I have a baby bjorn but I still find it hard to get things done around the house with her hanging in front of me all the time. I would like to get some feedback from moms who have had the baby bjorn and then tried the maya wrap or vice versa.
I prefered the baby bjorn because the weight was evenly distributed. My shoulder would hurt with the maya wrap. I did like the maya wrap as my daughter became older (10-15 months) for hip sling. Good luck!
I have both of those exacts baby carriers. My husband thought the maya was too "feminine" so he always used the bjorn and I was fine with it until the baby got bigger then I switched fully out to the maya as it is so much better when they are bigger to be able to have them "sit" on your hip while you are walking around. The bjorn, once they got bigger was really hard on my back from all the baby weight being put right on my front so if your baby is 4 months old I'd recommend the maya wrap or something like it. One thing I would suggest when looking at different materials the maya wrap comes in would be to buy one with a stretchy type material. The first maya I had, altho I still loved it was a little hard to get really snug b.c the material was a non-stretchy unbleached heavy cotton. My MIL made me another one after my twins were born out of a softer, stretchier fabric and I liked that one better as the stretchiness made it easier to get them good and snug. Also once your baby gets rather heavy and is older you can pull them all the way onto your back in the maya like a backpack so they are can't grab or get in the way of your arms but are still right beside you, obviously something you can't do with the bjorn. If the cost of a maya wrap seems too much they can be made. you can google the sewing directions and there are several sites that show you how to make your own. My MIL made mine without much trouble but she's a good sewer, I am not so you could also probably try to buy one used somewhere if you don't sew.
K. H
I used a hotsling, it was a lifesaver especially for my youngest. Target carries them now, so you can easily check them out. Its a pocket sling, super easy to use, small and lightweight and it is a breeze to use. I still use mine for my 2 year old in a hip or back carry.
Well, I'd go with a Maya wrap if those are the only two you're considering. I used a ring sling (similar to Maya Wrap Lightly Padded but different brand) with my son, and while it was a good carrier, it didn't give me more mobility at all. With a ring sling, one shoulder bears the weight and that shoulder is restricted in movement.
What I liked better was a wrap or a mei tai. Both can be used for small babies all the way through the toddler years. Check out www.theslingstation.com to look at wraps or mei tais. I've bought several carriers through them, and their customer service is great. And if you want, you can email me at ____@____.com and I'll walk you through them. Both the wrap and the meitai can be used to carry the baby on your back as well - and very securely!
I liked my Maya wrap the best (once I got the hang of it) but I didn't think it was any better than the Bjorn in terms of mobility.
I would recommend a backpack - it's much better for being able to reach things in front of you. Carefully read the directions to ensure that you've got it adjusted right, and it should be quite comfortable.
