Baby *carry* harness recommendations?

Bamama

Hey, I've decided rather than invest in a new and bigger car... I'll see how I get on with a carry harness. OH has the big car for when we're out as a family with the buggy anyway.

Thing is, I don't know anyone that's used one! So I'm looking to you ladies for some suggestions please

I'm on a tight budget so need one as cheap as possible (but obviously still safe). I don't know if it makes any difference but I'm rather petite... not short, just a skinny !!!!!!. Would be handy if it was adjustable enough that I can wear it and my manly man lol.

Thanks in advance xxx

mildred1978

See whether your local breastfeeding group has a sling library - you can borrow different kinds and see what suits. Every parent and every child is different so it's hard to tell what will work before they arrived.

We had a baby bjorn carrier for daddy, but what suits one won't suit another.

spaghetti_monster

Hi there!
I'll also be following this thread with interest.
No 2 is coming in about 6 weeks and we had a baby bjorn for no. 1. I could never really use it for any period of time, but OH used it for ages (Don't know if the fact that he's 6ft and I'm 5ft 3 had anything to do with it - it hurt my back very quickly and LO's legs would always be in the way if I needed to bend).
We also tried one of those slings - like a long wide scarf you can wrap in various ways, but LO always screamed his head off whenever I tried to use it. (Luckily borrowed from a friend, so we didn't have to buy one).
That's a great idea to try a sling library - I'll investigate that!

janeyscot

i have the ergo and have used it from when my lo was 5 months and still use it for my 28 pound toddler.

My DH had my lo in the back carry for several hours most days on holiday without any problems at all. The wee one slept and we got to see some sights without worrying our toddler would run riot in the museum etc and break something !!

It has buckles so i found it easier to use than a sling wrap.

You can use it in a front carry when they are little and back carry when a bit older. It also supports the baby from knee to knee in a sitting position rather than supporting the baby by the crotch which was especially important for us as my lo had hip dysplasia as a baby.

It wasnt cheap but the amount that we have used it makes it worthwhile. My friend on the other hand got a baby bjorn and couldnt use it past 4 months and she had a little baby whilst at 17 months our ergo is still going strong.

myhooose

My wife attends the local sling meeting.
http://www.slingmeet.co.uk/
They have different types there to try out. She used a traditional scarf type when the baby was small, then swapped to a different type. Our 4 year old can even be carried in it. I'll find out who makes it tonight.

freda

I used a Kari-me for both of mine. Again, not that cheap but you can get them second hand from ebay. It is a stretchy wrap sling and SO comfy for baby and you. You can change the way it is wrapped to let you carry the baby lying down, sitting up facing in or out, on your front or on your back, and you can arrange it so that it supports the baby's head when it is really tiny. You can even feed your baby in it. When it rains, you can cover you and the baby with your coat or brolly. It is gorgeously snuggly - you can feel your baby's warmth and movements right up against you, and you can hold their hands and stroke their head whenever you want

When I went to a health visitor drop in session, the visiting physio commented it was the only sling she had seen that actually supported the baby's back correctly - the Kari me supports their legs right up to their knees, so they are in a 'frog' position, rather than supporting under the bum and leaving their legs dangling which is bad for little baby's backs.

Don't get a pouch type sling, there have been some cases of babys suffocating in them, which is awful. With the wrap slings, you can make sure that the baby's head is held securely and won't slip so they will always be able to breathe.

We carried our children in the Kari me till they were about 2 (but only because they wanted to walk everywhere instead of be carried!), and only used our umbrella buggy very occasionally.

Bamama

Not even sure I have a local breastfeeding group mildred. I will enquire with my midwife when I see her next week though.

janeyscot - I looked up ergo and they are definitely well out of my price range! Though they do look lovely.

Thanks for that freda. I didn't realise the slings could be so versatile. How do they "fasten" exactly? I'm not sure I'd trust my knot-tying abilities tbh. How fiddly are they to put on? I personally find scarfs too complicated XD

VikkiiKawaii

I've just bought a mei tai style one from this seller on eBay.
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/daisybabyshop?_trksid=p2047675.l2559
So far it seems to be fairly good quality and it was only £25 for one with a hood.

Bamama

VikkiiKawaii - I like the look of those... bit of a merge of the sling style and modern style.

VikkiiKawaii

Bamama wrote: »

VikkiiKawaii - I like the look of those... bit of a merge of the sling style and modern style.

The good thing about it is the fact that both I (at five foot three) and my partner (at six foot) can both use it comfortably because it's completely adjustable.

mildred1978

Bamama wrote: »

Not even sure I have a local breastfeeding group mildred. I will enquire with my midwife when I see her next week though.

Where in Wales are you?