Best Baby Harness/sling

The Ergo carrier is awesome. It will last you a long time and is easier on the back than some of the other options!

I know you already have tons of responses, but I had several different carriers and my Ergo is my absolute favorite. It's lasted the longest and is the most comfortable.

My favorite is the Maya wrap. I used it from birth and still use it to this day-on both my 1 and 2 1/2 year olds! It comes in a lot of cool colors too. Happy baby wearing!

We had a kangaroo pouch a Moby wrap and a baby bjorn (all gifts) and I don't think I could pick one that was the best. They all have their advantages/disadvantages.

The pouch style is the easiest and fastest to put on and was great when my son was an infant because he could easily snuggle in there and sleep and also enjoyed facing out when he was a bit older. However, if you bend over it will swing away from your body, so it's not ideal if you're trying to multitask and do some housework or something like that.

The baby bjorn was used mostly by my husband (deemed manly enough) and is also pretty easy to get on and off and adjust. My (and his) complaints with it were that the shoulder straps would dig in after a while and that it has such a small weight limit that he outgrew it very quickly.

The Moby wrap gets points for versatility, but there is a much greater learning curve to getting it on and on WELL. It's not terribly difficult, but it does take a little practice on how tightly to wrap (tighter than you think; it will stretch when you put them in) and it does pretty much require standing up and tossing fabric all around you, which can be difficult in some situations. When you get it on I think it feels the most secure and most comfortable of all of them. We still use the Moby as a back carrier with my 2.5 yo and he'll fall asleep in it. It does draw the most stares (maybe because of the adorably sleeping child?), but also have received the most "that's cool" comments and inquiries about where I got it.

Hope this helps you figure out what will work best for you.

Ergo!!! They're awesome, and you can keep using them as your baby gets bigger (up to 2 years old or even older, you just put the older baby on your back). I owned about seven different types of carriers before I found the Ergo carrier, and it is the BEST. The thing that's really great about it is that it's designed to throw all the weight onto your hips, so you avoid backaches that other carriers (even mai-tais) tend to produce. Good luck.

I have owned two slings and both have their advantages. WIth my first pregnancy, I was given a Kangaroo Korner pouch as a gift after my delivery that my son absolutely loved! He seriously spent hours a day in it, as he liked being held and it still allowed me to get things done around the house while wearing him. It is a polyester fleece, but they do make them in cotton too. I know Pea Pods in St. Paul has them in stock, or you can order online for more fabric selections. These slings are sized (XS - XL I think) based on height and weight. They are also sized based on being a right-handed or left-handed person.

I also own a Baby Bjorn with the additional back support. I just had my second child 3 months ago, and have been using this all the time. She loves it - facing outward especially. I honestly didn't use my Bjorn much with my son, but my daughter loves it and it's been a lifesaver for me! The one thing I really like about the Baby Bjorn is I feel like my arms are even more mobil - some slings since they hand heavier to one side can limit how much you can use your arms. Just a thought.

Good luck with your purchase!

I have the Baby Bjorn Active, which has the improved back support. I got it off of eBay for $60 with the shipping, much better than the over $100 new cost. It was a lifesaver when I was on maternity leave and wanted to get something done since my daughter has always been so alert during the day and wanted to hang out with mommy. We take it with us camping and have done quite a bit of hiking and was always comfortable. She tended to fall asleep in it and the way it was set up, I was able to unhook the back side of the "pouch" and get her down for a nap without waking most of the time.

Now that she's 6 months old we started using a Snugli backpack more instead and once I got all the adjustments right, that's been very comfortable. My daughter loves going on hikes with us! (And I figure it's good training to do a boundary waters trip again - ready for portaging with a loaded backpack!)

