A "new" carrier this time around?

[jnezmama02]

 I have the following carriers/sling:

--Ergo (my most loved and was used A LOT w/ both Jessie and Emily...it always felt secure, in the tummy to tummy carry anyway, and was very easy to use...but w/o the insert you can't use until like 4mos)

--Moby wrap (used it when Emily was a newborn until about 4mos, but found it a pain b/c I had to completely take it off to nurse and then rewrap it after nursing and also some of the positions didn't feel as secure as I had hoped)

--Maya Wrap ring sling (I used it a lot w/ Jessie from about 2mos to about 8mos, before I got the Ergo, but it didn't feel as secure as I would like and my shoulder had a tendency to hurt when I use it for more than 15min)

--Maya Wrap Pouch--old style (it was easy to use, but it never really felt comfortable to me or the kids and my shoulder always hurt w/ it...it's my least used carrier)

So, know that I'm thinking about having to keep up w/ 2 kids, I really need to keep this newborn to be on my body as much as possible, hands-free (plus I just love it for bonding). But, at the same time, I don't want to have to deal w/ wrapping/unwrapping...I need something that's a quick pop in and out. I prefer the upright tummy-to-tummy position.  I really only need something from birth to 4mos, as I expect to use the Ergo again after that point.  So, with that said, I think I'm down to the following choices...of these, which would you choose:

--The Ergo newborn insert...I should have bought one last time as it's my most economical choice, I'm just skeptical that it will be comfortable and secure enough. I expect that it woudl be relatively easy to use.

--A mei tei...I thought about this one last time. I'm not sure if you can have newborns in it and they're often expensive, almost as much as a Bjorn. Also, I'm not sure if I'd have the same annoyance w/ tying and untyinig it. On the other hand, it's pretty much the only "sling" I don't have and it would be fun to try it.

--A Baby Bjorn...I never got one of these b/c I was always afriad of the pressure on the crotch area of the baby (though I think that was just one crazy person who wrote an article about it...everyone else just links to her article b/c she's a chiro) and they cost a lot. My sister got one and swears by it. So, now I'm tempted. 

Which one would you get?

[ShannonandDel]

I used different carriers for different reasons, but if I were you I would just get the ergo infant insert. I have a mai tai, and if you don't like tying than I wouldn't reccommend one. Something else I might recomend is a stretch pouch like a hotsling or peanut shell. I really liked the strechy one for Del when she was tiny. I love my  non-stretchy one now that she is older and heavier though!

[moogie]

i'd say go for the infant insert.  i think it really depends on what you are doing at the time.  i like to use my pouch sling for quick trips but i like my bjorn type carrier for a more secure hold.  i counted up how many carriers i have and its 5 and i'm getting one more in the mail, i think maybe its time to sell some.  i have a hiking carrier for c, that tristan wears.  i have an ergo style, a bjorn style, a ring sling, a pouch sling(with rings) and i'm getting a bear hug carrier, its like a mei tai.  i really didn't realise i had that many.

[Marnie]

--Moby wrap (used it when Emily was a newborn until about 4mos, but found it a pain b/c I had to completely take it off to nurse and then rewrap it after nursing and also some of the positions didn't feel as secure as I had hoped)

I haven't used a moby wrap, though had the opportunity to use a Didymos wrap which was great (nice weave) and a home made cotton weave wrap.  I was able to nurse both around the wrap with my baby held in my arms and also with her tucked in the wrap. 

See this link for how to nurse a small baby in the moby wrap:
http://www.mobywrap.com/instructions.php?link=11

--Maya Wrap ring sling (I used it a lot w/ Jessie from about 2mos to about 8mos, before I got the Ergo, but it didn't feel as secure as I would like and my shoulder had a tendency to hurt when I use it for more than 15min)

--Maya Wrap Pouch--old style (it was easy to use, but it never really felt comfortable to me or the kids and my shoulder always hurt w/ it...it's my least used carrier)

To be honest ring slings and pocket/pouches were my most used baby carriers (though I would use a wrap more if I have the future opportunity).  Some days they seemed to pull on my shoulder, but then I discovered that if I pulled it wider across my back, the weight of the baby was distributed across a much larger area rather than localised on my shoulder.

