Baby Carrier, Sling or Ergo?

Love love love the sling. Hate hate hated the baby carrier. With my oldest I requested the baby carrier (he's 8 now) and I think I used it 5-6 times due to the pain in the butt straps and snaps. The sling has a one handed open and close and you can use it from newborn up, its great for breast-feeding descretely and My almost 2 year old boy can still fit in it and still loves it!

Hi I have a 16 month old son and in the beginning I used an all cotton sling which I found great as he slept well in it. Then it was good for when he could sit up and face outwards. Then when he was about 4 months I used a ring sling and had him on the hip. I also used the ergo for longer travel. I liked all three different kinds for different stages. the most versatile was the ring sling.
Hope this helps, congrats on #2.

I used a ring sling for a while and then when my daughter got too heavy (I felt a lot of pressure on the one shoulder bearing her weight) I switched to a Beco Butterfly (I think that's what it is called :). I found it really helpful to go to baby wearing meetings. I met lots of other mom's and the coordinators of the meetings always bring all different kinds of carriers for you to try so that you can see what you and your baby like before making the investment.

Good luck!

H.,
Congrats on baby #2!!
I just had my second in June. I also have a 21 month old. I use the heck out of my carrier. I have the Hug-a-bub. It is a wrap carrier. It is very similar to the Moby Wrap. I highly recommend it. It is great from the day you bring the baby home from the hospital until they are 2 or 3...I'm small & cannot imagine wearing a 3 year old though. I use it when we go to Target, Publix, Sea World, etc...My son LOVES it. It's also a nice way to keep people (strangers) from touching him. I have friends that have had the sling or the ring sling & they werent crazy about it. Said it was really only useful when the baby was really small. A good friend has the Moby wrap & she likes it a lot. She got it on eBay & got a good deal. Here is the link to the one I have, it is from Australia & comes with a DVD to show you how to use it. It looks complicated at first, but I promise, it's easy to use. I think it's about $80 or so, but well worth it!!

http://www.hugabub.com/

H.

Hi, H.. Well, I've only had experience with baby carriers and slings (the kind you wear across your chest and the baby is supported on your hip). I've used the soft kind that just straps to the front of Mom or Dad, and I've also used the light aluminum framed one that you wear on your back. You can also take that one off and let the child sleep sitting up in it if you are careful to supervise and not leave the child alone.

I was quite satisfied with all of the ones I used, but only while my son was less than 1 year old. I think a child is way too heavy for mom to lug around that way (unless mom is a body-builder). AND ESPECIALLY since you are about 7 months pregnant, I STRONGLY advise you to get a stroller!!!

Your body doesn't need to carry all that pregnancy weight plus the weight of your 2-year-old. Please, please, get a nice stroller, and give your body a break.

Peace,
Syl

I loved the maya warp sling when she was an infant. Once she got to 20 lbs the pressure all on one shoulder was too much for very long walks and hikes so we got a padapum (like ergo). I can still carry my daughter, now four in the padapum, if I wanted. Weight is distributed on both shoulders and the hips. botht of these are good for the baby. Baby Bjorn is bad for babies hips, putting pressure on their pelvis in an unnatural way. As an LMT, I do not recommend baby bjorn.

Congratulations! You've gotten some great tips so far. My son was born in October as well, when my daughter had just turned three. I can't tell you how much babywearing helped!!!!

I tried a Baby Bjorn with my daughter and didn't like it at all, but I used a wrap when my son was a newborn, and that worked great for us! It was jersey material, but in Oct-Dec. that was fine.

When he got six weeks or so (could hold up his head if he wanted) we started using a hot sling, which is a type of pouch sling. I love it because I just throw it on and don't have to mess with adjustments--and it packs so small. I still use it for short errands, etc. He's so independent at two that he really wants to walk!

I like the padded shoulder in the OTSBH, but I'm too short-waisted. I can't get it tight enough before the material gets too padded to go through the ring. This is the one I take to Disney though--padded for comfort and loose for in-and-out :-) So much better than a stroller!

I used a backpack for long walks with my daughter when she was two-ish, but I haven't gotten a chance to start that with my son.

