Hug a bub carrier

Hi :)

I've always loved the idea of the Hug a bub sling, but have a few queries I'm hoping someone can help me with.

Firstly, are they worth it? I mean this in terms of money, comfort, ease of use etc.

Secondly, do they come in different sizes? If so, could my husband get away with using one that is 'my size' for the times he uses the sling? He has indicated he'd prefer the pram and baby bjorn (which I told him is fine after a few months) but when Ookie is newborn he'd have to use the HAB (or just carry Ookie I suppose).

Lastly, I've read that you can breastfeed a baby in the HAB and carry him/her in a horizontal position. I haven't seen a photo of a baby in this position and am wondering if it really is possible, or is it too uncomfortable, fiddly etc. Do you tie it differently to carry a baby in this position?

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help! :D

I love my hug a bub, but I didn't have to pay for it (gift from my mum). We had a baby bjorn with ds1 and I hated it, it just hurt my back too much. The hab though I can use all day without it hurting.

I haven't tried the feeding position personally, but have seen pics of it - have you looked at the hug-a-bub website? It has a photo gallery on it.

As for sizes, it's pretty much one size fits all as you adjust it's tightness as you put it on. There is a larger size but I think they say that's for size 18+.

The only thing I don't like about it is that it does take a while to get used to tying it. I tried 3 times at home before being brave enough to put ds2 in it. Now I'm really good at it and can tie it quite quickly, so it just takes practice.

It is very, very worth it. It's such a snug hold that our baby always snoozes in it so it makes life very easy! And it's very comfy- we have a big baby and he feels weightless in it.
I haven't tried feeding in it as you would have to retie it so I find it easier to take it off to feed then put it back on.

Alrighty ... here comes Diva's blunt-no holds bar-brutal-honesty.

Are they worth it? ... In all honesty? Not by a longshot. Wander down to any fabric store, grab 4.5m of cotton knit fabric, cut a third of it lengthwise so you've got a 4.5m strip approx 50cm wide and that's your hug-a-bub. Don't even need to sew the edges. Sure there's a cutie pocket on the front that let's you know where the middle is, but in all essence that's your hug-a-bub. Google mamatoto and there will be a heap of instructions including videos about how to tie it.

How comfortable are they? Heavenly. Supreme support, even the most nervous nellies will feel confident carrying their bub's in this. You can bend, crawl, pick things up, wander around and bub is staying put. Great for them sleeping too, tuck their little head in and it will even shield them from the sun/wind as well.

Ease of use? Middle of the range. It IS a little fiddly ... and if bub is having a tanty you'll have to put up with them screaming for a bit whilst you get yourself "strapped in". But the beauty of it is you can pull them in and out of it as many times as you like once you've strapped them in once.

Multisized? The 4.5m of fabric does me (size 18) and my hubby who's carrying more of a carton than a six pack :P . If you're worried about it not being enough, buy 5m and just chop off the rest.

Breastfeeding in a HAB? I personally haven't done it ...but once again google mamatoto and there's videos on how to do that too.

I don't mind the HAB ... but personally I find it too fiddly (I'm a wham, bam, thank you mam kinda gal ;) ) I'm hoping the ergo is a little quicker to put on and off ... but if it doesn't offer the support of the HAB, I'll be back to it in a heartbeat.

Hope that helps.

diva that was a great help! awesome thread btw.
i looked up the hug a bub and found it was out of my price range and i did see someone mention they were making a hug a bub sling but that was it..

I second diva'n dan's comments. I bought 4m of cotton jersey, cut it down the middle and voila - two 'hug a bubs' for just $12. i used the instructions on the hug a bub website to learn how to tie it, and it's fantastically comfortable (especially compared to the baby bjorn, which i'm convinced those scandinavians designed to torture us!). my ds won't use it though - he uses the bjorn, and then complains about his sore back :rolleyes:.

go buy yourself some fabric and try it out - well worth the $12 and chances are your baby will love it. If you have a sewing machine you could even sew a pocket on the front - this would be useful to help you find the middle without folding the length in half each time.

i could not have survived without my hab for the first 3 months of ds's life. since then it's been sitting in a cupboard.
it is fantastic, comfy and great for getting your bubs to sleep in.
i have never breastfed in it, i have, however, breastfed in my ergo.
if i were you, i would check on ebay for a second hand hab.

