Baby Wearing General Chatter #1

Hello all!

This thread has been created as a general chatter thread for those who wear their babies. It's designed for those who want to support each other in their baby wearing journey, however long that may be, and to share ideas and suggestions for baby wearing techniques and methods.

Some useful baby wearing and related articles on BellyBelly:

Babywearing - The Benefits of Carrying Your Baby
Cuddle Me Mum - I Need a Cuddle...
Cuddles - How They Make Your Baby Smarter, Calmer and More Secure
Velcro Baby - The Baby That Clings!

Different ways of wrapping your baby may be found in this thread:
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...hniques-58821/

Looking forward to hearing about everyone's baby wearing techniques and favourite wraps and slings!

We just tried a rucksack back carry with a wrap today and was inspired to also try a double hammock version as well (another back carry). Very comfy and leaves me much freer to get things done. Up to now I've stuck with the kangaroo carry (well practised from DD1 and the HAB).

Also love my ring sling for those quick trips in and out of the car, particularly school drop offs and pick ups.

I'm now on the look out for a short wrap to use with some of the suitable wrapping techniques. To use for the same kind of things as my ring sling to start with, while DD2 is still little.

I almost created a thread last week!

We did the Hug-a-Bub thing with DS and being unknowledgeable about BWing back then, 4m was the end of wearing for us due to stretchy sag.

With DD we started with an Ergo which was great as an.infant but she no longer loves it. She loves the buckle waist Beetlebum we use. I tried wrapping but didnt have the patience. We have just got our first ringsling and although I love it, I dont love using it, but im surr the confidence will come.

Im about to have a custom ObiMama WCMT made and am in the midst of deciding what wrap to use.

Being back at work, I love BW as I feel it helps me make up for lost snuggles during the day.

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Looking forward to getting lots of tips from this thread for when bubba #3 arrives.

Both my girls were very fussy babies and wearing them saved my sanity - or at least a bit of it ;-) DD1 I had mainly in a baby bjorn for the first bit :hide: Then I discovered the error of my ways and switched to a ring sling but it had big padded edges so we never really liked it/got the hang of it. Ended up discovering an ergo but unfortunately with DD2's pregnancy so quick it didn't get a great deal of use.

DD2 practically lived in the ergo for the first six months and I loved it but she got really hot in there once the warmer months came long. Dragoncookie - do you have the "new" style infant insert for your ergo or the old one? I've only got the old one and wondering if the new one is better with tummy to tummy carry?

This time around I've already bought a sakura bloom ring sling ready for #3 for school runs and unless I really fall in love with it, will probably still use the ergo for around the house and out and about stuff. I've tried experimenting with the RS so far with a very cooperative teddy bear but am struggling to get everything snug and smooth. Do I need more weight in there maybe, or do I just need to accept I'm completely unco-ordinated and just stick to the ergo?

Great thread!!!!

I started wearing DS when he was a teeny tiny baby, but only for walks and in a cheap Tomy carrier. Since then I have gone from that to a Bubba Moe, and then heaps of others have been tried, Ergo (both standard and sport), babyhawk oh snap, beetlebums (quite a few!), Obimama, dream carrier (wrap conversion and full buckle), Close Carrier, Bamberoo... argh I've tried a lot (and spent a lot of money!!)

These days I only have my Kleinsmekker mei tai and my beetlebum SV FB.

I don't wear a lot these days, only when I have all the kids shopping or for school pick up - DD3 is pretty independent and doesn't really enjoy a lot of cuddles :(

ETA: I have also experimented with wrapping with a Storch Leo and Jade Mild, but because of my short dinosaur arms - I find it impossible to get them on properly!

Baby wearing is just like second nature here. It makes so much sense! If you're going to be carrying them around a bunch anyway, might as well have your hands free :)

DD1 lived in a Close Carrier for the first 6 months, she was a winter bub and then we started using an Ergo. She was rocked in one carrier or another for most sleeps during her first year (occasionally fed to sleep).

With DD2 I started off using a ring sling and just adore it. It is a Breeze Baby and is so cool (temperature wise). I've now also started using my beautiful Beetlebum that I inherited from Mrs Nerd Burger! It is great because I can use it for DD1 or DD2 comfortably.

