Product Spotlight 11/10: Baby Carriers

DreamReve1

Sorry all! I am 1 day late on this. Totally forgot yesterday was Monday.

Hi all! For today's Product Spotlight, let's talk Baby Carriers! With the upcoming season, there will likely be lots of sales so good time to get things ahead of time! 

Prior and Upcoming Product Spotlights

DreamReve1

I absolutely love baby wearing and I still baby wear my 14 month old! My 2 recommendations: 

1. Lille baby - I love it for the durability and for wearing my DS for extended periods of time. My husband loves it too and wears it a lot. This one has become his primary carrier.

2. Happy Baby Carrier - SO highly recommend. I didn't discover it until DS was 9 months old but I still have used it loads. The waistband sits naturally higher (under your boobs) and so it takes the pressure off your back. I can still wear my DS, forward facing, (and he is about 60% for height and weight) without back pain, which is incredible to most people.

I had a boba wrap and a chicco wrap but I was just not a fan of the wraps nor was my DS. He was a big baby and I never felt like they supported him well enough. 

laurad75

I used the Baby K'Tan when DS was really little and it's comfortable but he got too heavy for it quickly.  We also have the ergobaby and I liked that one a lot.  I didn't wear him as much as I anticipated I would.  I'm going to try again with the new baby since I'll need my hands free more.  

kristah2

I was converted to lillebaby on baby 2 and I LOVE IT! It was a life saver when we travelled and did 6 days of Disney parks when she was 6 months. I even used it for walks for a back carry this past summer! 

Will definitely be using it again. 

_orchid_

I could write a book about this topic! Before kids I said I'd never baby wear - then ds1 came along and didn't sleep until he was 8 weeks old except for in the baby carrier 😂😭

+1 for Lillebaby - especially embossed. I had an all-seasons and an ergobaby (for ds1) also, but the canvas materials on them were so stiff I didn't feel comfortable and I felt like they were hotter. Embossed was soft and kept us both cool. I carried my giant ds2 in that until he was 45 lbs and 3. Got through airports, Disney, hikes, grocery shopping, street fairs, plus general cranky days with these carriers. Best investment, especially if you're nursing and can work it out to feed in the carrier. I really used mine weekly, if not daily, from 3 months- 2.5 years. 

Baby k'tan worked for a very short time with DS1, and like not at all for ds2 who was 9.5 lbs at birth. 

I have a silk sakura bloom ring sling that I used between birth and 6 months. Loved it in the house for quick ups but felt cooler/more secure with the Lillebaby for outside and longer blocks of time. 

wendy838

I blindly purchased the Lillebaby Essentials Ergonomic baby carrier in the summer because it was on super sale ($40 CAD) and now I'm so glad I did after seeing everyone's comments! 

marebear15

I love my Baby K'tan! I used it until DD2 was about 4 months old, and she would take long naps in it. Really helpful when I was chasing a 2 year old.

mc0303

Baby carriers are my favorite!!! I’m petite (5 feet and slender) so finding petite-friendly carriers was a bit tricky. 

For little babes: the Solly wrap is the softest, most supportive wrap. AUHMAZING. I got the petite length but don’t think they sell that anymore. 

MHs preference: The small Baby Bjorn bc it’s so easy to get baby in and out

Ring Sling: Sakura Bloom ring sling. I have the raw cotton one and it is soooo soft and so supportive. Perfect. 

Structured carrier for older babies: Sakura Bloom scout. You can front and back carry. 

I tried the baby Ktan but even the small size was just not a good fit for me. I also tried the Wild Bird linen ring sling and hated it. 

All the wraps and slings are so intimidating at first, but they get easier with practice. I even managed to learn how to nurse while ring slinging. 

If you’re interested in Sakura Bloom, they’re having a sample sale tomorrow. Stuff sells out SO fast. Like within minutes. 

Lisa3379

I really haven't used too many, but I'm a big fan of the Tula. I used that almost exclusively with my first two until they were about 2. I used a WildBird ring sling with my youngest, and that worked really well for maybe a couple months? Then he was big enough to use the Tula without the infant insert and that was more comfortable and less awkward for us. 

