Baby sling or carrier

[Slippingcareer]

I have a day out planned for my toddler in 3 weeks and am thinking it will be easier to have my baby in a sling or carrier. She is 3 weeks old and just a little over 7lbs.

I like that a carrier will probably last longer but they seem to have a minimum weight of 8lbs so she might still be too small for one.

Any recommendations? I have googled and read so many reviews I'm lost! Also the sling library isn't operating due to covid so I've no opportunity to try any out.

I use a freerider sling with my 9 week old and have done since she was a few weeks old. It's a little fiddly to get used to it at the start (I had to keep watching YouTube videos on how to put it on) but it's actually very simple (blame lack of sleep 🤣) and my baby falls asleep in it almost instantly. In fact it is the only place she will sleep! Very handy to have hands free and think it must feel very womb like (tight, dark and close to heartbeat) which they like.

I use the flip 4 in 1 baby carrier and used it when my DS was a newborn. I find it really easy to use and comfy for both of us

It's really down to personal preference... We tried both and I loved the carrier (DH has only recently stopped using it and dd is 9 months), but found the sling just too much faff, took me ages to get it on /off and no way to get baby in/out without waking her up! We had the baby bjorn one - expensive new but I think it was £25 from ebay

I had a Beco Gemini and it took me from about 8 weeks to 3.5 years. Absolutely brilliant carrier. My DC were on the small side so weren't big enough for it till about 8 weeks but a bigger baby might be at 3 weeks.

I had a stretchy wrap too that I liked as well, especially in the really early days.

Just don't get a Baby Bjorn. I know they've changed their design to make them less shite than they used to be but I've still never seen a baby in one that was badly positioned. Wouldn't trust one ever.

I have a Moby, which my 7 week old has loved since birth, pretty much, and an Ergobaby, which she also likes and will be able to use until around 3yrs. The Ergobaby comes with a newborn insert that is good from around 7lbs to 12lbs.

My daughter has the Ergobaby Aura wrap for my grandson. She, her partner and I all find it very comfortable and easy to use. The baby loves it. You can find it cheaper on Amazon and even cheaper second-hand on eBay.

I think yours may be better with a wrap as sounds on the smaller side.

I love our Red kite carrier which we got when our baby was 4 week old, she's always been a big girl though as she was 4.96kg at birth.

If you end up buying an Ergobaby carrier don’t put it through the washing machine. I washed mine on a delicates cycle and the strap at the back broke.