ok, i know there's a million posts on here about habs but.....

i was just wondering, as there seems to be so much hoo-ha and so many differing opinions and confusion on here about habs, are they defintely worth buying? i've got dp's credit card in my hand and i was just about to purchase one, but i just wanted to check one and for all that they are definitely a 'must have' item and worth the money. dp is telling me that if i don't use all this crap i'm buying he's gonna be p*ssed! someone has given us a Tomy click and go frrestyle carrier, but is just doesn't look as confy and cosy as a hab...opinions please..are they worth the money?

In the beginning i did use mine a bit but DS was born just before summer hit and it just got way too hot to wear and i really wish i hadnt spent the money on it now. But was definatly the best and comfiest baby carrier ive ever used.

thanks tegan. that has crossed my mind as my baby is due in about 4 weeks so it will start to get hotter after that.

Best and comfiest carrier I have used (and I've tried a few) - yes, it can get a bit warm but I have used mine all summer and it's fab. It's good for around the house too.

Glad I bought ours, even though we had already been give a ABA carrier. I found mine useful as in there early days I was not driving and had to use public transport or walk. Maggie was not a fan of the pram and after her crying the 1/2 walk home from mothers group I decided to really start using the HAB. It was very comfy, thankfully it was winter so temp was not a problem and I could wear a backpack over it. Maggie really loved it, she would fall asleep quite quickly.

Admittedly it is a pain to tie, especially in the street, could never work out what to do with bubs if I had to readjust it.

must must MUST have! You wont regret it.

Have you thought about buying a 2nd hand one to try first? They will be cheaper and there are normally a few on ebay :)

i've just put a bid on one on ebay actually, they're still really expensive on there though too!

I was wondering about how hot they are too actually. My bub is due in December and I don't like hot weather at the best of times. I'm wondering if something like an Ergo might be cooler as it doesnt have all that wrapping.

I really love mine and I still use it occasionally.

DS was born in October so just as it was starting to warm up in Brisbane...I did find it was way too hot here to use it in January/February. The only times I used it then was in airconditioned shopping centres.

But I thought it was definitely worth having, especially on a few occasions where he just wanted his mama and wouldn't settle and I had things to do...could just pop him in there and still do the things I had to for my DD.

The Ergo has to have a special newborn insert that goes in it. It would end up just as warm I would think.

I was sus about the HAB at first but I'm a fan of it now too :) If you can sew you can make one!

Gracie, did you end up buying one? I did end up getting one as well, but to be honest I haven't used it in a while now. I used it ALL the time when he was really little and he grew out of the "having to be attached to mum if I'm going to sleep" thing and I've hardly used it since. My DH did comment about that...oops. I have used it a couple of times when I've been at the markets or something, but other than that not a lot anymore. Kinda regret it in some ways, however I also have a Tomy one which I can't use cos it hurts my shoulders and back within minutes where the HAB doesn't hurt at all!

my friend bought me one today actually as a gift- a sage and hazelnut one!! she was on at me about what to buy me as a baby gift so we went shopping and i ponited them out and next thing you know she's at the counter buying me one...problem is i put a bid on one on ebay so i hope i don't win it or i'm in huge trouble!

You can retract your bid if you give a reason. i don't see why that'd have a problem if you got one as a gift.

how do you retract your bid tegan?

Go into the item's page and click on history bids, up the top. its just above high bidder. then down the bottem somewhere it will say retract bid and then just follow the instructions.

thanks tegan- it's ok i just checked it and i've been outbid by $1. phew...

where can you buy these HAB's? is there something else that is similar that you can use in summer? we are in qld?

There are also lighter versions of a very similar wrap by Rolz and Sassy. The basic tie technique is similar, and the carrying possibilities are the same pretty much, (as far as I know) but this wrap is made out of a gauze-like material. It sells for about $75 Canadian new, here. I imagine you could find it easily by googling. And if you want a sling or pouch carrier, there are mesh ones made specifically for hot weather and the beach. (google hotslings)
The wrap I just got is also quite similar in appearance to the HAB - a little more stretchy, I think, which is supposed to be more comfortable, but less supportive for an older baby/toddler. I don't really intend to wear my baby into toddlerhood, so that was fine with me. Anyways, it's a Moby wrap, and it cost me $50 Canadian, new, whereas the HAB would have been $110. Since I've never worn a wrap carrier before, I didn't want to spend that much money on something I didn't know so very much about. I did all the reading I could, looked around second hand, and compared various models before deciding to go the way I did. I can't tell you for sure that this was the best choice, since my baby isn't here yet, but my sister tried her little one in it, and loved it.
For what it's worth, the HABs really do keep their value, so if you get one and don't love it, you can probably sell it for close to what you paid for it! (Keep the DVD so you can sell it with it) Google baby wraps, and you'll come up with more info than you know what to do with! There are lots of online stores that sell many different kinds of carriers, and they would probably be quite happy to answer your questions about the pro's and con's of their different products. (I used one called Milkface. It's Canadian, but they carried LOTS of products, and do ship internationally.)
HTH!

shanjackson- you can get them from the aba website, but my friend actually ended up buying me one from baby bunting because we happened to be there buying a gift for another friend and saw them there. the aba site has all the different colours and sizes there though so have a look!