Please tell me your favorite sling/wrap/carrier..

mcgeeva

Afternoon!

So I am thinking for second time around I will most likely be running after my son so a wrap/sling would be better over a double stroller he wont sit in. I have a bjorn which is great when walking the dog etc but I want something that I can use earlier on with a newborn and one that I would be able to nurse in as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I want to start getting wants/needs before this one pops out but haven't the slightest about slings and wraps.

mdiblasi10

I only tried three - a Moby, the Ergo (with the infant insert) and later on the Bjorn. By far, my favorite was my Ergo. I still use it! The Moby was too complicated for me. I didn't try any of the other wraps or wring slings, but there may be some good ones out there. The Bjorn was so uncomfortable for me. The Ergo can be worn on front or back, and the infant insert allows you to wear them from day one. G loved that thing so much those first 4 to 5 months. I did nurse him in it a few times, but I am guessing that a wrap or sling would be easier to nurse with as the positioning for me wasn't perfect.

I can't believe you are 30 weeks already!!!!  

Robeano

I have a Manduca and it's wonderful. It's very similar to the Ergo. But it comes with the infant section, it doesn't cost extra. It can be worn front, back and side, as the child grows.

ccam

I had the Moby and Ergo.  The Moby was tricky, especially to do by myself, but once I got it, it was awesome.  I used it a lot in the very beginning, mostly when I was home and he didn't want to be put down.  I never tried to BF in it because BFing for me was a difficult process!!  But I think it could work. 

The Ergo was my favorite though.  And if we have #2, I'll definitely be getting the infant insert.  So easy to do by myself and DS loved it.  I probably could still put him in it now if he sat still for a minute!  It was easy on my back, too.  The only downside is that it can not be used forward facing, but it can be used on your back.  And it has pockets, which is always a plus

ETA:  The Ergo does have a little sleeping hood that you can pull over the back of the babies head which would make BFing easier, I'd think.

mcgeeva

Sweet I will definitely look these up! I know it time is flying by! Starting to freak out since I don't have  the baby's room done or anything. DS is still in his crib so debating when to make the switch. Two my @hole neighbors kids (12 yr old) got in DS crib and broke it! He has surgery next week so waiting on the manufacturer to get back to me since I can't reach the mattress sitting on the floor on the bottom of the crib since my belly is so big. I don't want to just drop him in there. Sorry so random..this is what happens when DH is constantly out of town and I have so many things on my to do list before this baby shows up. How does time pass so fast?!!!

mcgeeva

The back is cool since I have never tried that. I can definitely see how if on your back you could use it that much longer!

TJ1979

Stalking this thread!

I loved my moby! I have a hotsling too that I really liked for a hip carry as E got older, but I never tried it with her as a newborn. I am really interested in a ktan.

Ugh about the crib! So frustrating when YH can't handle these issues!

mcgeeva

TJ1979 Girl trust me if he was here I would make him! He is  on the poooooooooooo list. He did not schedule the alarm people before he left town again..so took a sleeping pill mid through the night to get some sort of sleep. But after chewing him out when he finally called after he got back from watching a football game last night they should be arriving tonight. Men suck at getting things done

mcgeeva

Wow sorry everyone! I can't seem to stop bitching today and going off on random thoughts. My bad

queenbone

I used a Bjorn with my first 2, but it was a handmedown, and I gave it back to my friend because she had an oops!

I have been using the moby that I never liked the first time. It works fine, it just takes so long to put on. I find it is best to put it on before I leave the house and then leave it on while I'm driving doing drop offs and running errands. I think something that could snap o would be preferable. (But I'm too cheap to buy something new!)

mcgeeva

queenbone I hear ya I hate to spend the money if I don't have to. That's why I figured scratch a double stroller just spend money on a wrap and shoot using all old ds clothes so I should be good to go. Maybe I'll treat myself to some new nipples for his bottles haha. woowoo!

luvboston

Lilibaby

queenbone

mcgeeva said:

queenbone I hear ya I hate to spend the money if I don't have to. That's why I figured scratch a double stroller just spend money on a wrap and shoot using all old ds clothes so I should be good to go. Maybe I'll treat myself to some new nipples for his bottles haha. woowoo!

Exactly! Whe DS2 was born all I needed was (1) new changing pad cover, a pack of washcloths, and new nipples.

DS1 was 3.25 when DS2 was born so I thought I could get away w/o a double stroller. I caved and got one a few moths in because DS1 kept pitching fits when it was time to leave the park. It is no fun to push a stroller and carry a fit pitching three yr old under your arm for 7 blocks! I bought a graco double stroller, but not the one from Target, I needed the 5 pt harness to contain him; The Target one only has a lap belt. A sit-n-stand wouldn't have worked for him! lol

PurpleIris30

We have an Ergo with an infant insert. I just ordered a Beco Gemini, which is similar to the Ergo but doesn't require a special infant insert and you can also carry babies facing out. No personal experience yet.

mcgeeva

queenbone said:

mcgeeva said:

queenbone I hear ya I hate to spend the money if I don't have to. That's why I figured scratch a double stroller just spend money on a wrap and shoot using all old ds clothes so I should be good to go. Maybe I'll treat myself to some new nipples for his bottles haha. woowoo!

