Can anyone recommend a really good baby carrier?

[whysoserious]

Want to give one to my husband in a 'daddy pack' (an idea I knicked from here). Would prefer one of the traditional types rather than a sling as I think he will think it looks a bit more manly ;-)

Also would be good if baby can face either way round in it. Thanks

Hi whyso

We tried on loads yesterday in Mothercare (the service in there is so good, I am that some stores are closing), the sales assistant spent ages with us and both DH and I tried loads on- Mothercare's own, Stokke, Baby Bjorn original and Baby Bjorn Active. We went for the active as it had really excellent back support and seemed really easy to put on- maybe not so easy when we are sleep deprived though! I am 5 foot 1 and DH is nearly 6 foot and it can be adjusted to suit us both. Also there was 20% off it which swung it for us!

Having said all of the above though we haven't actually tried it with a real live baby yet...I can report back in October?!

Baby Bjorn. We originally had a cheap Mothercare one that was rubbish, then borrowed one (forgotten the make...) and finally just bought a 2nd hand Baby Bjorn from eBay for about £20. Easy to get on and off, very comfortable, adjusts easily, DS was always happy in it.

you should get a babyhawk!

sasaslings.co.uk are doing a pre-order on them right now. which means you can use the babyhawk design centre and design your own one with whatever colour straps and whatever fabric you want and sasaslings will order it for you

which means of course you can get something as manly as you like

here

and you get to choose an extra too! : Reversible Fabric, Toddlerhawk size, extra long straps, pocket or toy loop, for the same price.

I second the babyhawk, they're really comfortable to wear & cosy for baby. They look fab too. I got a red one with skulls on when pg with dd & used till she wasabout a year. I had a baby Bjorn with ds & used it once as it just hurt my back. Babyhawk will be making a reappearancethos time.

We tried a baby bjorn but found it only took the weight of a baby for a few weeks. Since heard they aren't popular in some circles as they don't support the baby in the correct 'froggy' position.

My husband is happy to use the ergo structured carrier. It's expensive but it's so much better than a lot of the one-s sold in stores. We were still using it when child one was over 2 . It's brilliant. Now using it with second child.

I've got a Boba 3g which is fabulous. I got mine from Monkey stars on the tinterweb. It's from birth to toddler. I still use mine in a back carry even though he's pushing the 32lbs mark.

Wilkinet, Wilkinet, Wilkinet!!!! I've used one, bought for friends, and they are absolutely marvellous!

Beco Gemini. Can be used on front or back, and forward facing on front. I still use mine to carry 3 yo DD occasionally.

Ditto the Boba, I have a 2G and DH still uses it to carry rather massive 20 month old now. The new one - the 3G - has an infant insert so suitable from birth.
I would advise against the Baby Bjorn as they don't support the baby's spine properly and are apparently uncomfortable when the baby starts to get bigger.

Babyhawk here too.

We are very happy with the Mothercare one

Nothing from the high street!

Ergo good
Baby hawk good.

Can you get to a slingmeet?

We have an ergo. As far as I kow they're not suitable until 4 months but I think you can get an extra insert for birth to 4 months, we didn't get ours until DS about 8 months. They are fab as go into toddler hood (DS 22 months and we go out walking with him in it). I still find it tricky to get him in on my own if he's riding on my back. Riding on your front though is dead easy.

DH favoured our borrowed Baby Bjorn when DS was little, I liked our borrowed Wilkinet but DH found he just got tangled in the straps and prefered just having two clips to do on the bjorn. We also had a borrowed karime (sounds liek we have millions of slings but we borrwed various to see what we liked) which I loved when DS was really tiny as it holds them very close, but didn't use it much after the teeny tiny stage, although you can, so was glad we could borrow instead of bu. The more rucsack like carriers won't be suitable until little one is a bit bigger.

Another rec for the Gemini. Easy to use like the Bjorn but not a 'crotch dangler'.

Connecta is very comfortable indeed for both parent and baby and folds up very small for a buckled carrier which is nice for shoving in a bag when you don't need it on.

Another vote for the beco - v comfy and wear front or back, my son loved it!

is there a sling library or meet near you where you and DH can go and try on and get some advice?