Baby carrier/wrap/sling recs?

nynaeve77

I didn't do any sort of baby carrier with Danae, but I'm thinking I might want to with this baby, especially since I have an active preschooler who is not a fan of strollers. I'm looking for something that's not too heavy since I'm pretty top-heavy already, so I don't want to put too much strain on my back. Any suggestions?

Brown_Eyed_Girl

My favorite when Lydia was a newborn was a wrap. I liked how it kept her snug against my chest and spread the weight over two shoulders. I never bought one although there are really nice ones you can buy! Here is where I found directions for making one (really easy!)

Also, I know a lot of people who like ring slings for newborns because you can easily nurse the baby in the sling

Delma

Ergo!

PixieCurl

For the early days, a stretchy wrap is best IMO. You can make your own as BEG suggested or you can buy a Moby or Sleepy Wrap for around $40.

Brown_Eyed_Girl

I really liked the Ergo when Lydia was bigger and on my back a lot, but I didn't like it when she was small.

PixieCurl

I just wanted to add that whatever carrier you get, I would look for something where you can hold newborns in an upright tummy-to-tummy hold, since a lot of newborns don't like the cradle position. You can do that with wraps, ring slings, some pouches (Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch is good for this and would be great in the winter), mei tais, or an Ergo with the new Heart2Heart infant insert.

nynaeve77

Thanks for the recommendations. I really do think that a wrap or something will be so much easier for me than trying to wrangle a stroller + Danae, at least while the baby is smaller. Plus, maybe I can actually get some work done...LOL

PixieCurl

nynaeve77 wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendations. I really do think that a wrap or something will be so much easier for me than trying to wrangle a stroller + Danae, at least while the baby is smaller. Plus, maybe I can actually get some work done...LOL

Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part, but I'm really thinking I'll wear new baby in a wrap all.the.time and just go about my usual business with Sol. You can even nurse in most carriers (though it may take some practice).

Delma

You know I hated my moby, I guess if I had used it more maybe I would have got the hang of it. It just wasn't user friendly for me, but if you want the versatility of a wrap but more user friendly for the NB stage you might want to try this:

http://www.babyktan.com/


I tried one at a show and found it to be way easier than the moby , not good for me though cause I have a chunka baby..LOL

deedles

I am probably going to go with a Moby for when he is still small (i found a vid on youtube and it really doesn't seem that hard...I hope) and an ergo for a bit later..

no matter what you select have Pixie attach her video with Sol with the carrier... I get the biggest kick out of it!!

Delma

it's not really that its hard it just not as easy to pop 'em in and out.

geeky

PixieCurl wrote: »

nynaeve77 wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendations. I really do think that a wrap or something will be so much easier for me than trying to wrangle a stroller + Danae, at least while the baby is smaller. Plus, maybe I can actually get some work done...LOL

Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part, but I'm really thinking I'll wear new baby in a wrap all.the.time and just go about my usual business with Sol. You can even nurse in most carriers (though it may take some practice).

I don't think it's wishful thinking. I was able to do that with Nadia for a few months.

medussa

geeky wrote: »

PixieCurl wrote: »

nynaeve77 wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendations. I really do think that a wrap or something will be so much easier for me than trying to wrangle a stroller + Danae, at least while the baby is smaller. Plus, maybe I can actually get some work done...LOL

Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part, but I'm really thinking I'll wear new baby in a wrap all.the.time and just go about my usual business with Sol. You can even nurse in most carriers (though it may take some practice).

I don't think it's wishful thinking. I was able to do that with Nadia for a few months.

I find it cumbersome. I can't bend over and I certainly can't carry Lilly when I'm wearing Madeline. I feel like there's this ultra fragile bump in between me and whatever I need to do. If I'm hanging out doing nothing, it's OK. But when I'm actively doing something, I just prefer for her to be on my back. Any suggestions for a carrier that will allow me to carry a 2/3 month old on my back?

PixieCurl

medussa - a woven wrap would work for back carries. I also think you could also do a high back carry with a mei tai at that age (just tying the "waist" straps up high, over your breasts).

deezee02

medussa wrote: »

geeky wrote: »

PixieCurl wrote: »

Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part, but I'm really thinking I'll wear new baby in a wrap all.the.time and just go about my usual business with Sol. You can even nurse in most carriers (though it may take some practice).

I don't think it's wishful thinking. I was able to do that with Nadia for a few months.

I find it cumbersome. I can't bend over and I certainly can't carry Lilly when I'm wearing Madeline. I feel like there's this ultra fragile bump in between me and whatever I need to do. If I'm hanging out doing nothing, it's OK. But when I'm actively doing something, I just prefer for her to be on my back. Any suggestions for a carrier that will allow me to carry a 2/3 month old on my back?

