Addicted to Baby Carriers!

[suse]

Nah Nelle, you're not crazy - but that's coming from me FWIW!!

I've had some worst of the worst family news and have decided that bugger it, I'm gonna get the babyhawk. Life's too short to dilly dally over carriers. I want it, therefore I shall have it. And if I decide that I want the Ergo as well, then I shall have that too. As it looks like I'll be spending a bit of time in Melbourne over the next couple of months I'll need something that is more airport friendly than my current carriers.

Think I'm going to go cherry straps with red sakura on the main panel and either dragon batik medallion or foo dog (for DP if he wants to wear it) on the reverse.

Mel, you'll be hearing from me with an order soon (once DP wakes up and decides which reverse panel he wants)!

[Nelle]

Hugs Suse. I love the Sakura, the Cocoa Sakura's definitely on my shortlist, and the cherry straps are lovely.
With a reversible panel - I'm getting both for me, because now that we've got the Pikkolo (Ergo and Pikkolo fall under the same category), that's going to be dh's carrier of choice, he really likes it. Think he's a bit intimidated by the long Mei Tai straps too.
Maybe something to consider if you do end up getting a SSC.

So now, the preference has maybe changed to Charcoal with 'Birds and Butterflies Black' and 'Owl Paisley Aqua'. That's the flavour of this half hour, let's see what I fall in love which causes me to completely change my mind next time I look!

[suse]

Thanks Nelle - you're gorgeous...

Even if DP doesn't wear it I'll still use the reverse side - the majority of my clothes are red or black so it will go a treat!

Seeing the order is going to take a while to come through I'm thinking of trying to get an Ergo in the interim - he's just getting too heavy for the comfy carry and the bjorn, once he falls asleep he's like a sack of very cute potatoes.

[Nelle]

Lol at the very cute potatoes Suse. Have you tried an Ergo? Know anyone in your area who has one? I'd definitely encourage you to try before you buy if you can, so you know if you like the feel of something.

Says she who bought her Pikkolo without trying it first. It's super comfy and awesome though!
Had a bad moment today where I was racing out the front door with the Pikkolo in my hand and stumbled and stepped on a strap and BROKE one of the buckle prong things! Was soooo annoyed at myself, it wasn't even 24 hours old!
But the super lovely guy I bought it from has some more stuff coming from CatBirdBaby and is checking out a replacement part for me if possible. Very handy, so the stress didn't last long. It currently has a stiff and ugly white Spotlight buckle as a temporary replacement. Not ideal, but will do the trick for now.

[suse]

Oh what a poop Nelle. Must have been a day for it 'cos the shoulder strap buckle on my nappy bag just up and broke today. Talk about unimpressed... I can get it fixed but have to send it back to the manufacturer - it will take ages. Oh well...

Well, I up and bought an Ergo today... Sarah @ the nappy bucket had discounted stock which was slightly watermarked from the floods so I bought one. Yee har!! It will arrive in a couple of days so I'll have it well and truly road tested by the time I go to Melbourne.

I feel a bit awful but I've decided not to get the babyhawk right now (sorry Mel), instead I'm going to get a catbirdbaby mei tai. After reading the reviews on Baby Carriers Downunder it has two advantages for me - one, the body is non-padded so will be cooler in our weather, and secondly, the angle on the shoulder straps is more vertical, which apparently makes it more comfortable for narrow shouldered people. And I am completely in love with the Oasabi fabric. I am still so tempted by the BH so hopefully it will get added to my collection later on. I'm sure this addiction is only going to get worse...

I think that I might have to sell at least one of my other carriers now!

[Juliette]

Nelle - I think the pistachio paisley looks ok with the espresso straps...not so sure about the chocolate though. It's a tough decision! Charcoal Sakura goes with the black straps too...

Suse - good move on getting the ergo. I love mine - I can wear it around for hours and hours on end without any problems.

I just found a 'babyhawk rocks' facebook group too Lots of pictures of people wearing their BH's.

