best type of baby carrier or wrap?

Star L

Do you like baby front carriers, backpacks, wraps, mobi wraps or mei tai wraps?

Whats the easiest and most comfy wrap? or do you just carry your baby without one?

Answer
The worst I have tried is the babybjorn. HATE it. I don't think it is designed well for baby or for mom's back. I used it ONCE when my baby was less then 8 lbs & my back hurt within 15 mins. Not good. It was adjusted well, I knew it was as I had a good friend with me letting me borrow it. She had used it a lot. Plus it's pretty basic, not too hard to figure out. We readjusted & readjusted, I just hated it. My favorite overall is the Ergo, hands down. But each type has pros & cons & some are better for certain ages & depending on what you want from your carrier. If you want handsfree nursing with small babies then a stretchy wrap like Moby is the right answer. If you want to be able to wear baby for a wide array of ages & weights & for longer periods of time, then an Ergo is a better suggestion. It is more about what YOU want from a carrier then which carrier is best. Ergos are bulky - so they are hard to just tote along "in case". Ones that tote well are rind slings, peanut shell styles or continuous loop slings, but you need to be careful of those styles with very small babies & make sure they are positioned well. Mei tais' are more of a carrier then a wrap & are awesome if you want something that you can wear for a bit, is a bit more take along "just in case" as it's less bulky then an Ergo & they come in a ton of really gorgeous fabrics.

Like I said I do love my ergo - but the drawbacks are this...they aren't as pretty as many of the other types, they are definitely bulky, so it's not easy to just bring it along in case you might want to use it. i do keep mine in the car a lot, but even tucking it in the basket under the stroller fills the whole basket for me just about. They also are a bit pricey compared to some of the others. The pros are that it really does put the weight onto your hips, not your back. My 5 yr old can still fit in it & he is average size for age AND he is almost half my weight. I can carry him fine. My legs will burn, but my back doesn't feel a thing. You are NOT supposed to put a child that heavy in there, but it was at Disney & the little one was sleeping in the stroller & the big one was VERY tired...so you make due right? Anyway, it is rated to 45 lbs. It is also easy for me to put on my tiny petite frame (as in 100lbs) & in no time I can take it off, hand it to Dh & he can adjust it to fit his nearly 6 ft frame in just a minute. He had no trouble using it from day one. By that I mean he wasn't bothered by it because it wasn't girly AND he had no trouble getting it adjusted without instruction or confusion & my 1st son was worn by daddy a LOT. We have had ours nearly 5 yrs. We have used it & I have loaned twice to relatives. It has been laundered a LOT & it still looks basically new, despite being under almost constant use. My 1st child was in it EVERY day literally. It is how I got things done. He liked to be held, I needed to move. The only thing an Ergo won't do is allow a child to be in front forward facing. There is some controversy about having a baby set that way in a structured carrier anyway though, as many warn it could put pressure on the spine & hips to have them set on their crotch. I the ergo they set on their butt & their legs kind of wrap around you versus hang.

he funny thing I ONLY had an ergo with my 1st child & he loved it & so did I. baby #2 comes along & I thought a Moby would be nice for newborn stage - he hated it. So I got a slingling (continuous loop) and a friend let me borrow her babybjorn, then I got a Mei Tai (Baby Hawk) & Maya Wrap (ring sling), (I think this is when I needed rehab - but anyway), then I got one of the hip hold type (can't remember the name brand) and I got fed up! My child didn't love any of them & neither did I. When I first put him in the Ergo & he didn't really like it the way my 1st had - it never occurred to me that he might not like CARRIERS. Well that was it. He tolerated the Ergo better than any of the other ones I bought & we went back to that - plus that one felt good to my back & was easy to put on alone & take off. So I liked them all for different reasons (other than the bjorn) - but my baby hated them for some mysterious reason I cannot quantify. I have sold most of them or given them away & the only one I won't is my ergo. Until my ovaries shrivel & fall out, I will hold onto it "in case" because when it works, it works so well. My 2nd finally decided to like carriers when he was around 10 months old & at 26 months is now a pro in the ergo. When he wants in he calls it giddyup. :)

When was your baby strong enough to be carried in a hiking backpack carrier?

Mary

My baby is six and a half months old, and can sit for about a minute or two unassisted before she tips! Should she be sitting really securely before she goes into one?

