Easy off and on Baby Carrier?

I would recommend a pouch sling or s ring sling. For pouches, my favorite is the adjustable Mamma's Milk (www.mammasmilk.com), which is fabulous! For summer, a fitted pouch can also be quite comfy, and my fave is probably the Peanut Shell (www.goo-ga.com), but I have also heard great things about the Comfy Joey (www.comfyjoey.com).

Ring slings can get pretty expensive, so I would recommend goin on Etsy.com and searching for a handmade one. I recommend a seller who goes by DrewBabyDesigns, she is very nice and helpful, and has very reasonable prices.

There is also a fodum for baby wearers where you will find LOT of info! it's at www.thebabywearer.com. Good luck!

I have 2 slings. One is alight weight canvas-type fabric. I forget the brand but I got it off drugstore.com. Love, love, love it! With a little practice I learned to put her in the sling before we left and then take the sling off with her still in it and strap her in the car seat. Then if she falls asleep in the car I just lift her and the sling out of the car seat and put it over my head and we are off!

Try this one:
http://www.pujbaby.com/

I won it free but I use it all the time. It is great for an easy on/off carrier. But it won't work over a coat.

I used a baby bjorn with my 1st two but only once in awhile and only until they were about 4 months. I didn't really like it but the slings I tried, I didn't like either. This time (I am pregnant again) I bought a Moby Wrap... ww.mobywrap.com it is easy to put on and off and there are so many different ways that you can carry your baby. I can't wait to use it. There is also a website... www.babywearing.com where Moms review all the different carriers, I found this very helpful in choosing what was right for me. Good Luck and I hope you find something that works for you!

Where are you located? I know someone in Princeton who knows everything there is to know about baby carriers. There is also a babywearing meeting in the Lawrenceville library every first Monday where you can try out different carriers and see what is best for you. You are right, the bjorn isn't the best for the babies hips. There are much better ones for your money.

Have you tried a sling which is quikest and lightest esp for short trip. Does take some research to get the right size and style, but prob a "Hotsling" would work for you. I have an ergobaby carrier too, and a ring sling.My daughter, 3 mos, is pretty fidgety, so so far nothing is the miracle worker that others seem tohave found. Slings and the ergo last longer than the bjorn , and the ergo folk talk alot about that spine thing. I have tried a lot of these contraptions and I mostly use the ergo, but used the ring sling for my son until he was 2 and a half. Let me know if you want more detail. Good luck!

My husband and I have loved the Over the Shoulder Baby holders. Our kids fall in love with them too. They're good until 2 years and beyond.

I have used the maya wrap for al three of my kids and theyloved it. The baby can lay down in each as an infant and then sit up in it when he/she gets older. My soon to be one yr old loves to sleep in it as I am walking around. Check out www.mayawrap.com It is very easy to get on and off. Hope this helps

Definitely, definitely the Ergo baby carrier is awesome! It took me a few times to get comfortable with putting it on and taking it off, but once you learn how to use it (the website gives directions), it really is comfortable for Mom and baby, easy to take baby out of, and then take off, and you can use it for infants as well as with toddlers. Infants can be held on your chest, and once they are about 3 months or so you can hold baby on your chest (facing you), on the side, or on your back. It really is a good investment.

Try the Ergo baby carrier. I absolutely love it. And once you get it adjusted for yourself, it is pretty easy to get on and off.

I use the baby bjorn all the time. What can it do to the baby's spine?

i LOVE the Ergo....in every way. i hated the Bjorn...after my son was heavier, i couldn't take the weight on my back...Ergo puts NO weight on your back...and it's easy on and off once you get used to it a couple of times.

Have you tried a sling?

The Bjorn was great until my son got too heavy for it (11mos) and then I switched to the Ergo, which was even more fantastic! I wish I would have purchased it from the get go. It's all about practice. After a few trys at it, everything gets easier. Slings are not great for your body's alignment.