These carriers look so lovely...but I'm having an attack of the guilts, as I already have an Ergo (which I love) and they kinda serve the same purpose! The babyhawks are just so pretty! I'm also thinking I'd like a sling of some kind (maybe bubba moe?) for getting out of the car for short trips to the corner store/service station/daycare etc. I could use something that takes only seconds to put on...maybe I should get both...that would be 4 baby carriers...maybe I could wear the ergo on the back with Hannah in it, and the BH on the front with Sammy... lol

We are planning to have more children (just ordered a 7 seater vehicle, so we'd better have some more!) so perhaps having a few isn't such a bad idea? OMG how do I justify this addiction!!?!?!

[Nelle]

Oh, a BabyHawk facebook group would be great for checking out all the different carriers for ideas! I love looking and seeing what kinds of colours work with each other!
I'll get Charcoal straps though...I already have a Mei Tai with brown straps, and my Khaki coloured Pikkolo... And a light brown pouch.

Think of it like tools Juliette - different tools for different purposes/occasions!

I think I'd use a Mei Tai over an Ergo for a newborn - a Mei Tai would be a bit more snuggly I think - though a wrap would probably be even better - or a pouch, if your baby liked being there (Riv hated the cradle position, held or slung, hated it).

Suse, what colour Ergo did you get?? When will you get it? Ooh on the CBB one, that one cinches so Euan can FFO (forward face out, the latest babywearing abbreviation I've learned ).

[Juliette]

Hey fellow addicts! I'm on a sling purchasing high atm. I bought a lightly padded maya sling yesterday - LOVE it! It's taking some getting used to, but it's really easy to use the computer with Sam in it! It'll be just the thing for day care drop offs and short trips to the shops.

I'm also looking at the babyhawk because I'd like to carry Sam in a front carry and it's tricky to do in an Ergo while he's so small. And they're pretty (read: I just want one 'cos they're gorgeous)

I need some advice! I like the pistachio paisley pattern, so I think I'm pretty much settled on that one, but I also like the Daisly Strip Teal (for a complete contrast). I can't work out if the base colour for the Daisy Stripe Teal is black or brown, so I'm thinking of going with Olive coloured stripes (otherwise I would have gone black)... What do you think? I'm in desparate need of some opinions on this!

[Juliette]

maybe I could go with black straps, pistachio paisley and Lime oxford stripe...

I am so bad at making decisions!

[suse]

Hee hee Juliette, I think that was the real reason why I decided not to go with the BH - I just couldn't decide!

I got my Ergo last week (thanks Sarah - it's brilliant) and I love it. So easy to wear, and so comfortable. My back is actually improving too - it's much easier to keep good posture with the hip support. I flew to Melbourne on Thursday and it was fantastic getting on and off the plane. Euan pretty much falls asleep in it within a couple of minutes most times. We are two impressed peoples! Can't wait until he's big enough to do a back carry in, but I do love having him snuggled up against me in a front carry (I get to give his head lots of kisses that way) - it gets a much tighter snuggle than the other carriers I've used. Only thing is that I must be right at the bottom end of its size range, and the shoulder straps are a tiny bit wide for me, but not uncomfortably so. And it's really easy getting a sleeping baby out of the carrier. My mum was very cute yesterday, I was getting Euan out to put him in the car, and she raced around to help me get him out of the Ergo before realising that I had it under control. "Oh, why can't I have a helpless daughter", she said... (!!! I think she wanted more grandma cuddles)

Still thinking about getting the catbirdbaby MT as well.

[Nelle]

So, did you end up settling on something Juliette? The Pistachio Paisley is nice for sure!
I decided on Charcoal straps, with two sides, White Cho Cho Butterflies, and Floral Cathedral Windows, and a toy ring. Reckon it'll be awesome!!

That's great the Ergo's working for you Suse! If you ever find down the track that you want a carrier for a more petite frame, take a look at the CatBird Baby Pikkolo, apparently the designer's quite petite herself and smaller people seem to prefer the Pikkolo. And yep, back carries are great in SSC's! Actually, back carries are great in Mei Tai's too!

[Mollygirl]

Hi

I am thinking of getting the Ergo baby carrier (finding the HAB is stretching too much now and baby bjorn too uncomfortable), and a lot of people on here seem to like it.