I almost feel like I don't belong here, we "only" have the bigger-brand carriers and I have no idea of all the others :lol:

I loooooove my ring slings (though my pink one's gone missing AGAIN!) and my HAB wraps are getting use again lately because her little legs get sore from walking and she needs a sleep :heartbeat:

Yay! Great, great thread! :D

I had a cheap 'crotch dangler' from Kmart with DS - I wore him for the first few months until it got too uncomfortable to carry him. I didn't know any better ;).

With DD I have been wearing her right from the start - first in a Close Carrier, then a Beetlebums half buckle... I now own four carriers and have a wrap on the way - yikes! I can't wait for my wrap to arrive - I find the idea of wrapping really appealing but I guess we'll see if it's something I actually like/can get the hang of when it gets here.

In the meantime, I'm loving my two Beetlebums (one HB, one FB, both wrap conversions - lucky me!) - one of which also came from Mrs Nerd Burger!

Can't wait to chat in here :).

Hello! Great thread!

DD1 lived in the HAB for the first 6 months of her life, having all her naps in there. Then I got a sling to carry her on my hip if we were just ducking into the shops.

DD2 I used the HAB again for the first few months. Then I got an ergo and she's still having one of her day naps in that at 1 yr old. She loves to be carried. The ergo is not the best for me though. I am too short and the bit at the bottom that is supposed to be kind of 'hard' gets all folded when I try and sit down. Not sure what else to try though.

This time around I have mastered the art of feeding while wearing DD2, woot! Still have not got the hang of a back carry though. Doesn't feel comfortable and the strap on the ergo makes my floppy belly look gross, rofl.

We have an Ergo that DP uses, I find it uncomfortable compared to wrapping. If you can cross the straps at the back, like the Manduca, I can see how that would be better. DP is keen to learn to wrap though, so I'll start him on the HAB at my first chance.

Epacris lent me a Girasol size 5 I think that got me started on the different wraps. I got an Ellevill Paisley (cotton/bamboo blend, soooo soft) in a six that is great for a kangaroo carry. I've only had it just over a week and I've been stopped and asked about it half a dozen times already. I'm waiting on a Zara to arrive.

For the wrappers in here, what's your pref for a shortie? Suse recommended a Storchenweige Leo and a particular Oscha. I need to stalk FB until one comes up.

Some of the WCs look so pretty, but I'd have to try some different types to be convinced for myself.

Yay! A bw thread! I had a no name sling and crotch dangler when DS was little and a giant pouch sling for DH to use. They all hurt my back so I gave up on that. Then a 6months or so ago i made a MT on a whim and now use that and my 3 wraps I've since acquired. Only prob is DS is now a "big kid" and wants to walk everywhere! So keen for Oct it's not funny!!

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Just wondering if those who have used the close carrier have found it to be good? Still got a few months to go, but I wanted to get the caboo for our winter bub and then a baby bjorn comfort carrier for when he/she gets a bit bigger.

We borrowed an ergo carrier from a friend when we went overseas with DS but I couldn't get my head around it and don't think I could do it on my own with a toddler in tow..

Babywearing has been one of the best things I've done with my little boy.

We started off using a peanut sling in the early days. I was having weekly blood tests, so it was great to just have him cuddled in there in the clinic when I needed that done; and my DH plays soccer - so most of his winter games had my little boy just tucked away on me. I loved him being in there!

Then when he was about 4 weeks old or something, I started using the Hug A Bub. Hard to work out at first, but before long it was second nature. This was really good for us on Wonder Weeks, or during arsenic hour - I would just walk around the house or street with him in there and he'd settle pretty quickly.

From 6 months old or so, we had the Ergo Performance & I still use it still. Rhino LOVES it - tucked into mum and watching the world go by. I really should do back carry; I just don't set aside the time to learn it.


Tell you what though - feels like EVERY time I wear it someone has the assumption that he's too heavy for it and that it has to be so uncomfortable. I love educating people as to why it's so much better than the ones you usually see people wear (apparently it's not that common at the places I visit!); and hopefully I've converted some people... :lol

I don't know how people get on WITHOUT a sling. My SIL has never used one (with 3 kids) and I just don't understand it!

Nat82: I used a close carrier with my DD and it was awesome. Very very easy, very very comfortable - perfect for newborns and little babies. My DD would fall asleep almost instantly she was so snuggly against me. They're best for the first 3-4 months I found, as once bub gets heavier the fabric hangs a bit.

