Slings vs. Carriers for Newborns, Your thoughts/experiences please

I'm trying to decide whether to get a Sling or an actual front & Back carrier for times I want to bring the baby out for short walks without the stroller, or carry her around the house; but able to have my hands free.

Can anyone recommend a sling?  Or let me know your experience with a sling?  I like the look of them; but I want what is best for baby.  My height is 5"1 in case that matters; and after the baby is out I suspect I will be in 130-140 range of weight.  I'd like to go the sling route; but after doing homework on Consumer reports; and reading reviews; I'm not sure it is the safest route.

If you have had a good experience with a carrier that wasn't too bulky; please let me know which product you went with.

I appreciate everyone's response!

With my first I had a carrier for front and loved it, but it felt more bulky and uncomfortable to wear...I have had friends that had the sling and some even made there own, and they never dropped their babies if that' swhat you are worried about, but i dont think they did rigorous activites in them much either.  Just walking, and housestuff mostly.  I think the sling is a good thing because it gives the baby the sense of being swaddled, and swaddling your newborn after birth has really helped me when my twins were born to help them sleep at night, or at nightime.  PLus they feel more comfortable...think of you in a hammock, versus having a piggy back ride...i'm trying to get you thinking of the way your body is positioned so dont laugh...lol...but seriously which is more comfortable to you...hammock right....just my opinion....

I hear you-  about the hammock thing; and that's why I like them so much.  The carriers look like they are very bulky....I'm not afraid of them falling out of the sling; just getting enough head support.

I used the Snugli brand front/back carrier, and I loved it!  My son enjoyed being in it, too.  He'd almost always fall asleep in it when we went for walks and while I vacuumed.  It was actually a great way to get him to sleep.  He took very short cat naps in the beginning, thus I had a hard time getting anything done.  But when I'd put him in the carrier and do my housework, he'd fall asleep almost immediately.  I got everything done, kept an eye on my baby, and got to hold him super close most of the time. :)

We used ours ALL the time until my daughter started really walking places. She was "colicky" & the sling was a lifesaver. For months she would only fall asleep if we popped her in & got walking. After a little practice I could even breastfeed her in the sling & do my thing. Totally awesome!

I loved my hotsling. It's a pouch sling & was really easy to use. I had a fleece one & it was perfect for the rainy pacnw.

I also had a mei tei that was perfect as she got heavier. We had a custom Babyhawk with skulls & camo. Hawt!

 

 

I've used just about everything since my first was born 6 years ago and like the rest of you I'm a sling girl. I've got a ring sling and with my newest baby (almost 10months) I've become a fan of the mobey wrap. My littlest one had sever GERD and I needed to be held upright and just plain held pretty much all day so the mobey was a lifesaver. And like carleyrapp with a little practice I'm a nursing pro with both of mine, I nurse while grocery shopping and noone is the wiser.

I have to vote for the sling.  It was a lifesaver with my son.  I never had to put him down.  We like to say that he lived in it for the first year of his life. There are different ways to adjust the sling depending on the amount of support you require (age of child).  I recommend having an experienced sling wearer show you the ropes.  Mine had a long life as I used it when my kids were my toddlers as well.  My sling came from a mail order company called 'babyluv'.  Good luck.

I had a ring sling and LOVED IT.  I wore my DS until he was about 28lbs..and my poor body couldn't carry him any more..at which oint I got a stroller.  I loved that I didn't need a bulky stroller or carry the "baby bucket".  Plus my DS got all of the wonderful benefits of being worn. It also made breastfeeding in public for a new mom great..now after the 6 months of nursing I didn't care where I was..my baby was hungry he was being fed.  LOL.

I do suggest you try a few.  IF you can go to a shop that sells alternative baby equipment that would be best. I ordered my first sling while I was pregnant and the sewn another one. 

