Close Baby Carrier, Papoozle or Stretchy Wrap..?

[pinkpip100]

I'm 35 weeks pregnant with DC3 and really want a new sling, but can't make my mind up which one to get. I have tried a few different types with DS1 & 2 but never quite found the right one, and DH will not let me buy any more after this one so I really want to get it right this time!
I'm leaning towards the Close baby carrier as it seems to have the benefits of a wrap but with slightly less faff to put on and off, but then saw this by Tots Bots which looks like it could be quite good.
Does anyone have any comments about either the Close, the Papoozle or a stretchy wrap (a Moby or similar)? I am looking for something that, once on, I can pop the baby in and out of with relative ease, is hands free and comfy for walking around.

Thanks!

not the papoozle. if a slingmaker does not know that carrying babies outward is not a good idea, then I don't trust their slings either.

Close or stretchy wrap. I am a wrap person so would go for that over the Close. You have to pick one and go for it, imo.

I've never tried the others but had the Close one for DC3 and loved it. I was doing a lot of in and out for short trips (car to nursery, etc) and found it brilliant for that as it was so easy to get the baby in and out. However, I already owned an Ergo and I changed to that at around 5 months old because I found it more comfortable for longer walks.

Have never seen the papoozle before but it looks a bit odd to me! Also it doesn't have the flexibility of a wrap or the close, you can only wear your baby upright in it whereas with a wrap you can have them upright, cradle position to feed, put them up against your shoulder to wind etc all without untying it. Also wraps and the close have extra support for the babys back which helps keep them snug whereas the papoozle kind of looks like they are dangling in a mankini!

I haven't used the close but honestly, wraps are very easy to tie, and once it's on you can just put your baby in and out very easily (same tie for most carrying positions). And they are very very comfortable, I used to have to wear ds pretty much 24 hours a day and never felt the strain (physically at least!) with him in a wrap.

Thanks foxytocin. With a wrap, can you tie it on and then pop the baby in and out throughout the day? Or do you have to take it off and re-tie each time?

Oops, Claireybeemine has just answered that, sorry, my typing is too slow .

you can just leave it on. After you've taken them out a few times you may need to untie the knot and tug the ends to tighten it a bit but that's all

Vacaloca that's interesting - we live in a village and are in and out of the car to take DS1 to pre-school, go to various toddler groups etc, so very similar use to you. Did you find the Close ok for longer walks when your DC was still little? I have a wilkienet which I find comfy for longer walks with an older baby but not so great for newborns and also a faff to take off and put on when out and about, so it sounds like the Close could compliment that one quite well...

Thanks clairey, that does make the wrap sound less daunting!

I'll admit when I got my first wrap I thought "what the hell am I meant to do with this bit of material?!" but I practiced tying it and putting dd/dd's doll in it a few times, it took me a few minutes the first time I put ds in it but now I can tie it on in under 20 seconds wihout even thinking about it, the basic tie is the same for most positions and it is v easy to master.

Back carries are a little harder to master but you won't need to do that to begin with anyway!

When going out in the car I'd tie it on before leaving home then put ds straight in it when we arrived-absolutely no hassle.

Yes, I could manage long walks with DS in the Close carrier when he was little and, to be honest, I would have probably been quite happy until he was much older if I hadn't already owned an Ergo.

I had a Close for ds nd it was brilliant- I really liked the concept of it being like a wrap but without the faff. It is such a comfy sling to wear as well. But when he was 5 or 6 mo I swapped to a Kari-Me stretchy wrap and haven't used the CLos esince- I have given it to a friend to use when her lo is born in the summer. The close just wasn't wide enough in the front iyswim once my ds got a bit bigger. The extra bit of material to tie round the front is nowhere near as wide as the kari me or other similar carriers and I do think thats a shame. I don't find a wrap hard at all, I think we are just so conditioned into thinking that a babybjorn is the only way that anything different seems a bit daunting! Ds is 8 mo and 19lb and I can still happily carry him all day. I am not quite brave enough to try a back carry yet though. I would say to go for a wrap. The Close is good and I loved mine, but you may well find you want to graduate to a wrap afterwards, so I'd save your money

I love my close wrap and still use it alot with dd who is 8 months (although she is still quite small.)
I too was a bit scared of the the type with ties and the ring system is easy to master.

My mum is going to make me a normal ring sling to use now dd is older as I would like to be able to do the hip carry.

Thanks littlelamb & Isaidno. Still a bit confused over which to go for (though no longer keen on the papoozle!) but hearing other people's experiences really helps.

I tried the Close with DD3 and found it very stretchy. I struggled to get a snug, comfy carry after a couple of months.

Once you get used to a wrap I think it's preferable and more versatile.

Buy a Moby, www.baby-bean.com/moby-wrap-baby-carrier-p-77.html I promise you won't regret it. The Close and Papoozle are just over-complicated and over-priced versions of this IMO and not nearly as comfy.