Anyone Use Baby Wraps?

I have a ring sling made by the sweet Gracefaith. I haven't used it as much as I probably should have. I get it all twisted around. The rings are pretty big on this one. I never did like the carriers either. Too many straps & what not. Just easier to carry her around.

I've used a pouch sling, a wrap and a mei tai.
My fave by far was the wrap. Especially for little bub's. They are snuggled in so close to you, it's really nice. There is a bit of a learning curve with the wraps but I think it is well worth it.
My least fave was the pouch sling. It was ok when Madeleine was really little, but as soon as she got past about 5kgs it hurt my shoulder.
The mei tai is good too. It is more like a structured carrier. I have a CatBirdBaby one. I don't use it much now as Madeleine would rather be in the pram.

I have a DIY stretchy wrap... I bought material and there was enough for 3 wraps out of one piece. So I got 3 wraps for less than $5. No where near as nice as the ones you can buy, but they do the job the same way!

I didn't breastfeed in the wrap when I was breastfeeding. I only breastfed for about 6 or so weeks so I was still very new to it all. But apparently it can be done. I think it would be easier to breastfeed in a pouch/ring type sling, but I don't know.
The wrap is really comfy. It takes the weight and distributes it over both shoulders and some around your waist. I wore her in it up til about 9-11kgs and i really didn't notice it til I had the wrap on for more than about 6 or so hours. It's a really good work out too!
I only ever wore her on my front was never game to try the back wearing!

I highly recommend the Moby wrap http://www.mobywrap.com/. It looks complicated, but I got the hang of it in about 5 minutes. It hugs the baby to your body almost like you are pregnant again, very secure and comfy. The weight is evenly distributed on the shoulders, back, and hips. I didn't nurse, but I know people who do with this wrap. Best wrap ever! We also have a Chicco carrier and I never use it. DH does, but it kills my back and shoulders.

I love ring slings. I also have a pouch and mei tai. The ring sling was by far the easiest to breastfeed in. I also like that it was like a built in nursing cover.

I LOVED my Maya Wrap! www.mayawrap.com

I have a didymos wrap, 2 mei tais and 2 ring slings.

I do not like the didy, mostly because it is just too much fabric for me to manage, and my son is a little heater, and it gets HOT here in summer, not a practical way to carry a baby in summer....

The slings I LOVE. Great all around and awesome for discreet feeding.

I LOVE my mei tai (the other is at my mom's) - easy on, easy off, and he loves it. I'm still working on getting him on my back safely by myself, but he does carry well in the front. I got mine from a learning library that was closing, and then ordered myself a nicer one for formal occasions.

I have a mobywrap: http://www.mobywrap.com/ which I liked when she was really little because baby is so tight and snuggled up against your body. My husband still prefers this.

I also have 2 ring slings. One is a zolowear: www.zolowear.com, you can find great information here that include videos you can watch. Everything from BFing in a sling to different positions. It teaches you how to thread your sling so it doesn't get all tangled in the rings. I like my ring sling best.

Now that Isabella is a bit older my next purchase (hopefully very soon) will be a babyhawk: http://www.babyhawk.com/

One of my moms at LLL still is using her MayaWrap ring sling with her 30 lb child... no problems at all with rings or seams.

Birbitt said:

Everyone has been so helpful...if anyone else wants to chime in feel free I'm still reading up on everything. Dh really doesn't want a ring sling at this point because he's too worried about the rings and the seam bearing all the weight of baby.

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I'm still using mine, and it's a work at home mom made one. No big names here. (couldn't afford it) and it's holding my son still at 18lbs. We've used it since he was 10lbs. I use it lots and lots. If you notice issues ever with the seams, you can easily resew, or -- if it is from a major manufactuer call and let them know and probably get a replacement. They are made to evenly distribute the weight so this doesn't happen. It's made for one use (one child) but I have heard of it going through multiple children before without issues.

Might want to go to a site like TheBabyWearer and read around on the different carriers and read up on their archives of ins and outs on the main page once you register.

gracepaints said:

I love ring slings. I also have a pouch and mei tai. The ring sling was by far the easiest to breastfeed in. I also like that it was like a built in nursing cover.

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Yeah that.... all of that... we have the same slings

Birbitt said:

Don't you worry about the seam on your ring sling? I don't know but it just to me seems like it would be a weak point.

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No its really strong. There's actually more than one layer of fabric, its not a single seam there. Actually the seam isn't under baby at all.

For Mei tai's, i really like http://www.meitaibaby.com/

I use a ring sling and have since the day J was born. I love that the positions are so versatile. When he was a newborn I would lay him down in it and he would sleep the whole time he was in it. Then when he got a bit older he would sit cross legged in it facing outwards because he loved to look around. Now (at 8 months and almost 18lbs) I wear him on my hip. I really wish I'd had a sling with my other two isntead over having aching shoulders with the snuggli.

I love wraps for a newborn and mei tais for older babies/toddlers.

I have a pouch sling and used it with dd until she was almost 2 (she would sit on my hip or on my back in it at the end). I LOVE my pouch sling! I have a homemade wrap but could never get it tied just right - it's possible that a store-bought one would be better though.

No kids but when I do, I'll use wraps...probably several kinds...however, I wanted to share this:

babywearing.com is giving a way a medium Ella Roo rap this month...they've given away a different wrap/carrier every month since last July...so seems to be a regular thing. Check it out!