Baby wearers - Paptum or Ergo - can't decide - please help!

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I have a 4 month old baby and use a wilkinet carrier which is great and really comfortable to wear. but I find the tying up and adjusting a bit of a pain and when she is 6 months I want to be able to carry her on my back.

I have just sold a framed back carrier that I used for my older children and was too uncomfortable for wearing for long.

So how do I choose between the papatum and Ergo (aside form price as Papatum is cheaper). My requirements are comfort and ease of use - can anyone make any suggestions? Really appreciate it as keen to buy.

Thank you!

...

I can't get the Ergo to stay on my shoulders, and it pushes my trousers down too.

I have broad manly shoulders so wide spaced straps aren;t necessarily a problem - intrigued by the thought of the ergo making your trousersd fall down though...

Thank you for your input any more opinions gratrfully received - off to google mei tei

I have ergo and had the pushed down trouser problem too, until I started wearing all in one dresses when I stopped breastfeeding.
Aren't there chest straps on ergo to combat the slipping off shoulders problem?

Ergo very comfortable and non-fiddly too

they are quite similar tbh. The main diff is that the ergo has seat darts in it whereas the patapum doesnt. Dont discount the Yamo, beco or angelpack lx as they are brill carriers too

oh and a mei tai might be worth considering. The straps are nowhere near as long as a wilkinet and its more ergonomic for bubs and you

I had an Ergo and didn't get on with it. Then I discovered the joy of Mei Tai and am still carrying DS a lot and he is 2.8

the mei tei seems similar to the wilkinet carrier I already have and though it is gorgeous I would have the same issues with wearing it on my back, tempted by the fabric options though - have to think ptatically though... scuse typos am bf-ing

hmm really cmot - I have the extra long ties on my wilki and am always tripping over the buggers getting them caught in car door etc. So is it truly easy to wear mei tei on back - I am open to being convinced?

It really is easy. I have extra long ties on my slings, but thats because DH also wears, and the way I like to tie my sling involves a lot of tie. But if I have any left, the straps aren't thick so tuck away neatly

Don't know where you are, but would be more than happy to give you a demo. I get the impression from people that the Wilki never works properly on the back for some reason

You can hire slings for 2 weeks at a time so you can try them out.

I went with the ergo but that was always as a front carry, once ds2 got older and I popped him on my back I realised that I am short in the body so he kept slipping down. It was my enormous norks that pinned him into place on my front

I loved my mei tai and wished I had stuck with that.

So hire them, I did, it was a great way to try.

you are very kind cmot but am in Beds so a bit far - however I am considering hiring a couple of carriers one tie and one buckle as it may be the only way to find out what works for me.

\\\\\\\\\it is only that I am horribly impatient and just want to buy one!

there isn't really a desperate hurry as dd is going to be carried on the front in the wilkinet for a couple of months yet.

Crossed posts fizzy that is interesting - I too have large norks but I am also tall and long bodied so it will be interesting to see what works best for me. I have a 19 kg nearly 3 yo dd so I can try her in the back carry position - that will test their mettle!

Not even somewhere I get to on a regular basis either.

I am tall (as is DH) but modest of nork. My friend who is v generous of nork is happy to use a MeiTai too although she just borrows mine

you might want to try a slingmeet as peeps there bring along lots for others to try out and see. Also the bigger sling vendors have agents who will come to you and demo stuff for you. www.slingjax.co.uk and www.mamanatura.co.uk and www.bigmamaslings.co.uk all have agents so it might be worth contacting them to try before you buy

Shame you're not near me cmot, you are a wealth of information on slings- you suggested I got a moby wrap for when this baby is born, I already have a mei tai from DS. I am always intrigued bu your name, what does it mean?

I'm guessing cmotdibbler reads Terry Pratchett

I'd 2nd getting to a slingmeet - there are so MANY different variations on a theme of slings, each with their own pros and cons, and its really hard to work out what will be comfortable for you and your DC without trying it.

Its also well worth considering buying 2nd hand: UKbabywearingSWAP and natural mamas are the biggest 2 I've found based in the UK - you can pick up slings for a fraction of their retail price, and if it doesn't work sell it on for what you paid (and no fretting that your DC has just sicked all over that pretty sling you had on trial...)

(have to confess that I've got a couple of MT's that I love, but I find a woven wrap much easier to do a back carry with...)

I get on very well with the ergo carrier. I used it until dd2 was 2 and a half, and then I was three months pregnant so no longer used it for her.

I now have a four month old ds, and I've been carrying him in a wrap carrier or tricooti(or the pram),and my back has been aching so I am very glad he is now old enough to go in the ergo on my front. When he's a couple of months older, I will carry him on my back.

It's a good idea to try them out before you buy one.

Good morning and thank you for your replies everyone - it is really helpful as I see DHs eyes glaze over whenever I mention carriers.

Anyway I have signed up to slingmeet but there doesn't appear to be any meets accessible to me currently (I am hamstrung by not being able to drive and living in a semi rural location) - but I shall post and see what happens.

I am going to arrange hire of the carriers I am considering - possibly a mei tei and an ergo - the big fabric wraps do no
appeal as I feel quite claustraphobic when bandaged up in one (personal hang up disclaimer) I know they work well for others but they are not for me.

thank you again

absolutley loopsymum - the ergo is the only carrier I've found that doesn't pull on my shoulders and make my back ache, and because it is so comfortable, I love carrying my child in it.

Well after all that I have just placed an order for a Beco Butterfly 2 for £86.50 delivered - I am looking forward to taking delivery of this but feel a bit naughty for not trying a few out first - i am a bad bad impetuous girl (smacks hand)...

that looks a very nice one, which pattern did you choose?

Thank you Belgo I chose this one - carnival