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Original poster

best baby carrier

43 replies

HowardMoonsTinyEyes · 01/05/2012 17:06

Hello,

I would value any advice regarding your views and experiences of baby carriers, there is so much choice and you could easily spend lots of money, which naturally I would prefer not to unless it the best thing since sliced bread! I'm planning on using the sling/carrier from as soon as is safe to do so

thanks x

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 01/05/2012 17:14

Not a BabyBjorn.

A lot of carriers eg Ergo are safe from birth.

If you can get along to a sling meet go, they will have a pile of brands/styles you can try.

The naturalmamas forum is good for all things slingy.

Finally, carriers are great. No waiting in the rain at the bus stop for a pushchair space. Hands free. Baby high up so you can see each other and chat. Great for offroad and steps.

milk · 01/05/2012 17:23

Bought this www.johnlewis.com/231200011/Product.aspx day dreaming of the blissful times I'd have with my baby... turned out he absolutely hated it and I have never used it since :(

Might be worth taking the baby to the shop so the baby can let you know which one they are most comfortable in.

PickleSarnie · 01/05/2012 17:35

I had one of these when he was teeny www.mobywrap.com/ It's just a long piece of fabric. I loved it because it meant I could get things done whilst he slept. My DH hated it and threw several tantrums because he kept getting himself tied up in knots.

Then had one of these when he was a bit older: www.becobabycarrier.com/cat-1/butterfly-2 Comes in loads of lovely colours. I got black because it was the only one DH agreed to wear!

PickleSarnie · 01/05/2012 17:36

Sorry, crap links:

Moby Wrap

Beco Butterfly

lagoonhaze · 01/05/2012 17:38

Agree with what others have said about not baby bjorne and the like.

Ellaroos, didymos, ergos, mobys etc once you enter there's no going back........

lagoonhaze · 01/05/2012 17:39

Ps avoid eBay for ergos- lots of fakes

thefurryone · 01/05/2012 20:25

I bought a moby and found it really tricky to get right, but then I'm generally not very good at stuff like that.

So I did a bit of research and ended up with an Ergo, we're still using it with DS who is now 1 year and as it should last a while yet, so I'm most likely going to end up with another one for this baby.

I have also heard that there are a lot of fakes on ebay though.

Lexiesgirl · 01/05/2012 21:38

I bought a Moby, I really thought it would be great and knew people who swore by it, but I found it impossible to get to grips with. Every time I put it on I had to do it watching a YouTube video! And once DD was in it she never felt that secure to me, and I was always supporting her with one hand - not great as she was a clingy baby for the first 2 months and I wanted her in a carrier mainly so I could get things done, like eating, and peeing... Grin

Personally I've absolutely loved my BabyBjorn and so does DD. I'm intrigued to see so many people on here don't like it! But if you can find I sling meet near you to try them out, do it. Most carriers are a lot of money and its best to find something you feel comfortable with.

lagoonhaze · 01/05/2012 21:42

The reason baby bjorns and the like are disliked is that the position that the baby is in can be bad for it.

Brillant info from the following site and pictures. This is what made me throw my Babybjorn away,

victoriaslinglady.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=67

Choosing a baby carrier is not easy, there are so many to choose from. So why would a cheap wrap be better than an expensive purpose made carrier. Well baby?s spine is curved and likes to be that way, as the disks fill with fluid and a curved spine means the disks can fill with the opium amount of fluid. There is lots of research showing baby is safer sleeping on there back and this is correct but since this we have had a wave of baby products where baby lays flat, car seat, prams, bouncer/rocking chairs. Also baby hips are mostly cartilage they can pop out of joint as the socket has not hardened, it?s like this to make giving birth easier and the very reason humans do not walk within hours of birth unlike other mammals. It?s very important to try to keep baby spine curved and the hips in a good position and the carrier supports baby in the right areas. The pictures below hopefully demonstrate the importance of baby being natural position

keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal · 01/05/2012 21:47

lagoonhaze thanks for that link, that is really interesting and has just made me cross babybjorn off my list and add sling instead! Grin Thanks

Lexiesgirl · 01/05/2012 21:53

Thanks lagoon - I'm still sticking with my Bjorn as it suits us but that was really interesting, does explain!

raindroprhyme · 01/05/2012 22:01

this is a good picof hip positioning illustrated so easier to see the dynamic.
lochmabenslinglibrary.weebly.com/useful-information.html

lagoonhaze · 01/05/2012 22:04

There are lots of slings around what works for one may not for another. Baby bjorn may be comfy now but when it becomes uncomfortable there are lots of other options.