_orchid_

@mc0303 I really didn't need to know about SB's sample sale tomorrow 😂 I told DH I wouldn't buy any carriers and just use the ones I have this round. Thankfully they all look the same to him so he never can tell what's new 🤫

mc0303

@_orchid_ 🤣🤣 Lol MH thinks I have too many carriers too. Little does he know that I’m planning on buying an Onbuhimo tomorrow. I have a $50 gift card from the last sample sale 😆

and I misspoke; it’s on Thursday! 

https://sakurabloom.com/blogs/news/holiday-sample-sale-drops-thursday

halfanewt

@mc0303 Sakura bloom carriers are the best! I’m super short waisted and ergos and the like are sooo uncomfortable. 

@_orchid_ I actually like used SB carriers better. Less expensive and they’re already broken in! 

DoubleUp8

So, the baby wearing wraps were just becoming mainstream with my first, so we had a bjorn, which I really liked, and DH could use too, especially when out and about.

Question for moms who have done the wraps: for a beginner who is intimidated by the complex "origami" required by some wraps, the baby K'tan seems the least intimidating, would you agree? 

Just thinking for a summer baby vs. a fall baby a wrap would be lighter/more breathable if I pick the correct one. 

marebear15

@DoubleUp8 - Yes, that was one reason I love the baby K'tan. It's so easy to get baby in and out and not complex at all. I don't baby wear a lot, but it was comfortable even in the summer.

disgruntled_pelican

I have a converted ring sling that I used with #3 that I adore! A friend and I went halfsies on a Little Frog woven wrap on close out and we have a friend who is a certified converter. It’s perfect for the little days! I kind of want another!

_orchid_

@DoubleUp8 I liked the k'tan bc it was easy to use as a first timer but I didn't get much use out of it bc my kids were big and heavy. I have a friend who raves about the Solly carrier but I have no experience. 

Another plus for lillebaby- their boxes are super sturdy 🤣🤣 check out my WFH-kids'-folding-table-as-a-desk hack... The room I'm working in is our (currently) empty nursery so these were conveniently at hand!

ramzlau

I love my Lillebaby all seasons (it has mesh in the front). I have seen lots of love for Tula as well though. 

Debating doing a soft wrap for around the house. I used my Lillebaby at Disney, on hikes, at stores, but not so much around the house. With a toddler to keep up with I feel like I might want something less bulky? STM+ advice here? 

_orchid_

@ramzlau I used a ring sling around the house from birth-6 months. There was a learning curve but I felt more confident overall being a STM and was able to figure it out. 

@halfanewt I forgot about the crunchiness of the new slings! Good call

mc0303

@ramzlau I think a ring sling is perfect for around the house once you get the hang of it. It’s super fast to get baby in and out. There is a learning curve but it’ll probably faster for you as a STM+. When I first tried it, I was a FTM and terrified of somehow breaking the baby and wasn’t even confident holding him on my own 🙈 Once that went away, it was a breeze. 

disgruntled_pelican

@ramzlau - I highly recommend the ring sling especially for early days with other kiddos to care for. Once you “get it”, putting it on becomes second nature and can be done in a breeze with a ton of mobility for you. If you have a local baby wearing group, look them up and see if they have a library to try out. I am blessed with a great local group that had every option under the sun to try (with someone to show me how!) and then I was able to borrow the carrier for a month to be sure I was confident. With my ring sling, I eventually became very comfortable nursing in it and never felt super comfy in others (Moby and Ergo). I actually taught Sunday school to pre-schoolers with my baby in the ring sling, too.

disgruntled_pelican

Oh! And my husband was also super comfortable with the ring sling as opposed to other options and was bummed when she outgrew it.

angelz429

+1 for Tula. I have 3 standards and 2 toddler sizes. Still wear my 4yo. She asks for the Tula when she’s extra clingy and that way I can get things done lol. 

I have ditched the stroller at Disney and exclusively baby worn multiple times there, LEGOLAND, Univeraal. We’re in Florida, so prior to the pandemic, we were at the parks regularly. 

When B was little, they didn’t have the free to grow option so needed the. Infant insert, so mostly used a Solly wrap that I bought. I’m gonna get a ring sling this time around, but was drooling over SB but unfollowed them when I was sure we weren’t having anymore. Will check out their sale tomorrow. 

