Someone just tell me what carrier to get- why is it so complicated?!

[pippinleaf]

There seems to be WAY TOO MUCH out there about carriers. I want a carrier from newborn that doesn't hurt my back, that doesn't have tonnes of fabric swinging from me, that is easy for me to put on by myself, that my husband can wear without feeling ridiculous and that's it. I am completely bamboozled by it all - got to the point of thinking I will just Sellotape the baby on me or put it in furry clothes and Velcro it on.

Someone please just put me out of my misery and tell me what to get!

Im going for a Close Caboo - stretchy wrap sling but comes mostly done - chuck iver head, pull straps in either side, insert infant, add the wrap round.

I've just bought a close caboo. Didn't get on very well with a buckle with ds.

How are you finding it Sweet?

Boba 4g. Puts on like a rucksack. I can carry my 24lb son around comfortably. Only wish I'd bought mine sooner x

Ergobaby for sure. Although I used a wrap for early few months - not that ergo can't be used early on but I had an emcs and found i needed to fasten it around my scar area which was not comfortable. The wrap I could put more around my waist and is very adjustable for when baby is tiny. Now he is 3 months I am using ergo with the cushion part of the insert.

I carried ds1 in the ergo at 3 years and 16kg in Morocco last year very happily, although I decided to sell that ergo and buy the new ergo 360 so ds2 will be able to face out when he is a bit bigger.

Also have a Beco Gemini. It is very good.

ThinkIve- I've not started using it yet. unless you count practising putting it on with a doll

Ds due any day.

I liked the Close with DD1 (wasn't called a Caboo back then). It was easy for a nervous first time mum to use. But I found that my daughter quickly outgrew it (I don't think it goes up to anywhere near the weight it says) and I didn't like the big hanging tails of fabric.

I would say a stretchy wrap sling for the first few months and then a structured carrier - I see lots of people have recommended the Ergo, but personally I liked the Manduca. I don't rate any of those for tiny newborns TBH, although some seem to get on with them.

Close caboo for tiny newborn stage. Carrier from 8 to 10 weeks depending on size of baby. I highly rate the bondolino. My husband uses it easily and he is very tall. If I wanted a buckle carrier I would buy a_manduca rather than an ergo.

It's like asking a stranger which bra to buy - it depends on your body shape, what you'll be doing, the weather, your lifestyle...

I would third the recommendation of a sling library. If you can't do their open times, the person who runs it will normally do a personal consultation at a time that suits you, if you can afford that .

Having said all that, I don't think you'd go far wrong with a cheap stretchy wrap for newborn and a Connecta / Ergo / Manduca after about three months.

Ergo!!

I used an Ergo with infant insert for my son from about 5 weeks (and he was 2.5 the last time he was in it) but have bought a Close Caboo for our imminent arrival. I have also bought a ring sling (might be wishful thinking that I will get on with it) and plan to get a Tula in a couple of months but will hopefully try one out at a sling meet first

I was set on an ergo but then I saw the newborn insert and changed my mind, as it's like a duvet and I can't help but think baby (and me) will get too hot. Currently I'm thinking to get a Manduca instead but I'm OK with waiting until after baby's born and trying one out first. I'm going to buy a stretchy wrap before it's born, but you said you didn't want all the fabric so that's probably not a goer for you.
Oh there are some places that will hire out slings for a little while - depending on your money / time balance that might be an option?

The OP said she didn't want tons of fabric swinging from her. Which I think makes a wrap perfect. It is the Caboo with great swinging tails.

Ergo are good, but the one I liked the most was the Connecta - so comfortable and much easier to put on than the Ergo.

Connectas are fab! I have shoulder issues and it's the only one I can use. DH likes it, they come in a myriad of designs, baby loves it, and it should last a couple of years.

I did a heap of research (so you don't have to ) and the boba 4g came out on top based in all of the reviews, blogs, guides etc. I read. No endless reams of material, piss easy to use, lasts from newborn to forever, acceptable for manly men who need things to look manly like them. The Ergo was close, I can't remember what feature put the boba on top.

Ergo definitely gets my vote for the 3 months to 2.5 years phase - we're still using it so maybe up to 3 years. Didn't really like the Ergo before 3 months, even with the insert, baby just didn't feel safe. We also had this www.babyhawk.com/ which we used all the time before 3 months and then alternated it with the Ergo until he was about 18 months when we when with the Ergo most of the time.

To be honest, you probably want two carries to save your body. Wearing the same one day in, day out all week is like wearing the same pair of heels everyday. Your body needs a change.

We're big into baby wearing and so have pretty much every different type (ring sling, pouch, woven and stretchy wraps etc.) but the Baby Hawk mai tie and the Ergo work best for both me and my OH. Although I will say that ring slings and pouches are good for around the house.

I definitely wouldn't worry about buying second hand, as long as you know it's genuine. About half of ours are second hand and they've been the best buys.

Oh, have just seen GoogleyEyes recommendation to find a local sling library/meet-up group and I second that. You'll get to try some out, talk to other parents, and experts, in person.

Never used an Ergo (I prefer the yards of fabric) but I was going to suggest an Ergo sounds like your best bet judging from your requirements.