Recommend Your Baby Sling/wrap

NOJO...hands down the best thing that ever happened to my babies! I got it when my 2nd was born and used it until she was 2, then used it again on my 3rd until he was 2...it is great for birth and on...

I have a MeiTai that I made for my son. I loved it. He loved being in it, and it was comfortable for me. He's two now, so we don't use it any more. We also have an Ergo sling, which he also liked very much. It was good for me, and also for my husband when we went on hikes. Both of these are better for the baby's back and hip development than the Bjorn, because the child "sits" on his bottom, instead of "hanging" on their spines. I'm in Thornton, and would be glad to meet with you to show you these things.

I also made my own moby wrap. I bought 6 yards of a jersey knit that didn't have too much give, and cut it in half length wise. The best part is that it was the $2 fabric from Walmart so I spent $12 and made two! (I gave one to a friend) Then I looked up how to wrap it on the moby website and I also found videos on youtube on how to wrap it. It's really easy and my baby loved it.

HI L.,
I swear by slings.For little babies, especially nursing babies I LOVED my SlingEzee. Padded shoulder & headrest. You buy according to your Top size. Once I lost a bunch of weight it was just to big for me, then I purchased a hotsling sling. Baby loved both. The slingEzee I could huddle her inside, nurse her & keep her away from strangers, then as she got older she would sit joey style & fall asleep. Once I moved into the hotsling I sat her on my hip & the hotsling held her in place. Hands free.
Congrats on baby! Enjoy ;0)

The Moby Wrap is the most amazing baby shower gift I have ever been given. It's comfortable (because the fabric spreads across your whole back and distributes weight), easy to use once you do it two or three times, and baby loves it. You can wear baby from birth to 35 lbs. There are several different ways to wrap and wear baby. I wear my daughter to the store every time I go...she loves being able to see everything while being close to me, I love having two hands, and other people always make comments about what a great invention the wrap is :) You can get them online. They're about $40. Just google Moby Wrap and find a site that has free shipping. There are tons of colors, too. Good luck :)

I've heard great things about the Moby and Ergo and would love to get a Moby if we have another baby. I used a simple pocket sling with my daughter until she was almost 2 and absolutely loved it. I think the others are probably better for your back, but a pocket sling is really small and easy to take with you. My particular one was called Fairy Godmother, but I think there are a lot of good ones out there. Just make sure it fits you well - I had to get a smaller one because my shoulders are pretty narrow. As for good deals, I know some Targets are now sleeing some pocket slings, and there are free patterns available on the web if you want to make one. (Though sometimes a good fabric and the time spent comes out to be about the same or more!)

I have an Ergo and LOVE it! I can carry my son in it for hours and it doesnt hurt my back. It's totally worth the money. I have friends with moby's and beco's too and they like them.

Hi L.-
Gosh I tried so many with my first daughter and I'm so glad with my second I know what works! Tried the peanut shell-too tight/tried the maya wrap and moby-too huge and cumbersome...I eventually settled on the bjorn when she was tiny. They make such better bjorns these days with nice back support. I'd borrow one from a friend to try it, before the investment of ~$120. I also looooove the ergo carrier which we bought when my daughter was about 5 mos old. I used it so often, especially for airport travel. You can purchase an infant insert to make the carrier safe for the tiniest of infants. It's so comfy for mom and babe-highly recommend it.

I had the same experience with the Baby Bjorn. It was OK when my daughter was really little, but she got big fast and it KILLED my back and shoulders.

I LOVE the Ergo. It is so comfortable, easy to get on and off, and its very versatile. You can wear your baby on the front, back, or on your hip. Plus, it is better for their hip position and growth. I still wear my 2 year old from time to time and love it.

Congratulations on baby #2!

My Moby Wrap is wonderful, I wear it everywhere, grocery shopping, walking, the park. I have had it since my son came home from the hospital and he is 6 mos. old now, it has been comfortable the entire time. It leaves my hands completly cree to take care of my almost 2 year old daughter. It is amazing how secure they are in it. More secure than a lot of the wraps I have seen. It is a little hard to get on the first couple of times but you get the hang of it quickly and it is east after that. I recommend it to everyone.

