Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product. Feel free to comment on threads like these throughout your time at the board, not just when they're in their week in the spotlight, if you discover something new OR are new to the board. This week it's.... Baby Carriers!
FTMs are encouraged to ask questions & STM/+s encouraged to share their knowledge based on experience. You can use any or all the prompts relevant to you below to share info in an easy-to-read format. Pictures/screen grabs, if put in spoilers, are welcome!
For STMs....
Re: Product Spotlight- Baby Carriers
I'm considering getting a lillebaby this baby. Love that it has lumbar support and those Disney designs are so nice. Also love that you don't need a newborn insert. Anyone have one and have any feedback on the original vs all seasons vs air flow?
When he was 8 weeks we visited with family and my aunt gave me a wrap and we both loved it. He spent so much time snuggled up to me sleeping, he felt more secure for me, and I could still get stuff done when he was being clingy.
Eventually I bought a secondhand Tula which we're still using. Whenever he wants to be close I put him up on my back and he usually falls asleep. I love the Tula for front and back wear because it's so easy to put on yourself, although it is annoying that you need an infant insert with the classic (what I have)
W born September 2020
#3 due November 2022
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Me 34 DH 34
PCOS
Baby number 2 due 4/11/20
I plan to use both carriers again and may get a Tula as well. I feel like I’ll be baby wearing a ton this time around.
And I have heard a lot of mamas don’t like the ring sling- that it never felt right. But I love mine! My 1 year lived in that.
I found that the infantino type carriers dug into my babies’ chunky thighs.
Me: 35 DH: 34
Married: April 2014
DS born 9/16
TTC #2 since December 2018
BFP 8/19 MMC 10/19
BFP 5/20 MC 6/20
Edit: typo
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Me 34 DH 34
PCOS
Baby number 2 due 4/11/20
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Me 34 DH 34
PCOS
Baby number 2 due 4/11/20
Me: 35 DH: 34
Married: April 2014
DS born 9/16
TTC #2 since December 2018
BFP 8/19 MMC 10/19
BFP 5/20 MC 6/20
I'll probably get the K'tan active for a warm weather baby.
I also eventually got a Kelty-style (can't remember the brand) hiking backpack and loved it for longer walks once he was big enough.
@danibean19 DH loved the Ergo 360 and used it from newborn stage until DD was a toddler. It was adjustable and worked great for both of us.
DH picked the Mountain Buggy Juno carrier for himself, because it was the only one with a guy on the box. But the mountain Buggy is so comfortable to wear! And it comes with the infant insert.
We also have a Disney lillebaby that I got for use on our first Disney trip. All seasons I think? The one with the zip mesh back. I feel like it has great lumbar support and it's the one we use in the warm weather because of the mesh.
When my dude got a bit bigger, he preferred an onbuhimo (please don't say "onbu" - it's considered culturally insensitive!). We have a Sakura Bloom, and I ADORE it.
1 infant loss
8/17: Our daughter was born
8/18: Our daughter kicked open heart surgery ass
2/19: We lost our son to Prader-Willi/Paradoxical Vocal Cord/ Noonans at 6wks old
4/26/2020: EDD for baby #3!!!
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Me 34 DH 34
PCOS
Baby number 2 due 4/11/20
I believe it's very important for parents who are new to babywearing to attend a babywearing meeting. It's slightly more difficult to help people find their local babywearing chapter, with Babywearing International gone, but believe me...there are babywearing meetings happening all over - you just need to seek them out. In the Chicagoland area, the chapter is now called Chicagoland Babywearing. Most, if not all, babywearing chapters have free meetings, as well as a lending library, from which you can borrow a carrier a month, once you become a member of the chapter (typically around $35/year). These meetings are the BEST places to learn about the different types of carriers and how to wear them, and I highly recommend attending a meeting before baby arrives, as well as shortly after baby is born. Especially when it comes to SSCs, not every brand and style of carrier fits everyone's body best. Think of them like jeans; the brand and style that fits my body best is not likely to fit your body best. You wouldn't buy and pop the tags off of jeans without trying them on, would you? Find a meeting!
All of that said, I'm deep in the babywearing hole, with 6 ring slings (3 Sakura Bloom linens, 2 Pretty Paisley handwoven cottons, and a Beachfront Baby water sling), two standard size SSCs (Beco Soleil/Tekhni wrap conversion and a Tula), a toddler size SSC (Beco Toddler/Tekhni wrap conversion), and an onbuhimo (2 Lambie onbuhimo wrap conversion with Pretty Paisley).
You may want to look into Meh Dais. They are somewhere in between an SSC (like Liliebaby and Ergo) and a wrap. It has a structured back and it ties like a wrap. My Meh Dai has always been my go to carrier. My best friend used to make them so that's what I have. Look into CatBirdBaby and there are several Wrap companies that make wrap conversions. On FB you can look on the babywearing swaps to see what is available.