Product Spotlight: Baby Carriers

inthewoods23 · January 2022

Share your favorite carrier options here!

(Sorry too lazy to find an applicable gif right now)

skilouise · January 2022

Baby carriers are GREAT. Not every baby likes them, but for those that do they are a total lifesaver, especially during the fourth trimester. DS was fussy AF as a newborn, and a carrier was often the only way I could get him to calm down, stop screaming, and nap for longer than ten minutes.

Here are the ones I used with DS. FWIW, I'm plus sized with quite a large bust, for those that may be in a similar situation and looking for the best options for that body type.

I really liked the Baby K'Tan for when DS was tiny and snuggly. It was comfortable and felt secure when he was tiny. It was also really easy to get him in and situated. It only really worked for about two months or so, though, then started really bothering my bad shoulder.

(Pro-tip: the maximum weight listed on carriers is the maximum safe weight for baby that won't break the carrier. It doesn't mean that you can actually, as a practical matter, carry a baby that heavy in that carrier. This is particularly true for soft/ stretchy carriers. The K'Tan max weight is 35 pounds, but it would most likely be painful AF on your back/ shoulders to carry a baby that heavy in a stretchy carrier)

I also had a woven wrap that I used sometimes. I liked it a lot once DS was actually in the wrap, and it offered lots of versatility (and much better support for my bad shoulder). But getting it actually set up was a pain, so I didn't use it as much as I thought I would.

Once DS was 4 months old or so, I used a Lillebaby soft structured carrier, which was very comfortable and secure (especially once he was old enough to back carry).

I also bought DH the Tactical Baby Gear baby carrier, which he really liked. I doubt he would have used any of the other carriers, but he liked one that was the military-style design. (As a side note, the TBG diaper bag is FANTASTIC, and quickly became our go-to diaper bag whenever we had to choose between his or mine. Mine (a Petunia Pickle Bottom) was much prettier, but also much less practical).

skilouise · January 2022

Also, here are important safety guidelines to keep in mind when baby wearing. The two most important things are (1) ensuring baby is positioned in a way that won't compromise breathing, and (2) ensuring that their hips are supported properly.

https://hipdysplasia.org/baby-carriers-other-equipment/

http://babyslingsafety.co.uk/

feather_heather · January 2022

DD wasn't a huge fan of carriers when she was a newborn, but as soon as she could forward face she liked them a lot better. I hated my wrap carrier because it was so awkward to try to put on and get tight enough. For the record this is the one I have: https://ergobaby.com/baby-carrier/baby-wrap/aura-baby-wrap-pure-black

I got a hand-me-down older version of the Baby Bjorn Mini and loved it when she was little. Once she started getting heavier it does hurt your shoulders: https://www.babybjorn.com/baby-carriers/baby-carrier-mini/

I liked this Ergo Embrace carrier. Very comfortable and could wear her when she got heavier with no issues. I used this a lot this summer to hold her while I took the dogs for walks, vacuumed, cooked, and did other things around the house: https://ergobaby.com/baby-carrier/embrace/embrace-pure-black

When the babies are sitting up and you need a quick/easy in-out carrier, you need a Tush Baby! We looove ours! Makes holding her so easy and takes almost all the weight off of your arms: https://tushbaby.com/products/tushbaby?variant=15109665423426

stardustskies · January 2022

I didn't use a carrier very often with my first but I had the Baby K'tan original wrap and Lillebaby airflow (or whatever the mesh one is called). I agree that the Baby K'tan is great for when they're little and I plan on using it a lot with this next one, especially now that I have an older child and anticipate needing free hands more. The Lillebaby was good for when we went hiking but not easy to put on, I wasn't able to do it without help from my husband. Definitely wouldn't recommend as an everyday carrier. But it was convenient for planned outings where a stroller isn't possible. Good weight distribution and felt confident knowing the baby was secure. My step sister also gave me some other wraps but they were too complicated and I didn't feel like looking up Youtube videos to learn how to use them.