I bought one before DD was born and neither DP nor I could tie it. Way, way too fiddly and $120 for a piece of fabric, come on, that's ridiculous.

We swapped it for a Baby Bjorn. Equally overpriced but far easier and quicker to get on and I didn't have to watch a stupid DVD to work it out.

Thanks everyone for your honesty :). When there's so much to buy and prepare it's nice to have some honest opinions.

OK- so I'm going to get some material and give it a go- much cheaper and will get my sister to try it out with her baby for me. This is going to sound crazy and I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I am clueless when it comes to fabrics etc. Cotton jersey is like stretchy T-shirt material- am I right?

Thanks again everyone! Am about to check out the website Diva- thanks so much! :D

peekay - I am going to make a HAB and a Mei Tei - I figure for the same amount as either I can get both! Cotton jersey is the stretchy fabric - from memory you don't want anything too stretchy though, something with a little stretch is fine. If you are interested in the Mei Teis, or DIY pages HEREis a link to my recent post also! One of my baby buddies made a HAB and they are literally a long piece of material so you can make them very cheaply. Its all in the wrapping!

I liked the HAB and I used it alot until DS was six months old.
Once you get the hang of tying it (and it's not really hard, just like tying a very big shoelace lol) you can do it really easily.

I never got the hang of breastfeeding in the "recommended position" but we were able to feed in it with me popping a boob out the top of my top (summer - was wearing loose tank tops mainly) and pulling a strap to one side and he just latched on. I walked around Coles doing the grocery shopping feeding him like that a few times lol.

Comfort wise, can't go past it. I could wear mine for hours and they're so, so comfy. Much more comfortable for long periods than a structured carrier.

He's too big for me to use it comfortably now so but it still gets lots of use, I loan it out to my clients with new babes now and most of them like it. HAB's do seem to be a love em or hate em thing though, and sometimes baby hates them so if you can loan one to try that's always good. Or go the cheap fabric option at least to test it out.

peekay - Yeppers, it's T-shirt material. Don't get caught up in weave, stretchiness, yada, yada, yada ... as long as it isn't shiny (and therefor slippery), it'll be fine.

My HAB is made from reject T-shirt material ... bought in a "seconds" store for $2 a metre. I've "made" them for others out of better quality stuff and they all work beautifully.

Just ask the shop keeper to show you the "cotton jersey knit" and you won't go wrong ;)

Thanks for the info Diva! :) I had heard if its too stretchy it gets too loose but maybe that isn't true?!!

If it's too stretchy, you just have to wrap it around yourself tighter, if it's not as stretchy, you just wrap it loose.

I even tied Tyler HAB style in some swimwear lycra once just for a bit of fun ... it was lovely and sparkly ... as long as I tied it up tight he wasn't sagging around my knees! :lol: !

The most important thing is the knot at the back ... always remember to tie right over left, then left over right (or the other way) ... that way it can't come undone accidently.

I too thought it was a bit fiddly to put on, but once I'd done it a few times..I found it easy peasy and quick as.

Making one sounds like a brilliant idea.

I bought a Moby because it was cheaper and I got a pretty one LOL!

If you have a look on You Tube there are lots of videos how to tie it, I was having trouble until I looked on there, now I'm a pro!

I also 'made' mine, if chopping 5m of material in thirds constitutes making? I have used it a lot. It is brilliant for my bub to sleep in especially as he is going through an anti-cot thing for day sleeps. I was hesitant about spending the $120 on something I wasn't even sure I would use, with the plan that I would buy an ergo when he was bigger if I liked it. I think I spent about $30 on my material but has been so worth it.