Exactly! Whe DS2 was born all I needed was (1) new changing pad cover, a pack of washcloths, and new nipples.

DS1 was 3.25 when DS2 was born so I thought I could get away w/o a double stroller. I caved and got one a few moths in because DS1 kept pitching fits when it was time to leave the park. It is no fun to push a stroller and carry a fit pitching three yr old under your arm for 7 blocks! I bought a graco double stroller, but not the one from Target, I needed the 5 pt harness to contain him; The Target one only has a lap belt. A sit-n-stand wouldn't have worked for him! lol

Hillarious! I swear I can't get my son to sit in a stroller anymore. Shoot getting into a carseat is bad enough! I tried looking at strollers specifically a sit and stand and he was crawling into every stroller then running away. Eventually I gave up looking and called it a day. Figured let him run and ill use a sling for the other. Question for you..did you always know you wanted three kids even with the chance of the third being a boy as well?

queenbone

mcgeeva said:

queenbone said:

mcgeeva said:

queenbone I hear ya I hate to spend the money if I don't have to. That's why I figured scratch a double stroller just spend money on a wrap and shoot using all old ds clothes so I should be good to go. Maybe I'll treat myself to some new nipples for his bottles haha. woowoo!

Exactly! Whe DS2 was born all I needed was (1) new changing pad cover, a pack of washcloths, and new nipples.

DS1 was 3.25 when DS2 was born so I thought I could get away w/o a double stroller. I caved and got one a few moths in because DS1 kept pitching fits when it was time to leave the park. It is no fun to push a stroller and carry a fit pitching three yr old under your arm for 7 blocks! I bought a graco double stroller, but not the one from Target, I needed the 5 pt harness to contain him; The Target one only has a lap belt. A sit-n-stand wouldn't have worked for him! lol

Hillarious! I swear I can't get my son to sit in a stroller anymore. Shoot getting into a carseat is bad enough! I tried looking at strollers specifically a sit and stand and he was crawling into every stroller then running away. Eventually I gave up looking and called it a day. Figured let him run and ill use a sling for the other. Question for you..did you always know you wanted three kids even with the chance of the third being a boy as well?

Yes, we always wanted 3. DH is one of 3 and I am 1 of 2.  I think it is helpful to have a spare sibling in case you don't get along with one of them. (Hopefully nobody feels left out.)

mcgeeva

Thanks guys I will have to go try some on if I can somewhere.

pb_bride

I had a K'Tan and an Ergo.  The K'Tan is similar to the Moby, except that you don't need to wrap all that fabric around you; it comes in like a X-shape and I find it easier to use than the Moby.  I used it for the first few months, but M was never a fan of it.  He would scream and cry - until either he falls asleep or I give up.

I still use the Ergo (M is 14 months) but I wish I had the Beco.  My friend has it and as PP said, baby can face forward in the Beco.  M is okay in the Ergo but he is always turning his head around to see what's going on.  I think he would be much happier in the Beco facing forward.  I know I can do backcarry with the Ergo (so M can face forward), but it's harder to do back carry when I'm by myself.

amandaleigh1

I used a beco gemeni. I liked that it is good with little babies without an insert and grows with them. I also think he straps that cross in the back are easier to deal and are more comfortable than the reach behind your back ergo strap connection.

That said, there is not very much fabric to the gemeni, so when DS was north of 20 lbs, it really was too small for him. We also never used the outward facing carry option. Nursing in the gemeni is probably a no go as well (I never tried).

If I got a second carrier or had a do over, I would probably get the beco soleil. It is basically just like an ergo (needs infant insert and has a sleeping hood) but has the nice crossing beco straps.

CarrieB.

I have the Boba wrap and the Boba carrier. The wrap was a lifesaver since this baby was so colllicky as a newborn and it was the only way to calm her.

I thought about holding off on getting a double stroller but I'm glad I didn't. During the newborn stage it's easier to keep them in the carseat and pop it in the stroller. We got the Joovy caboose which is a sit and stand. It's not very expensive.

Mr. & Mrs. Woodtick

I had tried the Gemini, the Ergo, and the Moby wrap. My favorite was the Ergo and that's what I plan to use again this time. The Moby was too complicated for me and i always felt like DS was going to fall out of it.

mcgeeva

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys!!! So much to choose from!!!!!

laura1

I have tried a few - Moby, Bjorn, Ergo, and Maya wrap.  HATED the Moby.  Maybe I would have liked it for my first (like you I bought it for my second), but as other said, it takes so long to put it on and I couldn't ever get it tight enough...and I didn't have time to try with DS running all around!  

With DD#1, I ended up just using the Bjorn since she was born in May during a very hot summer.  The Ergo was so hot with the infant insert, so she was happy in the bjorn.  I never nursed her in that, but she was a quick eater and could go 3 hours between feeds, so I would feed her, then we would leave to go to the playground, etc.  DS didn't have much attention span then, so we would usually be home by her next feed.