I had a front carrier but there's been studies to show these aren't aht great on the spine for younger infants who's spine aren't fully developed. 

honestly i tried the sling but it made me uncomfortable and the front carrier didnt. i also used the hip carrier when my daughter got older which was a great help.

i think there are reports everywhere on slings or carriers but its all preference- is their someone u could borrow these items from to try them out before purchasing your own?

otherwise i use the bjorn front carrier and my son absolutely loves it- falls asleep every time and never fusses!!

I didn't have a good experience with either style, and I ended up carrying my little guy without anything. My problem was that my son was a chunk :) As a healthy breastfed baby, his thighs were almost to thick for the carrier. When I did use it (briefly) I didn't feel that I could bend over or do anything, really. It was much easier for me to hold him with one arm.

I felt the same way about the sling. I was using it right, but my brain didn't believe the notion that he was safe...and I wasn't holding him with my arms. Go figure.

Either way, my little guy surpassed the weight limit on the carrier by the time he was 4 months or so. Which ever you do decide on, make sure it has a big weight limit range, just in case you have a big baby :)

Edit: The carrier was a Bjorn.

I say the sling is best for a newborn..so much easier, and the carrier better for an older baby who can sit up on own- has the back and neck muscles-and they want to be up looking around!.. I used a sling with all mine (nojo I think?) and it worked great! My last ones were twins and for the first couple months or so I could fit both of them in there!lol.. I would use at the grocery store when they were so young because I couldnt fit groceries in the cart w/ 2 carseats!

I totally support your choice to carry your baby as much as possible, it really makes for a contented baby and confident child in the future.

With my first baby I used a Baby Bjorn every day; for walking, grocery shopping, hiking, household chores or just soothing her to sleep.    

I bought a Peanut Shell carrier/sling when my daughter was five months old.  It was great because I could use it as a blanket, it fit in the diaper bag and was excellent for breast feeding in public places.  I still use the sling for my 2 1/2 year old as a hip carrier in airports or if I have to make a quick dash to a store and I don't have time for her to doddle.  As a mother of an infant, I especially liked it for dining out.  My girl would never happily sleep in her car seat, she preferred to be close to me.  

I did have safety concerns about taking the sling out for a long walk.  With the Bjorn I was truly "hands free" to hike, shop, whatever.  

When my baby was a year old my friend offered her Ergo carrier to try on.  It was amazing!  I will definitely get one for my next child.  It took all the weight off my shoulders and redistributed it so I felt very light, even with an 18 pound child.  I wish I had had one from the beginning.  Also, you can change the position to a back carrier or a side carrier for a toddler (unlike the Bjorn). 

In conclusion, the two different kinds of carriers both have advantages and I recommend using them both in different situations.  If you're a super-active person and wish to only purchase on carrier; I recommend the Bjorn or Ergo.

Good luck!

I'm on baby number three and have tried and (painfully) tested countless slings (well, 10 maybe) and I am absolutely thrilled with what I am using now. The Maya wrap is a ring sling and even though my daughter is now 6 months old she sits on my hip in it and is completely comfortable. She can watch everything or more often than not sleeps with her head on my boob! More importantly I can wear it for hours and not feel bad (- I am 5'2" - you can get it in 2 lengths.)When she was tiny she felt very safe to me swaddled in it and you can use it on your back when they are older. I would recommend this sling without hesitation, great for housework and hill walking.lol. Here's a link: They even look lovely! 

http://www.mayawrap.com/

I'm a first-time Mommy so all I can tell you is what I'm getting based on what people have told me, and what my intuition says.  I want a sling carrier for the early months (yay breastfeeding!!) and a regular carrier for later, when baby can hold her head up.  Here are the ones I put on my registry.