I was given a hand-me down Baby bjorn from my SIL. It was good for the first little while, he is now 5.6kg and it really pulls on my shoulders. I used it for shopping and when out of the house as it was easier to put on. I have ordered a pikkolo which is sort of similiar but much much better, and can be used for longer. Plus they are prettier, that being said I did order the plain black one (still funky though) - I figured there would be more chance of my DH wearing it.

Good luck

I love the pocket on the HAB. If you make one I'd persoanlly sew a pocket on it- makes short walks around the block so much easier with somewhere to put the house keys.

I love my HAB. I would not be without one, especially if you have a unsettled bub. It was a life saver for the first 3 months of Loren's life. Practice makes perfect when putting it on. Don't attempt to use it for the first time in the middle of the night when bub is upset!!!

BTW - You get a instuctional dvd with it.

Yes, Diva and the other girls have a point, you can make a HAB on the cheap very easily, and I always suggest that to people who can't justify spending so much money.

BUT, I bought mine full price before DD was born and from 3 days onwards she spent a good deal of time in it every day (up to 6 or 7 hours) until she was 4 months old (then around 3 or 4 hours until 6 months). It saved my life. I never regretted having spent the money for one second.

YES, they are a little fiddly especially in the beginning, but you soon have the hang of it and it will take less than a minute to put on. If you want to wear it out, I found the best way was to tie it at home, then put your bub in it when you arrive at your destination.

I have never BF in any sling or carrier. I think my boobies are too big or too low, or something, just couldn't get it to work. But maybe that's also because I used to like tying it really tight and wear DD quite high up.

DH wore it a couple of times but felt a little "girly" in it. That's why I bought an Ergo, which he likes much better. Better for Bub's spine (and your own) than a Baby Bjorn, but still more masculin in looks. I still use it a lot. Actually, in this household it's usually me who gets stuck carrying DD when we're out and about cause DH likes to complain about his "bad back" :)

If you do want to make one yourself, you can just buy a little iron on motif and iron it on the middle of your fabric to help with the tying.

Sasa

absolutely loved my HAB, bought it with a gift voucher so not so concerned with cost myself, but think making it yourself a great idea.
i had issues with my back after my pg, and found this the most supportive and comfortable of the three i had (was lent a kapoochi and breastfeeding mothers sling). i also found i could carry DS for longer than girlfriends who had babybjorns and until he was older (around six months). and he wasn't a 'little' baby! DH didn't use it but he preferred to carry him anyway! i definitely recommend putting it on before you go out, then putting bub into it when you get there, it's not restrictive at all, and easy to readjust when neccessary too. as for learning to tie it, i found most carriers took at little getting used to.
so worth it and i can't wait to use it again for this bub!

this is an awesome thread - thank you, thank you, thank you!!- i liked the "link" to the mamatoto site. found it very helpful!! i'm now looking forward to the weekend to try and make one myself - much cheaper than buying one and than hating it later on (especially now that i'm not working anymore). i'm also going to try and make the sling/shawl one they had on their site. it looks good for bf... :)

Thanks everyone :D

I'm going to try to make one- and my friend is going to sew a hem for me around it (just cause I like things to look 'finished' :rolleyes:). I like the idea of the iron on motif in the middle too- thanks!

I'll let you know how I go- although I'll have to get a friend/ sister to test it out as I think my huge bump might get in the way! :lol:

Glad you liked the link iserveanawsomegod ... it's my babywearing bible ... soooo much good info in there.

and YAY peekay for having a go at making one yourself, you won't regret it ...

Unlike me who's MAJORLY regretting her ergo purchase :rolleyes:

Ahhhh well we live and learn eh???

Diva, why do you regret your Ergo purchase? You have told us about why you think HAB's aren't worth it, but why the Ergo?

Sasa

That is very true sunshine_sieben ... so here's Diva's no-holds-bar review of the ergo.

Is is worth it? - Possibly. The ergo is certainly more "structured" so you can see where your money's gone ... there's no way I would try and make a bodgy DIY ergo, for what it is, they've done a fab job.