Side note. Can we talk breast pumps? I want to get a hands free pump. Willow and Freemie are the 2 options I see. I want a Black Friday deal lol. Any opinions?

ramzlau

Thank you @disgruntled_pelican @_orchid_ @mc0303! We do have a baby wearing group locally, didn’t think about going to try on theirs, great idea! 

@angelz429 I think it is on the list to discuss in early Jan, but since you were asking for Black Friday, just wanted to say the Elvie is on my list. I have heard better reviews on it vs Willow. I need to see if my insurance will give me a rebate on it if I don’t get a free one through them. 

laurad75

@angelz429 - that is a great point about Black Friday.   

Maybe we should start a thread of good deals as we find them in the coming weeks.  

_orchid_

@laurad75 that's a great idea

klj0228

Another Tula fan here. I have one Free to Grow and one standard. Still love them with my two year old. She tiny when she was born so it still took a little time before she fit the FTG. During that time I did a solly wrap, but I just did not love doing the wrap. I’m hoping to get more into wrapping this time though. I’d also like to get one ring sling to try. 

Omie_Wise

Another Sakura Bloom fan. I have a scout, onbuhimo, and two ring slings. I definitely want a theory ring sling for this baby. They are supposed to be super soft. I also have an aloha baby silk/hemp ring sling for water. I have a woven but I’ve never been very good at wrapping. The scout was my savior when my youngest was a baby. I felt like he was super secure in it, which was essentially because I had a 2 year older too. Once  I could nurse in it, that was a game changer. It’s also really stylish looking. I always get compliments when I wear it. And I’m not a fashionable person anymore. 

mc0303

@Omie_Wise did you get anything during the SB sample sale today? I think there’s still some stuff leftover. I just got an onbuhimo in the seek cotton. I loooove the seek cotton. I have it in the ring sling and it’s just so soft. 

Omie_Wise

@mc0303 No, I didn’t check it out. I unfollowed on their accounts because I didn’t need the reminders about their products 🤪 so I found out about it late. I’m planning on getting something this spring. 

toesinthesand-2

I loved the Solly Baby wrap when my son was tiny - it was so soft and comfy and he loved being snuggly in it.

I had a Lillibaby that sat in the closet forever until I finally used it when I had to fly with DS solo around 5 months. Even then I really only used it a handful of trips when I needed to fly or something like that. I just never found myself in a situation where I needed to baby wear that often. 

Now that baby #2 is coming I have a feeling I'm going to keep to BW a lot more to have free hands with a toddler. I think I'd like to give a ring sling a try but I have no idea what is even the best one? 

Omie_Wise

@toesinthesand-2 Ring slings are pretty basic. I would go off of looks and just get something you like. If you love it and want something that will last longer, you can invest in something later. Any ring sling will work fine for a small baby. 

ramzlau

@Omie_Wise Talk to me about your ring sling for water! DD has been in the water since 4 months, but I never bw in the pool. DD is a good swimmer, but it being summertime, I imagine LO will end up in the pool with us by end of summer. What was your experience bw in the water? 

Omie_Wise

@ramzlau Great! Mine felt very secure and supportive in the water. I used it a couple times at the splash pad when chasing my two year old while the baby was securely tucked in the RS. I know SB says their silks are water safe but I highly recommend my Aloha and Light sling. I know there are cheaper mesh water ring slings but I like my baby wearing products to last past the baby stage and into toddlerhood so I wanted something stronger than the mesh ones. Also, the aloha and light sling works perfectly fine dry so it’s not a single use product. 

MelissaMay82

I have the Lillebaby all season and really like it. We don’t use it too much because we can usually just use the stroller.

I bought a mobs and a baby ktan but honestly could never really get the hang of using either one. DD also hated being in both of those. 

rvamom90

Love the Happy Baby Carrier! We have a Lillebaby that my husband likes but I'm short with a short torso and find it to be too much. 

dogmom5

I have an ergo baby carrier that I used for my first 2 babies and I loved it.  My last baby, I bought a lillebaby for a good deal off of amazon and I like the lillebaby better.  I feel like it gives better back support. I got my ergo around this time of year at target for a really good deal off of the cartwheel app. Watch for those deals ladies!