runnergirl2018 · January 2022

I had a moby wrap and K'tan early on with my first. the moby i eventually figured out with a friends help and liked, but the k'tan was much nicer for the earlier days because there was less adjusting with a floppy baby - easy to use and comfy. I literally cried and was sweating trying to figure out a wrap at first until a friend showed me in person - so just in case anyone has the same experience, you are not alone.
I eventually got a ring sling and I think that would work well earlier on too, and worked long term for us. I have a sakura bloom chambray linen one.
I had Lillebaby airflow since we lived in FL and everyone told me to get it and i did not like it. Yes i felt baby was secure, but it was soooooo uncomfortable. I hated it and sold it quickly. I LOVE my Sakura Bloom Scout - easy to use and comfortable and can be used for a long time - only downside is that you cannot face out in it. I also have a SB onbuhimo for back carry that I like too. SB can be more pricey but if i had to do it all over again i would just have bought just a scout to begin with - i got mine used for a good price and they have a sample sale tomorrow where you can get things for good prices if anyone is looking

tuxielove93 · January 2022

This is my jam. I LOVE baby carriers. Don’t even own a stroller. And I don’t do the baby car seats either, we go right to convertibles. Which I highly recommend. The infant car seats are terrible. They are stupid heavy, really difficult to carry, not safe for baby to sleep in unattached to something, and babies outgrow them quickly (personally my kids are giants and I think my first might have outgrown it by six months if I remember? I didn’t own one, I was just curious and looked it up). Yes, sometimes baby falls asleep in the car seat , but I’ve never struggled to switch my babies into their carrier. As soon as they snuggle in and hear my heartbeat, they are right back to sleep. Oh and at the hospital, a nurse will come out to the car with you to make sure it’s secured (in the US). Not an issue at all.

Both my boys lived in their carriers for the first three to four months, and I still occasionally wear my two year old. If they can’t sleep, are extra fussy, teething… the carrier calms them right down. And having them in a carrier versus your arms really saves your arms and back. And having a carrier to be out of the house is SO useful. First off, no one is going to invade YOUR bubble to get to baby. It’s awesome around family when you don’t want to play pass the baby. And you don’t have to push a stroller through too small aisles or put a very mouth curious baby in a disgusting shopping cart.

If it’s your first baby, a soft structured carrier like a Moby wrap is great. Baby can get really cozy and once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature to put on. Despite my love of the Moby, it did not work when I had two kids. It just didn’t give me the hands free experience I needed when I was trying to help my oldest son.

So I got a happy baby carrier. No newborn insert needed! It’s still soft and breathable, but it was structured and allowed me to bend freely even with a newborn in it. There is a bit of a cult following around them. It can be hard to get certain really popular colors. But the carriers hold their value if you want to resell. The company is still owned and run by the same couple who started it and the customer service is OUTSTANDING

Once baby gets bigger, I prefer the added structure of a lillebaby. I have a regular one and a toddler sized one. I also do the mesh ones because they are very breathable and I live in a toaster. I’ve never had an issue getting baby in or out. I Superman them on to my back.

People also LOVE the Tula. I personally don’t have one, but it’s a very popular one.

Couple notes: wearing baby facing out is a literal pain. When baby is facing in or on your back they become part of your center of gravity. When they face out, they pull your center of gravity with them. Lots of babies love it, but I refuse to do it because it’s so uncomfortable for me.

Make sure baby can always breath! Especially the newborns. Never cover the face.

Please read up on froggy legs. It’s very important for hip development!! It might seem uncomfortable looking, but it isn’t for baby. It’s how they should be.

A lot of women can successfully breastfeed in carriers, but don’t feel like a failure if you can’t. I cannot. I have large breasts and a small torso. There isn’t enough torso for me to move them down enough to breastfeed in it.

It’s very very normal for babies to want to be held all the time. Especially when they are sleeping. Napping in carriers is great for mom and baby! You can get up and do things if needed. Baby gets the snuggles the want. If you wear a carrier out of the house too, it’s already their comfort nap spot. I can be out as long as I want because baby sleeps right there if they are tired.

I wear nearly constantly in the beginning, so my body gets used to carrying them and the carriers don’t generally hurt me. But make sure everything is adjusted properly if they do hurt!! You might not have it set right for you and baby. The carrier should not hurt you.

LJMoon6 · January 2022

I got the Ergobaby Omni 360.

https://ergobaby.com/baby-carrier/omni/omni-360-cool-air-mesh/baby-carrier-for-men-and-women

I loved it. But I only really used it for hikes when DS was a little bit older (he was born in the fall so you can imagine we weren’t doing many hikes for the first few months of his life lol). There was a learning curve for trying to get it on by yourself. But it’s definitely possible.