Can the baby be worn facing out on the front with an ergo???

Thanks
MG

[Nelle]

Can the baby be worn facing out on the front with an ergo???

Nope. Tis the reason I got the CatBird Baby Pikkolo.

[Ginger]

ok sling addicts anonymous...i need some ideas.
i have the hab- loved it when ds was a newborn- wore it everywhere. sage and hazelenut for those of you that love details
have moved onto the ergo- indigo and green- love it. take it everywhere i go.

what i'm wondering is....is there a sling that you can just chuck around you really quickly and the baby can lie sort of across the front of you- so that you can sit on the couch with it on and snuggle them up tight and maybe give them a bit of a bf in?
i can't sit down on the couch with the ergo on cos ds's legs are too long and it's just a bit uncomfy. want something where he can sort of lie across me and is really quick to get in and out of- more to use around the house rather than to go for walks like the ergo??
hope this makes sense sling addicts

[~Saram~]

Molly - they recommend you don't face baby out in the Ergo as it's not ergonomically designed that way, also the company suggests again facing out as baby can't turn away from stimulation and can become overstimulated. Instead you can use the hip carry or back carry and bub can still look around. For younger bubs you can put them in cradle style (ie both legs to one side) so they can still look around that way too.

Gracie - we have a peanut shell, which works similar to that or some other kind of ring sling. i saw someone talking bout a bubbamoe the other day which looks interesting

[alioops]

Gracie, I wore a bubzilla sling today for over 2 hours with Em before i started to get sore, i find it easy to put on having watched the video instructions on their website and it seems easy to feed in. I found it easy to give her the bottle today and she was very comfortable in it. Sarah also loves being in the sling in a hip hold. i am finding it soooo much more comfortable than my tomy freestyle cool as it doesn't did in anywhere unless it is not adjusted properly and it offers a more even pressure instead of digging in like the other ones i have tried (i have borrowed a few to find one i liked). it is comfortable to sit on the couch and cuddle and will be better when it gets a bit cooler here in adelaide as she was sweaty today.

[Juliette]

Hi Gracie, I just bought a lightly padded maya wrap ring sling. I love it for quick trips, and for snuggling Sam across my body. It's easy to bf in too. I also have a HAB and Ergo. They're all great for different occasions!

Nelle - Still haven't made any babyhawk decisions yet (I know I've missed the wrigglebots preorder). I'll have to wait until next fortnight's pay to order one now anyway!! I'm pretty settled on the owl paisley aqua with espresso straps. You'll have to put up some pics of yours when you get it - it sounds awesome!

I met up with Paulus from babycarriers downunder (purchased my maya sling from him) the other day, and he showed me the catbird baby mei tai. This is just making my decision that much harder because I really do like the fact that you can wear a newborn/very young baby with their legs out in the front carry. The babyhawks are just so pretty though - and if Sam really wants his legs out while he's little, I can always use the HAB!

Suse - let me know if you get the catbird baby MT and what you think of it!

[Nelle]

Juliette, if you've got Paulus to advise you, I'd say you're set mate! Unless he recommends you get both...I'm not much safer, I've got a BearHugBaby Mei Tai, and am still getting the BabyHawk...different features, you know?

The Aqua Owl is AWESOME, I so almost got that one. Very cool.

You will totally have to post pics of your Maya, and let us know how you go with that one!

Gracie, sounds like a Pouch or Ring Sling might be what you're after for that purpose! We have a Bear Hug Baby pouch (and WriggleBots Mel sells some pretty Karma ones and I've heard of Peanut Shell too...sure there are many more if you search!) and I like that because it folds up nice and small for the nappy bag. But, being a fitted carrier, you're pretty much the only one who can use it (or someone equal to your size).
A ring sling is much more versatile, since anyone can use it, and the tail is handy for shade and breastfeeding, slightly higher learning curve (not much), and not as compact to store. Still, for around the house...
And where a pouch might stretch (though a wash might fix that), a Ring Sling can always be adjusted.

Do you know anyone with either? Trying them first could really help you decide.