When i took DS for his newborn hearing test i was wearing him in a Close Carrier. I didn't have to take him out, the person was happy to attach the ear and head things while he was cuddled up on my chest. So nice!

I wouldn't mind a hugabub or another soft carrier or wrap so i could have one for home and one for out. the only thing with the close carrier i don't like is the dangly bits are too long, but not long enough to tie up.

yay!!
I plan on BWing when Spock gets here. I so far have a ring sling (also has big padded edges, dont know if that will get good or bad), wrap sling and a babybojrn (however it is spelt). just from me playing around the wrap is my fave, so see what happens when I use it for real =)

I'm expecting my first bub in August and carriers were the first thing I bought! There's already a second hand ergo and 4 woven wraps in my stash! Not quite sure how that happened so fast. The beautiful fabric is definitely addictive. So far my teddy bear has enjoyed being practice wrapped.

Great thread! So far I only have a Close Carrier that Buster just loves, I absolutely adore wearing him in it! Hate to think of him growing out of it :( Not sure what else to get, have lots of googling to do since reading all your responses!

I have a close carrier which ds lived in when we were out and about (didn't bother tying the extra strip around me though). We also bought an ergo for DH to use with DS when he was a bit older but couldn't figure how to get the ergo on and DS in to carry (particularly in back carry) and I still haven't bought the extension strap so I could use it :redface: (silly tummy was too big). Looking forward to using the cc again when freckle is born sometime next month


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Woop! A baby wearing thread. I have my beloved manduca which is great, just got a breeze, a stretchy and a pod. I'm currently saving up for a woven wrap and a mt of some description, but I have seen so many lovely ones I don't know which to choose.

There are meets here in Adelaide if anyone is interested, I think angel pants has been to one?

Right off to drool at the websites to find one (or 4) I love


Sent from an iThing so will be short and shiny cause I hate the keyboard.

If anyone is in bris I'd love to meet up!!! Miss my bw meets in tassie :(

Someone mentioned crossing over the straps of the ergo? You can't do that but you can in a manduca. Comfort wise, manduca is way more comfy :)

Jen was it you that mentioned wrap conversions? I just sold 4 of them (regretfully!) and they are so wonderful, would love to have them back but....money!!!! Stupid money *kicks ground*

An Ergo was pretty much the first thing I bought when I found out I was UTD. It's still sitting pretty in it's box, just waiting for the babe to arrive. Although I still need to get an infant insert... Hmm, forgot about that.

I ended up borrowing a HAB off a girlfriend, but am finding it hard to get it tight enough.. It's obviously a bit harder with my belly, but even putting it on DH I find it hard to get tight enough. Will have to keep practicing I guess.

Also, quick question... What's the best way to carry a newbie in the HAB? Does chest to chest work ok?

MNB - apparently the new Ergos can be crossed over as well? My HB group did babywearing at our get together last week and I heard there. Amongst the bag fulls of gorgeous wraps and WCs! Do you have any left after your sell off?

Yaaaay!

We were previously big time baby wearers here, but now that Miss 15m can walk, she doesn't want to be in a carrier much. We have an Ergo, a mei tai, a woven wrap, a homemade stretchy wrap, 2 x Close carriers (1 soon to live at Elocin's house!) and a half buckle (probably soon to be up for sale) Oh, and an Ellaroo mei hip which gets heaps of use these days. I keep it in my pantry, because it's just so useful to always have a carrier in the kitchen :lol:

Elocin - chest to chest is the best, I reckon. I never had a need for any other way, and DD certainly wasn't interested. also, if you have that, don't bother with Ergo infant insert. Just use HAB/CC until bubs is big enough for Ergo without the insert.

MNB - I like your dinosaur arms excuse. I'm just an unco. Size 4s and shorter I can handle, but too much tail just does my head in. I had a Zara 7 for a while, but I just sucked. So it moved on.

I think of the course of my babywearing days I have had 20 or so carriers? I like to have a good selection.

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Also, quick question... What's the best way to carry a newbie in the HAB? Does chest to chest work ok?

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I've pretty much never used any other carry in my HAB than chest to chest :) I've tried outward facing but it's so uncomfortable for both of us!

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Do you have any left after your sell off?

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Not any WC's! Just my kleinsmekker and the BB SV. Interesting about the new ergos though being able to be crossed over, I lost interest in the ergos because the height of them wasn't enough for my gigantic children and I got sick of feeling like DD1 was going to fall out....

