The price of baby carriers!

[ANiceSliceOfCake]

Just thought I'd look up a few popular baby carriers like the Connecta or the Tula as they look nice, I nearly died at the price! Yes I know I can just get a cheaper one, but I'm still shocked they can ask so much, some were over £140! Wow.

Just wanted to express my shock at 3am

[bonzo77]

Yep. Even second hand. Cheaper in the USA. If you use one instead of a buggy then they seem better value. Especially if you use them for more than one child. Biggest rip off is the stretchy wraps. 50 quid for a bit if Lycra that I only used for 10 weeks (with 2 babies) till they were big enough for a ssc.

[PotteringAlong]

But my connecta is now 4 years old and still going strong. I use it a&e least 5 times a week still.

Google sling library and your area - you can try them out before you buy for a fraction of the cost.

[BikeRunSki]

You need a sLing library or sling meet.

[MarySmilingAndHerBrassieres]

I've hired a Tula from It's a Sling Thing (online) as there isn't a long library near me. Might be an option for you?

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

My hefty 4 month old is still in our £50 stretchy wrap (only place she'll sleep!) so great value for me. I was lent a baby bjorn but hate it.
Would love a Tula but they are pricey! Think I might ask for one for Christmas.

[OlafLovesAnna]

My 3 yr old still goes in our Tula at the end of a long walk, but the buggy is rarely used these days.

For me, the Tula/ woven wrap have been the best 'baby gear' money spent as DD is DC 3 and gets dragged here there and everywhere and its helped me stay handsfree and able to help the older ones

[IndomitabIe]

When DS was 4 months I 'splashed out' and bought an Ergo.

Used it every day for the next 2 years. Carried him in it till he turned 4. Worth every penny & got far more use than the travel system/buggy.

[DeladionInch]

You can get a connecta for £75 in marks & Spencer. Not sure where you'll get a decent buggy for that price?

[ThursdayLastWeek]

So so so so so worth it.

The difference between a properly made baby carrier and something you can get out the Argos catalogue is indescribable.

[ilovehotsauce]

As everyone else said worth double their weight in gold, and pound for pound much better than any icandy/bugaboo!

[UmbongoUnchained]

Love love love my connecta!!
I love my pram but I absolutely hate taking it out now I'm so used to carrying DD.

[Artandco]

It's worth it though. Especially if your buying a cheaper pram as using get less.

We bought a soft structured carrier, was around £100. Used for 4 years with 2 children. Sold not too long ago for £65. So only cost us £35 for 4 years use ( les Ethan £10 a year)

Really recommend the boba 4g. Can use from newborn unlike some so don't have to buy a stretchy one also.

[mudandmayhem01]

My ergo was probably the best value thing I ever bought, got 4 years of use with 2 children.

[ANiceSliceOfCake]

I am trying to get to a sling library, where I know I'll fall in love with an expensive one

I know people get a lot of use out of them but I still think they are priced, it's like weddings, stick the word baby in front of it and it triples in price!

[Greengagesandham]

There are a few facebook selling pages where you can get a good sling second hand.

I also think with slings there is a lot of work that goes into making them that is all hidden inside. The buckles that they use will be the best available and the cloth needs to be strong, it's not like they can make them out of knock down cheapest materials.

[JimmyGreavesMoustache]

I bought three second hand slings in a process of trial and error. the two I didn't like I sold on ebay for as much as I'd paid for them, so you're highly likely to get your money back.

the one I liked I wore to death, and gave it to a friend years later, as it was a bit too marked to sell.

[DinoSnores]

I love our Ergo. It has been in constant use now for over 5 years and 3 children and is still going strong.

[eternalopt]

The good thing is that you get most of your money back selling them on once you're done with the good brand ones. Some other good options too - got my beco butterfly for £45 secondhand and love it

[DeladionInch]

greengagesandham palm and pond tried that. Within a week they'd withdrawn them again because babies were falling out, buckles snapped etc. Same with the ergo-like things on eBay and Amazon. The buckles are prone to snapping and the dyes aren't tested for toxicity - I've never met a baby that didn't like a nice munch on the carrier strap so properly safe dyes are vital!

[Greengagesandham]

I think I'd rather have a good second hand one that a cheap new one. I could never understand how palm and pond could make them so cheap, as for the fake Ergo's, I just wouldn't! Even so some of the second hand ones go for crazy prices too!

[UmbongoUnchained]

I used a palm pond until my DD was 14 months and it was absolutely fine, we loved it.

[DeladionInch]

Their mei tais are OK, although most people find them uncomfortable for larger babies, but their buckle carrier venture was not a success!

[futureme]

You can get a second hand wrap on eBay for not too much. They are just stretchy fabric ultimately! So a kari me or similar will so fine.

We then loved our ergo . we bought it new from an outlet as at the time Amazon /eBay were rife with copies. It was amazing. I can see why you'd spend money for the design, safety, quality fixings and dies etc when that is all for the safety of the baby.

And still a lot cheaper that a posh buggy!

[cathpip]

It depends on how much you will use it though, I spent £130 7 years ago on a macpac back pack as we have dogs, it's the best £130 I have spent, dc3 is using the back pack now and when dc4 is big enough he will go in it, I reckon I will use it daily for around another 3 years, so money well spent!
I see were you are coming from though, baby stuff is expensive and they prey on first timers who are not sure quite what they need half of baby stuff is overpriced and completely unnecessary crap

[superbfairywren]

I was a bit shocked at the prices too to be honest, don't know why when most baby stuff is overpriced! I really liked the look and reviews of the ergo360 and tula carriers but just couldn't afford one. So I got a connecta which was about 65quid, through its a sling thing. It's fab and because its smaller I have it with me all the time. Second hand they seem to hold their value too. So I will definitely sell it on when it gets too small and probably invest in the toddler one!!
And actually, the tula and ergo ones are much more padded which meant I wouldn't have been able to shove them in my bag as easily when we are out.