Baby Carrier/Slings Recommendations

You got some fantastic advice here esp. from Karen! I just wanted to ditto the suggestions she made and to say that my son was the same way until about 4-5 months, then became more independent, but still LOVES being carried in the moby-type woven wrap, the ergo, and a sling from kangarookorner.com! Just beware if you are going to be a babywearing mom for the long-run, invest in something that has a higher weight limit than the bjorn (20lbs) and others that are similar! Have fun with it! It is a fantastic bonding experience!

I have used a Baby Bjorn for both of my children (daughter now 4 and son~ 6 months) It rocks! it's a bit on the expensive side, but you can find one usually at consignment shops or yard sales. Good luck:-)

O my gosh you have soooo many options! I would suggest doing some internet research. I think the most versatile is the ring sling. Dr. Sears has his official one which is the Nojo but I didn't really like it because it would not adjust small enough to fit me comfortably. The ones that are the most adjustable for comfort are the ring slings that have a flowing fabric tail or "open-tail sling". Here are some suggestions: Oopa Baby, Sleeping Baby Productions, ZoloWear, EllaRoo, Maya Wrap, Pretty Momma Sling

Since Traci already plugged me, I will go ahead and add to the suggestions you have already gotten! The one thing you want to look for in any good carrier is how the baby is held. Just think of how you hold your baby in your arms, they are held in the cradle hold, or on your arms or hip, but in both positions thay are butt below the knees. You do not hold them by their crotch and let their legs dangle down. Having them in a sitting or cradle posittion allows for their spines to curve in a natural C positiotn, instead of arching back as they tend to do when you support them only by their crotch. Thier spines curved correctly is better for baby, and less strain on your back when you hold them in a carrier.
That said, the Moby is a Stretchy Wrap, essentailly a long peice of cloth that you wrap around yourself and baby. Great for newborns and little ones, but does tend to stretch a bit to much after 25 lbs. There are also a large variety of woven wraps out there that are supportive for heavier weights that would work great now also.
HotSlings are great pouches which can be used from newborn up. I LOVE the ease of a pouch, but pouches and ring slings are one shoulder carriers, so may not be as comfortable on your back for long periods of time.
Mei Tais (or Asian back carriers) are rectangle peices of material with straps on top and bottom (think of a really pretty print Snugli with wide support for babies bottom and straps instead of buckles). They can be used to carry baby on front, hip or back.
Someone also mentioned the ERGO. This is a great carrier for all ages, and if you like that "structured, buckles" look, is a wonderful choice. This is the carrier I use most right now (along with my woven wrap), I have a 16 month old whom I back carry, while 27 weeks pregnant.
thebabywearer.com is a great site to go to , but very overwelming at first, you will literally see hundreds of choices!! Best bet is fine some near to you where you can try on carriers to see what is right for you. So many people try wearing their baby in one type of carrier and don't like it and quit - like the woman who posted and said she did not like the sling "but may not have been wearing it right" - getting help from someone with babywearing experience can make such a difference! Oh, and you can wear your baby in most carriers so that they can see what is going on. Or find a NINO meeting near you (Nine In Nine Out - the Babywearing Organization), you can find them at www.nineinnineout.org.
If you go to my website (Traci posted it), and go to Types of carrier up top, you can see a good explination of the different types of carriers that are out their.
We are in Felton, DE - not sure where you live, but if you send me a message, I may be able to track down a vendor near you.
Good luck and Happy Babywearing!!
K.

The Moby Wrap is wonderful. I use it with my 7 month old all of the time. It's great because it can be used to hold your baby (up to 3 years) in several different positions and offers the wearer lots of support, so your back is protected. I got mine on Ebay for around $35.

