Wraps Vs. Baby Carriers

I used a wrap with my son when he was a newborn and again when he was older up until about 2 1/2 to carry him on my back. It worked great the whole way through...

HOWEVER: The wrap was WAY TO HOT to wear in the summer! By the time we were both in there, it was like wearing a sweatshirt with a little hot water bottle tucked in there with me! If you'll mostly be inside with AC, no problem, but I wouldn't recommend a wrap if you plan to be out where it's warmer.

HTH
T.

I love my ergo. I got the infant insert and it worked great. The new Ergo Sport is a lighter, more breathable fabric and I love it.

My old Ergo got packed away (without my knowledge and without cedar) and met an unfortunate end by way of mice. No fault of the Ergo, but be thee ware. Otherwise it would have been fine to keep using for my next children, but I got the new Sport and am very happy with it. Bonus: Even hubby enjoys wearing it, too. He wouldn't enjoy a wrap, he claims.

I have the Ergo too, and really like it. Much more comfortable than a sling or the Bjorn as the baby gets bigger. You also aren't supposed to use the Bjorn (according to Bjorn) until the baby is a certain age and weight because it doesn't support their hips. I found that by the time my baby was big enough, the Bjorn was killing my back. The Ergo is much better. I also bought the infant insert for my baby and used and liked it. However, it is very heavily padded. I would think it would get too hot to wear with a summer baby. My Ergo is the Sport, so better ventilated, but they only make one insert. I think I would buy an Ergo for long term and buy or make a less expensive fabric sling for the first couple of months. There are lots of directions online on how to make a sling or wrap. Good luck!

Your sister is right. Well I can carry my son who is 35 lbs in my wrap, I just can't do it for long. Maybe 10 minutes before I need a rest from the lack of back support and me feeling like the wrap will fall apart.
Look into the Boba carrier. They have an infant insert, and when the baby gets older there are foot straps that their feet can go in, since dangling legs and feet isn't comfortable. I do believe it goes up to 45lbs is $125 for the most expensive organic one. The regulars are only $100.

another vote for the Ergo, altho not til about 6 mos. i still use it on my back w/ my 3 1/2 yr old occasionally if we take a hike (he's 40# and 42") . it's worth it!
i would not recommend the insert for infants, especially if you have a bigger chest.

I used my moby wrap until my little one was 25lbs ... by then he was walking ... when they get heavier you can put them on your back! Not everyone does this b/c it takes practice.

With 20-20 hindsight, I would only buy the Ergo carrier. It worked fine when the kids were newborns and I loved it much more than the bjorn I had, which killed my back by the time the kids were four months old (all my boys weighed 20 lbs by six months, though). Easy to use, and I still use it for my four-year-old now and again! So handy and so comfortable! Buy it from Cozy Baby Boutique and you might save some money.

I'm a sling/wrap mama, myself. For my firstborn (he's 14 now) I had a carrier. I HATED it. It was so unnatural, and HE hated it. When I got pregnant with DS #2 I said "NO CARRIERS!" and searched for something better...Found the over the shoulder baby holder. Still love it, six kids now (and have my original to this day!). My personal FAVORITE, though, is the Maya wrap. I got that with my 4th baby.

Wraps and slings work perfectly with older children. My 18 m/o is still in hers, and my husband will even wrap on my 4 year old daughter sometimes, if we're going to the zoo or something where being "up" would be helpful to her.

The security of being in a sling/wrap is wonderful for baby. As they grow older, you just wrap them up differently, and they love that, too! I would just wrap baby to me and go about all my housework as usual, with baby right there and calmly sleeping. :)

Do try a sling or wrap and decide for yourself, since you've used a carrier before.

I totally agree with your sister. I used a Moby wrap for my DD until she was about 6 months old and it was a life saver since she has silent reflux. She is now 8 months and almost 23 lbs and the moby just doesn't have enough back support for me so we switched to an Ergo. I LOVE my Ergo! It is so easy and comfortable. I had a hard time spending that much money on a carrier, but with a 3 year old as well it has been well worth the money. I've worn her for up to 2 hours and never had any back problems. It also has a little head cover that can be pulled up that helps her be able to nap while I'm carrying her. I usually use it indoors where it's cool though because it can get a little warm if it's hot outside. I got the Ergo Sport which is supposed to be cooler for baby and parent.

The Ergo has improved their infant inserts in the past couple of years, you can purchase an infant insert to use in the Ergo from newborn to four months old and then use without an insert up through the toddler years. I loved my Ergo and still use it with my 2 year old, but I also used a Moby for the first few months. The Ergo is easier to use, but the Moby is very cozy when baby is tiny. (Keep in mind I had a baby in the fall...the Moby would be a bit warm for summer!)

Also, the Sakura Bloom ring sling is a beautiful, fashionable sling that is easy to take around town in the warmer months. You can see them here online at my favorite baby store here in Olympia. http://www.simplecloth.com/sakura_bloom_slings.html

Hope that helps!

I think your sister is right. That's what I've heard a lot of people say. I haven't used either, though.

I use a podegi that I made (a wrap), and then I use a sling for quick trips so that I don't have to take the time to put the wrap on (though it really doesn't take long). I don't like to put my newborns in a sling. I muchly prefer a wrap for that. But a sling is nice with an older baby if I'm running into the store, or somewhere, just really quick.

