differences?

Michael - posted on 02/10/2009

the Catbird Baby Pikkolo has a bottom that cinches up so it can be used as a front, back, forward facing, or infant carry. It's my favorite structured carrier. Check out www.peppermint.com their staff is awesome, and they even offer free babywearing classes.

Michael - posted on 02/10/2009

the Catbird Baby Pikkolo has a bottom that cinches up so it can be used as a front, back, forward facing, or infant carry. It's my favorite structured carrier. Check out www.peppermint.com their staff is awesome, and they even offer free babywearing classes.

Lori - posted on 02/01/2009

To add a little more info on the Beco Butterfly, it has an infant pouch built in, so it can be used for newborns too. Though we waited a few weeks, because the first time we put our little one in the pouch, he seemed too low in it. We love the Beco - very easy and comfortable to use. I got my Model 1.0 Beco on clearance for about $90 online.

Tiph - posted on 01/31/2009

Yes, m IS an excellent  resource... but can also be a little intimidating if youre still a newbie.....  At least I know it was for me.  ;-)

Also, I *greatly* second the advice for looking to see if you have a local BW group where you live!  We have two here  -both  are hosted at the local birthing centers - and they have been an irreplaceable wealth & source of information!!    I have also enjoyed it, because I am a very visual as well as touchy-feely, hands-on, tangible type of person... so getting to not only see other mom's in action, but also get to try them myself has been awesome!!

Peggy - posted on 01/31/2009

Wow, Tiph, GREAT POST!!!! I don't have anything to add, except to check out www.thebabywearer.com for even more info. You might even check their listings for a local babywearing group in your area (if you live in a big town or city it's possible). Most groups like that are (or should be) FREE to attend, and the members have all kinds of carriers they are more than happy to show you and let you try out.

Good luck with your decisions, and I can't resist plugging my business here (although pouch slings are not the end-all/be-all, they are my favorites) www.DreamSlingShop.com

Tiph - posted on 01/30/2009

The most common types of carriers out there, are: Wraps, Mei Tai's (essentially a square with straps coming out at each corner), Ring Slings, Pouch Slings (just a pouch - no rings, buckles or anything), and Structured carriers (like the Beco Baby  or Ergo carriers)

Personally, I loved the Wrap for when my daughter was an infant.... Ring Sling, once she got heavy for the wrap... and Mei Tai now that she's a toddler! -  because it works really well for carrying them on your back (which we do primarily). 

Ring slings... both of mine are handmade.  I have one Solarveil, and one cotton-type fabric.  I have always wanted a Maya Wrap Sling, but just never got one.  Maybe with the next baby! :)

As for my Mei Tai.... I have the Maya's Wrap's Maya Tie.  Of course there are other kinds of Mei Tai'sout there... but those seem to be the two I most commonly hear about.

Also (like I mentioned before), there are also  structured carriers.  The two main ones I know of, are.. the Ergobaby (a little sporty, looks like a backpack, is made in China, and goes for about $110 - or a little more for the organic.).  I know these prices may sound a little steep... but I hear they are both worth their weight in gold - esp for heavier babies/ older babies/ toddlers. You can use it up to 90lbs - so it will last you forever!  The purpose of a Structured carrier, is to distribute the weight evenly on your hips, back and shoulders, instead of just on your back or just on one shoulder.  Also I know a lot of dad's who won't babywear in a sling or a wrap... but love their structured carrier (esp the Ergo!).  I don't know a lot about Beco's... but I know the Ergo does have an infant insert, so you can start using it as early as 4 months!

Anyway, that's the low down on the different types of carriers! I hope this helped some, and didn't confuse you too much! Good luck with it all!  Babywearing is really not that complicated, and SO wonderful once you get the hang of it!!

Emily - posted on 01/28/2009

I found most of my patterns online at http://sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/index.h...

I altered the mei tai pattern slightly to fit my needs, and basically just added tons of padding and buckles to it to make my soft-structured carriers.

Emily - posted on 01/28/2009

I also have a wrap, which I love for tiny babies and cold weather. I also have an adjustable ring sling, a fleece pouch (which I, personally, don't care for), two soft-structured carriers (similar to the Ergo), and two mei tais. Everything I have is home-made because there's no way I could afford to pay for most carriers. The soft-structured carriers I made cost about $30 each to make... but retail for over $100. The mei tais I made with fabric I found on clearance and I made two of them for less than $15 total... and I still have enough fabric to make two more. I've seen those retail for close to $80-$90 each also.

Valerie - posted on 01/27/2009

I use an adjustable ring sling that I made myself.  It's basic cotton fabric with thick metal rings.  I can use it for a cradle carry and a tummy to tummy carry.  I use a backpack for back carries when they're around a year old.