I would like to get one that’s more stretchy and better for a newborn, since I also imagine needing my hands free when playing with my toddler, like @stardustskies said. I didn’t have that issue with DS. I mostly just held him… and used that as an excuse to get out of doing chores lol. The baby k’tan looks like a good option.

inthewoods23 · January 2022

@skilouise I found that tactical baby carrier 5 years ago and I'm pretty sure DH would be all about it too. Looks just like his work backpack haha.

I think my sister had an ErgoBaby baby carrier but didn't use it much because she always required a 2nd person to help her get it strapped on. Is that typical? I may end up with quite a few items from her since I think she's done having kids so I'm just trying to understand what to expect as a FTM and if my sister's experience is common or just poor decision making on her part.

@tuxielove93 that's a really interesting viewpoint. I have a feeling we may not use a stroller much either, but at the same time I'm not going to want to carry both a baby and a diaper bag. I think if we get back to going to the zoo often it would be worth it to have a stroller. Plus how is that going to be when there's a sibling. So much to think about!! Gah.

LJMoon6 · January 2022

@inthewoods23 Here’s a good video that shows how to get the Ergobaby on by yourself. Definitely doable but can be a bit tricky the first few times. The key is to get the straps super loose before trying to get it on. That way you can reach the back strap easier to buckle. It’s a very sturdy carrier and I do like it a lot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OwWaQtvOTM

I also couldn’t imagine not having a stroller. We use ours all the time. There are definitely times when a carrier makes more sense than a stroller though.

zwink1 · January 2022

I think carriers are one of those super personal things. One that fits well on one body type isn't necessarily great on another, so to the extent that you can test them out, I would do so. I know that Target carries a pretty wide variety of the main brands and usually has some on display so you can see/touch.

I got a Lillebaby Complete All Seasons with DS, and I actually really like it and will use it again. No newborn insert needed, tons of positioning options as they grow, and great back support. I agree that some positions can be difficult to get on solo, but I didn't have any issues getting him into it on my own when he was at the teeny tiny stage.

I purchased a wrap carrier for this time around and am looking forward to getting to use that for the Itty bitty stage.

I know it's not the focus for this thread, but since @tuxielove93 brought them up, I just wanted to make one point re car seats. I agree that infant seats are bulky, cumbersome, and generally not as useful as convertible seats. That said, it might be a good idea to check with your care provider to see if they have any preferences or requirements (if you plan on using daycare). For example, our care provider requires that infants be dropped off in an infant seat, and then they keep the seat there in case they need it for emergency purposes. Also, not really an issue with a July baby, but if you're planning on having more and live in an environment where cold weather might be a factor when they're little, I found an infant seat ito be way easier to deal with when it's freezing outside.

tuxielove93 · January 2022

@inthewoods23 there is a learning curve to every carrier. But if you work at it, you should be able to put it on by yourself without much issue after some practice. When I first started doing carriers, I had to watch videos and looked ridiculous putting it on. But now I’m a pro. I also do not carry a diaper bag. I keep diapers in the car, and I’ll put one and a small pack of wipes in the carrier pocket. Im a pretty minimalist mama when it comes to baby stuff. Not out of any philosophy thing but because I can’t keep track of a million things and packing and everything else. Plus my apartment is tiny. Bringing the 90s back, I’ll sometimes wear a Fanny pack too if I need a bit more storage.

As far as siblings, this is my third. My older two are exactly two years apart. By the time the younger one was born, the oldest pretty much wanted to walk everywhere. I did have his toddler carrier if he got tired and would tandem baby wear, but that wasn’t often.

I have a wagon for them now if we’re doing big trips (like the zoo). I only got that in the last year as they both had mostly grown out of being worn and both wanted to walk most of the time.

There’s a lot of baby things I’ve never owned and we have done just fine without them 🤷🏼‍♀️ (Changing tables, infant car seats, and strollers are the biggest ones I’ve never owned). They just aren’t necessary. I don’t miss them and wouldn’t buy them now. There’s a whole lot of stuff marketed to new moms as necessary and 80-90% it is just extra stuff that won’t get used again after six months to a year.

