Which carrier should I get?

[Arimeh]

Or I should say - convince DH we NEED to buy

I'm looking at the BabyHawk mei tai or the Catbirdbaby Pikkolo. I'm leaning towards the Pikkolo because I'm not that fond of long straps, I'm a bit unco and takes me a bit to get them into position, so they go on the ground and get dirty etc etc - plus I like the fact that pikkolo can be used facing out.

I already have *cough cough* an Ergo, a Close Carrier, a Silly Goose Baby mei tai and getting a hotsling coming to me. (addicted much?)

So I'll be selling the close carrier soon because DD2 is getting too long for it (I have a really short midsection and the top of her head squishes right under my jaw when she is sitting in there and its starting to get uncomfy..)

So anyway - I'll have carriers that can do everything but the front carry out - and I'd like this when we go to markets, or the city park (where there are monkeys) so eden can see the animals and stuff, and then get turned around again for sleep.

Sooo.... any opinions on which is better out of the babyhawk and the pikkolo? Or reasons NOT to get them? I'm a lard arse as well so they have to be built for fat people lol

[tk1999]

Subscribing as I am of the opinion one can never have too many carriers... will be interesting to see what people say

[suse]

You might want to look into the babyhawk Oh Snap - which is the SSC version of the babyhawk mei tai (designed from about 7kg to toddler).

Haven't used either, but have used a catbirdbaby mei tai, which is of a similar body shape etc to the pikkolo. The CBB carriers are shorter bodied with a narrow strap angle on the shoulder straps - they are in their element with smaller/younger babies and narrow shouldered or petite wearers. You can also get the CBB support belt which allows the carrier to be worn non-apron style (like an Ergo), which gives more support for heavier babies/toddlers as well as extending the body length. To the best of my knowledge though, you cannot use the support belt when forward facing, as you can't cinch the waist in whilst using the belt. (I've used the support belt on other mei tais and it is comparable with an Ergo waist for support).

I would say that an Oh Snap is going to give you greater longevity, especially as E gets older. Are you particularly keen to do forward facing carries, or are you just finding inward facing carries a bit limiting now that E wants to look around? Depending on how heavy E is, you might find that you don't get much use out of a carrier capable of forward facing. Personally I find that they are not very comfortable for the wearer in any carrier, as the baby's weight is not distributed evenly. As a baby gets older I find back or hip carries much more comfortable, they still allow the baby to look around but in a more natural carrying position, and they can still turn in to snuggle when they want to. I used (and still use) a Scootababy for DS - it's a toddler suitable SSC/dedicated hip carrier and is probably the most comfortable one on the market. I've worn him all day (as in, for nearly eight hours straight) in it and that was when he was nearly 13kg. If you are finding that an Ergo is not suitable yet for back carries because E is sitting too low on your back to be able to see, something like an Oh Snap or Pikkolo can be worn higher on the waist than an Ergo, which is generally worn on the hips.

So you might find that your hotsling is more useful for the looking around stage - as you can carry in a hip carry or a buddha carry. And it's pretty light and portable, so you could always have the hotsling for 'visible' carries and pack a meitai or SSC for sleeping.

Just something to consider, but if you are really keen to have a carrier capable of forward facing, then the pikkolo is your best bet. It may not be the best choice in terms of longevity though.

ETA: if E is looking like she's going to be tall, an Ergo is a relatively short bodied carrier so although it's supportive enough for toddlers, some people (including myself) don't find it tall enough in the body for tall toddlers. This is where a babyhawk MT would be a good option.

HTH!

[Baby14]

Camme-Lot, I hope you don't mind but I am subscribing so I can get some more useful info on slings...thanks suse! What a wealth of information you are on carriers

Someone just suggested in a thread I posted that i try carrying DS in a sling to sleep but even though he is only 4 and a half months he is heavy (8.5kgs) so I didn't think I would be able to get one that he could sleep in but some of the ones that suse suggested for you sound like they might do the job...I am off to google

[Trillian]

Camme, I got a Baby Hawk toddler mei tei from Mel and it was awesome for a taller toddler but yeah, if you aren't fussed on tying straps etc then it probably wont be ideal for what you want. I know Maz is using the Oh Snap for Mini Me and Tank, so ask her what she thinks?

[Arimeh]

Thanks for all that suse, i looked more into it last night, and noticed that the forward carry doesn't really allow for much use - you can't use it when they get really heavy anyway, so hip carry would probably be what I would do.

I love my ergo, and DH wears it with DD1 as well, so its just something that I would use. I don't think I have narrow shoulders - I don't think they are particularly wide either though? I wear the ergo with ease though, not a problem comfort wise there.

I did like the look of the Oh Snap - just worried that because it is relatively new on the market, they might not have ironed all the kinks out yet?

Is the oh snap comparable to the ergo in terms of shoulder comfort do you know?

Hell - maybe I'll get both and sell my Close and mei tai...lol

Oh - but you are right - Eden has a very long body and she will be tall - just like the other two. I love that I can still carry Aricyn on my back in the ergo - so won't be getting rid of that.

Trill - thanks - will quiz her