Hug a Bub vs Close Carrier for newborn

I'm a sling novice. Well I have a baby bjorn, but only used it twice with DD. Lot of money for not much use.

I'm trying to see what the difference is between the Hug a Bub and the Close Carrier. Have a few questions.

I've got a weak back so want something that I'm going to be comfortable wearing. Which one is better or should I go something entirely different?

How long did you use it for?

Anything annoying/bad about it?

Where did you get it from?

Should I wait until baby is born until I purchase? Reason I ask is DD had hip dysplasia and there are chances this bubba will too. Will I be able to use it if we end up with another baby in a brace?

Anything else I should know?

Thank you :D

Hab and cc are similar. The only real difference is the the cc is partly pre-tied - the cross over bits are done and attached to rings so the tails of the carrier are able to be pulled for tightening purposes AND it's quick to put on. The hab is really just a strip of stretchy material that you wrap around.

I used a cc with ds and will be with the next one - soooooo comfy and easy to wear.

Can't answer about the brace as ds didn't need it.

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The HAB (or some other stretchy wrap, there are many brands, many of which are cheaper than the HAB) is a long piece of material (in fact you can make your own) which you wrap around yourself, then put hte baby in. Lasts up till around 8kg (some use it longer, but it will generally start to feel less secure and saggy with heavier babies).
It's very very secure for baby and very comfortable to use. the weight is very evenly distributed across your back and hips.

The close carrier probably cannot be used for as long since the weight is not so broadly distributed - more on your shoulders. Also, because it's somewhat structured - with the rings to adjust - it won't fit everyone (a wrap will fit anyone).

not sure about the brace. certainly some slings/carriers work better with braces than others....

Supposedly the close carrier can be used to 12 or 14 kg I can't remember exactly. I think I carried ds to around 12 mths on and off as we didn't get a stroller until about them and our pram ended up being bulky


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I loved close carrier used it until DS2 was over 9 months old. Easy to use comfy and adaptable

I bought mine online in early preg as a closing down site sale.

Lol, well obviously it just depends on the person doing the wearing :) The one thing I forgot to add was that the CC probably is easier to use. Personally it was never comfortable on me, whereas a newborn in a stretchy wrap is like carrying nothing.

A ring sling can be a really good option for newborns through to older babies/toddlers. A good ring sling that is. Comfortable (though not everyone can do one-shouldered carries) and quick and easy to use (once you know how).
Otherwise you could look into structured carriers that will carry newborns - manduca, olive&applesauce, beco, etc, etc - or some sort of mei tai (which I prefer). What size/shape are you (if you don't mind me asking)?

Carriers like HAB, Close, Ergo are great for bubs with hip issues as they hold legs in similar position to brace. Bjorn one not so good,(Bellybelly posted a pic on FB today). I used a HAB with DD while in a brace no problem, and is more comfy would think as not lying on bar. I also used Ergo, close carrier was not really around when had DD so never looked. HAB I like wearing it but can be an issue getting on and off as need to remember how to tie not drop ends in puddles etc. if had my time again would just by HAB style from a SAHM (will PM you link) as is just a piece of material. They ate good to get before birth in my opinion so can practice tying etc (I used kermit).

i have a Close Carrier you can check out, i also have an Ergo that i will have probably graduated to by around the time your bub is here if you wanted to borrow the Close Carrier for your little one.

I found the CC good til DD was around 6 or 7 months, and then bought an Ergo. I also had use of a HAB which was great, but the CC was easier to put on- especially if you have another little person running around.

I watched a youtube tutorial on both after I posted. The CC looks more straight forward to me, or it could have been just a good tutorial vs a bad one :lol:

Leckert - I liked the quick fastening with the rings with the CC, that put it in front of the HAB for me.

Feeb - Thanks for the info!

MadB - I'm around a size 12-14, wide around the hips and went up to a D cup when b/f DD so assume I'll be around the same with this baby. I got given a ring sling when DD was born and the weight wasn't right for my back, too one sided.

wysiwyg - Thanks for the info re the hips. I saw that post on FB today which prompted me to go searching to try and make a decision! If it's fine with the hips then I'll get one prior to the birth and practice with a cabbage patch doll or something :D

HotI - I'll check yours out when I see you next. Thanks for the loan offer, but I think I prefer to get my own. With moving to mum's comes barbed wire fencing and I can just see me backing into one of the fences and popping a hole into the fabric if I was to borrow one!

I like the idea of the quick to put on. The HAB in the tutorial looked confusing, which I'm sure I'd get used to, but if I was distracted by DD, then I can see myself getting frustrated with it. CC it is :D

We have no off street parking and DS1 was not walking when DS2 was born so I would use CC to put DS2 in just to get to and from car so I could carry DS1 as well (started walking when DS2 was 3 months old)

Was easy to chuck over head and put him in, if I wasnt going a long way I wouldn't even bother taking it off as was not bulky under seatbelt (off course DS2 was in his car seat and not in sling)

Oooh I wondered about that feeb! When I was watching the tutorial, I wondered if I could put it on at home and then drive to wherever I was going, and just pop baby in when I got there instead of mucking around once there. Cheers!

The ergo, CC etc actually help hip bubs! When DD was diagnosed, we were wearing her in the ergo and the ortho asked if we often used it and we said yes, and she said she could tell because although dd's socket was almost non exsistant, the joint had been kept close by the position the CC and ergo had kept her in :) It's super easy to wear them in either, as the position required is the froggy position which the DBB keeps them in already. I have both and lobe love them.

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Was easy to chuck over head and put him in, if I wasnt going a long way I wouldn't even bother taking it off as was not bulky)

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I did this too - put cc on before leaving house so just had to pop ds in when getting out the car - even did the grocery shopping like that very often.




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You can do the same with the stretchy wraps too - put them on at home I mean. :)

It isn't a bad idea to try before you buy - different things really do work better for different people.

I loved my cc. i now use a boboa (similar to eego). I can bring the cc to our next meetup abd you can try it on for comfort.

I made a HAB quite easily (and cheaply compared to the HAB) which is overpriced IMO for what it is. I really liked it but found it heavy once he was a bit older and a friend had a CC and it looked much easier to get on and off to me. Probably doesn't help at all but if you want to know how I made it just let me know! xox

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The ergo, CC etc actually help hip bubs! When DD was diagnosed, we were wearing her in the ergo and the ortho asked if we often used it and we said yes, and she said she could tell because although dd's socket was almost non exsistant, the joint had been kept close by the position the CC and ergo had kept her in :) It's super easy to wear them in either, as the position required is the froggy position which the DBB keeps them in already. I have both and lobe love them.

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Ahh cool. Sounds like your DD's socket is much like my DD's was. Feeling comfortable about the CC now.

Thanks everyone, I'm feeling pretty good about splashing out and getting one. Now to decide on colour....:D

Well my friend had a Moby (UK brand of HAB style wrap) and I had a CloseCarrier and I ended up wearing my same size and weight baby for longer as her baby started to sag a bit whereas mine was still as secure. The only reason I stopped using my CC (when he was 18 months old) was I started using a ring sling as I could do hip carries and he just felt too big for front carrying in the CC. I also used to wear my CC almost all day and only popped him in when he needed to.