I'm another that does both - putting DS in the ergo and loading up the pram with stuff during christmas shopping expeditions was gold! The drawback to exclusive wearing I found was nowhere to stash stuff other than carrying the nappy bag which quickly got heavier than DS. When we're grocery shopping I use the sling/ergo and a trolley.
Plus it's really hot at the moment so wearing him is only tolerable in places that have good airconditioning. Otherwise I end up with a grumbly cranky baby and hot and sticky myself. Will probably wear him more when it cools down a bit. This of course, will most likely be less of a problem if your bub is due mid-year.
The baby bjorn was the free one =) i cant see me using it at all actually, the wrap is my favourite, the ring I'll have to wait to try because for some reason I cant see it being secure and stable (but must be...) but yea, even though I have it i cant see me actually using the bjorn
Thanks everyone for your tips. I'd say we will need to get one...but I might wait to see what we actually need it for, and when we would be using it. I don't want to go spend hundreds of dollars on something I'm not even sure I'll use..
The HAB sounds great! I'm horrible with ring slings so I have a mei tai, a manduca and a beetlebums (on the way). I've also had a Bamberoo and Dream Carrier. There are so many options out there with carriers and prams! I have a secondhand Love n Care Europa which I use for DS (he's a runner) and DD3 while I tandem wear DD1 and DD2.
We have a couple of HABs, two ring slings, an Ergo, two prams (we only use one, the other was cheap off eBay and sucks), and two strollers
I use the slings for hip carries most of the time these days. Amelia's a bit too big for the HABs now, but tries to stand up in her pram ALL THE TIME. The strollers she's okay with, but most times she prefers to be held. I need help with the Ergo now I've worked out the back carry - I hated the front carry, but once I could back carry I was golden. Only problem is, it's difficult to get her in and out.
My perfect babywearing schedule would be:
- HAB exclusively until about 5/6 months
- Combination HAB and ring sling until bub is too big for HAB
- Ring sling until bub can go in a back carry in Ergo
- Ergo back carry once bub becomes kid
ETA: Forgot to say, Amelia goes in a trolley if I need to put her down for whatever reason these days I just have to make sure I always have change to release the damn things!
At DD's birth we had 5 carriers and 2 prams. Wouldn't change it!
One pram was a foldup job for the car. We didn't use it heaps, bought cheaply off ebay.
The other pram was our monster all-terrain walking pram. It was bought because of its 5kg+ cargo basket. We used it for walking to the market. In theory. In practice, baby was worn while the vegies got pushed in the pram because she hated not being attached to one of us. So a granny trolley would have done the trick. Nowadays, though, the big pram is great for market shops and long walks. The foldup job is great because it has a one-handed fold and is really easy.
We had a HAB, Close, MT, Ergo and a ring sling. DD was born in Brissie in December, and yes, she was really hot against us, but there really was no other option, as unless she was worn she was just really unsettled.
I say hold off buying and see how you go. There will still be prams for sale when Spock is earthside...
I used a hug a bub til dd was 4ish months, then an ergo. I usually will still take the pram to carry my bag or nappy bag or assorted stuff lol. Dd is 9mths now and had her first sleep ever in the pram! She has always only ever been happy being in the pram wide awake and slept in carrier. Now she's not liking the ergo as much don't know if its a phase, or she wants a back carry or she's just too bloody hot (she's a reality sweaty bub)
Dont forget that you know a cool person who has a pram sitting there that she doesnt need anymore that you can have so you dont have to spend money on one, and if you dont use it its doesnt matter
oooooo, Rb you got a beetlebums? i sooooo want a HB with wings
anyway, we didn't wear DS much, but DD I have mostly worn and actually don't have a pram, only a stroller. She loves riding in it now it is handy to have as an alternative to carry things (although those pull along granny shopping trolley things are good for that too) or if it's very hot or if your child is on a wrapping strike.
And if you can get one for free.... (a layback stroller is also a good alternative if you're not going to use it much).
I didn't use the pram much early on but as she got older, we used it frequently as we walked to get groceries every few days so even if I was carrying her then I would use it to cart stuff back. So it really depends on your lifestyle a little too, as we walk almost everywhere, I wouldn't know what to do without my pram now (being 39w pregnant and having a toddler) but for the first 6months, she lived in her close carrier (had an Ergo for when she was bigger). The other upside of a pram early on is if they are asleep at someone's house or restaurant, we have set up our pram again mostly for this reason, so I can walk DD to the park etc even if baby is having a sleep or have her asleep out the backyard with us, although I guess we will see how keen this one is to sleep in the pram when she arrives!
I have a beetlebums as well to use this time, I can't waitttttttttt. We have used it a bit with DD but she is miss independent and mostly keen to walk now so rarely gives me a chance lol. So pretttttty.
At any rate, you definitely have time after bubs to assess how things are before buying one!
Yup MadB, I have traded my Bamberoo SV FB and Dream Carrier FB for a HB Beetlebums (I'm not too sure on the print but I figure it's a Beetlebums, I can trade/sell if it bothers me that much) and paypal funds
I needed both for sure, even though I mostly did babywearing. The thing I found with using the HAB was that when I needed to BF I would take baby out and then I needed to sit him somewhere while I retied the HAB. The pram was a lifesaver for that!
And carrying the nappy bag plus baby can get a bit much... I would do that for short trips but if I wanted to go into the city for 1/2 the day then I always took the pram. That way I could carry more nappies and water & snacks etc without worrying about the bag being heavy. Usually the bag was in the seat of the pram while I was carrying baby!
I had a granny trolley that I thought I'd use for carrying stuff but it was really difficult. I found it hard to bend right down to get at the stuff in the trolley, with baby attached. Plus there was none of the perks of having somewhere to lie baby down so the pram one over that.
Finally, going to the toilet while babywearing is difficult. Having the pram while out meant I could put baby down in there and go to the loo. Again, a lifesaver!
I bought a cheap full recline stroller because I figured I wasn't into the pram thing and I was happy enough with it in the start but then we moved further from the shops and baby was older so I bought a mountain buggy and I LOVE it. I think a good pram still goes well with babywearing.
I'd suggest finding a baby wearing group in your local area where you can try on different types of carriers before buying and have others show you safe and correct positioning of bubs in the sling.
Slings are invaluable and you'll find it useful for a long time not just the early weeks/months.
If you don't know of any groups in your area you could have a look at an aussie baby wearing forum called Kanga Collective. They have local groups listed there, you could ask if there are any in your area. I've found it really useful.
There is also a baby wearing facebook group as well.
ETA forgot to say I bought a very expensive pram for DD2 and only ever used it a handful of times, living in QLD, I don't find the heat too much of a hassle. I would much rather have spent the cash on wraps or SSC's than the pram looking back. Def go the carriers and forget about the pram unless you find you really need it.
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I just have to make sure I always have change to release the damn things!
don't know if its a phase, or she wants a back carry or she's just too bloody hot (she's a reality sweaty bub)
it is handy to have as an alternative to carry things (although those pull along granny shopping trolley things are good for that too) or if it's very hot or if your child is on a wrapping strike.
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