The backpack/attachable nappybag? I don't see where the money is in this ... good idea, bad design ... the attachment clips can undo with the slightest jiggle ... highly annoying when you're trying to reattach the thing, sight unseen 'cause bub's in the way. The side pocket bit is not attached inside, so it flops to the side and things can "escape" out the top as it's a hollow tube so that you can access things from the top as well as the side.

Multisized? - Not as much as the HAB. If you're "vertically challanged" (approx 5 foot or less) or ridiculously tall (6 foot plus) then it's probably not going to fit you well ... it'll fit, just not well.

If you've got small shoulders or are very broad across the shoulders then it's not going to fit you well either as the shoulder pads are very wide which makes them too wide if you're narrowed shoulders or not wide enough if you're very broad.

If you're "cuddly" then you're going to need the waist extender belt, so you're going to have two clip/buckle things digging into you when you bend/kneel/crawl.

Support? - Once again, it's not bad ... just not as good as the HAB. There's a sunshade that you can fit to cup bub's head so they're supported to a degree whilst they're asleep/shaded/kept out of the wind. If you've got a bub that doesn't like to be held really close to the body, then the support in this is great. I personally like the support in the HAB much better, as I have to hold bub's head when I bend down/crawl/kneel in the ergo leaving me one handed to retrieve things.

Ease of use? - Difficult. I honestly thought the ergo would be a "wham, bam, thank you mam" kinda design where you just chuck them in, and away you go ... but nooooooo .... first you have to put the waistband on (making sure you thread the buckle through the saftey strap). This is hard when you've got the nappybag already attached ... really easy if you don't.

Then you have to "centre" your child in the middle whilst picking up one shoulder strap. I found this really difficult as I have G cup boobs and couldn't see if our son was centred ... he always looked it up top, but his bottom half was doing a whole different thing.

The other difficult thing about this supposedly easy manover was that I kept picking up the lower bit of the strap, not the strap itself (as it was down too low), so I would have to bend over with child in one hand whilst fishing for that first strap.

Once you've got them, putting the straps on is easy, and wiggling bub down into a seated position is really easy too, a bit of a jiggle here, a poke and prod there.

But then we come to the part where you need to be at least double jointed, or have a yoga degree ... clipping togther the chest strap that is now around your neck.

This bit is easy if it is up around your neck, but I found this position uncomfortable and really needed the chest strap to be around my bra line ... something I just couldn't do no matter how I tried ... I needed help.

Then you've got to adjust ... the shoulder straps, the waistband, the chest/neck strap, the sunshade (depending on whether they're asleep or awake and the weather) ... most of this you can do beforehand, some you have to do whilst bub is in place.

I also "tried" to do the backcarry and almost dropped our son repeatedly ... I just don't have enough hands or the right balance, and quite frankly, it's not something a nervous nellie mother could do with confidence first time round ... it would take alot of practise.


So I'm thinking of selling it ... I took it out today to see the CHN. I got the waistband sorted, that was quite comfy, but I just couldn't get the shoulder straps comfortable by myself, but I did get it better than yesterday.

The attachable nappybag weighed everything down so much that it made putting on the ergo very difficult, and also taking it off was horrible too. I had to get the CHN nurse to hold our son whilst I got myself back into it, and our son screamed the house down as we were trying to get him settled in it (I don't think he likes having his legs splayed that much), which is something I hate, 'cause I want to be as self sufficent as possible.

It's also got no rain protection what-so-ever which is something vital on this squally island.

So we've decided to buy the baby carrier that we've always wanted ... we feel very silly for not buying it in the first place.

Now it's not going to be for everybody (maybe anybody ;) ) but considering that we walk about 6km every day, and fly off this island regulary and therefore use public transport ALOT and can be away from home/hotel 24hrs or more, in all sorts of weather (snow as well) I'm thinking this will suit our needs best.