Hi S.,
My son also enjoyed being held/carried (I didn't read Sears, so I'm not sure if he's "high needs!") We LOVED the Moby Wrap www.mobywrap.com. It was wonderful around the house and often helped my son relax enough for a nap, even in high simiulus situations. I also use my Bjorn for the mall, grocery store, etc. Its especially helpful now that we've "graduated" from the infant seat to the convertible car seat. I like the flexibility of both of these carriers because the baby can sit several different ways, depending on your needs. My son is now 6 mo. old and VERY active. Both carriers now keep him happy and close to me when we don't have the option of letting him play on the floor. I hope this helps!

I would recommed the jeep front carrier. It worked wonderfully for me and my special needs baby. She was born very premature. And it keeps them in thier and very close. I did have to fold and blanket to put in the bottom, only because she was so small. I also had a sling, which was great, but it isn't that great in the heat. There isn't any air movement so they tend to sweat and overheat. But the Jeep front carrier is one that you can have in the front( on your chest) or on your back. And comes with safety clip/pin things along with the braided straps. I would give it a try. They have them at babies'r'us.

Playtex has the "Hip Hammock" which is made for bigger babies. It holds the baby on your hip rather than in front of or behind you.

Check out handsfreebaby.com. Karen T, another mamasource member, has every kind of carrier imaginable. I have a hotsling and I love it! I use it with my 8 month old and sometimes with my 3 year old. I also have a Moby Wrap which is very secure...but kind of cumbersome.

Karen can explain all of her products to you! She's awesome! Good luck! Traci

hi! After an unsuccesful sling, I got a hip hammock. It is the most wonderful thing (I think). I have a 4 yr old and now a 20 month old. I've been using it with my second one for about six months now (I used my arms before then and my back was killing me as well as my wrists)
On the hip hammock, my girl can be actively looking around and even taking part in playing with her sister (of course I'm her legs when we do this LOL). I've gone to the park with both of them and its the easiest. Stroller is not good enough since she doesn't feel the movement.
I hope this helps and you find what your baby needs to be comfy. Its not so bad having a baby who needs to be in our arms most of the time. Pretty soon, they'll be on their own, and much more sure of themselves :)

take care!
M.

I recommend an Ergo Baby Carrier. They are a bit pricy, but well worth it.

I had the snugli and realized it wasn't enough support for me. I then bought the Bjorn Active. It's expensive but well worth the money. Make sure it's the Active however, because it's the one that has the back support. The plain Bjorn's doesn't.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-1/qid=117260172...

Other mom's I know who had this problem, liked the Ergo over the Bjorn because it can be switched around so they baby can go on the back, although it's a two person job or a very tricky endevor to get them onto the back. Myself, I didn't like the way their legs sat in it when it was a front carrier, plus I am heavy set and it made me feel like I was squishing my baby.

http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/

But it seems that you are either a Bjorn kinda parent, or a Ergo parent. There wasn't really anyone who didn't have a preference for one of these two in the three parents groups I have been in.

Maya wraps, slings, and all those of the like, were great for under three months but proved problematic for most when they got a little heavier.
Good luck!

Hi S.,

My sister gave me a sling and I didnt like it. It never felt right, however, I may not have been using it properly. But if your baby is at all curious, I dont think the sling is the way to go, he wont be able to see everything going on.

We bought a Kelty backpack carrier when my son was 7 months old to hike in New Hampshire. It was the best purchase we made. My son loved it too. He is now 2 1/2 and still goes in it. Not AS crazy about it, because he can hike too, at least in his mind...They are expensive, but what other piece of equipment lasts that long. Its good up to 50 lbs.

Hope this helps!

I have a mayan wrap and an adjustable cloth sling from Baby Kangaroo. The mayan wrap can get a little complicated but it's a bit more versatile. It takes practice. The cloth sling didn't work as well for my daughter when she was younger but now that she is over 20lbs, it seems to work much better. I don't use it as often because she can walk, but I do especially when she is being really fussy. Hope this helps. My advice is to get together with people who has different slings and try them out yourself since everyone is different. You can also call Babies R Us. Sometimes they hold workshops on slings. There are doulas/childbirth educators/midwives who might show you slings. If you are in the Philadelphia area and would like to try the Mayan wrap or adjustable cloth wrap, feel free to contact me and come over to give them a try.