I used a Lucky Baby sling and loved it! It's a peanut shell style sling and it didn't hurt my back at all. Thier website is www.lucky-baby.com. Good luck!!!

I know you are in boise... but here in little we have a place called "out sweet beginnings" that has birthing classes, pre-natal yoga, infant massage, etc. anyway, they also have a class called "baby wearing 101" where you can bring your baby and try out the different slings, etc. before you buy. I used a bjorn for 1st and had to stop wearing it entirely by the time she was 6 mos old because it hurt my back.... I am planning on going to the class when my 2nd is born so I can try something different.

anyway, I also went to a similar center out in California before I moved here.. had the same kind of classes... so ask around (la leche is aways a good resource)...

I haven't tried it myself but I hear great things about the ergo carrier... it's pretty expensive though. I'll be curious to see what other say!
S.

I love my Moby Wrap!!! It takes a bit more work to put on (you have to get used to wrapping it around yourself) but it makes up for it in comfort! You can spread the "straps" out across your entire back and shoulders to distribute baby's weight. Very comfortable! www.mobywrap.com or check ebay.
Good luck choosing and have fun with the little ones!

I agree with everyone that say the ergo is great -- however, the ergo forces baby to face you all the time-- whereas the bjorn allows them to face out -- I also recieved a Moby wrap when my second was born and for the first few months put it on when I woke up and took it off when I went to bed -- you can carry baby, take baby out, nurse, etc...and continue to wear the wrap -- then as baby gets bigger, transition him/her into the ergo -- but if your baby wants to face out -- this could be a problem. The Moby wrap allows for a hip hold, facing in, facing out, on your back, etc...just google Moby wrap to check it out. I had the same problems with the bjorn as baby got heavy -- but with both the wrap and the ergo: no back pain. I carry my 1 year old now in the ergo with no problems...

Hi L.-
I know the sling thing can be frustrating but once you figure it out and find the right one for your body they are GREAT! We actually offer a workshop on them and you are free to bring your kids and the slings you have to learn how to use them with your babies and your slings! Or you can try the different kinds out as the instructor has them. You can read more here:
http://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ws.asp?studioid=4440&am...
or at:
http://bellybliss.org/index.html

We highly recommend the the Belle or Moby to help with back problems.
Best,
L.

Moby Wraps work great on newborns. The weight is evenly distributed, too, so you back should feel better. They are also not the expensive. Only $39.95 for the basic wraps. Here's the link to my website:
http://denverdiaperco.com/item_102/Moby-Wrap.php
I'm happy to answer any questions.
A.

Moby wrap is the best.... I have 4 or 5 slings or holders from other places like target and babies R us. None were comfortable or held my baby right.
The Moby wrap was truly the best of them all.
I wish I had found out about it sooner! Plus it is like 30 or 40 bucks and that is so much cheaper than some of these others one.
It is a very long piece of fabric and takes some time to get used to wrapping it on you, but once you get it, you won't regret it! I used to wrap it on me before I left for the store, so when we got there I could just slide baby in. If not it is just too hard to get on in a parking lot without it dragging on the ground and that grosses me out :) So for me I left it on all the time and just slide baby in and out.
I am expecting my second in September and I plan on using that from day one!
Good luck

Forgot to add this part- http://theslingstation.com/ this was a great place to look at many options!

I have severe back pain. I found and love the MOBY wrap. I bought it online. I can't tell you what site at this time.
But if you google you will find sites that sell it. I bought the basic one. The fabric is great and brown goes with everything if you are concerned about matching your wardrobe.

L. B

PS If you would have more questions or want more ideas about buying gently used baby stuff you can email me @ ____@____.com

I used the Over The Shoulder Baby Holder w/ my 2nd and LOVE it! It's so comfortable, there are tons of different positions you can try (it come w/ a chart), and it's super adjustable. It also has lots of padding which helps a lot. I've tried lots of others and swear by this one!