I also have the ERGO baby carrier and love it. I got it when my son was around 6 months old but you can get an infant insert to use for newborn and up. Before I had that I used a new native sling, but I couldn't wear that too long once he started growing. It hurt my shoulder/back. My son loves the ERGO. The first time I put him on my back, he fell right asleep. He has never complained about it and I have been using it for almost 2 years now. My husband likes it too and it fully adjusts to fit either of us.

Try the Hotsling. You can get it from hotslings.com. It is by far the best carrier I've ever used. Plus it's cute and comes in different colors and patterns. There are no buckles or anything, but it's not some complicated sling you have to wrap around yourself a million times. Hope this helps.

When my son was 3 or 4 months old, I ordered a ring sling form zolowear.com. I am also in the city and it was great because it is really lightweight, has a handy pocket for your keys and things, and even looks really flattering on. There are a lot of different fabrics and patterns to choose from. I have been stopped often by other moms and complimented on the street when wearing it. It comes with an instructional dvd and is really easy to use. I can slip him out of it and even keep the sling on my shoulder without it being too cumbersome. He also loves it and falls asleep in it every time!

The bjorn is the easiest in my opinion. Once you get the hang of it (i've used it with 3 babies) it is very easy. I have tried other carriers and there were too many clips and straps and I had to read the directions every time I wanted to use it.

maybe a sling or a wrap would be better for you.

A.

D.,

Baby slings are and absolute breeze to use and baby is perfectly safe and comfy. I had a "new native" sling when my kids were infants and it folded up to fit in the diaper bag or my purse as well. I used from the time they left the hospital until they were over 2 years old. It also made breastfeeding in public a breeze. The padded ones are bulky and not really neccessary.
Good luck!
-L.

I'll second the Peanut Shell suggestion! I had many carriers when my son was a baby-toddler...I went through a New Native, several brands of Mai Tai's, a ZoloWear ring sling, a few wraps, etc. but the Peanut Shell was my absolute FAVORITE! I had a jersey for the spring/summer/fall, and a fleece for the winter. But, I recommend the jersey, as it doesn't pull on your clothes as much as fleece does.

In fact, the Peanut Shells are still sitting in my closet on the off chance that I get to sit for a friend with a baby and I get to wear a baby again. =)

They are easy on, easy off, and you just "pop" baby in and out. You'll love it!

Ergo Baby carrier is great. I haven't figured out the back part yet but find the chest and hip comfortable and easy to use. My 15 month old son likes it and it takes the weight off of your shoulders!

My friend Lisa in Rochester makes ring sling baby carriers. She has consulted with pediatric chiropractors to get a design that is safe for babies spine and moms backs. They are very easy to use and fold up to put in a diaper bag. Her website is www.lachrysilia.com I think you can order online or contact her and you can choose your own fabric so it is more personalized. Good luck, I love my carrier!

a regular ring sling would probably be easiest, or a pouch sling would be even easier--you buy the correct size for your body and then there is no adjusting. (check out kangarookorner.com for an example of this)
the bjorn is not good for babies--they hang from their crotch and body is not supported. if you really like that style try the ergo carrier--the construction of it is such that the baby sits rather than hanging.

I have an Ergo and LOVE it, but again not the quickest on/off if you want to not wear the Ergo after you take out your baby. Have you tried slings? The pouch style ones are easy- throw it on like a sash then snuggle your baby in there. Equally fast to get baby out and take off the sling. In Park Slope, the store Boing Boing has a baby wearing clinic every week- I forget which day- but you could check that out too.

Steph G. mom to Adler, 6 weeks

The ergo baby carrier is just as complex if not more BUT it's better for your spine and the baby's. Perhaps you have an old model of the Bjorn because the newest model is EXTREMELY easy. I say this because I have an old and a new and they are completely different fastening mechanisms. The trick for putting it on quickly is to always but the insignia over your heart. D. S this is E. S...are you Addie's mom?

i had a lot of success with the ergo carrier. check it out on line. also, there are places where you can try on different kinds of carriers. I also used a basic sling when my son was small. i just googled sling and a zillion choices came up. i wish you the best of luck