Good luck! Do try to find a babywearing group--real life tips are great. I can't tell you how great babywearing has been for me!

I agree that it will ultimately depend on you baby. I had an ergo and loved it. It's kind of hard to get use to and I do see some other similar items on the market now that look easier to get into. Baby Bjorn killed my back and I have heard similar comments from other moms. I have to say Ergo was great on my back and I could also carry my 4 yr old on my back in it...which worked out great at the airport, hiking, etc.

Good luck on your search!!

Hi H.!
Congrats on baby #2! I have tried almost every type of sling there is (I really have) and by far, the best one IMO is the Moby wrap. It does have a learning curve and it can be intimidating when you take it out of the box, but it is by far the most comfortable and versatile of all the baby wearing options. I use it with my daughter who is now 17 months and no back pain or discomfort and I have a really happy baby. I had a homemade one with my son and this one looks way nicer on.
Th problems with some of the other slings I tried were a) not distributing the weight equally on my back and shoulders b) fabric stretching too much as baby grows and starts to put strain on lower back c)the look- some can be unflattering
I've had NONE of those issues with my Moby.
Good luck!!

Unfortunately, your baby will ultimately decide. This means you might buy and then return several! I tried 3 different types of slings when I had my second baby. She hated them all. I then got the baby bjorn Air (I highly recommend that model in Florida). It has mesh so it keeps them cooler. She still loves it! She would forward face and sleep the whole time! I couldn't have gotten by without it. Good luck!

Hi H.,
Congrats!!! I am also awaiting baby number two and know that carriers will be the only way ;-)

I have three different kinds of carriers and find that they all have there different uses.

For short trips to the store I find using a sling works best - it was easy to quickly get my daughter in, wasn't bulky in the store and for less then an hours wear it didn't bother my shoulders or back. I would also wear it at the beach much lighter and cooer for both her and I.

For longer trips/adventures the ergo or mei tai were my favs. The support you get with both are great both for mom and baby. The only down fall i feel with these is that they are bulkier and not easy to just shove in the diaper bag when you don't want to use it or the baby just doesn't want to be in the carrier any longer.

I have also heard great reviews on the mouna wrap - which is made by a local south florida mom. I've heard the support is great and so far have not heard of one baby that hasn't liked it. Also very resonably priced.
www.mounawrap.com

Another local mom has an online biz and also does some of the local baby wearing meetings.
www.marsupialbabyslings.com

I agree with others that it may depend on your baby - i was lucky and my daughter loved them all.

I have not tried the bjorn becuase i had heard how horrible the support for the baby is. My understanding is that they sort of hang with the cloth between their legs.

I would deffinately check out a baby wearing meeting.

Good luck!

T.

I used the sling OTSBH for my children when they were newborn. It was easier for them to lay and sleep a lot like babies do. When they grew old enough to hold their head up and become a little more alert i used the ergo. It is a great design for carrying babies and kids too. I do think it is a little bulky though for me 5'2". I agree that the moby is a great wrap too, and I have used a mai tai wrap (babyhawk)for smaller outings, as it is less bulky than the ergo but not quite as comfy on my back. There are a lot of good options out there. Hope I haven't just confused you more. Congratulations on the arrival of your baby. Enjoy your baby bliss.

You can save some $ secondhand going to diaperswappers.com; look under the Babywearing forum. I had loved a ring sling with my son, so ordered one from Kalea Baby for our new daughter in a linen/silk combo to keep us both cool. l also purchased a Mei Tai from Baby Hawk, which is generally recommended from 4 mos to 35 lbs. There are also buckle versions, ie. Beco. I highly suggest spending a bit of time visiting http://babywearer.com/ for comparisons.

i love my ergo carrier! i have a 2 yr old and a 2month old and it's great because there's an insert so you can carry the baby like a sling, but still distribute the weight evenly on both shoulders OR you can throw it on your back so your big kid can have a hands-free piggy back while you work with baby. great for both ages!

Hi,

I got the Zolowear sling. I'm not going to say it's easy to use a sling... it takes time to find the right way to wear it. My daughter just loved being in it. On the site, they have instructions on how to wear it. I like the sling the best since I didn't feel like the carriers seem good on a baby (but that's MPO).