The sling I want.  The user reviews aren't good, BUT my main motivation is because it's inexpensive and I don't plan on using it for a long time anyways.  If I hate it, I'll just return it. 
https://www.target.com/gp/detail.html?asin=B0 00PGS3S0&colid=3H9PUH7L7CWM4&coliid=I 14L7DBKDQ2KUM&bckreg=baby

The front/back backpack carrier I want.  Has great user reviews.  Again, main motivation here, price. 
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?pro duct_id=5223413&selected_variation_0=5223 413&qty_0=1&upc=0003288414235®ist ry_id=86210298051&shopFor=true

Good luck deciding. 

I got an off brand it was like under 20 dollars and it's an Infantino brand (walmart carries it) its a great carrier and i can have my hands free to vacuum, or go for a walk and you can adjust it for when they cant hold their head up and you can adjust it back when they can.  I think it only holds up to about 23 pounds i think.  But i have used it since he was about 2 months old i LOVE it!! My niece has a website she makes personalized baby things, she makes everything just about for babies.   Email me if anyone is interested.  She makes just about anything.  Baby slings, pacifier holders that hold the pacifier on the baby where they dont drop it etc.... she makes diaper cakes for showers, etc....... anything you can think of.  She is trying to get her business off the ground.  Just email me if you are interested.

 

 

Clarice

http://www.mousemadeslings.com/Home.htm

If you want a great custom ring sling that's SUPER comfortable try one of these. I have personally worn about 5 different of these. She is one of my friends from way back. I met her because she was wearinmg the most awesome winnie the pooh sling.

you can also send her the fabric of your choice and she will make you a sling.

 

BTw, she still has solarviel fabric. I had my DS in July of 04.  The first sling I ever bought was solarviel. Its a special fabric that is used to prevent sunburn. It was excellent since its not recommened to use sunscreen on infants under 6 months of age.  I used that particular sling for nearly two years before I sold it for nearly the same price I paid for it.  Recently though Solarveil fabric was discontinued by the manufacturer.  Since you are having a summer baby I do suggest that you try and get your hands on one of these slings. My sling also came in handy as a car seat cover when we were out side. It was also made a good wrap around my waist on the beach. Finally, solarviel dries SUPER fastr so its ideal for using in a swimming pool or at the beach. 

 

 

We had the baby bjorn - which was nice cause it fit my husband well - but only worked once our son was maybe 8 weeks old (and he grew out of it fast).

I have a maya sling and still use it to this day - so easy to strap your kid to your hip and get groceries done 10x faster!  Also was great when I was breastfeeding.

Highly recommend the sling.

I used the snugli front and back carrier.  It was definately useful because my little guy was always snuggled up to my chest all day.  I could vacuum, clean the floor, wash the dishes do the laundry all with him from on my chest.  I loved it.

The only problem that I found is now that he's almost 7 months I have to buy a new carrier.  So I'm looking for a sturdy backpack carrier.

can you believe that i still haven't picked one out?  I'm going to go with a sling.  I like the hotslings-  but I'm going to check out the maya ones too.  i don't have much time left!

I am obsessed with baby carriers.  I highly suggest a sling.  My daughter lived in one for the first 6 months.  She was really needy and always had to be held.  I have a Peanut Shell that I really like.  They have really pretty fabric.  And I have a Karma Baby mesh sling which is great for hot weather and wearing your baby in a pool or ocean.

I recommend getting a more structured carrier once they are older though.  I absolutely love Beco carriers.  I have found it to be the most comfortable.  I also have a hand made Mei Tai and a Mypouch.  I like them both pretty well.  I had an ergo but hated it! 

Beco's are more expensive but my daughter is 21 months old and I can still carry her in it.  If you are interested in getting a carrier I highly recommend going to babywearer.com.  They have a for sale or trade forum where you can buy used carriers.  I got my Beco for about 70 dollars and they are usually about 120.

We were at a football game last night and saw a couple wearing their kids. The 3 month old was VERY comfy in his maya wrap, and his big sister (toddler) was happily carried by dad in a mei tai. Both looked very content and worked great in the post game crowd. I'll definately be looking at these two products for our little one.