Its a bit like extended rear facing car seats - they are five times safer than forward facing ones that everyone is herded towards at 9mth ish..... alot of people dont realise that other things exist

melliebobs · 02/05/2012 07:36

I have a Close carrier which is great for quick in & out like if I have to nip the shop. I also have a Moby wrap which is good for longer periods like the 15 hr screamfest I had on Monday from my 7wk old. Deffo recommend checking out www.slingmeet.co.uk to see if there's a group near you so you can try a few out first

neverquitesure · 02/05/2012 07:49

I loved my Moby, but agree it's a terrible faff at first. It was barely used with DS (my first baby) for that very reason but when DD came along 18 months later I was sufficiently motivated to use it in order to get anything done Grin

I became a total convert, although I do remember keeping the YouTube video on my laptop by the big mirror in the hall for a fair amount of time. Very soon you'll be able to do it in your sleep! I did try some of the other wraps/slings and found the Moby to be one of the few truly 'handsfree' ones. I also used a ringsling for speed but never really got the hang of it, although it is great when they are toddlers.

Original poster
HowardMoonsTinyEyes · 02/05/2012 18:02

thanks everyone for your responses, really really useful. I was kinda put off the sling type due to faffiness but from reading your reviews and learning about best position for baby's back, hip etc you've changed my mind.

Was thinking of the moby wrap to begin with or the victoria lady sling version which is much cheaper (anyone tried this - it was on your link Lagoonhaze) and then I might upgrade to ergobaby sling as LO gets bigger, although can't get over how many fakes are out there

will also see if there is a sling meet near me

thanks again x

OP posts:
lagoonhaze · 02/05/2012 18:07

Glad you are looking at a Moby or vsl. You can pick mobys up cheaply second-hand. If you are plus size get the longer one.

Mobys hold there value more than a vsl.

Ergos, papapum, manduca all good when baby a bit older. Or you could just bite the bullet and get a ergo now and either buy a newborn insert or rolled up towel!

If you are in SW I can help with sling meets.

Original poster
HowardMoonsTinyEyes · 02/05/2012 18:22

Thanks lagoonhaze I'm in the NW and have managed to find a local sling meets - it would be good to try the slings out first to help me make my mind out

I also found another sling - Joey Slings Mei Tai - www.joeyslings.co.uk - got good reviews by mumsnet - anyone had personal experience?

OP posts:
lagoonhaze · 02/05/2012 18:31

Mae tais and all the similar ones are lovely but just not for me as I find it too hard to tie them!

Also check out kozys, ellaroos, didymos, girasol... (see this while babywearing markets is so much more than the baby bjorns!!)

I'm not wearing my DD at mo as had an op but itching to get back to it.

blushingmare · 02/05/2012 19:26

I was all sold on getting something similar to an Ergo (was actually thinking about the Beco Gemini) but then tried a mei tai at my NCT class last week and found it felt so much more secure than the buckle up carriers and was less of a faff than I thought, so now seriously considering a mei tai.

lucidlady · 02/05/2012 19:32

I'm another BabyBjorn user. I just could not get DD to settle in a wrap - she would become hysterical in them. Put her in a Bjorn though, and she'd go straight to sleep.

sahmbles · 02/05/2012 19:45

We have a Manduca and I think it is great and would really recommend it. We considered an Ergo but thought the Manduca looked better as it can be extended and may be suitable for a taller baby. We didn't consider a wrap as DH much happier with clips! We bought it when DD was 7 months old and she is still happy in it at 16 months. It wasn't cheap but we have had loads of use out of it, so it was worth the money. If we are lucky enough to have another we hope to be able to use it from birth as it comes with a built-in newborn support.

RecursiveMoon · 02/05/2012 19:50

I might just be repeating what others have said, but I would recommend a soft structured carrier like an Ergo (although I think that you need to buy a separate inset to be able to use it from birth) or a Patapum. I'd buy a Patapum baby one if I had another baby, then use my Ergo when it was big enough. Angry at the choice that mainstream shops have (i.e. choosing between Baby Bjorns rather than between different carriers).

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 02/05/2012 19:59

I love my wrap slings and am lucky enough that one of my friends runs a sling meet, so let me try out get slings and gives me lots of advice. Stretchy ones like moby are great when they're small, but once they're bugger the woven wraps are fab. I never ever use my buggy. Ds hates it, I hate it.

Also, Baby Cakes didn't like the sling the first couple of times, he didn't know what was going on and I wasn't very good at putting him into it, but I persevered and now, even if he's throwing a huge tantrum, he breaks out into a great big grin when he sees the sling! He's only 3 months.

Most sling meets operate a sling library so you can borrow a sling for a bit to see if you get on with it. Highly recommend this!

pingdriver · 02/05/2012 20:01

we have a babybjorn. If it is just for you then fine but if your DH/DP is likely to use it then make sure they try them as well.

DH and I went looking at them with a view that we would both use it (and we have done in many cases on walks etc). DH was not all that keen on pretty much all slings as most are not particulary designed with men in mind. Our NCT group tried many and non of the blokes went for slings. Hence we all have babybjorns.