We're going to go with the macpac possum+rainbow+sleepyhead, or the Mont Bambino. But we'll definately keep the HAB for round the house and we'll put it in the possum's or bambino's spare pocket, for when the framed carrier is a bit too much.

We'll let you know which one we chose next Wednesday and do a review on that one as well .... ;)



For all those with a HAB or Moby Wrap and you're thinking pastures are greener in ergo land they're not.

Unless you've got a toddler ... I personally think the ergo would be brilliant for toddlers on your back ... just not before.

Yep Diva - the ERGO isn't too good for the less than 6month old. But it is great for my 1yo!! The back carry was a waste of time until he was almost 1 - before that he couldn't see and was unhappy. I also wear it on my hips because I am shorter so his head is not in my face but for back carry that means his head is under my shoulder blades. Now he is longer it works out fine. He can also sit still while I spin him around to the back and he thinks it is a horsey ride and giggles and bounces for some more :rolleyes:

As for the between the shoulders strap - I have it sitting higher between my shoulder blades rather than under them which keeps the straps on my shoulders and means I don't need to be a contortionist!! It is easier to do up if the shoulder tightening straps are loose so it is higher (at neck level) and then moves to a better position when they are tightened. And it does get easier with practice - and an older child.

I still prefer the HAB for the 0-6 month age group and I will still use it for DS now. Although I have moved to the peanut sling to hold him on my hip when we are out doing a quick shop. Easy to get on and off and I can be hands free and still have him sitting where he wants to be on my hip.

I agree with you 110% Michelle71 ... the ergo would be great for toddlers ... and the hip hold is the most comfy by far ... but there's no support if they want to nod off, which I find annoying.

Pity there isn't something that can cater for all sizes ... I know, I know ... it doesn't exsist and probably never will ...

Still ... I can dream can't I??? ;)

Diva, thank you for your very detailed "critique" of the Ergo.

It does sound like you're having a very hard time with it. And I agree, it probably just isn't the right carrier for you.

It sounds like a lot of your problems stem from you using the backpack attachment kind thingy. I don't have that, so have no idea how that changes things.
When I travelled to Europe by myself with DD (6 months) I used the Ergo with her on the front and a regular backpack on my back. It worked really well for me. But we're talking older babies here.

I never had any trouble "centering her" or clipping the chest strap together, but I don't have G-Cup boobs, either. Geez, I didn't even know they made G-cups!!!
And I have the chest strap quite high. So it's easy to reach. I find that comfy, but it might not be for different builds.

But one thing I noticed is that your son is only 2 1/2 months old. I never used the Ergo with a kid this young. In fact, don't they usually recommend using the baby insert before 4 months of age? From my experience, babies this young really don't like they're legs spread that far. I used mine with DD from about 3 months, but with her feet tuckd under her, frog style.
You are very right when you say they are more suited for toddlers. I wouldn't even attempt to carry a 2 month old on my back. actually, with a baby this young, I like to see her, so want her on my front.

I hope you like your new carrier better. And, I hope your son will like it, too.
One good thing is that Ergos usually have a decent resale value, so you should not loose too much.

Sasa

Yep ... shouldn't have a problem palming it off onto someone who loves them.

I "thought" it would be ok as I ran it past our peadiatric physiotherapist and she said babies can have their legs spread that far apart and it doesn't hurt their hip development. That said, whilst in theory it might be ok, in reality babies don't really like it :cryinglaugh:

Tyler's about 3.5 months old now ... will be 4 months on the 16th of July and has very good head/neck control (so our physio says! ;) ) so this is the reason why we're looking elsewhere for something when he "grows up". Still LOVE the HAB, and will continue to use it for around the house and quick jaunts to the shop, but need something "robust" for when we're out and about for a full day.

We live on a small island in the middle of nowhere, the weather is rough (90km+ winds regularly and pelting rain) and when we go out (not just down to the shops, but trips away from the island to do stuff we can't do here), it usually involves plane flights, bus rides, tram rides, and lots of walking, in all sorts of weather, whilst carrying all our odds and sods for the trip, so the less I have to carry in my hands, the better.