Baby carriers is the one thing that I invest in and love and recommend to anyone who will listen to me ☺️

inthewoods23 · January 2022

@tuxielove93 you know, I would love to have a "minimalist mom" thread of ways you can make stuff multi-purpose or even what are good/cheaper alternatives to those common "must-haves!". DH and I have made attempts at being minimalists for various things with some success so if we can do it with baby stuff it would be so great.

This kind of goes against what I was telling my mom yesterday at Buy Buy Baby when we were browsing

I was saying "why the hell would you want a pack-n-play that has the changing pad attachment and bassinet on top". Like if I need to change my kid's diaper I'm just going to do it in the nursery. But I guess there are situations when you're not at home that might be useful.

tuxielove93 · January 2022

@inthewoods23 just started one lol great minds think alike
baby “don’t needs”

skilouise · January 2022

One other general point I'll add if that lots of areas have local baby wearing groups, often with a Facebook group. Some offer meetups to let you try different style carriers and wraps, or to give tips on your own. COVID may have limited some of the in- person aspect, but I would still recommend seeing what you can find.

@zwink1 Agreed that bucket seats can be much safer if you're potentially going to be carrying baby anywhere that is icy. DS was born in December, and our townhouse we lived in at the time had a detached garage on the other side of the street. Between that and our stairs, we felt much safer using the bucket seat.

For those that do get a bucket seat, definitely include the weight of the seat as one of your decision criteria. Some seats weigh 6 lbs, while others weigh 9-10. Those extra few pounds can make a big difference when lugging around the seat+baby.

@tuxielove93 I'm always impressed when people can stick to the minimalist approach. I definitely *thought* that's what I wanted to do with DS, but by 2-3 months the exhaustion hit hard and convenience started getting prioritized more and more lol. I made so many Amazon purchases between 1-3 am when my self control was still asleep, even though I wasn't.

Thanks also for the reminder about Happy Baby carriers. I had my eye on one last time around, but never ended up pulling the trigger.

sjb2215 · January 2022

When DS2 was an infant we really liked the boba wrap (which I like a cheaper version of the Moby wrap). Definitely took some practice with tying the wrap and making sure it felt secure.

We used the lillebaby complete all seasons with both boys and seconding @zwink1 loved that it could be used as newborns without an insert with so many different carrying options. I'm 5'5and my husband is 6'2 and we both used it frequently. I was able to get baby in by myself until they got big and squirmy enough for the back carry option. I also appreciate how so many ladies also mentioned the tips for hip alignment. For this specific carrier the other best tip I got was to make sure baby was positioned high enough that you can always kiss their forehead.

Also mentioned above, but while this might not necessarily apply to our summer babies, both my other kiddos were winter newborns in WI and we absolutely needed the bucket carrier with a winter cover for those early Dr appointments, etc. Might be something to think about as a FTM of your planning on growing your family!

tuxielove93 · January 2022

@skilouise get a happy baby! They’re incredible. Being a minimalist mama is convenient to me lol. Less stuff less fuss.

Almost forgot!! You don’t need them until baby is a bit older (like three months) but I 100% recommend getting suck pads. Once baby starts getting into putting things in their mouth, the carrier quickly becomes a favorite chewing option. It’ll save you laundry to just wash some little pads versus having to wash the whole carrier. And it’ll keep the carrier nicer.

courtneyqdk · January 2022

OK, so this is one itemwhere I did a TON of research when I had my son. Shortly after I had him, I threw out my back. That was a nightmare with a baby who wanted to be held alllllll the time. So I researched carriers and back support, and I ended up going with a Lille Baby. They have a ton of designs (airflow ones for summer, winter ones, all season, etc.) but here is the "classic" version:

https://lillebaby.ca/classics-original-carrier-dove.html

The lumbar support on this thing saved my back. It was so comfortable and I loved that it was easy to put on and off without help, and I could clip him in while alone at home all day when DH was at work. I used it so much and it is great quality so I plan on using it again this time around. It is one of those purchases that I was completely satisfied with.

Also - I loved using it for shopping! Hated putting the infant carrier in a grocery cart because it takes up so much room - plus having him close to me meant he would sleep most of the time shopping. I used it probably every day until he outgrew it, and got too wiggly to be baby wearing anymore. Hope this helps some of you!

Want a personalized experience?

Product Spotlight: Baby Carriers

Re: Product Spotlight: Baby Carriers

Choose Another Board

Search Boards