W., mom to Quinn 22 months

I started off using a bjorn, but I really love my Ergo carrier now. It is much easier on my back and really helps with posture. I find it incredibly easy to get on and off and I am able to wander around for a long time with my seven month old in it without getting a back ache. When I am brave enough I will be able to carry him on my back with this carrier as well. It can also be a hip carrier. It's pretty cool. www.ergo.com

I tried several different carriers before a friend introduced me to the Ergo carrier. I absolutely LOVE it. The one downside is that you cannot have the baby face out when used in the front but other than that, I couldn't be happier. You can wear the baby on the front, back or hip - personally, I haven't used the hip position but that might come in handy when my son is older. I actually used it tonight while cooking dinner - my son is 1 and about 22lbs and it holds him perfectly. He hated the other carriers I used but gives me kisses when I put him in this one.

Good luck on your quest!

HI D.,
I use HotSlings quite frequently and find that is easy on and off because it is one piece. I can put my three month in it so he is looking out also. I highly recommned it.
-Kim

I absolutely loved my sling. I'd scoop him out of his car seat into the sling an have hands free shopping or walking, etc. And I could sneaky nurse in public if he was having a "moment" by pulling the sling up and over. I am a yoga teacher and can tell you that slinging is great for the baby and saves YOUR back as well. I liked the Over The Shoulder Baby Holder the best. I think they send you a video to show you how to work it. And give it a few washings so it gets super soft.I know there are lots of options but I went with the one that Moms around me were using. And FYI, you can wear your baby when you are typing away on the computer: )

We use an Ergo carrier and it is amazing. Many different positions, and easy to use.

I have a peanut shell pouch and LOVE it, still use it with my 2.5 year old! Website is www.googa.com

C.
Mommy to Jessie, Katie and Julia
www.TimetoChangetheDiapers.com
Adorable, affordable cloth diapers and reusable items for babies, kids and Moms!

I love my ERGO. when my baby was under 8mos I used the Hotsling which was really easy, but got too heavy.

D.,
people have mentioned ring slings (the Maya wrap is a sling, FYI), pouches, and buckle carriers (Bjorn and Ergo). These are all good options. Both slings and pouches are "one-shoulder" carriers, so if your baby is heavy, or you have back trouble, IMO these are not the best carriers for walking around the City (but good for quick trips to the store). Once your baby is about six months old, he/she really is too big for a pouch, though a sling will work up through toddler-hood.

You are right, the Bjorn is not a good carrier for babies' spinal development. When a child is in a carrier, the knees need to be higher than the bum (imagine a kid squatting), and the back should be able to be in the natural curved position, which the Bjorn does not promote (also, the Bjorn isn't recommended after the first six months). The Ergo is a good carrier, but not the only other option out there - I like the Beco more, b'c of the wider range of color/design options, but mostly, I find it fits my body-type better.

Since you are in NYC, why don't you check out the carriers sold at Metro Minis, 821 Park Avenue (corner of 75th Street, ###-###-#### (www.metrominis.com). The manager, Bianca, is a friend of mine, and is extremely knowledgeable. She can help you find a carrier that fits your life-style, body-shape and taste; they have a huge selection of a variety of carriers. There is also a "babywearing" parenting group (it meets at the store the second Saturday of the month from 3-5pm) where parents bring their carriers and kids and share tips, ask for help, and check out different carriers in real life. If you want more info on the group, check out www.slingsinthecity.com.

I hope this helps some! Here in Jersey City, I help organize the babywearing meetings for our area, so feel free to contact me anytime for more info. I wanted to give you more information in this response, but this has actually taken me over an hour to write, b'c I'm also taking care of my toddler! :lol:

D.,

I don't know if you've ever tried slings, but New Native makes a great sling that you can position baby in in different ways. There's no adjusting because you buy a size to fit you - so you won't be able to "share" the carrying with others. I loved it and always felt my son to be safe and secure in it - plus it was a little easier on my back than the bjorn I had.

Check out the PSling at www.pslingnewyork.com - this sling is the BEST and super easy to get on and off.