Baby Carriers?

Question

Help!!  I have a wrap (Boba) that I got second hand that I am very excited about (mostly for in the house I think).  However, I would also like a more supportive carrier as I have back issues, so for longer walks, etc.  I have been looking online and am overwhelmed with choices and price!!  In your opinion (and I realize it’s somewhat baby dependent), how important are the different carrying positions (front inward, front outward, hip, back)?  Friends have a Manduca they have offered us, but you cannot carry facing out, which I feel is one I would really want?!  I also like free though, so, is this a worthwhile compromise?!  Or is there another (affordable) option out there that offers the various carrying positions?  Thanks for your help, FTM overwhelmed with baby gear choices!

Answer

You should plan on carrying your little one inward facing until they are 4 to 6 months, they should have strong enough neck strength to look out/be ready to take on all those extra sights. I recommend planning on having a few carriers or shell out some money to get one that does it all. Personally i have a really soft woven wrap I use for my newborn, then an Erog & Lillebaby 6 in 1 that are both structured carriers that I use as my babies age up. Personally I like the Lillebaby a bit better but both are good. Check with your area and see if there is a chapter of a babywearing group that meets near you. they should have a variety of carriers you can try & will walk you through how to properly wear for each age group.

Answer

honestly I got a wrap and one of the regular carriers. the regular one I got on sale from target and it's just a generic brand. I figured I would use it for the same as you. walking and such that would require longer carrying time. I figured i would use it forward facing once my son got big enough but honestly so far I have only used it with him facing me. i tried it forward(outward) facing a couple of times and neither one of us(me or the baby) really liked it much. He got fussy in it quickly and I didnt like not being able to see his face. lol. But to each her own. The generic brand, in my opinion, is just as good as the name brand. it does all the same positions to carry in and is super padded and comfortable. I like it. I use my wrap more than anything though for when I'm walking around the house cleaning and what not. but it is tricky to get used to because of how heavy the baby gets and how tight you have to start with it or it gets too loose quickly. trial and error with that. for sure.

Answer

I’m a nanny, and I’ve tried a lot of different brands. I wouldn’t recommend the cheap infantino. They are just not supportive enough for my taste.
I would recommend the ErgoBaby 360. That’s the easiest to put on on your own, and it’s easy to transition from inward to outward facing. Plus, it’s comfortable.

Answer

Lillebaby complete!!! It’s amazing and lumbar support

Answer

I have a Lillebaby Complete carrier. Normally, they’re rather pricey (like $150-ish), but I found one in excellent used condition on Facebook marketplace for $90. It features 6 different carry positions, you can adjust it between narrow seat and wide seat, you can use it for newborns over 7 lbs (without an infant insert) and then continue to use the same carrier up till your LO is 45 lbs! It’s machine washable, comes in a variety of adorable prints, and the straps are significantly more comfortable than any others I’ve tried on.

Answer

Ergo!! My ergo was my very most favorite

Answer

Following 
I have an ergo but it gets so damn hot and baby sweats like crazy!

Answer

There’s the infantino which is pretty inexpensive but I find it’s not as comfortable as the ergo. I’ve used the bjorn, which I liked while she was still lightweight. My bjorn didn’t have a waist strap (super important for your back, as it distributes the weight better).  Consider that inward facing is more ergonomically for baby’s body. I was very excited to have baby face outward once she got old enough (I believe the rule for this position is they have to have full head control).  But I found it just felt awkward and unnatural to have her her way and never really used that position again. I haven’t tried backpack style yet because it seems like here’s a learning curve to getting baby on your back. I believe the requirements for using the backpack style is that baby must be able to set up right unassisted. 
Why not try the free carrier and see if you like it? You could always buy a different one if you don’t really like it.

Baby Carriers?

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