Does your little one love to be carried? Mine certainly does, Joshua pretty much lived in his baby carriers for the first 7 months of his life. It was only after he hit 8 months and became more mobile that he is quite happy to be left alone and play by himself in his playpen. Although he still loves to be carried whenever he gets a chance. (He is such a little Koala baby)
I love carrying Joshua because it keeps him nice and close, but I do need my hands to do other stuff around the house too. So the best hands-free solution is to use a baby carrier.
Having to carry Joshua all the time, a good baby carrier is essential! Honestly, it is the one item that is a MUST for us, especially when we go out or traveling. (I never get on a flight with Joshua without a baby carrier.)
I have tried multiple baby carriers because one simply isn't enough. You do have to wash them quite often, as it is constantly covered in drool, sweat, and snot, depending on the season. So here are the baby carriers I have tried.
Joshua loves this carrier, and during the beginning of motherhood, this carrier is a guarantee to get him to go to sleep if he is being fussy. So needless to say, it was my favorite baby item for awhile.
If you have been googling Baby Carrier on the internet, you have probably seen a Konny Baby Carrier ad pop up on your Facebook or Instagram at some point. That is how I found out about it. This carrier is one of my favorite fabric carriers, and I use this one the most because it is light, convenient and easy to use.
Unlike the traditional baby wraps, the Konny is designed to be worn like a vest. So you do not need to learn how to wrap the long piece of fabric around you. It is also less fussy when you are out and about, so you can easily take it off and put it back on without the fuss.
Joshua loves this carrier, and during the beginning of motherhood, this carrier is a guarantee to get him to go to sleep if he is being fussy. So needless to say, it was my favourite baby item for awhile.
I never travel without it, because he immediately calms down when he is in it. So whenever he is fussy on the plane, I just pop him in, walk up and down the aisle a few times, and he will be out. I even fall asleep with it on, not only does he sleeps better and longer, but I also don't have to worry about him, because I know he is strapped onto my chest. The only thing is, it does get a bit warm after a while.
Why I love the Konny:
Easy to put on
Comfortable to wear
The baby is strapped onto you nice and close
Baby sleep magic - honestly, Joshua passes out in this in no time.
Light and compact, so easy to bring around with you
Things to look out for:
They are size-specific, so unlike the wrap fabric carrier, you will need to get the right size.
It is Asian sizing, so it runs a bit small. I am not one of those skinny Asian girls, so I did find it a bit tight at the beginning, but after awhile the fabric does stretch, and I have lost weight since I gave birth so it does get more comfortable with time.
The fabric is not super stretchy. Even though it is made out of jersey, the fabric isn't as stretchy as some of the baby wraps.
I do love the Boba Wrap because the material is so soft and super stretchy. I loved using this when Joshua was a newborn. The great thing about baby wraps is that it is one size only, and you adjust the size according to how tight you wrap it.
After I gave birth I was still quite big from the pregnancy weight, so I did find the Konny a bit tight at times. So when I am home, I use the Boba wrap a lot. It is comfortable, and I have it on most of the day, so it is quick and easy to get Joshua in when he is fussy.
You do need to practice how to wrap it though. Unlike the Konny which you wear like a vest, this one you have to wrap it to creates a seat to carry your little one. I was so worried the first time I put Joshua in because I was worried that I wrapped it wrong and he would fall out. Thankfully that never happened.
It is a bit clumsy because the Boba wrap is just one piece of fabric, it is quite fiddly when you are trying to wrap it in public. I am constantly trying to make sure the wrap doesn't touch the floor, so when I use this when I am out, once it is on, it stays on.
Why I love the Boba Wrap:
Super soft and stretchy for extra comfort.
One size fits all, so different people can use it.
Things to look out for:
Make sure you wrap it correctly.
When putting it on public, make sure the fabric doesn't drop onto the floor.
Ring Slings
OK, I will be honest, I fell in love with the ring sling because they look so pretty and I thought they will be a good accessory for Instagram. (Not kidding) Here are a few companies that do beautiful ring slings: Wildbird, Beachwood Baby and Artipoppe.