Here's a pic of a podegi:
http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w50/teresabelle/?actio...

I'm speaking as a person with a tired back. (I've been carrying other people's babies for years before I ever carried mine around.)

I liked using more structured carriers. I loved my bjorn for when my son was wee, and then we moved to a Beco. I've never used wraps because I had my son when it was warm in April and didn't feel like swaddling both of us up.

Your sister is *exactly* right. Wraps work great for newborns up to about 5 or 6 months (and then the baby gets a little heavy for the wrap and it sags during wearing and it's a little uncomfortable) and Ergo carriers work great for older babies and toddlers (and last a long time... I was still using the Ergo with my son until he was at least 2). So if you can afford both or get a hand-me-down I would do it! Ergo's are about $100 new and Moby Wraps or Sleepy Wraps are about $40 new, so you should be able to keep it under $200 easy. Oh and both those types of carrier are one-size-fits-all so your husband should be able to baby-wear also (which is a blessing for your back!).

LOVED the moby wrap. I had it with my second and wished I had it with my first. It takes some getting used to at first but I love that I could carry a newborn, you can breast feed while wearing it, it's washable and very comfortable. It also gives you a TON of options and different ways to carry the baby so works great as your baby grows. If your going into summer go for a lighter color fabric and stick to tank tops underneath as it can get hot!

By far my favorite over the Nojo sling and the snugli I had!

I loved my sling, could even nurse in it while taking walks, little ones can lay down in it (as opposed to a bjorn where they sit up), and older ones can sit up against your hip. I bought mine from the LaLeche League and loved loved loved it. It came with a little book describing the many ways you can carry a baby, from laying down to strapped flat to you chest to sitting looking out to sitting on your hip. The sling was also great when toddler was in grocery cart or stroller and baby could be carried. After that I bought a jogging stroller once baby was about a 8 mos. May your labor be short and you happiness long!

I had a sling from slingling and an ergo I loved them both. The sling was great a younger baby but my son was a peanut so I used it for along time when out shopping the ergo was more comfortable as he got bigger. He's 4 and I can still put him on my back when I walk my dogs and it's comfortable.

I borrowed a Moby wrap from a friend. To be honest, if you plan to use it outside with baby it is just going to too darn hot for a summer baby. IMHO, wraps are good for around the house, but I prefer a baby carrier for outdoor walks and activities, going to the store etc. Also depends on the baby's personality. My daughter couldn't stand being confined in a wrap after she was 8 weeks old, but is ok in a baby carrier. If you want a baby carrier, I really reccomend waiting until you have the baby and then trying a couple out at the store. Although everyone says they love the baby bjorn, it just didn't fit me right and I ended up with a cheaper model (a Jeep carrier) that was much more comfortable for me.

I have used slings, moby wraps, and ergo. My twins loved the moby until they were about 6 months old, then they preferred the ergo. Then my youngest son refused to be in the moby past 4 weeks old. He hated things over his head, so we got the ergo. We also bought the newborn/infant insert which is a slightly cushioned and has a large rounded outside edge so baby can't fall out. The moby wrap is cheaper running about $60 versus the ergo at $100+. The ergo is a great option for long term wear and tear. My three year olds still fit great in it! i would recommend waiting until baby is born and then go to a store that carries multiple carriers and see which one you and your little one like more. I hope that helps. oh and secondary thought, the ergo makes backpacks that link on to the ergo so you really can be hand free. they run another 45 ish but I found it to be so worth the money with three kidlets!

Many people love various baby carriers but I never found one I loved. I suggest you try them on with the baby and see if you are both comfortable before buying. I have heard great things about Ergo and have seen them used on Ebay. I also have a hip hammock that is easy to use for a bigger baby (over 15 lbs and able to hold themself upright). But I am rarely comfortable more than 10-15 minutes.

Hi L., when I saw your name, I thought I posted something and forgot about it! Lol ;)
Our fourth child is eleven weeks old, and I couldn't live without my sling; he loves it, too! I carried number three in the sling for a long time, and as long as it's positioned properly, I've found that it's really comfortable.
Good luck!

I used a Nojo baby sling with both my kids from newborn to age 2 and loved it. It was great for nursing in public. My son pretty much lived in it when he was little, but my daughter who is more active didn't enjoy it as much (although she would still nurse in it and ride in it when she didn't insist on walking).

my kids pretty much hated both so my opinion would be to wait until after he/she is born and see what they like. you can probably find a local baby-wearing group. they usually have ones you can try on for free, if you can't try it on in the store.

I agree with your sister. I got a ring sling for $15 at a consignment store since I didn't plan on using it long. I also have an ergo. I switched my daughters to the ergo at about 4 months of age. I like the ring sling because it is so adjustable. I tried the moby wrap as well and found it increadibly frustrating and I got a bjorn type carrier for my first daughter but they are HORRIBLE on your back.

Good luck!!

PS - My 2 year old still rides in the ergo and her 30 pounds feel like about 5 pounds. I am looking for a second ergo at a good priec because I like to be able to put both girls on at the same time.

After three children and multiple different types of carrier, here is what I use and love: a pocket-style (non-adjustable) sling for infancy and hip riding when older, and an Ergo for totally hands-free or extended use once they're old enough (about 3-4 months). I agree with your sister that the Ergo doesn't work well for infants. I like the pocket sling for its ease of use. Hope that helps!