Baby carriers- totally lost with what to buy!

[Thismummyruns]

Any recommendations? This is a whole new world, we didn't have one for our first but want to buy one to make life easier as prams aren't always practical, I want to be hands free

I've tried our local sling library but didn't feel confident in the use of one so would rather a structured carrier I think

Go back and try some buckles or a close caboo. Slings can be like marmite do definitely try before you buy.

Being hands free is brilliant - makes getting on with everything so much easier. Sling libraries normally have lots of carriers to try, and wrapping does get so much easier with practice.

Try a buckled carrier like a connecta or a rose&rebellion. They are great particular after a few months.

Something like a stretchy wrap - a close is one I know of but can't think of others! Can be great for the first few weeks or months.

Sling library should be helpful!

I'm surprised the sling library didn't show you structured carriers. I can only think it's because stretchys are better for little babies and easier once you have the hang of it. You also get postal libraries.

I have an ergo, and love it. Tula are a very popular make.
The FB group Slings and Things is really helpful.
Please just make sure you get a decent carrier that spreads the weight of your babies legs and not one like a baby bjorn where they hang.

www.babame.com/index/ref/64/ has lots of sling consultants and offers great advice through their live chat or Facebook page. I got a lillebaby with lumbar support from them when dd2 was born (Velcro baby!)

Ergobaby, Tula and Lillebaby all great, and very adjustable/comfortable.

We had a Connecta (no padding) and a Rose & Rebellion (waist and shoulder padding). Loved them both, both good for me as I have a slight frame. Found Ergos simply too big on my shoulders, though husband would have been fine with one.

Also loved our Close Caboo for those early days. Even my wrap averse husband liked the simplicity of it and how close he was able to hold baby.

Love my Ergo carrier! Highly recommend

I used a close caboo until DS got too heavy for me.
I now have a beco Gemini and an ergo 360, both are great.

Loved my rose and rebellion. Sold on after 7 years for 3/4 of original price too!

Seriously the easiest and comfiest carrier I tried. Lots of friends borrowed it to try and bought their own.

But connecta and Tula are similar, (padding differences).
Lillebaby are more shaped, slightly hotter to wear and be worn in and overall more padding.
I too found the ergo and manduca too heavy and bulky feeling.

A good sling library should have some soft structured carriers to loan and try, if not there are sling loan companies online to perhaps try?

Close caboo was brilliant for the first few months. Easy to use. It was a popular choice amongst friends too. I only had it for our third but she lived in it and it was very comfortable for me too. I have an ergo as well but didn’t like nearly as much.

I’ve bought a 2nd hand close caboo to try to start with, then will try something structured later on if baby likes being carried.

I used an izmi borrowed then bought my own. Did get a stretchy when pregnant buy to scared to use it until recently. Izmi is three buckles so simple.

I have a Stokke 3 in 1 carrier which I love but I got it when DD was around 5 months old. I used a stretchy wrap type sling before that. DD is 14 months now and I still use the Stokke carrier forward facing for her. It's more structured and comfortable. I brought mine secondhand from Facebook marketplace for £30 I think.

I used a wrap for my LO until she was just under 4 months. My OH used a baby Bjorn from 4-6 months. I then and now use a Becco Gemini and he uses a Tula. I will use a wrap again soon as it gets colder.

We have different body shapes and body lengths so what he finds comfortable I find uncomfortable. This is why it's important to try before you buy. (Also my daughter was born too small to use any carriers so I had no choice but to use a wrap for the first few weeks. )

In regards to wraps - it is practice. I practised with a soft toy before putting her in it. I then would only put her in it when I was over a bed and rechecked my ties frequently. It did help that she started to realise she was going in a sling so goes less wiggly when I'm putting her in it.

We have a Connecta and both DH and I love it. He's very inflexible and couldn't get on with any carriers that need to be tied - the buckles are easy for him. It's more structured than a sling/wrap and also keeps the legs in the recommended position. I plan to use it lots when DC2 arrives and keep DS in the pushchair - he seems to get heavier by the day!

Used an ergobaby aurora stretchy wrap when DS was really tiny (got it half price with another purchase), good for at home too, he slept well in our and I liked having him close.
Then an ergobaby Omni 360 for out and about, it's brilliant, even with my dodgy back

Ergo 360 is great

Close caboo for when they are small and ergo baby for a little later. Having said that my son hated carriers! Much happier in the pram and pushchair!!

Wow! I wasn't expecting so many replies!! Thank you all.
Lots of helpful advice.
I probably should've said, my LO is 4 months old.
I have been looking at the carriers in Mamas & Papas, like this one?

I agree, i can't make a purchase without trying first. I'm assuming the retailers don't have demo models?

Why don't you go back to the sling library and then try the ones that have been suggested here?
That baby Bjorn looks a lot more complicated than a lot of the ones suggested here.

The Ergo, Beco, Connecta have been mentioned a number of times, along with other suggestions.

I have the ergo360 and love it. Front facing, parent front facing, hip carry and back carry are all comfortable positions in it which have swapped and changed as baby has grown. He's 1 next month and loving back carry at the moment. We live in a flat so it's ideal, buggy barely gets used anymore!! I bought my second hand off ebay after trying at the sling library so got it for 50quid rather than 140 new

Absolutely no to baby bjorn!! Terrible for baby and you!! Go back to sling library and ask to try buckle carriers - sling library's dont tend to stock baby bjorn for a reason!

I got a babyway one from boots for £20, I didn't wear the baby in the house (we did have a sling but he liked his independence from the very beginning lol) but my babyway was brilliant for our and about, really comfy for baba and me (and he was really heavy!) it was a spur of the moment purchase but one of the best things we got.