Can you recommend a good one?
I've got a baby bjorn active which I love, it's just my baby is in a phase where she wants to be held all day. She doesn't like not being able to see, so she breaks her neck in the bjorn if she's facing me. If she's facing out, she grabs everything! I'm wondering if a back pack carrier is a solution.

Answer
I had my sons in backpacks at that age. I would put little blankets on each side to keep them straight until they were strong enough to do it themselves.

I can not recommend a carrier only because I use mine for little things (ball games, grocery store) I do not know about backpacks for hiking...but I do know they have some really great ones out there!

P.S. Carriers in the front are great, but if you have a fat baby they do hurt your back after a while in front carriers. So, I always had to move my children to the backpacks.

Have fun!!

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What are the main things to buy when you have your first baby?

sweetginge

Answer
A List of Things to Buy before Baby comes home

Baby Carrier or Sling:
There are several different products out there that allow you to carry your baby close to you, and keep your hands free for working around the house, shopping, or just going out and about. The carriers fit similar to a non-frame backpack, with straps going over both shoulders, while the slings usually fit over one shoulder. Baby Bjorn, which first launched in 1973, is probably the best known baby carrier name brands, but there are several different manufacturers out there, and prices range from $25 - $150.

Bassinet:
This is an optional baby item that I would recommend thinking about. While some moms believe they are unnecessary, ours was wonderful to have the first six weeks. Bassinets are small and easily moved, so baby (or, in our case, babies) can sleep peacefully wherever you are. Invest in one with wheels so that baby can âfollowâ you from room to room during your day.

Bath Soap, Shampoo, Lotion and Powder:
There are infant washes, shampoos and lotions that are gentler for baby than other types of body washes and shampoos. If you're looking for shampoo, soap and lotions from the store, we highly recommend either the Johnson or Baby Magic brands â calming lavender scent! If you prefer organic and 100% natural ingrediants, Grandma El's shampoo and baby wash is an excellent choice. Check with your pediatrician as to how often you should bathe baby during the first few weeks.

Bathtub:
While you may be able to begin bathing baby in the kitchen sink, thereâs going to be a period after they outgrow the sink and before they can sit in the bathtub on their own. There are several types of bathtubs and bath mats available. You can buy a basic bathtub, or purchase a more complex set up. For instance, Safety 1st has a 4-in-1 bathtub that begins as a mesh bath sling, then converts into an infant bath with sling, then a bath ring seat and finally to a 2-year toddler tub. Thereâs also a Baby Bath Center that has a battery-operated spa and shower that gives your baby a soothing whirlpool bath and a gentle shower spray for rinsing hair

Books:
Reading to baby, even when baby is only hours old, is a great bonding experience. Book reading provides security, comfort, one-on-one time, a great chance to communicate, a good base for vocabulary, and visual and mental stimulation. Studies show a direct correlation between language skills â and some studies suggest intelligence â and how many words a baby hears each day. There are many ways to talk to your baby, and reading is one of them, especially if you really like to narrate the books you read. If youâd rather not spend your downtime reading Three Little Pigs to your newborn, read the paper, magazine, or your current book. The important thing is baby hearing your voice, and not necessarily the words you are saying. You can probably get away with this until baby is about four months old, when they start getting interested in whatâs actually one the pages youâre reading.

Bottles:
Donât go overboard here. Different brands of bottles have different nipples, and some babies just arenât able to latch on to certain brands. Our boys could not latch on to one of the most popular (and most expensive) brands of nipples and bottles out there, which were billed as â Iâd recommend buying two or three of one or two different types, see what works (and whatâs preferred) and go from there.

Bouncy Chair:
There is another wide variety of options for you to choose from here. The range includes âbouncerâ chairs designed especially for infants to chairs where the seat can be laid back for infants, and then raised into sitting positions as baby gets older. We opted for the 3-in-1 Fisher Price chair. It was a stationary vibrating chair with a toy bar when the guys were infants and then converted into a rocker with a toy bar and âbeltâ when they could sit up, and a freestanding chair that they used until they were two. For the same price of a bouncer, we thought this was a better investment. Whichever chair or bouncer you choose will be a life saver for things like taking a shower, folding laundry, cooking dinner â and other times that you arenât able to hold baby, but want him to be nearby. Bouncers have a short (but very useful) life, and baby will outgrow his or her single-use bouncer at about three months â at about the time their necks will be strong enough for stationary exercisers, jumperoos, and swings.


