.
The Ergo carrier is one of the top rated baby carriers. Although a bit on the expensive side ($90 and up) it's money well spent. You can check out this site: http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/
Hope that helps & wish you luck!
Ellaroo has both a mei tai & a mei hip that are both great. But my favorite soft-structured carrier is the Beco. They cost a little more, but they distribute most of the weight to your hips. They are like a cross between a mei tai & a hiking backpack. And you can carry up to 45 lbs in it, making toddlers & preschoolers easier to handle.
I have the Fairy Godmother sling (available at the Baylor Mom's shop), which is a lot like the Hot Sling (available at Right Start and the Target at City Place near downtown Dallas - though it seems like they had them on clearance, so maybe not). They're both by local moms! It's a simple pocket-style sling. Literally just a folded piece of fabric sewn into a circle. I've used it since my one-year-old daughter was a newborn. I now use it as a hip holder, and have even started to try to swing her around to my back sometimes when I need both arms. There are directions on their website. http://www.myfairygodmother.biz/ I love that it's so compact. I usually keep it in the car, but it's also super easy to stuff in the diaper bag. It's been a life saver when we travel, plus you get all of those "how cute" comments!
There is a great new shop, Peppermint Boutique, in Richardson at Campbell & Plano Roads, where you can go and try on LOTS of different types of baby carriers. They'll help you find the best fit for you, show you how they all work, and offer training on how to use it safely.
I love my homeade Moby Wrap. My son is 18 months and still fits in it comfortably.
Ergo Baby Carrier - I LOVE it; It's a front, back and hip carrier depending on how you set it up. You can see the direction demo online at their website. It holds up to 40 lbs. Very comfy. http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/support/ - Good luck!
