Did you go on longer walks with baby in wrap carrier? LO isn't here yet, but I have a boba, and am thinking about buying a k'tan breeze as well. I don't want to spend the money on the k'tan breeze unless I can use it for longer walks with the baby (3-5 miles at a time). What's the longest you could walk comfortably and with a happy baby?
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I think the longest I used my boba wrap was about twenty minutes of walking. We both got pretty hot in it. I've worn the Ergo for close to an hour walking uphill and that wasn't bad.
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LO spent hours in the carrier. I would maybe consider something other than the k'tan though. You're not going to be able to use it for long as the baby will get too heavy for it to be supportive. Maybe a woven wrap or ring sling? Something multipurpose that can be used through toddlerhood.
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@Weagle: I get intimated my woven wraps! No idea how to navigate them
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@runnerd: Is your boba a boba wrap or SSC? It's not that different than stretchy wraps in theory. Just more carries and more choices. The easiest way is to just jump in! Find something you think is pretty and use it
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I agree the ktan will be okay for 3 months max. I used it for longish periods of time comfortable, but only when baby was light. (And I had a very small baby.) I still use the ergo now and it's so much more comfortable than anything else I've worn.
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I don't have any wraps, but I have a Tula and an Olives and Applesauce. ( Very similar styles. ) B can stay in them for hours if I wanted her in there for that long. We're both comfortable after a hour long + hike up hills. I like the Olives as the straps can cross in the back providing even more support. Not sure if you're interested in the soft structure carriers, but I find them really comfy.
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I borrowed a Moby and got a new k'tan, but the k'tan never felt comfortable to me so I only used the moby and returned the k'tan. I used the Moby multiple times a day, almost every single day, to get her to sleep. I don't know how far I walked-- I paced the small street behind my house over and over again, but I wore her for easily an hour.
I did start using the Beco Gemini once she was maybe 4 months old-- the moby wasn't getting uncomfortable just annoying to put on and I knew I'd use the beco anyway. Even though it had a short lifespan for us, it was an absolute life saver for those months. If I had paid full price, it would have been worth every single penny.
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@Weagle: it's a boba wrap
@MrsB2012: can these be used early on?
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I loved our ring sling when she was little, and we went for lots of long walks with it. My LO loved being in it though (ie hated strollers) and I loved wearing it. It was hard on the back sometimes though. I used that for long walks until maybe 6 months? Then I started using the Ergo and Babyhawk. We still use those all the time, for hiking and regular walks and LO is 30 months now (26ish lbs).
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@runnerd: The Beco says it can be used for newborns, but I felt like the moby was way more comfortable for us, and C liked it way better.
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@runnerd: yes. THey're both from 8 pounds +. The Olives and Applesauce has a built in infant insert that was super handy. You have to buy it additionally with the Tula
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Dd is only 7 weeks so I don't have a ton of experience, but last weekend I wore her in the moby for a 45 min dog walk and she was happy and asleep the whole time-- so happy she slept another 4 hrs after with me sleeping in an armchair with her! It was her second longest sleep stretch yet, so I'm a huge moby fan
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We had a moby and I think I used it for 1-2 hours at a time. That was the max LO would usually be happy to stay in there, otherwise it could have been longer!
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A mei tai might also be a good choice. It can work from newborn+. BabyHawks are good starters.
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The stretchier stuff did not work for me when I needed to be very active or have it on for a long period of time, so personally I wouldn't recommend the boba wrap for that reason - I like it in general, but too stretchy for the purposes you listed. Out of the ones you listed I would choose the moby, but woven wraps are wayyyy nicer! You can use them just like a moby, but it's a better material and has more functionality as LO gets older.
I recommend seeing if there's a babywearing group near you - I found a local one on FB and was able to go to one of their meetings and borrow stuff to try once LO arrived, so I could see which one worked best. Before he was born some of them even showed me how to get one on and let me use their baby for demonstration purposes, haha! And I love the 'babywearing on a budget' facebook page for getting good priced lightly used baby carriers.
My DH prefers soft structured carriers where he can just buckle them to put them on. His favorite for a newborn is the Pikkolo.
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I can carry LO (9 months) in the KTan for about 20 minutes before I start to get sore.
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When your baby is tiny, you and LO might be happy with a soft wrap for long periods, but you probably won't be as comfortable because soft wraps aren't super ergonomic. As your baby gets bigger, you'll definitely want a structured carrier for long walks. My KTan was only good for about 9-10 weeks, but I used my Moby until DD was almost a year for watering the plants, etc. we use an Ergo, which I don't love, for longer walks. Next baby I am going to get a Beco Gemini.
As for slings, I'd be hesitant to use one for more than really short hands free activities. The sling does does provide very good support for the baby and does not support head and neck development as well as carriers that place the baby upright against your chest (like a soft wrap). Plus, I wouldn't want to walk anywhere with a sling - too much uneven pressure on your back and shoulders.
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@septca: The recommended position for babywearing in a sling is upright, tummy to tummy. Basically, exactly like a SSC, except it's easier to position their legs comfortably when they're tiny. When used correctly, a woven wrap/sling is just as supportive as any SSC. In many cases more so because it's infinitely adjustable.
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@Weagle: Thank you for mentioning that - I should have been more specific in my reply. Because, YES! But I constantly see woman wearing their babies - even on walks - in slings with the baby lying down.
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@septca: Yes, me too. It looks uncomfortable, and not terribly safe unless nursing.
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@Weagle: I've got the mei tai on my registry too, hoping it might be good compromise!
Well y'all have convinced me not invest in a second wrap, and hold out to get a more structured carrier.
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@runnerd: Yay for being active with your (soon to be) new squish!
PPs all have great suggestions, a SSC/mei tai/sling/wrap will be better than a stretchy wrap. I'd suggest you check out the "babywearing on a budget" Facebook page. You can test out a variety of carriers by purchasing them cheaper than new, and can always resell them if you find they're not your style.
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I used the K'Tan and loved it. We live in NYC so I was able to take her on the train and walked around the city. She must have been in for a couple of hours and didn't make a peep.
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I have a moby and my LO was in if for HOURS. I went to work one day for 8 hours and he basically was in it the whole time other than eating. (he was tiny at the time) I love my moby!!
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@runnerd: ring slings are great for long periods of time. LO is 8 months and 22ish lbs and it's just now getting uncomfortable for long periods of time. I love my woven as well but it is intimidating!
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I second the suggestion of a mei tai. I love using mine and can wear him for long periods of time in it. I will say you might need some time to figure out the leg position. DS didn't like his legs being froggied inside, so I read online about using a hair tie to narrow the base of the carrier. Once I did that, he was great in it. And if you like the mei, I highly recommend a wrap conversion one. The wrap straps are awesome and the support they give is so much better than anything else I've tried. I can carry my 17 pounder for a couple hours with no problem.
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