Anyone know anything about baby carriers?

[CremeDeSudo]

Posting here for traffic..

I'm looking at getting a carrier second hand. I don't want to buy new as not having anymore children and not sure how much I'll use it..DD is 5mo.

So I've got the chance of an ergo 360 for £55 (ono), 6 months use with one owner, half hr drive away..

Or, a Boba 4G, one owner but looks very well used. £35, 10 min drive.

WWYD?

Not to be snobbish about it but I like that the Ergo is a well known, expensive brand. I also prefer the colour! However I'm wondering if I should really be paying 15 quid more just for the brand!

Ergo is a wine colour, the Boba is cream!

No experience of the boba but we loved our ergo!

Loved our Ergo. Second pp as not heard of the other brand.

Ergo would be well worth the money.

Do you have a sling library near you? You could try before you buy.

We do, but it's monthly and last week! So I wouldn't want to miss out.

The main difference I can see is that the Boba doesn't allow forward facing..

Contact 'it's a sling thing' they're great

Go Ergobaby everyone. It will annoy you if you can’t face outwards on the Boba and you know that the Ergo is hip healthy etc for your baby x

I've got the ergo it's good

I used to help run our local sling library. Either brand is good and Boba is very well known and respected in the sling world

As for forward facing, I have carried my children for many years and have never forward faced. There are slight concerns re hips etc, but it’s also reeeeeally uncomfortable!

Boba carriers are ergonomic too

We’ve used an ergo since birth and we still use it every other day aged 16 months. Definitely had our moneys worth so far!

Visit a sling library before you buy. It’s not just about the brand, it’s about your body shape, what’s easy for you to put on etc. (And I bought an Ergo and hated it... just finished with BabyBjorn and now have a Boba.) Do not buy without trying on various options.

Id be tempted to buy the ergo and if you dont get on with it just sell it on. Its a popular brand so youll have no trouble. Carry on looking though and try others with out kicking yourself you missed a bargain.

@LuckyStar1 which would you get?

I forgot to mention I tried the Boba yesterday as a fried has one. DD was V chilled the whole time she was in it and went to sleep no probs. I found it v comfy. Never tried an ergo but would be trying it on with DD before buying

@EssentialHummus why did you hate the Ergo?

(No need to @ me, I'm on the thread.)

It has very wide straps horizontally and vertically, which felt unnecessary bulky. Quite stiff/hard fabric. And getting it on fully requires you to do up something like a bra strap round the back, which I really couldn't reach (and which was a nightmare to do up with heavy baby in). If I have someone else to help me with that it's OK, but that meant that I couldn't go out with the Ergo without having help at either end. Clearly lots of people get on fine with it, but no amount of loosening straps/putting it over my head/whatever else is recommended worked for me.

If you go for the Ergo, please ask to see the original box and guarantee paperwork as there are a huge number of very good fakes available (so good the original owner would be hard pushed to realise.)

I've just been googling and hers has the old logo on it, yet she said it's only been used from March 2018. I've asked why, but am suspicious now.

Waiting to hear back from the Boba lady now..

Thank you for everyone's thoughts so far!

She replies straight away that she bought it from a lady who has a sling business and said she'd ask her.. but was new from box when she had it

The ergo is great for us (but do check it’s not fake). We have the original so no facing out but that doesn’t matter to us, baby looks left and right.

I did wonder about the strap behind my back but I haven’t had any problems.

Let us know how you get on please.

Personally I’m not a fan of the Ergo, as I have very narrow shoulders and the padding didn’t suit me when my children were younger. I had a Connecta then. I now have a Tula toddler carrier (which incidentally bought out Ergo a few years ago) so it is similarly padded but is ok now that there is more weight in it for me.

The decision is very personal. I’d probably err toward the Boba if you have found it comfy. But as I say it’s a personal choice based on you and your baby.

I’d go with the Boba, and actually well used equals nice a floppy and worn in, which can make it easier IMO to use.

I also found the Ergo a bit big, once I lost my baby weight and was back down to a size 10 it would slip off my shoulders.

Front carry was never an issue as I moved them onto my back (the Boba will do this) so that they could see when they wanted.

I'm about to replace my Ergo 360 with a Tula. I keep an original Ergo in the car for out and about. The 360 has been great but it is bulky. And now baby is 11 months and tall, I feel like the faffy folds get pushed in by her legs and it doesn't feel nearly as good as the original ergo.
The facing out option is SO uncomfortable.

...and Ergos are a pain to sell or buy secondhand, there used to be so many fakes around, even genuine looking websites selling fakes.

Oh and the 360 has a Velcro waistband unless it's a very new one. It is SO LOUD to take off which is really annoying when you are doing a transfer!