Hope this helps! And congrats!

-A.

http://www.GoGiverSuccess.com

I use a wrap I made with instructions from the website someone else mentioned, wearyourbaby.com. It is just about 5 yards of material that I wrap around me. There are wrapping instructions, too. It was easy to learn a basic front wrap, and within a couple times of doing it I was comfortable putting the wrap on in public. Plus, if I tied it right the first time, I could just take her in and out without undoing and redoing the wrap. I have used it as a nursing shield, still tied on as a wrap. When she was about 9 months old I started wearing her on my back and plan on doing that from a younger age with my next. She is now 15 months old and about 20 pounds, and it is still VERY comfortable.
I also had a front pack type carrier, and it hurt my shoulders and back when worn for a short time. The wrap is much more comfortable. If I find it is hurting my back or shoulders, I just adjust where my cross is across my back or if the shoulder straps are twisted.
Another thing I found on that site was how to make a sling out of an old t-shirt. It was easy to make and was great for when she was REALLY little and I wanted to lay her down still asleep, but didn't work well when she got to be about 4 or 5 months.
Help that helps!

I used a snugglie carrier. It can be worn in the front when your baby is little and then as the baby grows you can use it as a backpack. I really liked the snugglie and so did my husband.

S. Brow
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I loved my Maya wrap (1/2 price from eBay). There is a little learning curve but you can use it when you first get home with a tiny baby and later with a toddler. Baby can cuddle up on your chest, lay down, sit up, sit out, be on your back (with practice)!

I also loved that it was pretty and matched my clothes and I didn't feel as though I was wearing a backpack all the time. Almost every time I went out people complimented me on it and asked where they could get one.

I went to www.wearyourbaby.com They have patterns to make most different styles of carriers and some are even non sew patterns. They also have pictures and videos to show you how to use them and what child size and activities they are good for.

Try wearyourbaby.com. They have instructions on how to carry with wraps, slings, podeagis, ABCs, and other methods of carrying. There are even instructions on how to make your own wrap, pouch, or ABC. I personally prefer using a wrap, there are so many ways to carry your baby with a wrap and they're pretty easy to learn.

ERGO BABY CARRIER
'nough said.

Hello L.,
If you would like an easy to use baby sling, I would stick to the pouch sling. I am a stay at home mom running a sling company...check it out: http://www.cuteslings.com. Our slings are made locally here is Denver & I use only the highest quality fabric. Each sling can be used from newborn to 35lbs & in up to 5 carrying positions. All slings have a pocket, toy loop & soft leg padding. I will be at the Denver & Highlands Ranch Just Between Friends Sales with slings & nursing covers on hand at a great discount price. Please help support local mommy businesses & feel free to email any questions! Good luck!

There are so many options for baby wearing. The Bjorn, like many others takes all the weight of the baby on your shoulders and back. Similar in design but with a waist belt that distributes weight to your hips is the Belle Baby Carrier. It's made locally, here in Denver, and is very easy to use and totally dad friendly. Baby can face in or out, too.

Two shouldered carriers are great for heavy babies, but I personally LOVED my pouch sling (Karma) and ring sling (Zolo) when our son was little. Even around a year, in the hip carry - great for trips into the store or whatever.

The Ergo is also very good at putting the weight on your hips too, though you use a different hold for kids under 6months (with the infant insert or even blanket to cradle them).