I really like the suggestion about asking other mommies if you can try out theirs... such a great idea w/o having to return and buy and return and buy again!

http://zolowear.com/

This one has extra fabric to discreatly BF or just to cover baby when they are sleeping.

Good luck!

I used a boppy sling for the first few months. I loved it! My son would fall right to sleep in there, and it distributed the weight nicely because it has an extra strap that goes across your back. When he was older and liked looking around more and held his head up well, I switched to the baby bjorn. It's better when the baby's up and observing everything. That's my personal preference! Hope that helps!

I just posted a similar question so here's my advice. I have a hotsling, baby bjorn, and now an Ergo. My son hated the sling so we moved to the bjorn. It worked out Ok but when he got heavier which he did quite quickly, my back started hurting. A few weeks ago I purchased an Ergo and we're incredibly happy with it. My son is 9 months and 23 pounds so he fits in it great and loves to ride on my back. It is incredibly comfy and rather cool even in Florida's hot sun. I would definitely borrow a friend's sling and test it out rather than buying each one like I did. Good luck!

time to research!
www.thebabywearer.com

and you can even find a LOCAL group to meet moms and try their carriers and discuss this very question!
http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=72

Yes the Ergo is great! But would the carrier be more for the baby or your 2.5 year old? There are so many things to consider, what I suggest is to call Hip mama Couture and have her come out to your home( FREE )and have a personal consultation on baby wearing! She brings all of her personal favorites and teaches you about them and helps you decide which would be the best for your needs and your comfort. She will also just access the ones you already have, help you learn to use them properly and tell you honestly which ones to send back( if you can). No hard sales! ###-###-####
All the best!
http://www.meetup.com/SouthFloridaBabywearing/

My kids (and I) liked slings best. Wish I would've found them earlier on with my first child though!!

I had a OTSBH, but found it to be very hot. So, I made my own with a pattern I bought online. I made 5 or 6 of them and so I never got sick of the color options! LOL!!

I found one online that I bought for a babyshower gift a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. It's made for the tropical environment and may make a great alternate sling for you ... http://www.thingamasling.com/item_77/Turquoise-Solarveil.htm . looks like a home based mommy biz too.

I found slings easiest for packing, having alternate positions (baby doesn't get bored), calming colic, breastfeeding (I swear we could BF anywhere!), and more. I even made doll-sized ones for my daughter and she'd carry her babydolls with her in the sling. it was SOOOO cute.

Best of luck and blessings on your new addition!

I used the Baby Bjorn air carrier (the mesh one) and loved it. I felt that the baby was really strapped in securely and the construction is very sturdy. It's machine washable too. It held up well with my first child who is now 2.5 yrs and I plan on using it again with the baby I am expecting next month. I have occasional low back pain and the sling made my back pain worse. The baby bjorn never hurt my back. It was also really handy when traveling through the airport (when you need your hands a little more) and when in public. The downsides are that it is pricey and it can be cumbersome when you want to take the baby out for changing or feedings.

My second son is 3 months old and I've used my ring sling 99% of the time so far. The one I got is made of solarveil material so it's very light which is great for the summer heat. I really think a ring sling is the way to go for the first few months. It's quick in and out & they stay close to you. Once your baby is a bit older and wants to see the world I think Ergo is a good choice. And during the few cooler periods we get I think I'll be using my Moby wrap more.

This is a great carrier. i love the way it supports my daughter.
http://kozycarrier.homestead.com/

My daughter is three and my son is 6 mos. I have used all three. The sling for me was not that comfy but good when the baby is really small. After that I used he bjorn a lot and still do. I also use my ergo a lot. The ergo is good for bigger kids too. They each just help in different stages. If I was only buying one though, I woul probably say the ergo. U couk probably borrow a sling for the short time u would need it.

I used a Slingling baby sling and loved it! Carried him from newborn til about 25 lbs--its approved for up to 35 lbs but by then he was walking with me or riding in the stroller most of the time....
You can wear the baby on the front or, when they can sit up, on your hip. Also I liked it because you can nurse discreetly while wearing it. Wore him in it every day for almost 2 years. It never hurt my back b/c the fabric stretches out in the back to help even out the weight. Good luck!