Baby Carrier for 2.5 Month

I love love love my ergo carrier. You can get an insert for it so it works for a younger baby. It was more on the pricey side though. I also had a bjorn that I used when they were little, my kids outgrew it quick though. If you are crafty, you buy a pattern and make a baby sling type carrier, that would be the cheapest way to go.

Moby wrap. I love my moby wrap, it works great, and it's SO comfortable.

I've had the moby, baby bjorn and beco butterfly. The Baby Bjorn is my favorite for young infants (under 4ish months) but then I really like the Beco butterfly. It's easy to use, sturdy, nice-looking, easy on the back and can be used throughout toddlerhood. They're a little expensive but worth it!

My absolute favorite was a moby wrap/sleepy wrap (same thing, different brands). There is a learning curve to start using it, but once you get it down, it's great! And as the baby gets older, you can start facing him outward so he can see the world, he'll love it. You can look at youtube to see how to wrap it.

It's really just a long piece of stretchy fabric, so you can easily make on by buying a piece of fabric and cutting it lengthwise, and you'll have 2 of them. I used remnant fabric from JoAnns made 2 for about $10. Google "no-sew baby wrap".

I also liked the ring sling because it was easier to get on and off, but I never felt like it was really hands-free. And a moby, wrapped well, is competely hands-free.

Another tip - I found out what I liked by finding a baby-wearing group in my area. Try googling to find out if there is one. The one in my area had a lending library, and I met them, they showed me how they all worked and I tried on all the different kinds of carriers. I decided to try out 2 of them for a month with my baby, then I returned the loaners and bought the one I liked best (the fabric for the moby).

If you are going to invest in one carrier I would buy the Ergo, I used it with my sons once they were about 4-5 months old. You carry them on the front when they're little and then switch them to the back as they get bigger, feels like you're wearing a supportive backpack! I used this more than my double stroller, I felt it was safer because one kid was attached to me leaving both my hands free for the other one, age 2 at the time. We went hiking this past fall and I carried my 3 year old in it when he tired out, he's on the big side too. The Ergo has an infant insert as well, but I never used it so I can't comment on it. It's around $105, people do sell them used.

The Baby Bjorn is great for the early months 0-3 or 4 months, but will bother your back as they get bigger.

I loved the Bjorn and used it until my son turned 1 with no trouble. As soon as he was your son's age, I turned him outward, so he could look out at the world. This was sort of the best of all possible worlds for him -- he could observe everything, but his back was snuggled against my tummy, so he felt cozy and secure. I found the Ergo more awkward to manipulate, but I also didn't have as much experience with it.

By far my favorite was a simple, basic ring sling with no padding. The one I use the most is a Maya Wrap but I have a couple others I bought from Etsy.com as well. I had a couple padded Over the Shoulder Baby Holders but eventually found that large amount of padding to be annoying and it always made me too hot.
When they were little I wore them upright chest to chest/tummy to tummy with their head against my chest. As they got older I could sit them cross legged, facing forward or on my hip as well. I never liked having them on my back but you can wear them that way also. I could lie them down cradle style to nurse them then put them upright again when they were done eating. I could slip the material out from under their bottom and put them sitting on my lap when I sat. I became an expert at nursing while waiting in line at an attraction at Disneyland, scooting them on to my lap and going on a ride without missing a beat or holding up the line for even a second. I could get on and off attractions without even waking them so they could nap and I could keep going on with my day. A lot of attractions you have to take your baby out of a carrier but I didn't have to take this one off because I could put them on my lap then use the material as an added belt.
There aren't a lot of fiddly bits. I had a front pack similar to the Baby Bjorn style when my first was born and I hated it. It took too long to get on and I hated how my child just dangled there in front of me. I only used it a couple times before I got rid of it.

I love the Lillie Baby NORDIC ---its like the ERGO but better!!!!! You can face them in or out and it 6 different positions. Very comfortable and great support. My baby loves it~

Love my moby for babies that age.

I highly recommend the Moby Wrap for this age. You have to wrap it tightly and wear it higher than you might think. There's a bit of a learning curve when you first start off, but it is so wonderful once you get it right. And it's under $40. I think it works best up to 6 mos. (unless your baby is really big).

Once your baby is 4 months old, I recommend the ErgoBaby Carrier. It's a bit pricey, but you can find it for less on ebay and periodically on babysteals.com or factory seconds are available directly from the company. Once your baby is 6 mos. old, you can wear him on your back, which allows for even better ergonomics and freedom of movement. I wore my daughter occasionally until she was 2 1/2 (and would've gone longer if I wasn't pregnant w/ #2). My 21-month-old still goes in on a regular basis for making dinner, climbing several flights of stairs, a quick errand on foot, etc.

Both of these carriers have been lifesavers, especially with 2 kids!

Best,
R.

I used the ERGO from 4 months till 4 years. It spread the weight from shoulders to hips so it was VERY easy. I believe they have an infant insert, so definitely worth checking out. You can wear it on the front or back, or even hip (I never got the hang of it that way).

Your mileage may vary, but we liked the Bjorn for DD. DD could face front or back (once she got some head control and didn't need the support she could be turned) and she liked being held that way. You can also look into other carriers like the Ergo or Moby, which friends have also liked.

I vote for the Ergo too. If you get the infant insert, it'll last you for a really long time, because even when your baby is too big for front-carrying, you can use it as a backpack carrier. I'm 5'3" and found it to be the most comfortable of all the slings/carriers I tried. The Bjorn killed my back, but with the Ergo, the weight is nicely distributed over the center of your back and your hips, and the way the baby sits in it, it's like having a nice, snuggly hug all the time. From what I've read, the Ergo also supports the baby's hips/pelvis in a much healthier way.

The price initially put me off, so I didn't get one for a while with my first baby, and as soon as I bought it, I wished I'd gotten it sooner.

My favorite was a Moby style wrap I had. I had another type of carrier that was just fine, (It was home made by my mother, who used to make them for the Le Leche League) but I thought the wrap was a bit more adjustable to fit to me, and was more comfortable. Mine wasn't actually the Moby brand, it was a Gypsy Momma, which later I found out was almost exactly like the Moby, just way more expensive. Knowing what I know now, I would have just gotten the Moby brand.