I think I have found the BEST baby carrier!! It is called the ErgoBaby Carrier. You can find them at Ergobabycarrier.com.
I have three little girls. I had a sling and backpack for my first two. At the time, I thought they were great. I was told they wouldn't hurt my back, but the sling did hurt my neck if they were in it for too long. My sister discovered the Ergo! I had it for my 3rd baby and LOVE it!! I only wish I had it for all of my girls. The nice thing about the Ergo is that is can be used from infant all the way up to 45 lbs. You can use it as a front carrier or a back carrier as they get older. If you have an infant, you also need to buy the infant insert. It is more pricey than a sling, but well worth the money!! You won't regret it!! Check it out and let me know what you think! :)

Hello Salsa
I got a great sling at www.happilyheld.com. She has a lot of different slings and she has pictures of how they work. I have one that you can put your child in front or on your back. Good luck
N.

When they are very little and can't hold their heads up yet, I prefer the actual "sling" types, which are tha kind that are a big tube of fabric that goes all the way around mom, over one shoulder, and the baby lays in it like a hammock. Many people can even nurse in them! Then I also used a Snugli - front or back pack , once she was bigger and could hold her hear up....now that she is a bigger toddler, we find we are back to the sling, we sit her in it on my hip, and it just helps support her, so I ma not doing all the work with my arms!

Here are my two favorite brands of Sling - i have the first one in a lightweight cotton for summer, and the second type in a microfleece for winter:
http://www.bundleoflove.net/
http://www.goo-ga.com/

I really like our Baby Bjorn carrier. I've found it easy to use, very comfortable and doesn't hurt my back at all (I sometimes have back issues). I've used it since my daughter was a newborn, and she's six months old now and I'm still using it. The one I got was a little pricier, but it's vented and lightweight so she doesn't get too hot in the summer heat.

Slings are definitely the way to go, in my opinion. I used one with my daughter and it was the only way I could get her to nap while out of the house. It was super-comfortable when she was smaller, but they do get a little uncomfortable as the baby gets bigger. If you're looking for one that can be used for a long time, the Ergo baby carrier is the way to go (www.ergobaby.com). They're kind of pricey, but can be used I think up to 50 lbs. If you want a sling, I got mine on sale at www.lucky-baby.com. It's super soft material and I really liked it a lot when compared to other slings. You can also try the Peanut Shell slings, which are really popular. Their website is www.goo-ga.com. They all usually have at least a few different slings on clearance, so you could save a few dollars that way. Also, if you register with any of them and hold off on buying the sling, they'll likely send out an email around Labor Day with a code to save on a purchase. Good luck with it!

Loved mine. My little girl would fall asleep in it the moment I put her in it. They are all about the same but mine was one of the least expensive models. I suggest checking out the comments on sites that sell them like Target.

Shel

hi there....i LOVE my hotsling....i am still using it at 20 months....

plusses:
it is really simple...one piece of fabric
baby feels really close to you all the time...not like in a baby bjiorn
baby can be in it pea pod style....then facing front.....then on hip as she grows
i actually feel cute in it (it is red sateen (not at all shiny or silky....i guess the "sateen"
just means it has a bit of stretch...not much...just the tiniest right amount
the best is: i can actually roll it up and stick it in my purse....not diaper bag....purse....it
is really compact and awesome to carry everywhere

drawbacks:
it is over the shoulder....weight is not equally distributed...but i don't mind that
i wasn't a huge fan of carying my baby in it pea pod style...but that is a preference
babies definitely have to be bigger (i think 9 months) before wearing on the hip

i got this sling as a trial run...it was so simple...i was going to use it until i found one that works....i never looked for another.....

good luck mama!

I loved, loved, loved the Bjorn.
I used it for both of my babes and was sad when they outgrew it.

I used my sisters front carrier (it was a knock-off of the Bjorn) and my back hurt for days.

I had to add that I now use the Kangaroo Korner sling (made in Woodbury MN) for both my 3 year and one year old. It's the best sling I have ever used.

Hi, I loved the Baby Bjorn. We had another one that someone gave to us--it was super uncomfortable and hard to adjust. I only recommend the baby bjorn. We found ours on Craigslist for $25 opposed to $100 in the store. You can also find them at once upon a child.

