Baby Carriers

[HollyGolightly4]

Does anyone have any recommendations for baby carriers/slings?

I'd like to begin using it with a new born (due March so no idea of size yet 😆) There doesn't seem to be any sling libraries in my area. I've seen an advert for dance like a mother and that looks great!

Have been recommended Artepoppe, but they're SO expensive and the trust pilot reviews are dreadful. So are the reviews for najell. I don't think baby Bjorn support the 'M' position for baby's legs.

Any wisdom, knowledge and hints and tips would be greatfully appreciated!

I have the baby bjorn and it's great. It does have the M position for their legs/hips. I also have an ergobaby and a wrap one, which I absolutely hated.

I know they're all the rage now and they are useful here and there but I honestly didn't use it THAT much.

Stretchy wrap for newborn days and we had a tula free to grow which i loved. Your right about the baby bjorn they dont support m shapes very well and arent cheap!

Have a look at the Baby Wearing UK Facebook page, its full of great tips and suggestions and they will check the fit of the carrier for you as well 😊

My baby lived in it in new born days it let me get on with life when they wanted to be held! Great for walks and even kn town, prams can be so bulky in shops.

Stretchy wrap for newborn days and we had a tula free to grow which i loved. Your right about the baby bjorn they dont support m shapes very well and arent cheap!

Have a look at the Baby Wearing UK Facebook page, its full of great tips and suggestions and they will check the fit of the carrier for you as well 😊

My baby lived in it in new born days it let me get on with life when they wanted to be held! Great for walks and even kn town, prams can be so bulky in shops.

Ergobaby Omni 360. Only got it for DS2 but it all the time he was about 18 months and could walk as didn’t have a double buggy - 23mo age gap. Also used it with my then 3yo when he got tired of walking. I still occasionally use it now DS2 in 2.5yo but he’s 98th centile and always has been so very heavy - he’s about 17kg, about the same weight as my 50 centile 4.5yo. Think I’d have used it more had he been lighter. Technically rated to 18kg. So I could still use it. I wore him on my back after he was 6mo.

I couldn’t deal with a stretchy wrap. I loved the close caboo for the early days

Have a look at Coorie in Love, she's an online sling consultant and very good.

I tried loads but a stretchy wrap is best for new born. After that my favourite was the Kahu and I also loved the Oscha Cairis. When mine were bigger I got a Tula Toddler carrier and it was great so I think the smaller version would also be good.

It all depends on what's comfortable for you really.

I used the Boba Wrap for the early days, it was great, then the Ergo baby omni 360. The Ergo was meant to be suitable from birth but didn’t feel secure at all to me until they were bigger.

I'll definitely check out the Facebook page- that's a helpful recommendation thank you!

I will do- Facebook/Instagram?? Or other 😆

Thank you!

Ergobaby 360, without a doubt! Best baby thing I’ve bought.

I used from birth with my eldest (7lb), until I was too pregnant to carry him any more, which was about 22 weeks.

Second baby was smaller and felt a bit too small for the Ergo after using it with a toddler, so I got an Ergobaby embrace for the first couple of months.

360 is still going strong and I’m on baby three. He’s 10 months old and has still never been in a pram because the sling is much easier and we don’t have a double buggy.

Another vote for stretchy wrap and Tula.

I had a Tula Explore - brilliant. I still carry my 3yo in it👌

I would highly recommend the ergobaby aerloom for the following reasons:

• I had a very small baby and it was one of the few that allowed for a small baby to be carried
• I am short and quite large after DD was born whereas DH is tall and slimmer build. Its adjustment features allowed for both of us to carry DD
• It was very easy to put DD in and onto myself when alone and without any assistance
• it is lightweight and barely adds any extra weight beyond baby I felt
• has a really supportive back band which makes it comfortable to carry baby if you have back pain
• made specifically with breathable materials so neither you nor baby get sweaty whilst carrying/being carried
• inside and outside facing
• Washable

I had various fancy carriers, but always went back to the cheap stretchy wrap. It's great for newborns, as it can suport their head in the early days, and once it's on, you can lift baby in and out of it a few times without having to fully re-tie it. That was especially great with second, as i could put them in the sling while i was getting the toddler ready, lift them into car seat, keep the empty sling on for the drive, slot them back in the sling the other end, all without waking baby. It also covers more if you want to breastfeed in the sling, used to walk round with a baby on the boob all the time without it been especially noticeable.

This is so helpful, DH and I are also very different heights and we've factored this into the pram, need to factor it into the sling now!

Thank you 🥰

Ooh I should add, given that you asked about Artipoppe - I think they look lovey but I find them nowhere near as good as my Ergobaby. My sister has one and I’ve borrowed it several times when taking babies to weddings or parties, as it makes the outfit nicer! But it’s definitely not as comfortable.

I suppose it depends what you’re using the sling for though. As I said, I use mine exclusively instead of a pram and I walk about 20k steps a day with it, so am all about comfort over looks!

We have an aerloom too and have used it since baby was about three months old. She is now a year old and I'm looking to get a new carrier because the aerloom is not great for back carrying (baby sits very low) and she's over 10.5kg now, so it's not so comfy to front carry her.

If you do order from ergobaby, do it via a third party (like natural baby shower) or well in advance. It took months to arrive direct from ergobaby.

We used a stretchy wrap in the newborn days - they're actually super easy. DH was very wary/sceptical at first, but he was so upset when it was finally time to retire the wrap.

The babywearing Reddit is really good!