Hellobee Boards

I got a toddler tula and I loooooove it. Planning to get a standard as soon as we know gender, but I think they have to be 15lbs or something like that? I'd have to double check the exactly weight on the standard (infant) Tula.

ETA - found this re: baby weight for infant Tula.

If you use the Tula infant insert, you can use the standard Tula from newborn (7 lbs). Without the insert, you can start using the standard size when your baby has hit 15 lbs. You’ll know your baby is ready for the standard carrier without using the insert when you can get a proper M seat in the carrier. A proper M seat position is when baby’s knees are higher than their bottom.

@JoJoGirl: I just went to look at it and you can get an insert for the standard tula to use from 7lbs and up

For the NB phase, I found I like nothing better than the baby k'tan. No wrapping involved and it's nice and soft.

After that, I prefer wraps or Tulas.

I also used a Moby with my first and loved wearing it but sort of hated putting it on. My friend lent me a Solly wrap this time- same concept, stretchy wrap, but much thinner and lighter and stretchier and I find it a lot easier to put on- but it is still a wrap. I had planned on getting a ktan with my first but when she was born it just never felt as secure as the moby for me. Have you tried that though? Less wrapping and tying.

G is almost 12 weeks now and about 12 lbs and I have just started wearing her in the beco Gemini now, but still do the Solly wrap too. Someone is lending me a ring sling next week so I'm excited to try it out.

@JoJoGirl: we bought a Lillebaby for DS2. I haven't tried it yet but I was told either that or a Tula.

I am loving our beco gemini. Super easy to use from the beginning (maybe not from birth, but from a month or so), and can face in or out. No insert necessary.

I also loved the solly wrap, which is similar to the moby--once I got the hang of it, it was so fast to put on and I loved how cozy LO felt in it.

I have friends who love the Solly Baby wrap if you're up for giving wrapping another shot.

I don't have a Solly Baby wrap, but my favorite, hands-down, is the Tula. I didn't have it when she was teeny (but they do have an insert!) but we're still wearing it comfortably at 14 months. If you want one thing that will do everything and last a long time, I'd suggest a Tula with the insert. It's way easier to put on by myself than any other soft structured carriers I've tried, and it's super comfy for both of us.

Love the ktan, it's like a premade wrap.
Love the Beco Gemini for more structure.

I have an Ergo Organic that we loved with H and also a woven wrap that. I just cannot get the hang of. I hated the Moby with all of that fabric.

Lillebaby if you're looking for a ssc. I found it way less awkward than a Tula/ergo with an infant insert. Now at 10 months and 16 lbs I prefer the Tula but the lillebaby was a lifesaver when she was too small for it

Also had a ring sling which my first son loved and my daughter hated but we did use that from birth as well. I never felt as secure with the rs as the lillebaby

no advice but thank you for asking this because I also am hoping to wear baby and just couldn't wrap my head around it with my first (no pun intended!) following for advice!

I already have a tula (that we never got into using with my first), and am hoping to buy the infant insert, but am not sure if that's the best option for a tiny newborn.

@Pirouette: I think you can use the rolled blanket trick instead of the insert, if that's more comfortable for you - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/385339311844475121/.

@ShootingStar: is it as easy to get the baby situated using the rolled up blanket? Consider the fact that I'm a total newbie who didn't have the patience to get the k'tan going with my first (of course, i blame her tiny size and the fact that she nursed 23.75 hours a day) of course, the infant insert seems super overpriced, so i'd love not to need it. but i have a feeling this baby won't meet the 15lb mark for quite some time, if he's anything like his sister.

@ShootingStar: true! In the meantime, I think i'll try practicing with one of LO's dolls and see how I do with the rolled blanket trick.

I have a moby, a ring sling, a woven wrap, a mei tai, and a tula. I'm short, only 5'1, and have a baby who is small to average.

I loved the moby and mei tai for the first 8 weeks. I made my ring sling at 8 weeks, and used that far more than the moby after that. Next time, I'll use the ring sling from the start. I loved the mei tai for the newborn days. So cozy.

I started using our tula, with a rolled blanket around 10 lbs. My 6 month old is still technically under the weight limit, but fits well. We primarily use our tula right now.

Oh, I forgot that I have a Baby Hawk mei tai. I bought a used one when she was about 3 months and loved that it was a big structured, but still allowed me to get what felt like a custom, snug fit. I haven't been able to use it on her without cutting into her legs (again--this is likely a technique problem a pro could help me with), so I haven't used it in awhile.

I really like ring slings with newborns. Easy and quick ups and downs.
As far as infant inserts... I hate them. My kids never fit right so I wait until their bodies are strong enough for SSCs.

I read this recently and found it useful.
http://pinkandbluemag.com/hacking-baby-carrier/

@fussygal: it's just as long, but the fabric is much thinner so it can sit in the bottom of your diaper bag and hardly take up any space. Because it's so thin and stretchy I find it doesn't matter nearly as much if it is twisted when I put it on (though still more comfortable if I spread the shoulders out). I put on the moby after using the Solly and found it a lot more difficult to work with, even though I used the moby a ton with my older daughter.

@JoJoGirl: the new recommendation (since inbetween DD1 & DD2) is legs out from birth. There is concern that froggy puts too much pressure on baby ankles.