With DD#2, I used a combo of the Bjorn, Ergo, and Maya wrap.  She needed to eat for at least 45 minutes every 2-3 hours during the day, which was impossible with the other 2 running around.  I learned to nurse her in the Maya wrap (it is actually a ring sling) and that was a life saver!  It took a little practice, but after I figured it out, it was super easy - especially as she got bigger.  I nursed her at everywhere - at playgroups, playgrounds, library, indoor bouncy house places, etc.  Most people didn't even know what I was doing (or maybe they did, but I liked to think it was discrete!).  

I used the Ergo for walks outside since she was a December baby so being in the infant insert was actually helpful to keep her warm!  I also used mostly the Ergo as she got bigger until now - as they get heavier it is the most comfortable option.  

I kept the Bjorn in my car, and would use that for grocery shopping, target shopping, etc when she was little.  

Good luck!  I also would recommend some sort of double option.  There are some times when you just need to strap everyone in!  I still use my double when we take trips into the city to walk to the Children's Museum or Aquarium.  Both DDs are in the seats and DS is on the rider board on the back.  DD#1 doesn't really like being in there, but that is the deal - she needs to go in the stroller or we can't do our fun things!  

mcgeeva

laura1 great advice thank you!!!

Mnerani

Ergo. I only used the infant insert for like a month or two, and a folded blanket would have also done the trick.

Saraevh

I used a Bjorn and Ergo with my other kids, but my friend gave me her Moby a couple of weeks ago and I have LOVED it with my newborn.  The second I put him in that thing he melts against my chest and I can actually get some stuff done around the house/with my other kids.  I think you could definitely nurse while they are in it ... I haven't tried it though.    

kmc84

I love the K'Tan!! We used it when A was 2 weeks for the first time and she slept like 4.5 hours in it. As she got a bit older, she wasn't crazy about it, but she likes it again now. I find it super comfy!

We also use a Britax carrier (with the infant insert to start). We use the seat extender to prevent 'crotch dangling' and A loves it! DH uses this one because the K'Tan is too small for him.

fullfhope

Chiming in a little late here, I loved the moby. Yes it was complicated but I watched lots of you tube videos and learned how to wrap. M loved it and took many happy naps in there as she grew, I knew that I still wanted to be able to wrap her, and so I bought a woven wrap. It is versatile in ways the moby isn't. I can back and side wrap her, and again I watch you tube videos (I had no idea the woven wrap world even existed before M). I did nurse her a few times in the moby and in the woven and I know it can work, but I never practiced enough to get it comfortable.

jmorta04

I loved the Moby when L was little. He fell asleep in it all the time. We use the Britax one now and while I do like it, I do find my back hurts more with it than the Moby (L is also a lot heavier now too!).

laura1

Oh, and I wanted to add don't worry about the new one's room.  Whatever you have ready you will be way ahead of where we were when DD1 and DD2 were born.  We moved a week before DD#1 was born, and all we had ready for her was the co-sleeper.  I did buy another changing pad and diaper pail, but that is it.  She didn't have a crib until she was 4 months, then didn't sleep in it until she was 6 months.  

DD2 was even worse - we had a crib for her (DD1 was still in hers, but DS had moved into a big boy bed right before we found out we were pg with #3 - we left it together in his room since we knew another one was coming eventually!), but she didn't really move into it until last week!!!  It was still in DS's room, so at 6 months we tried putting her in there with him - it totally failed.  They are both not the best sleepers so they woke each other up constantly.  So she moved back in with us in a pnp.  She was in the pnp in our room until last week when we decided to try her in with DD.  It has actually gone really well.

So don't worry - as long as you have a place for the baby to sleep and some sleepers/diapers/ wipes, you should be golden

mcgeeva

laura1 said:

Oh, and I wanted to add don't worry about the new one's room.  Whatever you have ready you will be way ahead of where we were when DD1 and DD2 were born.  We moved a week before DD#1 was born, and all we had ready for her was the co-sleeper.  I did buy another changing pad and diaper pail, but that is it.  She didn't have a crib until she was 4 months, then didn't sleep in it until she was 6 months.  

DD2 was even worse - we had a crib for her (DD1 was still in hers, but DS had moved into a big boy bed right before we found out we were pg with #3 - we left it together in his room since we knew another one was coming eventually!), but she didn't really move into it until last week!!!  It was still in DS's room, so at 6 months we tried putting her in there with him - it totally failed.  They are both not the best sleepers so they woke each other up constantly.  So she moved back in with us in a pnp.  She was in the pnp in our room until last week when we decided to try her in with DD.  It has actually gone really well.

So don't worry - as long as you have a place for the baby to sleep and some sleepers/diapers/ wipes, you should be golden

Your right. I knew I was going to be using our packnplay for the first month or two regardless so just need to not worry about it. Two my son's crib is broke and no one is returning phone calls so I guess it's staying that way until I get a response since I refuse to dish out more moola for another one.

Thanks ladies for all the wrap suggestions! Now I've heard good about everything eek

imoverit

Just wanted to chime in about being another ERGO lover here. I was having this same question about carrier vs double stroller. Thanks for asking. Helped me out too.