Baby Carriers: A Personal Review

For millennia, women have been carrying their babies tied to them with shawls and other pieces of cloth. With research into the benefits of carrying or ‘wearing’ a baby, many modern mothers are choosing to use a variety of baby carriers to keep their baby close for both emotional and practical reasons.

Baby wearing is also an integral part of attachment parenting and I knew that I definitely wanted to keep my baby close with a carrier. To choose my carriers I read hundreds of reviews on babywearer.com which is a fantastic website with tons of information on baby wearing. This review is just my personal experiences with the few baby carriers I tried, which I hope will help some other mothers in their quest for the perfect baby carrier.

The Fitted Pouch

The fitted pouch was recommended as an ideal carrier for a newborn baby and they are also versatile to wear in different ways as the baby grows bigger. The company I ordered from had a very precise size fitting chart based on height and other body measurements. The carriers looked absolutely beautiful and well crafted made of lovely patterned cloth and I was eager to receive my order. Unfortunately it didn’t work out…I’m not sure if I ordered the wrong size or if this carrier was just not the right type for us but I did not feel comfortable getting my tiny newborn in and out of the very snug space.

I did get the lovely seamstresses at Caribbean Apparels in Dominica to make me a slightly larger size but this did not work either. For some people these carriers work really well but for us it was not a good match. In hindsight I think an adjustable ring sling carrier would have been a far better choice and I will be looking for one of these for my next baby so any recommendations are welcome!

The Cozy Rider Carrier

Feeling anxious to get out and about with my baby with a carrier, I turned to the local stores to see if any had baby carriers I could use at this stage. I found the ‘Infantino Cozy Rider’ in ‘Pampers Plus’ store, and it promised to be both comfortable and practical.

This carrier was okay and I was happy to be able to go out for walks with my babe on a regular basis. The main problem was that when she fell asleep in this carrier it was really difficult to get her legs out of the fitted holes without her waking up. This feature of having to fit the legs through leg homes also made it more difficult to quickly put this carrier on and take it off which made using in the house for short periods of time a bit off-putting.

The carrier did state that it was suitable for babies from 8-20lbs but I started to feel a back strain with longer walks whilst my baby was just about 9-10lbs! I’m glad I didn’t have to use this carrier for very long as my next carrier soon arrived in the mail…

My Blessed Baby Mei Tai Carrier

I was attracted to the Mei Tai style carriers but wanted one with a buckle around the waist rather than the traditional tie to make it easier and quicker to get on and off. The My Blessed Baby carriers are handmade by a work-at-home Mum, Kate and are beautifully crafted and expertly sewn. I ordered mine in Carnival Bloom pattern and was simply amazed at how pretty it looked.

This carrier was an absolute dream to use! It hardly felt as if I had the baby strapped to me at all - she was really comfortable and so was I. With this carrier it was super easy to take off and rest her down when she was fast asleep. I only wore her on the front but this carrier can also be used to carry baby on the back and hip.

The carrier comes with a handy front zipped pocket and also a small strap for holding a pacifier which I requested was left off from mine. The long straps to tie the baby can get a little dirty as they touch the ground when having to tie the carrier outside but the whole carrier is easily washed in the machine. This was a wonderful carrier that I recommend to everyone and I’m hoping my next bambino is a boy, just so I can order another one with a different pattern!

Ergo Baby Carrier

Highly recommended by mothers everywhere, the ERGO Baby Carrier was actually my first choice in carrier and arrived when my baby was just a few weeks old. Since the carrier can only be used when the baby is over 15lbs I knew I had to wait a while before I could use it. To offset the delay, I also ordered the Infant Insert that can be fitted in to use with newborns. However, whilst the insert may be great in temperate countries it is useless in the Caribbean where it is far too hot and I never used it.

Anyway I kept trying the Ergo each month until my baby fit in nicely. With a few buckles and straps, the ERGO Baby Carrier initially looks difficult, but it really is the most simple and easy carrier to use. The thick straps are wonderful on long walks and really make it super comfortable for extended carrying. I can carry my baby anywhere with the Ergo and feel safe and at ease. The carrier comes with a hood that is perfect to shield baby from both sun and rain and it has a neat pocket at the front for small essentials. The Ergo is also available in Organic cotton fabrics so it earns eco-credentials too.

The additional joy of the ERGO Baby Carrier came when I started using it on my back. After a few practises over a soft surface I soon got used to shifting my baby on to my back and fitting her in easily. This position is perfect for getting things done around the house. I can cook a whole meal with my baby safely supervising details from behind, although she usually gets so comfortable that she falls asleep before everything is done!

Now I am 6 months pregnant I can still use the Ergo on my back as the thick strap fits well under my bump and the whole weight distribution of the carrier ensures it is still comfortable and balances out my extra front weight nicely. Overall I love my Ergo, it is a great carrier, sturdy and comfortable and set to be used for a long time to come.

I look forward to hearing from other Mama’s and Papa’s on their experiences of baby carriers and your recommendations of the best ones around.