It also needs to be weatherproof, unfortunately we can't cancel what we need to do 'cause of bad weather ... we need to do what we need to do in the time we're given. That's fine by me ... I have an oilskin coat, gumboots and a rainy day hat, but as I've also discovered with the ergo/HAB/what-have-you, you can bundle up your pride and joy in your oilskin as much as you like ... but their beanie covered head HAS to come out somewhere for air, and that bit of the fabric carrier gets wet, wicks down to your precious bundle and before you can blink they're sopping wet and freezing to boot ... not cool.

I "think" the macpac possum or the mont bambino will be the one for us ... great comfort and support for extended walking, fab storage for full day trips, neck support for DS (in the form of an attachable travel neck pillow that comes with each pack), security of self standing (for when I need to take him out or put him in, the pack stands upright so I don't have to juggle things one handed), and a fantastic rain cover (for the days that get REALLY wet, windy and wild).

It's not as "snuggly" and lovely as the HAB, and I think I'll always carry that with me too, for the times when the framed carrier is just overkill (dawdling round the house, parties, quick jaunts to the shop and back), but when the winds are up, the rain is belting down, and I've got a full day's worth of things to do, I think I'm going to be in baby carrier heaven with my framed baby carrier.

Well at least I hope so ... third time lucky eh??? ;)

Oh and you are right ... I think the "attachable" nappybag on the ergo made a simple process nigh impossible ... but unfortunately for me that's a dealbreaker ... I NEED an attachable nappybag, so I have my hands free to do everything else ...

P.S. Couldn't for the life of me work out why you thought our bonny boy was a month behind ... then realised I mucked up in my sig!!! :cryinglaugh: Baby brain strikes again ... thanks for the heads up ... :hug:

Diva, Now I am really curious where this island of yours is. It sounds like an adventurous place to live :)
I'm really surprised that your physio thought it was ok for such a littley. From my experience, most babies actually can't spread their legs too far until they get to a certain age. At least that was the case with DD and my friends' babies. I don't know why that is. Also, when they're little, their legs are so short that no only would they need to spread their legs wide at the hip, they would have to do that with straight knees cause the Ergo is so wide. Doesn't sound like a comfy position to me. When their legs are longer, they can dangle them down from the knees.

Ooops, this is a thread about the HAB, and I've made it about the Ergo, sorry!

Sasa

Come to think of it, the thing about spreadung the legs might have something to do with me being on the "wider side" :-)
I suppose a skinnier mum could carry her bebay in an Ergo earlier as baby can wrap its legs around her body more easily.
Sasa

I agree with the leg thingie ... dunno why our physio said it was cool either ... I'm a ... cough ... "cuddly" mum, and our poor boy was practically doing the splits in it ... not comfy at all.

I don't think the orginal poster will mind that we've turned it into an ergo thread ... I think people like honest opinions on things ... not just the "Oh it's great! Wouldn't buy anything else" kind of responses that don't tell you WHY you need to buy it.

And we live on King Island ... in the middle of the roaring forties. Y'know that bad spot where all those lovely brave sailors get into huge difficulties and sometimes lose their lives in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race?

That's us baby ... :p

Mmmmm.. isn't that where all the lovely cheese comes from?
It's true, that's one of the things I like about BB, you always get a huge variety of opinions.
Sasa

Our little boy is 3.5 months too and he cries when I put him in the ergo. I think his legs are too far spread (he has excellent head and neck control too) so we've stuck with the HAB for now. I think the ergo will be best from about 5 months+

As I have said in a previous post, I bought my Ergo when DD was 3 months and I didn't use it all that much in the beginning. When I did use it I tucked her feet in under her bottom, frog style. This way the didn't have to spread so far.
Sasa

Diva- i honestly think if you hold onto your ergo for a few more months and then give it a try your critique will completely change.
like previous posters have said, it is not great for babies under 6 months. but once your baby is over 6 months, i am sure you will find it much more appropriate.
my ds is 9 months old and weighs 10kg. i use the ergo eveyday and have never had a problem putting it on- particularly in the front position. i find it distributes his weight very evenly across my back and it is very comfortable. i also find it very easy to just chuck on at the local shops etc. my dp who is 6ft1 also uses it, sometimes to do the vacuuming etc. and loves it.
i just wouldn't want someone to come along and read this thread and think that ergos are a waste of money because personally i have found it to be extremely handy and wouldn't part with mine.
jmo of course :)

I agree too Rainforest ... I wouldn't want to give anyone a false impression either.

