Please recommend a baby carrier!

[elm26]

Due number 2 in September, I have a 2 year old. Neither of us got on with a sling so I’m looking for a carrier this time for practical reasons, baby can be in carrier and toddler in trolley when I do shopping etc.

I’m looking for one suitable from newborn, that’s easy and quick to get on and off.

Budget of £120 max (this will be our last baby and this will be our only “splurge” as everything else is from DD).

Thank you!

I loved my Connecta carrier - I think they might be called Integra now. My second born basically lived in it when he was tiny and I used it regularly until he was a toddler. It's really easy to use, comfortable and packs down small too. (And it comes in lots of pretty designs which is obviously very important...)

Before splashing any cash when baby is born go to a local (or online) sling library. What one person raves about, others will hate etc.....

I used a close caboo until about 4 months old, then an ergo and then a tula. My tula was the best carrier but they are not great for newborns even with the insert.

A sling library will let you try a load on and then hire it cheaply for a couple of weeks to see you like it.

I love the Baby Bjorn ones. They're expensive but you can buy them secondhand. I got mine secondhand and absolutely love it - we've been using it since our baby was tiny and still use it all the time 10 months on. It's easy to get on and off and you can easily adjust the straps so different people can wear it. They can go on your front (facing either forwards or into you) or on your back - obviously they need to face into you when they're very little.

I know you said you didn't like the sling, but I recommend checking out the Caboo lite. It is a 'hybrid' sling, so it has a structured back panel and rings to hold it in place but is still stretchy. I had one for my second and I found it invaluable, easy to use and very quick to get on/off once I'd got the hang of it. I was anxious about a traditional sling and not tying it tightly enough but because this has some structure and the rings it isn't at all dependant at all on how tight you tie any knots and is very secure.
(Also because I was having a C-section it puts no pressure around the middle)

I second the idea of going to a sling library to have a look at some things

Definitely check out a sling library. You might need to ask on local FB mum groups as a lot of them weirdly don't advertise. We had an ergobaby omni 360, which I loved but new would be outside your budget I think? You might be able to get a bargain on vinted though. I never liked slings with my eldest but then the sling lady had a different one (boba wrap) that I tried and I loved it. So definitely worth trying a few different ones.

I loved the Ergo embrace for newborn -1 year

Then the Tula Toddler once older

Didnt like the regular Ergo at all, but the embrace was great. Buckles but soft. Can walk baby to sleep in house and sit down indoors comfortably. I used a lot indoors as well as outside

Agree with @Caspianberg
Came to say I didn’t get on with a sling/carrier at all with dc1 but got the ergobaby embrace for dc2 and absolutely adored it. So much so that I’ve got it ready for dc3!
it’s soft like a sling but it’s got proper structure, support and buckles like a carrier, and it’s easy to put on on your own.

Tula. I think I tried every sling and carrier possible. Tula was the only one I got on with. They are very expensive new but they are just as good second hand. It was a while ago but there were Tula resale Facebook pages.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/392468534286432/?ref=share

https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/sling-pages/

I had a boba wrap when my second was tiny then we moved on to a boba carrier. I also tried a lillebaby too which I quite liked.

Just wanted to say I would get close caboo cheap from vinted and then go to a sling library when baby is born to try lots out. I really couldn't get on with a tula and the one I liked best was on of the cheaper ones! Yay.
Also lots say they are suitable from birth but like a lot of things you don't get the best fit for baby from birth. So something soft and unstructured is best for first 3 months. Ive been wearing on a budget , i hired a stretchy wrap and close caboo when baby was born ( £20 a month) then hired and got a beco gemini at 3 months ( £20 amd then about £50 to buy). Then got a ring sling at about 7months (£40) which I still use and baby is almost 2. I struggled to find a carrier that worked for back carrying when baby was 6 months plus so hired a few and bought a few cheap from vinted but neatly always made my money back plus sold the ones I wasn't using anymore.

I absolutely love the Carifit, so easy to put on and baby feels so secure! I love the app as well.

tonykealys.co.uk/products/carifit-multi-position-baby-toddler-baby-carrier-grey-marl

I loved the close caboo when he was small, then moved into lillebaby. Close caboo is all set up, so it felt safer than me trying to tie up a sling by myself.

We loved the Ergo baby embrace - the jersey version rather than mesh.
due #2 imminently and hoping to use it again

What have you used before that you didn't get on with and what didn't you like about it? That will inform recommendations.

Do you have a local sling library, sling meet or sling consultant/small retailer selling a few different types of carrier? Those places can be helpful to try out different things without having to commit to buying and see what suits you.

Integra/connecta. Lots second hand on ebay or vinted

We got on really well with the baby Bjorn mini