1st baby carrier advice!?

[Penny2012]

Hi everyone
I'm due in September and lots of people raving about slings/carriers. There seems so many to choose from!! My husband is very broad and tall and will mostly use it I think so was thinking if a baby Bjorn active as it features lumbar support. What advice can you give me? Want to be able to use it from newborn but the BB looks a bit OTT for me/around the house as I'm only small. Looked at ergo, Kari me etc but they're so confusing! Help!!

I'm 5'9 and my DH is 6'8". Used a BB with our 1st. Hated it. Now have a caboo/close carrier that we both love. Really comfy, easy to use and not too earth-mother for my taste !

Close Carrier very good or look at a connecta too.

The best thing would be to see if there is a sling library near you - they allow you to go and try different ones out and you can hire them which will give you an idea before you buy

look here

We bought a BB with our first. Hated it. Newborn baby felt like a ten ton weight and it was a work of art trying to get it on and then attached to you when you were on your won. DH thought it was OK and used it with DD as well.

With our 2nd I bought a Mobywrap and much preferred it. The weight is much better distributed and they look comfier and more cuddly for the baby.

We also have a rucksack back carrier thing and DD loves it. She is 10mo now and will sleep in it if we are out for a walk.

on your own, obviously

A stretchy wrap (like Moby, Kari Me etc) is a good choice if you are both quite different sizes because it is so adjustable. IMO the Close/Caboo carrier isn't quite as suited to petite people, although it works well on people taller than about 5'5 and bigger than say size 10-12.

There are better carriers out there than the Bjorn Active for lumbar support that are suitable from newborn but will also last longer - things like the Manduca, Olives and Applesauce etc. The Connecta is much lighter weight but also works well for people of different sizes (my sister's 6'4 rower-build partner uses theirs but I know someone who is 5'2 and tiny who also uses one).

Agree with the advice to go to a sling library or sling meet if you can. I run a library and an awful lot of people end up with something that is nothing like what they thought they wanted before they tried things out.

We used a Mei tai which i loved, but it does start to feel like a dead weight once the baby gets jigger. I switched to an ergo at 6 months because of this. Used it almost daily up til then though so well worth the £20 it cost me!
The ergo is good for longer periods because of the sport but is very bulky and very padded so the DD got quite hit quite quickly - no good for summer really.

Baby Bjorn/Mothercare style carriers are very badly designed (both for the parent and baby).

I would recommend a Boba Wrap (a stretchy wrap but has a bit of elastane in so snugger than a Moby etc) to start with and a soft structured carrier like an Ergo/Manduca for when they get bigger.

i use a moby and i love it DP uses a close caboo, baby loves both of them, i walk everywhere and find both very comfy. I hated my BB with a passion it gave me the worst back ache very quickly.

Wow thanks for the advice guys!!! Will check out the sling library and look online at all suggestions. Thank you!!! xx