I too think the ergo is brilliant for over 6 months ... for wandering around the house and trips into town and whatnot for all you wonderful yummy mummies in suburbia.

Unfortunately it just doesn't cut it for me ... and only me ... the lack of rain protection is, (I've discovered) a deal breaker with me ... some days I just HAVE to go out in the feral winds/rain and if I used an umbrella I'd get a free trip to Melbourne :p so our DS needs good weathergear too.

I also need a carrier that can handle a full days worth of stuff, not just him, but for me as well ... there's lots of times where we are far from home, or our "base" so we need to be little boy scouts and "be prepared" ... most of you lovely ladies have your car to run back to, or your homes ... it isn't always the case with us.

Please, please, please all you proud parents, remember that my case is unique, most of you will never have to fly for an hour to go to a hospital (we have one here, just not a major one that can scan/test/whatnot), or try and jam 5 appointments and an operation in the four days that you're staying there ... or have to limit everything to 30kg and make it as small as possible because the plane only seats eight and they have to load their stuff too ...

So for all you pondering princesses out there the ergo IS good for day to day stuff in suburbia ...

It's just not good for us ...

Both Hubby and I love the HAB. Ok, hubby did laugh his arse off at the instructional DVD because its full of 'hippies' (he keeps joking the HAB pocket is for stashing your stash), but he will happily wear it to carry Oliver around in. Both of us find it very comfortable though I tend to wear Oliver a bit lower than hubby. Oliver will happily nap with his face smooshed into my cleavage, and he also now likes facing out too. I never tried to BF in it, for me it was easier to take him out.

We borrowed SIL's Baby Bjorn knock-off (its Fisher Price, I think) for a holiday thinking it would be easier to clip on and off but after wearing it around the house for 15 mins I had to take it off because it was hurting so much - and this was when Oliver was 14 weeks old! Hubby complained it was equally uncomfortable for him. We took the HAB and it was great.

Personally I like the front pocket because you just shove the HAB in the pocket and turn the pocket inside out to hold it all. I can just drop the bag under the pram for when Oliver cracks it and doesn't want to ride - I don't drive so its a long walk home to try and carry him and push the pram.

I probably could have made my own but I looked at the resale value on ebay and decided I couldn't be bothered since I could recoup most of my cost if I didn't like it. I did see a similar sling called a Bear Hug which was cheaper.

I think my brain is boggling at all the possibilities! So I have some questions - had thought I might go an ergo, as DH in partic is keen to wear it, and we have a weekly event for which a harness would be perfect. But then I've a friend who has a second hand baby bjorn (un-used) which i was tempted to get as it would be better to start with.

I also like the look of the HAB, but i know DH... he's not very... um.. "spatially" inclined when it comes to tying/manipulating clothing and I can't ever see him getting comfortable with how to tie it. But then, he's also tall 6"4' - so I'm wondering if the BB or Ergo would be that comfy on him anyway? I'm short(er) at 5"2' (yes, we're an odd pair) with big BB's (only gonna get bigger!) so mebbe I'd be like Diva'n'Dan (*waves hello* :lol:) and not find an Ergo all that comfy? Other option is to go creative (once I've fixed my sewing machine) and try making a HAB for me....? As well as, or instead of getting the BB for him.

I guess what I'm wondering is... what are the chances of both of us finding something that suits both our very different physiques? Or should we just wait & see once bubs is here, and borrow others to find out what works?