Go read the Disclaimer again. I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. Seriously.
Before having Teddy, I polled my friends with kids in an effort to identify The Right Carrier for the kid. After talking to several, I bought a rebozo and inherited a couple of Baby Bjorns. We received two Snuglis and an Ella Wrap at a baby shower, as well as an REI Baby Backpack. The backpack we're still waiting to use, as Teddy isn't quite old enough. The Bjorns have a number of unfortunate features. I haven't been able to nurse with Teddy in it. The X at the back tends to slide up and put the weight right between my shoulder blades which just feels awful. The Snuglis are substantially better. The rebozo we still haven't been able to adjust to work for both Teddy and me. We're optimistic that it will start working when he's old enough for a hip carry. The Ella Wrap has been so far too complicated looking for me to try on my own. Roland says it feels like the best of the batch for weight distribution, but does face Teddy in, which he tends to dislike at the beginning of walks.
For now, I've been using a Snugli, or just carrying Teddy in arms on shorter walks. Recently I decided to just gut it out and go for a longer walk. A half hour had been my limit to date, because after fifteen minutes, my back hurt too bad to continue walking away from the apartment. I had noticed my back usually hurt less by the time I got home, so I risked a longer walk (an hour). Other than being completely exhausted and needing some flat-on-the-floor time once I got home, it worked out fine. Teddy slept very well both in his nap, and that night. I'm hoping we can continue to do this.
I've also ordered a couple Sutemi packs (we're not entirely sure which is the right size for me, since I'm right on the edge of the size ranges). Teddy's still a little too small for these, but they do distribute the weight better than the ones we have so far (on the hips, with a belt).
I marvel some times at how minimalist I was at the beginning. The Sutemi packs are promising, but Teddy's still a little too small for these. In the ongoing attempt to find the perfect baby carrier (the big boobs -- 36H or 36I, depending on how recently Teddy has nursed, and which bra I'm attempting to wear -- really get in the way), I've ordered a Kozy Carrier, which is a mei tai. And I know what that means. Sad but true.
The Sutemi packs are now working somewhat. I like the Kozy a lot. Child care is continuing to use the Snuglis, which are just about too small. We've also ordered a Kelty Kangaroo, based on a friend's recommendation, and on the fact that it is a structured carrier that appears to have nothing that would compress my breasts.
A friend really liked the Kelty Kids Kangaroo carrier, which is a carrier that supports the baby's butt but has no structure between adult and baby. It also has an integral hood, and it comes off well enough to not wake a sleeping baby. Unfortunately, the hip belt slides up not only on me, but on my husband as well. It does work really well for one person who cares for Teddy, distributing weight across the back and hips far better than the Snugli.
My husband and I are both using the Kozy now, and I've tried it as a hip carrier. It works quite well and the straps do not interfere with my breasts.
The Kangaroo carrier is working less and less well for everyone as Teddy gets longer and longer. The Kozy continues to work well for my husband and me. I've been able to use it as a hip carrier with a backpack, and go get some groceries at the store and bring them pack in the pack. The Sutemi is working well as a hip pack for my husband and me. One person who cares for Teddy uses it in the front carry position still. My husband has also used a framed backpack from REI (a gift at the baby shower) when we've gone to Costco or walked to a dinner out. It's a good pack, distributing the weight well onto his hips. Teddy is perfectly happy sleeping in any of the carriers we currently use.
Roland uses the Sutemi a lot, especially when we travel. He primarily uses it as a hip carrier. When Teddy was thirteen months old, we returned to Brookline. Shortly after our return, I decided to give the Ergo carrier a try. I hadn't bought a carrier in a while and was feeling cocky. I wanted a way to take Teddy out for a walk to the library or just around the neighborhood and at the time I did not know about stroller bags and other ways to make a stroller warm and comfy on a cold, cold day. Also, Teddy resisted the stroller and preferred me to carry him, but would tolerate a soft carrier. I had a lot of trouble getting the Kozy adjusted to Teddy's and my satisfaction. I ordered a wool cloak with a hole in the back where the kid's head would poke through in the carrier (the Papoose Coat from Ergo, now available only in a technical fabric). Because I wanted to be able to go somewhere and stay for a while, and because elimination communication had broken down when Teddy was about ten months old during the nursing strike, I needed to be able to carry diapers, a sippy cup and similar items as well as Teddy. Ergo sells accessories, including a front pouch which velcros onto the carrier belt, or onto your own belt, and a backpack that can be worn by itself, or attached to the carrier. Because the Papoose coat is unstructured, it can be worn front or back, and the diaper bag attached to the carrier just makes it stick out a bit further. The combination is a huge success. I use the carrier a lot when there's someone to help get Teddy in and out. I use it occasionally when I'm by myself. As Teddy gets older, and more agile, he's more and more able to help get himself in. I expect we'll be using this for years to come.
Shortly before our February 2007 trip to Disneyland, I decided the Papoose Coat was overkill for Southern California and bought some products made by Suse's Kinder Coat: a rain poncho (very like the cloak but with two hoods) and a fleece vest. Because the vest is closer fitting than the cloak, it does not work well with the attached Ergo backpack. I bought a hip (as in on the hip or fanny) pack diaper bag by the same maker. They were not used much on the trip, but they all work relatively well. I expect we'll be using them in the months and years to come.
Travel Gear, including Baby Wearing Gear
Copyright 2006 by Rebecca Allen.
Created February 7, 2006 Updated February 22, 2007