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Baby Carrier Reviews

kat.in.the.hatkat.in.the.hat
in Houston Babies

I've become somewhat addicted to baby carriers in the past six weeks - we have three in the house with a fourth on the way.  So I wrote up my reviews of them and thought I would share in case anyone was interested.

I've also added a link to the document on my blog

Baby Carrier Reviews

So far, my overall opinion is that I prefer the ring sling if I'm going to be out in public for a shorter period (under three hours) and in just one place (like dinner out with Josh) and need to look cute.  I prefer the Moby if I'm going to be running lots of errands (I can put it on at home and just get Marion in and out of it as we go around), or if I need to have her on me most of the day around the house (I can wear the Moby for longer periods of time with less discomfort.)  I tend to wear the Moby around the house and the Zolowear out in public (but that's just a very basic generalization.)

Ring Sling
Zolowear - Bliss Blue Paisley
A Woman's Work
$90.00
Size Large

Pros

  • Super fashionable
  • Variety of ways to carry her
  • Easy to get off and on
  • Pocket on the tail end is a great place to stash keys and a pacifier
  • Machine wash/dry
  • Easy to cover her head (either with the tail or extra material from the body) so she can be really private
  • Ring slings in general are fairly inexpensive and you can get them from a variety of places (like etsy, ebay, WAHMs etc.)
  • Lots of fabric options
  • Josh and I can wear the same size sling (even though he won't use it)
  • Easy to learn how to wear it
  • Even though there are a lot of carry options, you still put the sling on the same way for almost all of them
  • You can do a back carry with it (with a toddler according to instructions)
  • Tested to carry even over 35lbs
  • Can be used for newborn and up

Cons
  • Kind of hard to adjust - I feel that sometimes I can't get it tight enough
  • I can't wear it for too long without getting some back pain (two, three hours is max for me)
  • Every time I put it on - I feel I put it on differently (in terms of where it fits on my body, how tight it is, how she fits in it.)
  • This particular sling was expensive
  • Every time she comes out of the sling and goes back in, it needs to be readjusted
  • If she's facing front, sometimes I feel that the top rail is choking her (probably more my problem with how I have her seated in the sling than anything else)
  • Because the weight is distributed across one shoulder/top of one arm, I find that if I have the rings across my right shoulder, anytime I reach with that hand or extend my arm and shoulder (my dominant hand) I disturb the position of the sling and have to fool with it (so I don't use it when I'm doing housework.)

Moby Wrap
Moby Wrap - Black
Target
$39.99
One Size

Pros
  • Super, super, super comfortable to wear, both for me and for Marion
  • I can wear it all day without it causing back pain
  • Machine wash/dry
  • Affordable
  • Variety of carries
  • Works for a back carry
  • Once I put it on, I can leave it on and take her in and out without adjusting it each time (which is perfect for running lots of short errands)
  • One size fits everyone
  • Really easy to get her in and out of it
  • Lots of pretty ones available on etsy and other such sites
  • Easy to use while I work around the house since the weight is over the top of my shoulders and the material doesn't bind my arms in any way
  • Holds up to 45lbs
  • Can be used from the moment they are born

Cons
  • Not really fashionable, it pretty much covers up everything you're wearing
  • Harder to learn to use - it can take a while to learn how to wrap it since the material is so long
  • If you carry the baby for a while, the material can stretch out
  • Because it's so much material, it can get hot wearing it for a while
  • The fabric can get twisted easily when you put it on which can make it uncomfortable to wear

Soft Structured Front Carrier
Chicco You and Me Deluxe Infant Carrier
Babies R Us
$99.99
One Size

We haven't really used this a whole lot, so not a good review yet

Pros
  • "Manly" carrier - this is the only one Josh uses
  • Can be used for babies over 7 lbs
  • Lots of good lumbar support and good weight distribution
  • Easy to put on and take off

  • Cons
  • Only up to 26lbs
  • It says it can be used for 7lbs and up, but we found that for a newborn, her head was too unstable for Josh to be comfortable carrying her in it
  • Only two carry positions - facing in, facing out
  • This may be true only for Marion, but right now (6 weeks) she doesn't like her legs just dangling there - she prefers to be curled up.  So she won't stay in it for very long without fussing because of that.


Mei Tai
Cuddling Baby Mei Tai - Tropical Splendor
Etsy
$29.99
One Size

Waiting for it to be delivered

Pouch Sling
Hotslings - Stretch Solstice Sateen
Babies R Us
$47.99
Size 4
Pros
  • Super cute patterns
  • Affordable
  • Multiple position carries

Cons
  • I ended up returning this since the sizing was impossible for me - because I'm so short and busty, I just couldn't get it to fit right

 

image
j+k+m+e | running with needles
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Re: Baby Carrier Reviews

  • Ering22Ering22
    Thank you for posting this! I did not use a sling with E but I'm looking forward to using one with Max! I didn't know where to start.
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  • horn_jm@hotmail.comhorn_jm@hotmail.com
    I'm curious to see what you think of the mei tei for a little one.  I got a Babyhawk one late last year and loved it for an older infant/young toddler.  Thanks for tips on what has worked well so far with a newborn!
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  • ucalum93ucalum93

     Where did you buy the hotsling that allows returns???  That's one of the slings I'd like to try next.

    I am currently taking advantage of Woman's Work's 10 day try it out plan with the zolo.  I may have a size too small but I feel it is way to tight on me and definately hurts my back.  I have to swap it out for a large to see if it works better for us.  I am quite busty as well and usually have to go up a size to accomodate the girls.

    While at Woman's Work I also tried the Baby K'tan, which they cannot keep in stock.  It is basically the moby without having to do all the wrapping.  It is stiched together at the ends so you just weave it into yourself like a pretzel.  I fell in love with it instantly and ordered one online which should be here by weeks end.

    I've also tried others but you do have to try them out to see of you and baby like them.  What ends up working for you may not be what you think.

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  • kat.in.the.hatkat.in.the.hat

    Nannette - they have hotslings at BRU and I think at some Targets too.

     

    I might have to try the K'Tan next!

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    j+k+m+e | running with needles
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