[mommytoEli]

baby a is so big that it is killing me to hold him...yet he is only 6 months, so i really have no other choice. i like to have him close to me anyways.....so i bought a hotsling. i really like it, but it definitely has its negatives.

does anybody have a sling that they really like for older babies and toddlers?? i have been reading about the ellaRoo mei hip. that looks cool...anyone use that?

i never wore any of my other children, just carried them, but this is my 5th child, and i am tired. lol...i need help froma great sling, please advise. it does need to be something that i can get on and off and baby in and out of by myself and rather easily.

thanks!

[GabeMom]

I am a big advocate of baby wearing. Our second son is a BIG boy as well, but was held a lot by his foster mom and needs that now from me. I am a bigger woman and I have been using the Moby Wrap. It is good because I have a bad back and it distributes the weight well. The negative is that is stretches out and he has to be put down and tied into the wrap again.

I have heard great things about the Ergo. I am not sure about the fluffy factor for myself so I haven't gotten one. They are expensive, but if you don't like it you can sell it online (at one of those auction sites) for close to what you paid for it.

Ella Roo products are supposed to be good quality. They had a recall of their ring sling recently, but it appears they fixed the issue.

If you are interested in babywearing you can google it and there are some great sites out there with TONS of useful information including comparing carriers for needs and body types.

Good LUCK

[mksilvermoon]

Carmen is 18 months old now & over 20 llbs! I can't praise my ERGO enough - and she loves it and often comes to me with it to ask to 'go in'. It is very easy to put on by yourself - the weight of the child is on your hips

i am thinking of looking into some hip carrier though as she gets older and more curious about what i am doing! but so far, the ergo is the best money i ever spent and it still looks great (i got the beige one which goes well with every type of outfit)

mk

[asauer]

I had our slings made by a woman in our neighborhood but they're the same as the non-adjustable Maya Wrap. I love it DS is 23lbs and I can comfortably carry him in the grocery store, mall etc. Look on Craig's list in your area and see if there's someone who makes them- our craftsperson took our measurements to give us the best fit (and it only cost about 1/3 of what the maya wrap does).

[dspakowsky]

ERGO is amazing!!!

[kerriv]

Fork over the bucks for the ergo! You won't regret it. I can still easily carry my 25 lb daughter in it and my SIL carried her son until he weighed 40 lbs.

[karen nickols]

Mommy to eli and others. I have been giving this some thought too. As our DD is now 22 months and not home yet. I was thinking she may need a lot of carrying. For bonding and protection from a busy big brother. I tend to have a bit of los back pain. How does the ergo work for that concern. Thanks Karen

[nurse_reedle]

I LOVE my Ergo and still carry my 3 year old son in it. I have back problems and when it is bad, if I carry him in it on my back....it HELPS! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I also really like a ring sling for hip carrying toddlers and older babies and still use that a tiny bit with him. I mostly quit using that after about 2 though.

[mommytoEli]

ummm...i just looked at the ergo....it intimidates me. it looks huge, and i think there is no way i will be able to put it on by myself. am i wrong?

[Rondidondi]

Myson is 18 months and 29lbs. I actually have 3 sling, all of which I made myself. I made a wrap, a mei ti, and also a ring sling.
I am a single parent, so I also understand needing to put baby in and out by yourself. I would say the ring sling is the easiest. I can easily put him on my hip and the toss him to my back in it. Actually, my ring sling is my most used sling at this time. It's also the easiest to make. VERY EASY!
If you are interested in making one let me know I can let you know where I got my patterns.

[ej-momtobe]

I use the Ergo in the back for my 32lb toddler. It takes some time getting used to putting him in it, and he has to be in a cooperative mood or I will never get him in the back.

We used the front position up to about 25lbs and it was very easy to get him in. it took some trial and error to get the straps adjusted so DS was sitting around my hips and putting the weight there, rather than smashed against my body and putting the work on my shoulders. But you only have to do this once.

[JustBarbara]

I loved my Ergo also - I finally stopped wearing DS at 15 months - 23 lbs.

[JenC]

The Ergo is easily doable! Don't let it scare you. There's also a carrier called the Scootababy, which is a hip carrier that buckles. I debated between that and the Mei Hip, and went with the Scootababy and I'm glad I did.

There's Mei Teis, wraps, and soft structured carriers (like Ergo)...check out The Babywearer! You can easily wear a baby well into toddlerhood (and older)!

[susmjones]

Another vote for Ergo. I can put her on my front of back by myself. For the back I stand her on the couch while I sit on the couch and put her in it. She is 19 months old, almost 23 lbs. and I wear her at least a few days a week in it while I am cooking, cleaning, or even out and about. She LOVES being in it and often falls asleep there. Well worth the money!

[matthewsmom0505]

I love my Moby Wrap! It's good up to 35 lbs and works for all body shapes and sizes. The only drawback is that it generally needs to be re-wrapped when you take the baby out for a diaper change, etc.

I have friends who love their ergo carriers. I'm not sure I could figure it out, and I didn't want to go to the expense, so I went with the Moby and haven't been disappointed. The Ultimate Baby Wrap is essentially the same thing, too. Good luck!