Baby Carriers

I decided to review baby carriers today because I used one of mine this morning.

Baby carriers can be divided into four general sub-categories: the sling, the Moby wrap, the front carrier, and the aluminum-frame back pack. Each one has its own developmental age suggestions, advantages, and disadvantages.

A Sling:

Developmental Age: birth-3 monthsish
Advantages: newborns are cradled close the body, helping them sleep
Disadvantages: some pediatric experts are concerned about safety, from the possibility both of suffocation and falling; pressure/weight on shoulders/back

Why I didn't Buy One: Well, because my mother-in-law made me one. I've used it a few times, but it was never really a hands-free option because L never felt stable enough for me to take my hands off of him (maybe a purchased sling would have offered better security/stability). Plus, within 5 minutes of putting him in the sling, my back and left shoulder ached (this was when my newborn weighed less than 8 lbs).

Moby Wrap

Developmental Age: birth-45 lbs.
Advantages: ability to wrap different ways, no buckles
Disadvantages: difficulty wrapping, shoulder/back stress, hot in warm climates

Why I didn't Buy It: I live in an exceptionally warm climate, and while my friends with kids said they like their Moby's, I noticed that none of them wore them outside for more than a few minutes. Plus (and this might seem silly), my husband would refuse to wear this on his at-home days, which would require a) buying an additional carrier or b) doing the dishes myself when I get home from work.




Front (Pod) Carrier

This seems to be the most common type of carrier purchased, and several models are well-known. Since I knew this would be the type of carrier I would be using, I researched several models with multiple sources.

Baby Bjorn
This, along with the ErgoBaby, seems to be the most well-known model. 
Developmental Age: 8-25 lbs
Advantages: two carrying positions: front-facing-out and front-facing-in. Available in organic and mesh options.
Disadvantages: no back-carry capabilities; some pediatric experts are concerned about hip and spine compression due to the way the infant sits (which leads some parents to refer to the Bjorn as a "crotch dangler").

Why I Didn't Buy It: The "experts" got to me. Other parents' reviews indicated some dissatisfaction with lumbar/shoulder support (which was a significant issue for me, since I planned to wear the carrier for long periods, and since such back stress would be magnified for my TALL husband).

ErgoBaby

Developmental Age: 15-45 lbs (you can use with smaller infants if you buy the newborn cradle insert, sold separately).
Advantages: front-facing-in carry, back-facing-in carry; ergonomic design for shoulder/back support.
Disadvantages: PRICE ($115-130), no facing-out carry capabilities, reportedly too hot in warm climates

Why I Didn't Buy It: Again with the warm weather issue, and I wasn't willing to drop $130 on a carrier.







Lillebaby Nordic Carrier

Developmental Age: birth- 42lbs
Advantages: more carrying positions: Front Facing In with a narrow seat for newborn, Front Facing In with a wide seat, Front Facing Out, Hip, Back , and Cradle Carry with Infant Cradle (insert sold separately)
Disadvantages: price ($79 at Target.com)

Why I DID Buy It: Well, I didn't. I registered for this one because I liked the narrow-saddle option for a newborn (instead of purchasing an additional insert or folding L's legs underneath him like a frog stuffed in a sardine can), but in light of the high price tag, I wasn't holding my breath. I did get it, though, and after trying it out when L was four days old, I decided to keep it.

infantino Union Carrier

Developmental Age: 8lbs-40lbs

Advantages: PRICE ($29 at Target.com)

Disadvantages: only two carrying positions: front-facing-in, back-facing-in

Why I DID Buy It: Honestly, because of the price. We were on an itty-bitty-baby budget, and a $29 ticket for an item with decent reviews was too good to pass up. I had already opened it (and unfortunately had cats sleep on it) before I was given the Lillebaby, so returning the Union wasn't an option. 

What I think two months later: I like both of the carriers for different reasons. I keep the Lillebaby in the car and use it when I'm out, because the fold-down flap and baby safety belt give L more stability while I'm speed-walking through Costco. Plus, the Lillebaby is easy to get on and off on my own (even with my short arms, I can reach all of the buckles and straps), so I don't have to ask some random stranger to buckle the shoulder strap. L's weight seems pretty well distributed between my shoulders and hips, though my back does begin to ache if I stand still. It fits my husband well enough (it puts L's head at about stomach level, but my husband is TALL). I haven't used the facing-forward option, but I imagine I'll use it occasionally when L decides he wants a change of scenery. I use the Union at home when I'm doing housework, like washing the dishes. It isn't quite as stable as the Lillebaby, but in fairness, it does say that the recommended age is 3+ months, and I'm not trying to jog around the house. It's also much harder to get on alone (the buckle that connects the two shoulder straps is lower than the similar buckle on the Lillebaby, making it hard for me to reach), so I don't think I'd ever try it out-and-about. What I do like is that I can wear it for upwards of 30 minutes (even standing still) without developing a backache.