Good luck.
Y.

Hi there. Its Great that youre responding to your babies needs and temperment. Whatever carrier you choose, please make sure that the babies knees are higher than his pelvis. Thats is that his legs arent dangling straight down. I see many well intentioned parents carrying their little ones like this and it puts too much pressure on their spines. If you look at societies who traditionally 'wear' babies, the baby always has their knees higher than the pelvis until they can stand on their own. For me, I used the baby ergo because of my own back problems. I carried my son on my back and it came in handy especially in the airport!!! Three months is old enough to use the Ergo but you might need help getting him on the back. After a few times, I was able to do it myself.

I personally liked the ergo- I think the website is ergo.com ?? Anyway, the reason I liked it best was that I was able to use it all the way up until he was about 2 1/2. Then he simply got too tall for my short frame for me to carry him. But I know plenty of moms that carry their babes up until 3 maybe 4 in the ergo. So it lasts a long time. I would use it in situations where his legs would get tired but I wouldn't want to bring the stroller. I wish I would have bought it when he was as young as yours. I also like it because it does the front carry, back carry and side (hip) carry. Which was nice. I never really used a sling - except for the infantino from target- NOT a good buy. And unfortunately that turned me off from slings- thinking they were all like that. Wish I would have known better because a lot of mama's I know swear by them!

I absolutely suggest the Bjorn bany carrier. It's an investment, but it's WELL worth it. They are very comfortable and supportive. You wear it and you just feel secure, you're not worried about the baby falling out. It distributes the weight evenly on your back. As a bonus, they come in a variety of attractive colors, so you don't have to walk around with some pastel, frilly contraption on. Good Luck!

ok, so it looks like you have a lot of info to go on. i have an 8 month old and she was needy from day one. i tried the graco carrier that i used with my son 3 years earlier and it wasn't comfortable enough for longer than 15 minutes. i friend loaned me the baby bjorn when she was 4 months and i was so sorry i hadn't spent the money and bought one before then! as i said my daughter is now 8 months and almost 16pounds (she's a tall skinny girl) and we just tried the hip hammock for the first time today. it's not good in comparison, she was leaning towards the floor (on purpose) the whole time and it was a fight to get her to sit up straigt, she was on my left hip and now my left shoulder hurt and my right hip are sore, we went for a walk with my son and i don't think i would use it again for a walk, but it was better than nothing when i took her in a store that i needed to have my hands relatively free for. Someone stopped me in a store recently and said that they recomended the bjorn with the waist belt for support and i have to say, that now she is getting heavier, i would like to have that support too!

I also think thebabywearer.com is the best resource to pick a type of carrier. ;)

kiddiecradles.com is having a clearance sale, so I think that's worth looking into.

If you or someone close to you sews, you can make a few different types cheaply and see what you like. The directions at sleepingbaby.net are easy to follow. She also sells inexpensive slings.

The Snuggli/Graco/Baby Bjorn types aren't meant to be used very often. They're bad for baby's spine and hip development because they let the legs dangle down. For babies that like that upright carry, I'd look into the Ergo or mei tai, which support the legs properly.

Hi S.,
I'm not sure what weight this carrier goes up to but the Bjorn carrier was a wonderful investment. When they are infants they face you and when they are bigger you turn them around so they can see everything going on. It is pricy compared to some but I believe worth every penny. It is very supportive, I never had any worries. I've lent mine to people with newborns before they spent the money on it and they always ended up buying one of their own. Good luck, hope this helps.

