Recommend your baby carrier..

EmKo0210

I am looking at getting a carrier for DD.  She loves being held, which is fine...but I don't get anything done around the house.  So....what carrier do you have (Ergo, Baby Bjorn, Moby wrap, etc) and what do you like/dislike about it.  I would like to use it mostly around the house, but I suppose it would be useful when we start going more places too.

*Sidenote.. I am very short (5'0") and I have seen on some reviews that height makes a difference with some of the carriers.

someflower6

my LO loved being wrapped in the moby. it's a little overwhelming because it's really long, but it's soft and comfy and the wrap "hugs" them. you know, you could try making your own wrap by going to a fabrci store and getting some jersey knit material. you can get a size that fits for you... the moby is 5.5m, but you could probably work with 4.6. the only problem with the moby or jersey knit wraps is that they stretch out and become less supportive over time. if you like the idea of wrapping, i'd suggest getting a woven wrap which are much more supportive and can last beyond 35 pounds.

as far as a soft structured carrier, i know the bjorn is popular because it's easily accessable from babies r us and such, but carriers like the ergo, beco, or babyhawk are much more comfortable for both baby and carrier. they don't create the strain/pressure points that carriers like bjorn do.

you may also want to consider a carrier like a ring sling-- it's quick and easy, just slip it over your shoulder and pop your LO in it. or a mei tai-- it's kinda like a soft structured carrier, but with fabric to tie rather than buckles to clip. 

i've tried all these and my order of preference is wrap (started with a moby, graudtaed to woven), ring sling, mei tai. we have a bjorn that my husband uses but i don't find it comfortable. good luck and if you have any more q's, feel free to pm! 

californiastars

I have the moby, ergo, a sevensling, and am waiting on my ring sling

The moby is great especially when they are really little. It is comfortable and not bulky. It keeps them close and warm and for a while was the only way I could do anything around the house. It does take some time to get used to wrapping and wrapping well. It is also a lot of fabric even for me and I am 5'11"

The ergo is nice. I am still getting used to it. It is great for going out to the store or mall, wherever you do a lot of walking, but I don't like it for around the house. If I just need something to throw on and walk him around the house, then I will use it, but if I am trying to get anything done, it is rather bulky. That could change though once he is big enough to not use the new born insert

The sevensling (sevensling.com) is alright. I only got it because I had a promo code at the time. I got it thinking it would be easier for hip carries when he is bigger. I have used it though but find it rather awkward for a newborn.

I am waiting for my ring sling (maya wrap). I ordered it yesterday and I am really excited to get it. I am hoping it can replace my moby and will be something I can put on and get him in rather quick and easily for when I am out and about. That and you are supposed to be able to breastfeed in it easily. Supposedly you can BF in the moby and ergo, but I don't see how that is practical.

My friend is making me a Mei Tie (or whatever it is called) it is a wrap that has a solid piece of fabric on the front so you don't have to worry about getting the baby in the crossed pieces of fabric with the moby. You just tie it around your waste, put the baby in and cross the sholder straps around your sholder and back and then tie in the front. I am interested to see how this works.

I have been lurking on the AP board and find it interesting and has lots of info. The ladies there know what they are talking about when it comes to wraps and carriers.  

ibis

I had a stretchy wrap early on - similar to Moby. You can't use it for long because when they get heavier there is not enough support to the fabric. I had to stop around 3-4 mo I think.

I had a ring sling which was good for shopping but not so good for things around the house, because I could really only get him in a hip carry with it.

LOVE the Ergo. It is so worth the $ and the hype. Very comfortable and you can use it for a long time. Front carry when they are young and then back carry, which ROCKS. I can do so much with DS in a back carry. I use it every single day. Downside is that it can't easily be used outdoors in winter... 

MrsDiff22

My DS was the same way and we both loved the Moby! I used it when we went out as well,I just tied it on before we left the house b/c it is very long and I didn't want it getting dirty while I was trying to tie it. I'm 5'5.

californiastars

Another idea is to look at a baby second hand store. We have them here called Once Upon A Child. I found my moby there for $18. Usually they are 40 something. If you have one you could look there and then if you don't like it, you didn't pay a lot so it isn't as bad if you want to sell it or give it away 

pepomntpat

I love the Moby and DD almost always goes right to sleep in it.  I like that it is soft and flexible and I can sit, stand and walk around in it comfortably.  Heck, I've even used the bathroom with DD in it!  I don't like that it is a pain to tie (once it is on it stays on until the end of the day even if DD isnt' in it) and that it is also rather hot.  If I am home I wear just a tank top and DD just wears a onsie to avoid over heating.

ibis

Oh - I am 5' 2" and petite. No fit issues with the Ergo.

