Product Spotlight: Baby Carriers

Re: Product Spotlight: Baby Carriers

• krthouse member

  April 2022

  Definitely definitely a fabric stretch wrap for those early months. We were gifted two (Baby Beluga, Solly Baby) and that allowed us to put one in the wash and still have one handy. It was often the only way to get things done, allowed for lots of skin to skin time without feeling stuck in bed, and was sometimes the only way to soothe our little guy to nap. The Solly Baby one was super lightweight which I found less sweaty than our structured carrier, though that may not be an issue for our Fall newborns.

  
  

  For a structured carrier we had a Nuna carrier, which starts as a front carrier and turns into a back carrier. It was impossible to put on as a back carrier by myself, but good if you have someone help you. Our baby was very tall, so he grew out of it a bit early, but we were otherwise happy with it.

  
  

  I didn't try carrier nursing at all with any of these, so can't speak to that, but I've heard the wraps and sling carriers are great for it.

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• krysnicole1022 member

  April 2022

  I have tried ring slings, Moby wraps, and an ergo baby carrier. I gave away the first two except for my mesh ring along for baby wearing in a pool. I'm tempted to try a more stretchy fabric but I have big babies. My last one was 10+ lbs and 24 inches. The ergo was definitely strong enough for him. You can also back carry with it but by that point I use a stroller and then carry them when they get cranky. There are so many more carrier options than before. I love my ergo. I've had that sucker for 9 years and it's held all my babies. I kept it (thank goodness) and will probably use that the most.

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• siouxieq87 member

  April 2022

  @krysnicole1022 I definitely second the ergo carrier. My first 3 were also big babies, but my 4th was 5lbs 5oz and it was great for her too, I just used the newborn insert for a while. She’s now almost 3 and I still use it sometimes! She’s only about 26lbs though so that makes a difference.
  
  I also have a fleece sling by Kangaroo Korner that is AWESOME for newborns, especially for fall/winter. Sadly the company went out of business in 2009 but you can still find them in Ebay.

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• KGETS86 member

  April 2022

  I love a woven ring sling from birth, and woven wraps. I’ve tried a number of SSC’s, and kinderpack is my new favorite. I still wear my 5.5yo in a preschool size carrier. 

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• krysnicole1022 member

  April 2022

  @siouxieq87 My ergo is honestly my favorite. I also love the little zipper pocket so I can store cash and chapstick in there for emergencies. I just feel like it's more secure. They were so heavy that the ring slings were just not comfortable for me. They ended up hurting my shoulder/neck. The wraps made me feel like they were going to fall out even when they were in there properly. 

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• bows22 member

  April 2022

  I had a lillebaby and it was great. We didn’t use it that much but it was because DD always loved her stroller and that always seemed easier. I suspect that will not be the case this time so I think I’ll use it more. However, it’s kind of bulky and I don’t think will be great for just like around the house? But I don’t want something I have to wrap either. Is there a good carrier that’s simple/light/good for newborns that you don’t have to wrap and won’t make me feel like they are going to fall out?

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• merostomata member

  April 2022

  Has had anyone used the Ergo Embrace for newborns? Was thinking of looking around for a used one. I have an Ergo 360 carrier which I love, and another older Ergo that a family member passed on, but I was looking for something softer and smaller for newborns. After a few months I used the bigger Ergos for everything.
  
  I also had a ring sling, but never really got the hang of it, and definitely didn’t feel secure enough in it for newborns. I also had a wrap shirt thing, which was cool in theory but a.) was too tight for my postpartum body and b.) was too much work to get into.
  
  @bows22 I have the same concerns for a newborn carrier…was wondering if that Ergo Embrace might satisfy those requirements!

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• KGETS86 member

  April 2022

  @merostomata I haven’t personally used the Ergo Embrace, but I know a fellow mom who swears by it for the first 6+ months. She recommends it to everyone who has a baby on the way. 

  There are also carriers that are more structured, but have wrap ties (WrapTai’s is what they’re often called)instead of buckles, that seem a little snugglier than a lillebaby but not as much work as a wrap. 

  
  

  I highly suggest anyone looking at baby wearing to find a local baby wearing group. They often have a carrier library where you can try out different carriers, and they have educators that can help you get the right fit. I wasted so much money on carriers my friends suggested that just didn’t work for my body type and what I was actually looking for. My local baby wearing group helped me find carriers that I liked better, and carriers my babies liked better. 

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• merostomata member

  April 2022

  @KGETS86 these are all great tips, thank you 😊 I had never heard of a baby wearing library and will look into it. I live in a smallish city so I’d be surprised if we have one, but there might be one at one of the nearby larger cities.

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