Baby Carriers
I’ve been doing research for this post and getting advice from friends, whose expertise I will now share.
Brie says: “Really, the only one you need is a soft structured carrier like a Beco Butterfly II
Ok, well pretty is worth the extra $35, so I think I’ll get a Beco.
She continues: “I love having a pouch sling like Hotslings Baby Carrier brand because it is soo easy to use and the baby loves it and it is relatively cheap. You can not use it all day though because it doesn’t balance a baby’s weight so well but it’s great for cooking dinner if the baby is fussy or walking to a neighbors or just when a baby needs to be held but you actually need your hands free.”
Hmmm…ok, maybe I’ll also get a Hotsling.
The baby carrier guru speaks on: “I have the Moby Wrap and my baby LOVES it. It is great for grocery shopping, the park, even taking walks–it is very comfortable. The only down side is that there is a definite learning curve and you don’t just slip the baby in and out, you have to actually take time to wrap it properly.”
So I need a Moby, too, huh? Ok!
And in case you were wondering what Brie has to say about the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier: “Oh, don’t bother with Baby Bjorns even though they are so popular. you can not nurse in them, they don’t support the baby well and when you wear it, you feel like you are still pregnant and, they are expensive.”
Ok, so I won’t get a Bjorn. Also, I see that they don’t have a hip harness like the Ergo and Becos do, and from backpack experience, that’s what really relieves back pain the most.
So far, I need a Beco, a Hotsling, and a Moby.
But that’s not all! Rahel (someone who own five different carriers) says that HER #1 favorite is the Parents of Invention Ultimate Baby Wrap. She says it’s the best for your back and the most comfortable. It looks rather similar to the Moby, though, so I think I’ll have to choose between the two.
Any other “must haves” out there?
http://www.creationsinbloom.com/store/Default.asp
http://www.kozypalcartcovers.com/
http://www.angelynrose.com/servlet/Page?template=about
http://www.thimblethings.com/Shopping_Cart_Covers.html
feeding your new obsessions now that the stroller is off the table…I’ve seen these in the grocery and mothers absolutely adore them (or so they tell me)ever since NBC had that gross segment on shopping cart germs!
it’s fun being famous
Which stroller did you go for in the end? we have a stretchy wrap from shilav like the moby but I barely used it as it was such a hassle to put on and off, it felt heavy after our baby got very fat very quickly and it was a pain to have to wash this huge chunk of fabic every time my baby pucked (which was the whole time, he had reflux.) Next time I would join the rest of the baby carrying world and get a baby bjorn active with the washable bibs. All my friends with them loved them, and I was always so jealous of how easy them are to use.
I have the Snugli, which I love. It’s much cheaper than the Bjorn. It’s very easy to put on by yourself, which is very important when you’re trying to put the baby in there on your own. No, you can’t nurse in it, but that’s not why you get a carrier.
I’ve seen a lot of women with the Afircan looking slings, and they make me uncomfortable. One, I’ve seen that they’re hard to put on by yourself. When you’re in the house by yourself, and the baby is screaming, and you need to put the sling on to try and calm the baby down, you don’t want to have to scramble to figure out how to tie and connect all the pieces and then have to try and put the baby in there.
Also, I’m sorry, but they don’t seem very stable. With the Snugli, you have both your hands free to do stuff. I’ve seen many people wear a sling that have to keep at least one hand on the baby at all times. If that’s the case, what’s the point of it?
The best promotion I can give you for the Snugli is that my baby would fall asleep almost immediately after putting him in there. When he wouldn’t fall asleep in the crib, but he was tired, I would put him in the Snugli, and he would fall asleep in minutes. When he had bad gas, and it was hurting him, putting him in the Snugli, and having the pressure of his stomach against mine, and walking back and forth, it would get the gas out, and he would fall asleep. I was even able to go to the bathroom with it on.
Yes, as he started getting heavier, more pressure was put on my back, and I had to stop using it when my baby was about 6 months. But all slings have that effect, and by 6 months, he wasn’t falling asleep in it anymore, and I was taking him in the stroller on a more regular basis.
It’s a personal decision, but make sure, whether you get a sling or carrier, that you try it out, see how comfortable it is, how easily and how fast you can get it on, and whether you still have to hold the baby when he’s inside the thing.
-OC
Well, in the end, Bethami is lending me her Snuggli, so I can’t quite justify spending $140 on a beco…not yet anyways. Especially since the Snuggli I see comes highly recommended as well.
(p.s. I don’t think I need to worry about shopping cart germs quite yet….)
I was watching a baby for a month, and tried the Ergo and it’s very difficult to manuveur. It snaps in the back and for the life of me I could not figure out how I was suppose to buckle it with the baby in. The father was working from home and each time I tried to do it, I had to call him to help me. Once we got it buckled, then it was difficult to adjust the baby so he wouldn’t suffocate.
Maybe it was just me, but definitely find someone who has one and practice before you invest in getting one.
I have a minsari (like the moby) I used it daily for Kinneret and am using it for Ephraim. It definitely takes some getting used to and it’s not as quick as some of the other carriers, but I used it up to 9 kilo with Kinneret without significant back damage. I’ll be happy to teach you how to wrap next time you’re in Modiin.
Thanks — yeah, I haven’t actually TRIED any of these things written in this blog… looking forward to meeting your new one!
hey! i linked to your blog from batsheva messing’s. i’ve got a 16 month old boy who i STILL wear in the ergo when i need to shlepp groceries, etc. the ergo is the most amazing carrier once your kid is about 4 months and too heavy for all the others. you can use it for newborns, too. i have the peanut shell, baby bjorn active (the best for younger babies!) and the moby wrap as well. i’m a little obsessed, i guess. the moby was a pain to put on and my son slid down in it a lot. the peanut shell hurts your back after a while. the ergo is the easiest to get on and off. i’ve flown with him in it. in fact, if i know a day is going to be long and trying, i bring the ergo as backup. if you have any questions, feel free to email me at rghertner@gmail.com
happy shopping!
rina
yes, i’ve heard repeatedly that the ergo is the best; however, i am a sucker for pretty in addition to good quality, so gave in and splurged on the beco butterfly…which then got lost in the mail and long story short…i should be receiving TODAY! (actually yesterday…so we’ll see). Will review it once I’ve got some experience with it. I’ve worn a sling a little around the neighborhood and didn’t find it to be so comfy…so next to try is a wrap.
Thanks for commenting, Rina! Please post about your experiences again! 🙂
Prefer to use Ergo baby carriers..for their extreme comfort to both parents and baby.