I tried on a sling, but never used one. The baby bjorn is easy to use--and my little boy loves it!! It is comfortable and easy to get them in and out of it!

I used the Baby Bjorn with my first two children, but then found the Ergo. I love, love, love the Ergo. It positions your baby in a more seated way than the Bjorn and is better for the baby's hips and spine. You can wear the Ergo with your baby in the front, back, or on your hip.

I bought one online from a retailer that let you try it for 30 days or so and if you didn't like it, you could return it. That was important to me since I had purchased other slings and hated them, thus wasting money on things I couldn't use. I highly recommend the Ergo.

i had bought a sling at target and it was black and white colored... and i hated it. it was uncomfortable, and i would put my son in it and i was always worried that i was bending his neck too tightly, and so i didnt like to use it.
i bought another sling that was like a sorta square piece of material with 4 long ribbons attached to it, and that one was better, and it was nice to have baby wrapped up close to my heart. but those ribbons were a pain, and they wrapped up on themselves and they ended up digging into my shoulders.

finally i met a friend who mothered with a like mind... and she introduced me to the moby wrap. http://www.mobywrap.com/
this is the most comfortable sling i used, i LOVE it and i still use it for my son who is 20 months. although i dont use it often because he is so big, it certainly is handy when we are out somewhere and it is time for a nap. you can use it in various positions, which are listed on the web site, and they do send the sling in a handy bag with a book included. they seem kinda spendy, but its worth every penny. they also have ones that are sunblocking... but its up to you whether or not its worth it. i havent had too much trouble using it in the heat, yes we get warm, but a slight adjustment here and there and you can get air flowing. you have to make sure you get it tight enough, sometimes you will think its tight enough, when its not, and when you think its too tight, thats when its just right. the material stretches a bit so remember that.
anyway, i highly recommend it. good luck!

We had a hotsling and it was great, but the kangaroo carrier was awesome too.
Check out this store (online or in person)
http://www.peapods.com
It's in St. Paul and they have EVERY type of sling you could want as well as other natural baby care. Plus, you can try on the slings in the store before you buy, which is nice because they can be spendy.

I used the Baby Bjorn Carrier. I loved it , but my son is now too heavy for it. It goes upto 27 pounds and it was still comfortable at that weight. I have been debating on how to sell it. I got it off Ebay for about $80 NIB about a year ago and have used it less than a dozen times. Several times I have carried him for over 3 hours in it and had little or no back or shoulder soreness.
Here is the link to the one I have.

http://www.babybjorn.com/American/products/Mobility/BABYB...

R.

I love my Ergo carrier. It grows with your child and can be used on the front, back and side. You can use it from infancy (with the infant insert) up to 40lbs. I've also used the Baby Bjorn, but it becomes uncomfortable once your baby is more than about 15lbs. Both my kids are very comfortable in it and so am I.

I had a snugli and my daughter was ok in it when she was tiny but not so much when she got out of the "blob" stage. It was adjustable and fairly comfortable for both myself and my husband.

I used a Moby Wrap and my husband used a Baby Bjorn. We loved them both, but the the Bjorn was very convenient and simple to put on. I always wanted a Babyhawk/Toddlerhawk but never had the money to upgrade.

My recommendation would be to check out a baby boutique and try out the different styles they offer before you buy. They can help you find what works best for you, that is how I found the Maya wrap and I absolutely love it! I have twin boys and was actually able to put both of them in it at the same time for the first few months of their lives.

I have a peanut shell baby sling, I love it. they have a web site go and check it out

The moby wrap rocks. I haven't used it a whole lot, but it is deffinantely versitile.

Just recently purchased a Hotsling. Love it. My daughter is 8 months old and my Snugli carrier was hurting my back ( she weighs about 16 lbs.) The Hotsling is very comfortable and she loves it too.

