question for anyone who knows about baby carriers

[fsb2005]

So, what should we get?

DH is into the Baby Bjorn Active carrier (I think his image of fatherhood is him wearing the baby in a Baby Bjorn) :-),  but I've been reading that it's not good for babies' spines -- do people have opinions about this versus the Ergo carrier?

What about slings? Do I need a Bjorn-type carrier and a sling?  Do people like the

Comments

[emmawoodhouse]

I think anything that's hard isn't good for the baby's joints or something. I've been really happy with trying my friends Mei-Tais -- it can be worn as a front pouch or a backpack. This is supposed to be a good site: www.hollieshobbies.net
For when they're really little though, you're supposed to have them in a cradle hold, in which case a pouch (like a peanut shell, a hotsling, or a Kangaroo Korner pouch) or a ring sling (like a Maya or an Oopa) is better.

[fsb2005]

Thanks for the info. Sheesh -- there are so many options! I can't believe how expensive some of them are too -- $60 for a fleece pouch? There's what -- $7 of material involved there? I guess it's supply and demand...

[mrsfromage]

I think you need more than one carrier to be honest. The Bjorn wasn't that useful the first few weeks of life to me (the sling was much better), but now Anya just loves it, and it's SO great for citydwellers. I feel like I need something that feels really secure to be able to hop on and off of public transportation and walk quickly on city streets, and I've always felt she might be able to wriggle out of the sling, which is virtually impossible with the Bjorn.

I don't know if the Bjorn is bad for the spine. I guess, for the amount we use it, it doesn't really concern me.

[fsb2005]

Which sling did you like?

I don't think the Bjorn is forever bad for the spine, I think it had to do with using it with almost newborns. I'm starting to read that the Bjorn is tougher on the back than some of the others (like the Ergo) -- have you been ok with that?

[macee]

I have a bjorn and a pouch and a ring sling...I hardly use any of them. They are all hard to put on and Jake doesn't love being "worn"...maybe if I'd started sooner... I'd be willing to sell you my ring sling, if you're interested!

[fsb2005]

Which ring sling do you have? Man, I hate having to make all these decisions... :-)

[macee]

Sorry...I forgot to come back and answer you! I have a zolowear ring sling. zolowear.com. I think it's the metro black cotton sling.

[angelgirl8]

we have an ergo and we used a ring sling/pouch sling in the beginning. now dh carries one in an ergo and i carry one in a mei tai. we love them all!

dh tried the bjorn early on but the ergo was much more comfortable!

[fsb2005]

I think I've seen in some of your photos that you have the Ergo, so I'm glad you posted. The only thing that I wonder about is whether the baby would prefer to face forward like it can in the Bjorn (but not in the Ergo). What do you think about that? Not worth it bc of the parent comfort factor?

[angelgirl8]

the way i see it is that if they never face out in the first place they don't feel like they need to! and they can see plenty to the side and over your shoulder when they're bigger!

[tlew12778]

Rachel (sevilla) has a really really good post in her journal about the various types of slings. I don't know if she ever tried a Bjorn. She may have also copied it onto the CC thread about slings. She has like all the different kinds and took photos on how to use them and everything. You can ask her to email the post to you I am sure.

[fsb2005]

I found the thread on CC -- thanks! Wow though, SO much information!!!