Happy to make some personal recommendations, if you want to email with specific questions - how long you carried your first one, did he have a preference on face in or out, will dad be sharing the duties of babywearing, etc.

http://www.modernmommygear.com/Modern_Baby_Carriers_s/5.htm

Hi, L.--
I highly recommend you find your local La Leche League group and pose this exact question to the moms there. You can find it at www.llli.org, and I think there are a couple groups in Boise. LLL is a breastfeeding information/help group, but one of their philosophies is sensitive, respectful parenting, and the idea that moms and babies go together. So, lots of moms at LLL are veteran baby-wearers and will have lots of opinions about various styles and brands and maybe even patterns for making your own carriers on a budget. I learned so much about babywearing from my friends at LLL, and they were able to give me "tutoring sessions" to help me get it right, and that helped a ton.
Personally, I'm a die-hard fan of ring slings. I own at least six of them and find them so much more versatile, adjustable and comfortable than a pouch or pocket-style sling. By far my best ring sling is my Maya Wrap brand ring sling. The fabric has just enough give and breathes nicely. The fabric spread over my shoulder wide enough I never felt like it was pulling on me, and I wore my older sons until they were nearly 2. I have really enjoyed that sling.
However, I had my third baby last summer and he showed up weighing 9 pounds, 5 ounces, and has just packed it on since birth. I swear my milk turned into butter for this one! He's now over 20 pounds and wearing him in a one-shouldered sling was breaking my back. I could barely make it through a 40 minute Costco shopping trip! This is what finally turned me on to mei tai carriers, also called Asiain Baby Carriers (ABC's). The are simple to use, spread weight over two shoulders AND your waist, are not bulky, and are versatile enough that you can carry your teeny baby in front and then later, carry your bigger baby on your back. Babyhawk and Kozy are popular brands, and you can design your own so you know you'll like it. Check out their Web sites--they are fun! You can also find mei tais cheaper on eBay from moms who make them.
You might consider going to www.mothering.com and looking over their discussion boards and archives. About a year ago they published a babywearing issue and they had a lot of data (thoroughly discussed in their "Letters to the Editor" section) about how research hows babies should be carried facing mom/dad, never facing out, because there's no way for Baby to turn away from overwhelming stimuli, or to see mom/dad's expressions to gage how to react to different things and process stress if they are facing out. Apparently there was a big study about this. Also, there was much discussion about the possibility of compromising healthy spine and hip development if Baby's weight was all centered on his crotch, as it is in many front-packs. It was all interesting.
Initially, I thought carrying my baby facing inward inside a mei tai would be kind of limiting to him, but it's really not--he peeks out a lot and can look around, and I can also see for myself if he's starting to fall asleep. As I said, he's more than 20 pounds now, but I can wear him for well over an hour comfortably as I help my other kids climb around at the park. I highly recommend a mei tai carrier for long-term/big baby use.
Congratulations!

I really like my ABC (asian baby carrier). It is really comfortable like a wrap since it goes over both shoulders, but it's less of a learning curve. It also supports the baby well - doesn't let the baby's legs dangle. If you buy an ABC it is usually pretty expensive, but I made both of mine. (I lost the first.) It costs $10-$20 in fabric.

Ergo all the way!! It is expensive, but you can usually find deals on ebay. I personally think the expense is worth it after using the Bjorn for just a short time before it became uncomfortable. My second baby is due this summer, as well, and I just bought the infant insert to go with the carrier. Now, I only need to use one carrier for all the stages! I carried my 2 and a half year old in the Ergo for the last time in July -- we hiked in Glenwood up to Hanging Lake with her in the carrier! It is incredibly comfortable and will not hurt your back.

I have tried a bunch of carriers, my favorite by far are the ERGO and BECO, the second is a bit more stylish and quite a bit more expensive. I have seen used Ergo's at Childish Things in Boulder. They are built very well and would definitely work for more than one baby.

I loved our sling. I can't remember the brand but you can buy them on ebay very cheap. I used it with my daughter till she was 4 and it is perfect for nursing.

I really, really love my Lucky Baby sling:http://lucky-baby.com/p_home.asp
I also have a Baby Bjorn, but used the Lucky Baby instead of the others by the time I had my third child.

I loved my Lucky Baby Sling.It came in tons of patterns and worked really well. Good Luck!

The Maya Wrap is the way to go. You can google it for ordering instructions.