Best baby carriers?

[NEAKT5]

I recently asked for some advice on the Ergobaby 360 carrier as it was my plan to buy that for DS2 as DS1 will be 18 months when he is due in December. We’re not keen on a double pram, DS1s travel system pram was expensive and relatively new still and especially since we both drive most places and it’s going to be winter, however it looks like the Ergobaby might not be the best for someone small like me (5ft) I’ve been told!

So I’m looking for some recommendations for a baby carrier, we have a mini babybjorn already that I plan to use again but wondering if it’s best to have another one to swap between for house and outdoor use.

What I liked about the Ergobaby was that you could get a rain cover type jacket for it and lots of good reviews on comfort. But it is expensive and worried it won’t be the right fit for me, DH is average height so likely no issue for him. I’ve checked for a sling library near me but they’re closed still due to covid!

@bunanarama yeah I think carriers are so difficult, as you say it will feel comfortable at different stages! Thanks but unfortunately I’m in Scotland which I think is making it more difficult as we still have covid restrictions and sling libraries aren’t as popular.

I’m glad that I’ve found out I can wear baby if I do end up with a section again, thank you.

@Caspianberg I have had other recommendations for the embrace too so I’ll definitely check it out thank you.

Just going from reviews the 360 seemed to be the best but speaking to people who actually have it they all seem to be saying the same as you! A lot of people have recommended the Tula too.

Has anyone used the free rider co sling? It seems to have won mother and baby awards and it does look comfy but it’s not one I’ve heard people mention before.

@NEAKT5 - yes the embrace was so comfy, but the ergo omni just bulky opposite. I’m 5’4 so not super short, and a uk 8, but the ergo omni I have to wear on the tightest settings and it’s still a bit big tbh. Dh really likes the embrace as well and he’s 6,2 I think

I LOVE our Ergobaby Embrace. We had a Close Caboo for DS1 which I thought was fine but a bit fiddly, DH hated it. So we discovered the Embrace for DS2 and it’s perfect for us. The stretchy snuggliness of a wrap for younger babies with the support and easy of putting on a buckled carrier. I got mine second hand on FB marketplace and it was in pristine condition, and still is after we’ve used it for over 9 months so far. They wear and ways really well so I’d consider looking for a second hand one, and then switching to a more structured carrier after 1 year.

Just to add DH also loves the Embrace, after constant whinging about the Caboo!

I also have an ergobaby embrace and an omni 360.

We used the embrace until about 3 months and I loved it. It was basically instead of a wrap as I could get on with this but my husband hated it. The Omni has been great for my husband I I think our 8 month old is comfy in it. I'm 5 ft 6 and Im not sure it would work that well for anyone much shorter because of where it sits, but I might be wrong. It's quite expensive but when I was looking to buy one on eBay it seemed like they hold their value fairly well.

@FizzingWhizzbee123 that’s good to know about the caboo thank you, to be honest it didn’t look as easy as the embrace!

I’ve actually just seen an embrace on fb marketplace in my city so I’ve given them a message as they’ve said in the description it’s not been used so will see what it’s like! Thanks for the advice.

@Toastfiendish that’s exactly what I’ve heard from others and I’m just 5ft so I think it just wouldn’t work for me I think I’d feel drowned in it! I’m looking into the embrace second hand just now so that if we only use it in the early days we haven’t paid full price for it! Thank you.

Sounds like a good idea. I also nearly went for a close caboo but the embrace worked well for me. I know it says you can use it for a lot longer but I have a bad shoulder and would have really struggled without a more structured carrier when DS got heavier.

I've just remembered actually that one of my NCT group who is much shorter than I am had a go with the Omni and we just couldn't really adjust the straps to make it work as there was just too much length in the body if that makes sense (ie the bit you can't change).

@Toastfiendish Yeah my thinking for DS2 is the embrace for in the house or short trips and then I’ve looked at the Gemini one that others have suggested as the more structured one for longer wear as it seems a better fit for me.

Yeah it seems to be what anyone else petite has said about it too. It’s funny it’s not really something I would have thought about unless I had posted on here. Thanks!

I would say a secondhand embrace is a great idea. Ours was used daily for 9 months, then I still used another few months with ds as found comfier, and ours still looks as new tbh. Have given it a wash in bath anyway and have packed it away now, but it def has plenty of use left for another baby

@Caspianberg thank you, I’ve just found one second hand half price on fb marketplace and agreed to that so I’ll be collecting it today! I’ve been very organised with this baby so it’ll be going away in the cupboard for another 4 months 😂

Boba 4g was great for my DD. Used it till she was 4 and it was a godsend at airports. The funky footrests were brilliant once she got bigger as she could shuffle up and get comfy. There’s a head holder too which was very snug for naptime.

@HairyFeline great thank you I’ll look at that one too!