I love the way they look because they have beautiful patterns and colours. Honestly, some of them look more like fashion accessories than baby carriers. They are versatile and can be worn in various ways, some women even wear it to support their pregnant bellies. Some can even breastfeed while the baby is in the sling without taking the baby out. I didn't get mine until Joshua was around 7 months old, so he has already weaned off by the time I got it, so I never tried breastfeeding him in it.
Here is a video to show you how to feed your baby in a sling. (Click on the image to play)
As stylish as they are, I do prefer the double shoulder fabric carriers, because the baby's weight is spread between both shoulders rather than just one. I think the ring sling would actually be more useful when the baby is younger because they seem to fit in it better, and you can actually breastfeed while the baby is in the sling rather than having to take them out.
The good thing about the Ring sling though, is when they are older and prefer to be held and sit on the side, the ring sling gives good support for that. Although it does get some getting used to and playing around with the rings to get the right length and fit.
As the baby sits more to your side in the ring sling, rather than the center, it is good when you are pregnant with your second while you first is still small. I have seen women in a ring slight with their toddler while pregnant with their second.
Why I love the Ring Sling:
Stylish and great for photograph
Versatile as you can wear it multiple ways.
Great for babies who like sitting on the side.
A good carrier to use while you are pregnant.
Things to look out for:
Practice a few with a teddy before you use it with the baby.
It does take time to get used to.
Most of the sling fabric is woven and not stretchy, so it does feel more rigid.
They can be quite expensive.
I first discovered this baby carrier at a Commercial Baby Fair, so it wasn't even out on the market yet. I was so excited when I first saw it because unlike other baby carriers on the market, this has an inbuilt back support in the hipseat. The adjustable back panel is has a dial system, where you tighten it by turning the dial so it curves perfectly to support your back.
This baby carrier is a two in one carrier, where you can use it with or without the hipseat. I liked that is was flexible and would be able to use this for a long time, as you can use it from newborn to toddler.
This carrier is my husband's favourite baby product we have bought so far because it allows him to be nice and close to Joshua. Honestly, he sometimes even wear it around the house, so he can have Joshua strapped onto him. Unlike me, my husband doesn't like the fabric carriers, because he is too lazy to learn how to wrap it and finds them too flimsy and worried Joshua will fall out. (FYI, the baby will not fall out from a fabric carrier.)
I like this baby carrier, but it is not my go-to baby carrier, because I don't find it as comfortable as the fabric ones. I also found that Joshua sits quite high on the body in this baby carrier, and it does obstruct my view slightly. Yet again, I am only 5'1", so that might just be me because my husband who is 6'1" doesn't have this problem. However, I know as Joshua gets heavier and grows out of the fabric carrier, I will be using this one more often.
When I use the i-angle, I prefer using it with the hipseat because it gives better support. It puts less pressure on my shoulders, so I don't feel as strained. However, my husband doesn't like using the hipseat because he finds it uncomfortable and hurts his hips. So each to their own.
Why I love i-angle Dr. Dial:
2in1 carrier so it is versatile and can be used for a long time.
Has a hipseat
Has a back support panel
Sturdy and robust
Has an inbuilt hood, so can cover the baby's head when he falls asleep.
Has a fold-up panel with exposable mesh, so can be worn all four season.
Things to look out for:
It is bulky
I found it hard to sit down when I use the hipseat
It is on the pricey side
It is hotter than the fabric carriers
Final thoughts
There are lots of other carriers out there that I have not tried, and I have heard good things about it such as the Stokke My Carrier and Ergobaby All Position 360 Baby Carrier.
If you have planning to buy a carrier, my best advice is to try them on before you buy them. Because you don't know which one you would like once you try them on. If you have friends who have a carrier that you are thinking about buying, ask them if you can try it on to see how it feels. Alternatively, you can go into Mothercare or Eugene Baby to try them out in the store.
Which baby carrier do you have? Do you like it? Would love to hear about your experience as well.
Sending you love & positive thoughts,
Christine xxx