I purchased a sling (pouch type) from MyKarmaBaby.com and loved it! I was stopped by at least one person per store asking me where I got it. I just googled the name to make sure I had the web site address and found AttachedToBaby.com who also sells KarmaBaby slings. I also noticed similar slings at Target the other day. This type of sling is supper comfortable and easy for baby to nurse. The only draw back is that you have to measure yourself according to the directions to make sure it will fit YOU. It makes it hard for others to use the sling unless they are similarly built to you, too. Good luck!

Also, we just picked up the Hip Hammock from Playtex now that our daughter is older and very big for her age. It works pretty well, too.

Test them out if at all possible before you buy! They aren't one-size-fits all item. The ones that my husband liked I absolutely could not use, they hurt my back so bad.

I found that the kind that is just a long piece of stretchy fabric that you wind around yourself in a certain way, was the best for me. It distributed the weight evenly and there were no buckles or harnesses to irritate either me or baby.

I think what you are describing is the front-pack carrier. The true "sling" style slings are supposed to be very comfortable for baby. My husband enjoyed using them, but I felt as though I might drop my baby out of it any second. It wasn't secure-enough feeling for me to use. (When my son was bigger and older, maybe a year old, I was able to quite happily use the homemade sling I was given to tote him around sitting up in it, like a hip harness would do.)

Other than that, the front pack carriers seemed to me to be the cheaper the carrier, the less good it felt, the more expensive - and the more padding it had- the better it felt, at least for the trying it on test. Baby Bjorn has some nice ones.

I have 3 different kinds - my favorite is the Baby Bjorn. It's the very best if you're active.

It took me years to find a sling that worked for me. The reason is that you need to find one that fits you and that is comfortable. I don't like huge bulky ones on the shoulder or ones that have LOOOOOOOONG material draping down the front.
Recently I discovered wraps. They are amazing! They are more time consuming to put on, but are so comfortable and actually allow you to hold the baby and have both hands free! Birth to as long as you can carry them. I have a few wraps, and as far as price, you can get them for around $30, even at Target, but the best one at a good price is www.sleepywrap.com. That is the brand I give as gifts because I love it so much. I have The Ultimate Baby Wrap from Target and my son cries if I put him on my back. I put him on my back in my SleepyWrap and he cried when I tried to take him out! Huge difference in the feeling of security for the baby.

I sugest the playtex hip hammock. I have used a snuggie and I like this one so much better. I have a real bad back and my son weighs 23 lbs and I can carry him for hours on end with this one. It is awesome. Hope I was able to help.

A.

I agree with Lisa, wraps are the way to go.
I've worn all four of my boys and this last time around, I went with the Moby wrap. (they have a website, but I got mine on Ebay) It is super comfortable and you can use it in so many different ways.
It works perfectly for the newborn to lay right up next to you!

I never useda front carrier, but used a Hotsling (www.hotslings.com) for years. In fact I just used it last weekend with my almost 3yr old at the tractor show we attended. He was tired, it was hot, and so I pulled out the sling and put him on my back so he could get a little rest.

Super comfy, folds up teeny tiny to store in a diaper bag, and you can use it for years and years.

We have a babyborjn and love it. Spend the extra money for the sport style. It has extra back support for longer walks. We use ours all the time and never use the stroller.

The down side is you can't switch it to back carrier. I haven't missed this feature but people who have the opption seem to use it.

I have used a couple. I love my ergo carrier and used the infant insert with it for the first several months. I preferred this over the bjorn or snugli types as I have a boy and there is some research to indicate it can be damaging to have a boy carrying all his weight on his crotch during those early months. Using the infant insert in the ergo allows the baby to sit/lay sideways, not on the crotch. When the baby could sit up a bit, I then switched to the sitting position on his butt, facing me, and my son loved this and often would fall asleep on me. It enabled me to get a lot done as I was hands free. This also worked great when traveling. I also used a hotsling which I loved and I've also made additional hotsling type slings in different fabric with a pattern I bought on ebay. These were great for being around family, hanging out by the pool, trips to the store and so on. With the hotsling, the key is to get the proper size. You can even use it in the hip carry when your baby can sit up until you're uncomfortable with the weight. We still use it sometimes and Noah is 23lbs now.