Hi S.,
When my daughter was just home from the hospital, my mom bought me the Evenflow Snugli that is currently $19 something at Wal Mart. It didn't seem supportive unitl I practiced using it, but now I love it. My daughter is 11 months old now and we still use it. It isn't that great for around the house stuff, but when we are out, like waling at the mall (or when we went out looking at holiday stuff for Christmas), it saved my arms. My daughter too, is one that liked to be held often. I hate calling her high needs, but whatever you call it, be sure to hold him when you can. I have seen the benefits. My daughter stopped being so clingy around 5 1/2 months, and now she only wants to be held at certain times of the day, like when she is tired (she's 11 months). So aside from the snugli issue, when it gets frustrating, it does pass. I have also seen several woven things that look like over-sized purses. They were pretty popular at the midwife center I went to and the mothers there loved them and swear by them.
Good luck in your search!

i have a high-needs baby too.

i used a pouch sling until 4 months of age.

then i bought a MOBY WRAP and we are still using it at 17.5 months. i wish i had bought it from day one. i LOVE IT and rarely leave home without it.

it is inexpensive, versatile and comfortable.

Hi S.! FOr a carrier there are a few ways you can go. There are pouch slings, ring slings, asian carriers, wraps and hard carriers. I personally like my pouch sling. I have tried a wrap and I just couldn't get the hang of it. My pouch sling is a hotsling. www.hotsling.com There are many other brands out there. You may like a ring sling though as it is more adjustable. I also have a Baby Hawk Mei Tai which is great, but less versatile than the sling. It may be helpful for you to join The Baby Wearer Forum. They are people that are more experienced and you may even be able to buy a used carrier cheaper there. http://www.thebabywearer.com/ they also have lots of links that will help you as well! G/L and hope you find the right one for you! :)

i would recommend a meitai or a beco carrier, both can be worn in 5 different positions, and distribute the weight wonderfully. i swear by them now. here are the websites for them

http://www.meitaicarrier.com/ (lots of choices and customizations, put it on by tieing it on)

http://www.ecobabies.com/ (out of stock currently but will be stocking soon, more expensive, uses buckles)

Slings are very personal. No two work the same for each mom. I started with a bjorn, then bought a maya wrap which I found hard to use, although I probably should have practiced more often. Then when my daughter weighed more than 25 pounds it was too much to carry her if the front of me, so I had a friend of mine make me a mei tai. It's a really versatile asian design. I can carry her on my front, back or hip. And always have my hands free. It took me a bit to figure out how to get her on my back without help, (I used the help of a couch). But I LOVE my mei tai, and I would sell it no matter what. My daughter is now just about 2 and almost 30 lb....... I can still carry her, and the mei tai folds up pretty small so I can fit it in to me diaper bad when she wants to walk. Good luck finding the right carrier for you. Check out this link about mei tais to see what I am talking about.http://www.kozycarrier.homestead.com/instructions.html

I suggest you find a mom who sells carriers and she should let you try samples to see what fits you and your baby best.

I've been babywearing for 9.5 years now and have taught babywearing classes to hundreds of parents over the last 8 years. My experience is that there are many fantastic (and many not so great) carrier on the market and what will work best for you depends greatly on both you and your baby. Because of this it is a very good idea to try to find a place where you can test out different carriers for yourself. NINO (mentioned earlier in this thread) is a great resource. The Breastfeeding Center for Greater Washington http://www.breastfeedingcenter.org offers a monthly class, and I do a babywearing workshop on the first Saturday of each month at my home in Alexandria. http://thebabyhammock.com/BabywearingWorkshop.htm

Regardless of where you decide to go I would highly recommend that you bring your baby with you so that you can test the different carriers with him. My second child absolutely lived in the Maya Wrap from birth til 9 mos and then an ERGO Carrier from 9 mos until about 3 when she preferred to walk most of the time. She's 5.5 now and I had her in the ERGO this past weekend when we went hiking in the snow on Skyline Dr. She hiked for about an hour and a half before her feet froze and she was exhausted...then the ERGO was a lifesaver!

T.