Changing Table:
My sister-in-law told me that a changing table was the most important thing I could buy for the guysâ room, and I am so glad I listened to her! Like any other baby item, there is a huge variety to choose from. You can purchase 'just' a changing tables or purcase a changing table that also serve as a dresser, bookshelf, and closet. There are some âall-in-oneâ that incorporates the changing table into the framework of a crib or bookshelf. Whichever you decide to get, I recommend buying a âsturdyâ changing table, as it will save your back (and all the backs that change babyâs diapers) not only in the infant stage, but through toddlerhood, too (anywhere from 18 months to 3 years, depending on how potty training and pull-ups go). Some of the spindle-legs and wicker changing tables (to name two) have a maximum weight of 20 lbs or so â which baby will quickly outgrow. Itâs amazing how much easier life becomes when you have a changing table to rely on, instead of tables, beds, and the floor.

Cloth Diapers â for you not for baby:
YOU NEED THESE even if you use disposable diapers. These arenât for baby to wear, but for you to use for just about anything â burping, spills, cleaning up spit up, roll up to use as head and neck supports â you name it. Once you get past the infant stage, they still come in handy. The soft feel l makes it nice to use against babyâs skin, and their larger size is much better than depending on washcloths and dishtowels.

Clothes:
Baby needs to wear something! Iâll say it here, but youâll do it anyway â be wary of overbuying for sizes 0-3 months. This size usually is up to 12 lbs, which happens fairly quickly. Stock up on onesies and sleepers (which they will spend most of their time in, anyway), and leave the buttons, shoes, and hard to get into clothes for when baby is 3 months old and older. You donât want to spend your baby money on clothes theyâll outgrow in about two months.
Co-Sleeper or Pak ân Play:

Co-sleeper or Pak 'n Play
There are two great options to cosleep with baby.

Products like the Family Bed Co-Sleeper safely turn a regular bed into a family bed. The Family Bed Co-sleeper offers a comfortable (and washable) pad for dad, mom, and baby to sleep on, while the bolster keeps baby from rolling off. When looking for a family bed co-sleeper, make sure that the bolster is used without straps, buckles, without cumbersome pillows.

A bedside cosleeper is a great way to keep your baby at armâs reach, but out of your bed. You can also remove the sleeping area and use the base as a play pen, if youâd like. I would definitely go for the co-sleeper if you have twins (it has a sturdier bed where the babies sleep, and you don't have to 'reinforce' the bed with cardboard).

Pak ân Plays come with a variety of options as well. Ours had a bassinet and a changing table included. Once the guys outgrew their bassinet, we had them sleep in the pak ân play in the living room, and the co-sleeper in our bedroom. We never did use the play pen features.

Both fold up fairly easily so that you can take them with you when you travel. The big difference between the two is that a co-sleeper has one side that drops down, allowing baby to be at the same heighth as your bed, without having a significant barrier between the two of you that you have to navigate to put baby in, or take baby out, while lying in bed. Also, we found that the co-sleeper was significantly sturdier than the pak 'n play.

Crib:
This one is iffy to have before baby comes home if you plan to cosleep or use a bassinet for the first few weeks, and a must if you intend on putting baby to sleep in the crib as soon as he or she comes home. While itâs great to have âcribâ crossed off your list before baby comes home, if youâre going to be co-sleeping or using a cradle or bassinet, you might want to wait until baby is home. There are more than a few parents that decorated their babyâs nursery before baby came home, only to discover it didnât âmatchâ their babyâs personality. Many families co-sleep with baby during the first year, and skip the crib all together, moving right into a toddler bed.

There are almost as many options for cribs as there are for car seats. You can buy one that serves only as a crib, or one that converts into a toddler bed and then into a twin bed. Hand-me-down cribs are great family heirlooms, but be safety conscious. Are the slates to far apart? Are there any broken or damaged pieces? Is anything painted with lead paint?

Can anyone recommend a backpack baby carrier?

Sarah

Answer
We used the Snugli Comfort Vent Baby Carrier, it wasn't to bad. You can read about my experience with it by following the link below.

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