I would suggest you try spreading the fabric wide across your back with these two carrier types and see if it feels more comfortable.  I used to carry my 13kg nearly 3yo for nearly 2 hour naps in a pouch or ring sling while we were travelling overseas.  Of course it was more comfortable NOT carrying her like that for so long, but it was better than the alternative of staying at "home" the whole time.

--A Baby Bjorn...I never got one of these b/c I was always afriad of the pressure on the crotch area of the baby (though I think that was just one crazy person who wrote an article about it...everyone else just links to her article b/c she's a chiro) and they cost a lot. My sister got one and swears by it. So, now I'm tempted. 

You are right that every one seems to link to the same article but it refers to lower back stress in young babies carried in crotch supporting carriers.  However the same lower back stress is common in tree loppers and others who use a similar sort of harness.  The problem seems to be that the weight is supported on the narrow crotch strap, rather than spread wider under the legs.  In fact the other carriers you mention all bear the weight of the baby across the bottom and raise the knees which is much better for the hips as well.  Think of the positioning of the legs for babies in braces due to clicky hip...

Another complaint that people have about the BB carriers is that the straps are very narrow and therefore dig in at the shoulders.  If you have difficulties with ringsling and pouches at the shoulder, it is possible that you could find the BB excruciating.

Another option which you could consider is to use a pouch and ringsling together (well spread out across the back of course) like a simple wrap where the baby is supported by the pockets of both slings and the weight is distributed widely across your back.

I always found it good to use a variety of slings and carriers.  At different stages different carriers were better.

If you sew even rudimentarily, then you could make yourself a simple mai tei.  Make sure the straps are wide and long enough.  It is not as complicated as tying a wrap and you can easily pop the baby in and out during the day, for example for pottying or nursing.
HTH

[heathernkids]

Try to find a place locally that sells them if you can so you can check them out. I found a place near me that sold hotslings and peanut shells. The girl measured me and then I was able to try it with the baby. 

[mum2maddox]

just unearthing this thread,  hope you see is OP...

i was wondering what you wound up doing for the first 4 mths?  i am in the same boat... just bought an ergo  two days ago-ilove it very much forthe time ive carried M in it (and DH took him out in it).  did you go the insert?  am i assuming correctly it will be no good in the winter - the insert that is?

sars

[jnezmama02]

 

I ended up not getting anything new, lol. I used my pouch sling when he was a newborn to about 2mos and liked it much better this time. I just carried him between 2mos and 5mos, which is the time range I was really needing something but just never found the right thing for me.  I used the Ergo from 5mos to 12 mos (though not very often after about 9mos b/c he didn't like it as much).  Overall, he's been my least "worn" baby b/c he just doesn't seem to like it.  He likes his stroller so much more, which I never thought was possible. I always rolled my eyes at people who said they had kids who preferred a stroller over being carried...but I'm here to say that after 3 kids I do have one of those.  DS seems to "hang out" in his stroller and loves looking at all the people and then as soon as I get him out to carry him he squirms to get down and wants to "explore" everything. If I try to wear him in the Ergo, he squirms and arches his back on my front; he will let me wear him on my back if it's naptime, but not if he's awake.  He is fiercely independent and doesn't seem to need the constant contact w/ me that my girls did.   

[kiskar]

I just read that whole first post and was like HOPE IS PREGNANT!?! Then I saw the date. 

[jnezmama02]

hahaha, you are too funny, Kerry.  That would be totally scary...I am SO not interested in having a 4th. (though I still haven't gotten on any form of birth control, so we're still taking chances, lol).  Have any good birth control recommendations?