LaciLeigh

I hated the moby wrap...but keep in mind I am a person who likes simplicity and with a high maintenance baby I didn't have time to learn how to wrap that thing! LOL but I know others on here LOVE the moby and they have such great baby wearing experiences with it.

I love my Baby Bjorn. Your LO has to be at least 8 lbs to be in so I couldn' t use it for the first month but DD loves it when she is in it. It's simple to use and I can strap it on at the mall or something if she gets tired of the stroller without looking in the mirror etc.

SpartanChick88

I love my Moby for around the house... great for vacuuming, decorating, etc. and my Ergo for out and about... it's how I do my shopping, go to parties etc.  DD is happy in both.  I'm 5'2" and have no problems

And Ketch

We have the Lillebaby Everywear carrier, which is very similar to the Ergo but the baby can also face forward.  I love it.  I saw a recommendation for it on a blog and bought it right away.  We'd previously used a Bjorn, which was good but I knew it wasn't going to last when she got bigger.  Also, she loved facing forward in the Bjorn and I wanted to make sure she could still do that with whatever else we bought.  I like that this carrier is ergonomic, has a storage pocket in the front and is light/flexible enough to ball up into the diaper bag.

We also have a Moby, which was great when she was smaller but now I use it less.  I still like having it around the house and it was great for getting her to nap, but now she tries to stand up in it and it isn't as effective for us.  I've seen some other holds on youtube though, hip hold and such, that I think I'd like to try to get more use out of it.

nicobean1

I lurrrve my Beco Gemini. It's soft like a Mei Tai but supportive like an Ergo. It's very pretty, and I can wear DS facing in, facing out, on my back or on my hip. Thanks to Mrs.G for recommending it to me.

DS never liked the Moby, he did like the Bjorn b/c he could face out but it was very hard on our backs, and he did not like the Beco Butterfly.

MrsGhappilyeverafter

someflower6:

my LO loved being wrapped in the moby. it's a little overwhelming because it's really long, but it's soft and comfy and the wrap "hugs" them. you know, you could try making your own wrap by going to a fabrci store and getting some jersey knit material. you can get a size that fits for you... the moby is 5.5m, but you could probably work with 4.6. the only problem with the moby or jersey knit wraps is that they stretch out and become less supportive over time. if you like the idea of wrapping, i'd suggest getting a woven wrap which are much more supportive and can last beyond 35 pounds.

as far as a soft structured carrier, i know the bjorn is popular because it's easily accessable from babies r us and such, but carriers like the ergo, beco, or babyhawk are much more comfortable for both baby and carrier. they don't create the strain/pressure points that carriers like bjorn do.

you may also want to consider a carrier like a ring sling-- it's quick and easy, just slip it over your shoulder and pop your LO in it. or a mei tai-- it's kinda like a soft structured carrier, but with fabric to tie rather than buckles to clip. 

i've tried all these and my order of preference is wrap (started with a moby, graudtaed to woven), ring sling, mei tai. we have a bjorn that my husband uses but i don't find it comfortable. good luck and if you have any more q's, feel free to pm! 

All of this.  We loved the Moby when DS was a newborn then when he got bigger, we started using woven wraps.  We still use them every day.  I love babywearing.  It's so nice to have LO close by and makes it easier to get things done. 

EmKo0210

Thank you so much for all of the input.  You all are awesome!!!

erpetdoc

I'm late to the party, but I agree with everyone else.  Moby was fabulous when she was smaller, and I still use it on occasion.  She's more into sucking on the "rails" of the Moby now.  The Ergo is still fabulous, and by far my preferred method (over a stroller or carrying her in the infant seat) for getting around with her.  The newborn insert made it bulky, but as soon as she had head control, I took it out. 

I just ordered my first woven wrap from another mama on thebabywearer.com -- and highly recommend the site.  When you get the hang of the lingo, you can check out the For Sale or For Trade board, and find some really good deals (my brand new size 7 Didymos wrap was only $120 shipped from Canada).  I also located a local baby-wearing group to help me learn the carries.  Granted, the group is now defunct, but there was a contact name/number, and she was more than willing to help me!  :-)

Lastly, since you're in IA (did you know I am an ISU grad, btw?), you'll need something for that ferocious wind!  I LOVE my Kowalli cover.  Check it out at https://www.kowalli.com -- it's the best relatively inexpensive thing I've found to keep LO warm while babywearing.  I looked at the babywearing coats, and they are upwards of $200!!