Ditto this...I believe if Steven was older or Callie was not such a wiggly baby, it would be great...but as she is getting bigger I am finding it harder and harder to wear her when I am trying to do things such as cleaning or playing with Steven.

PixieCurl

I think you both would really like back carries. There are some YouTube videos with newborn back carries in a wrap, and while it's usually recommended to use a woven for back carries, if you make sure to get it nice and snug I think a stretchy would be okay for a tiny baby.

deezee02

I do have to get a woven wrap...Callie is..well...a chunk and is getting too heavy to put into the stretch anymore.

So...any tutes on how to make my own woven wrap, I would love to buy one, but that is NOT in the budget right now.

Brown_Eyed_Girl

Deezee, the link I posted above also tells how to choose fabric for a woven wrap. If you buy a fabric that is narrow enough, you may not have to even hem the sides.

mayim

i have loved my mei tai (babyhawk) for lydia from newborn to now (toddler). even though i've tried slings, rebozos, stretchy and woven wraps, it's been the one i've consistently loved.

i do use the rebozo s.o.'s mom sent from guatemala for hip carries a lot now, i did not like slings when she was tiny.

hth!

m

deezee02

I totally knew that! That is where I figured out how to make my stretchy one...

Chasing after 2 is making my memory crap!

medussa

deezee02 wrote: »

Chasing after 2 is making my memory crap!

Just wait until you have another. Total brain mush.

Kaia

PixieCurl wrote: »

nynaeve77 wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendations. I really do think that a wrap or something will be so much easier for me than trying to wrangle a stroller + Danae, at least while the baby is smaller. Plus, maybe I can actually get some work done...LOL

Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part, but I'm really thinking I'll wear new baby in a wrap all.the.time and just go about my usual business with Sol. You can even nurse in most carriers (though it may take some practice).

Not wishful thinking at all. Ethan pretty much lives on my back. I wouldn't do something where I;m bent over the whole time, but I do just about anything else. And the best part is that he loves it! He always gets a big grin on his face as I;m swinging him up and tying. He gets the best view and if he gets tired, he just snuggles his face into myt neck/back and falls asleep.

As far as the OP, my suggestion would be a woven wrap. TBH I never found a need for a stretchy with a newborn, and a good woven will last through toddlerhood.

Mamacurl3

mei tai, still put my 2yr old in it from time to time in a high back rucksack carry. started putting her in it when she was about 2mos.
thank goodness for baby carriers, they are such a huge lifesaver!! with 2 busy kids (preschooler and toddler and colicky newborn baby who insisted on being held and moving all of the time for every waking minute of the first 4mos of her life), being able to put her in and wear her around was a godsend. I think that it really depends on the baby, some prefer being held upright, some cradled, some more snug others not. having the perfect carrier is very relative and dependent on Mom and baby.

nynaeve77

Kaia, completely OT (but since this is my thread, I'll do it anyway!), but your username is actually one of the names we're considering if we have a girl. Hubs part Scandinavian, so he likes that it comes from that background...I just think it's pretty and goes well w/ big sis's name.

sarah42

I love(d) my mei tai. When O was a newborn, I wore him on the front, and we eventually went to back carries when he could hold his head up. It was a lifesaver when I went to the grocery store, family get-togethers, etc. When he became mobile, he stopped tolerating being worn very much, but it was great for the earlier months.

geeky

I am loving my mei tai (kozy) too. I prefered the stretchy wraps when she was small, but once she got big enough to comfortably have her legs hanging out of the mei tai that is the one I reach for consistently. I have a woven wrap too, but I don't use it as much, probably because I can't put that on as easily when out and about.

goldy

My babe will be 4 weeks on Wednesday and he loves being in any carrier. That being said my hubby has been using the Beco Butterfly and the two of them both seem to love it. It is probably the easiest to learn and it's nice that you can take the carrier off with babe inside and switch who is carrying them (though we haven't done this yet). I just started using the Moby wrap yesterday and was able to walk the dog, mop the house, and make dinner while wearing him. He's very snug and comfortable in there once it's on, but it's a ton of fabric (especially for me since I'm pretty petite) so it can get warm (since it's still in the 80s-90s here), and it's a little annoying throwing fabric everywhere to get it on. But I love that I can distribute the weight just by adjusting how I have it strapped over my shoulders (wider v. narrower). Lastly we have the hotslings, which right now is the one I've used the most, but I don't love getting him in and out. Also when he's in I'm constantly concerned about his airway.
That being said I really want a mei tai, I've been eyeing the Babyhawk forever -- and will probably break down and buy one soon, it just seems so convenient and easy to use.