Can't help you on the HAB question Elocin, I never had one, just a couple of close carriers (which I will be getting again if we go for another one.. love the CC!!)

Yay, chatter thread! I have an ergo sport and a breeze baby ring sling, I don't use the BB very often as I find it digs into my shoulder too much but keep it for swimming and short trips. The ergo however, gets a LOT of use :) DH tried it but his belly gets in the way and DS can't settle deep enough into it to be comfortable - I'm thinking about figuring out hip carries so I can teach DH to see if that works better, DS is a bit little yet for back carries. Unless anyone else has a suggestion of a carrier that a guy with bit of a belly can wear comfortably?

Kitten - my DH has a bit of a belly, and the best one for him has been the Kleinsmekker. He didn't mind the ergo sport, but definitely kleinsmekker was his favourite. Even over the Beetlebums (*falls over and dies in shock*)

I have an ergo, ring sling and a close carrier.

the close carrier for me was the awesomest for when DD2 was a wee little newborn. she lived in it lol.

the ergo was used heaps and heaps with DD1, but not so much with DD2. we find that the ring sling has been the most used for both the girls simply due to its ease of use and packing etc.

Yeah I've gone to a few bw meets in Adelaide. There's bw groups on FB for heaps of areas around aus as well as buy and sell (which is very dangerous!).
Mnb- *gasp* no! Not better than a beetlebums! That's not possible!
Im waiting in funds to get a full buckle for DH as wrapping and the mt are too hard apparently!

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I had a look at the beetlebums website but am struggling to see the fascination...or why they're so expensive? Guess I'd have to see one up close. I think though, that a maya ring sling and an MT of some kind are on my list of I wants. Need to wash the ergo this week too, DS has been doing a number on the shoulder straps - might pick up a pair of suck pads for it, easier to wash that way :)

Chest to chest is the best way for a newbie in a HAB. I used outward facing when DD1 was older and had good neck control.

Cranky Kitten - I tried back carries with DD2 yesterday (she's two months). They're fantastic! For a new or small baby the best thing is to get them up high, so they're resting approx on the crook of your neck. Google some of the techniques.

Has anyone tried poppins hip carry? It looks so cool but how supportive is it? Does it dig?

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I had a look at the beetlebums website but am struggling to see the fascination...or why they're so expensive? Guess I'd have to see one up close.

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I didn't get it either... and then I tried one on, lol. Very, very comfortable and all are one of a kind. I still think they're a bit exxy... even though I own two :redface:.

Having said that, I haven't tried that many different carriers... and haven't tried wrapping at all (yet, will be soon).

Cranky Kitten - Apart from Beetlebums being one of the most comfortable carriers out there, they are also home made, by an australian WAHM, and every stitch is sewn by her. She doesn't mass produce these beautiful things, and they truly are OOAK.

That alone makes the carriers worth every cent I reckon.

Angel pants - I tried the poppins hip carry, wasn't too bad from what I remember, but I did it with DD2, not DD3, so thats about 12kg of weight? It was ok. Are we friends on facebook? I can't remember. I have a bw album on there with pics of most of my carriers and wraps that I have tried :)
Sterla - remember first dibs for my old BBWC ;) LOL

Lol - for sure MNB! You'll be the first to know if/when I decide sell it on :).

Is it suitable for a NB, MNB? :p

Jen if that question was about BB yes, suitable from newborn in froggy position.

Oh yeah, and today, I was too financially responsible for my own good, and gave away my Obi custom :(

Mnb- i dont think we are but I'll PM you :p hmm and 12kg was ok? My heffalump is 14kg last weigh in. I may have to bribe said heffalump so i can try it out...

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Is it suitable for a NB, MNB? :p

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Yup, are you having another one already? :p

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Oh yeah, and today, I was too financially responsible for my own good, and gave away my Obi custom :(

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I hear ya, I sold 4 carriers to buy a secondhand cross trainer to work my butt off.

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Mnb- i dont think we are but I'll PM you :p hmm and 12kg was ok? My heffalump is 14kg last weigh in. I may have to bribe said heffalump so i can try it out...

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Woohoo now we are! hehe yup 12kg was ok, I try most carriers out with DD2 cos she's pretty willing to go up on my back, unlike DD3 who has this weird head twisting thing she does all the freaking time and drives me batty!!

I was thinking of going through and listing all the carriers I have had.. but think I'm a bit scared.