Sling/wrap/SSC confusion

[wimblehorse]

With DS1 I tried a Moby wrap - he hated it, so I swapped for a hotsling, which he also hated so I gave up for a couple of weeks until he was a bit older and then used a mothercare baby carrier.

Am due ds2 in November and wanted to try babywearing again, as I won't have so much time to carry newborn in my arms and play with ds1. I still have the mothercare carrier, but felt it was a bit too "structured" for when he was tiny and I don't think the hip positioning was great.

I think it was the feeling of being "folded up" in the newborn carry position that he hated - obviously ds2 may be different, but I am wondering about either an Ergo or a Mei Tei. Both of which are a bit more "structured" than a wrap but not so buckley as the mothercare one.

Any thoughts/recommendations?

Thanks

I used the regular feet-out front carry in a wrap from a couple of weeks old with ds2 (would have been earlier but I had a CS) and he was happy like that straight away. I think wraps are best for newborns really as they're so easy to pop them in and out of. If you don't have one and don't want to spend a fortune then the Victoria Slinglady stretchy is great. Or for ease of use you could try a Close carrier, the fabric on those is so soft but they can be a bit hot.

Ergos get great reviews but people hate the newborn insert for being too bulky and hot (though that might be good with a winter baby). I've ordered a Manduca which has an integrated newborn support, though that does look like a bit of a pain to use (ds2 is 3 months now though so shouldn't need it much longer, if at all). I also have a connecta, which is great, basically a buckled mei tai rather than an ssc I'd say. It does say from birth but I probably wouldn't as head support isn't as good as a wrap (even the sleep hood seems a bit big on a tiny newborn head).

Forgot to say, best thing about wraps is you can use them from almost any size. A lot of from birth carriers are actually from 8lbs or so, the Close states from 5.5lbs, so I guess wraps are similar. My babies were 6lb and 6lb 4oz, so I would have been waiting a few weeks to use most other carriers .

Thanks wriggle.
See, I do keep going back to a Moby style wrap as when I see them used, they look so comfy. Maybe I just couldn't handle the tying - wasn't doing it right/getting stressed. Will see if I can find someone with one to have a practice with it...

I went feet-out in the moby at about 6 weeks - with hindsight, I'd have feet out from birth, definitely. I did find it impossible to go truly hands free, as DS hated his head being covered by the fabric, and I've seen lots of other mamas say the same. But super easy to slip him in and out of, so swings and roundabouts in terms of how easy it might make things for being available to DC1. Manduca is lovely. I would really avoid ergo for a newborn, personally. Have you thought about something like the tricotti/m&p flex, if you're not entirely keen on tying a stretchy wrap?

Oh - sometimes with the moby, I didn't bother pulling up the third panel of material. Made it a tiny bit less secure, but then I always had a hand on him/ready to be on him anyway due to the head issue. I found it comfier in some ways and I think he did too.