(Part 2) Top products from r/babywearing

A used stroller is a great idea (holy crap though it’s still $400 used??). Our experience:

Thought we would baby wear everywhere. I’m also a minimalist + we had a small car, so had all these opinions about baby wearing vs strollers. Well exclusive baby wearing didn’t happen for a lot of reasons!

1. She was born very very small and wraps and carriers felt unsafe and dangerous for a while until she leveled up in chunk
   
   
2. Our daughter didn’t like them anyway until about 2 months!
   
   
3. We live in a big city but also have a car and drive a lot of places. The transfer from a carseat to a wrap/carrier is much more inconvenient than the transfer from a travel system car seat to a stroller. So for example, this mommy newborn class that I went to constantly was only accessible by car. If I were exclusively baby wearing, then I would have to stand outside my car on a steep hill and fiddle to get the wrap on, wake my newborn up to get them into the wrap and settled, then repeat in reverse when we returned to the car (I’ve done this several times. Pro tip: put on your wrap before you sit down to drive). With a travel system car seat, you quietly pop them out and into the stroller and go on your way.
   
   
4. As they get older, you sometimes carry a lot of stuff. Snacks, diapers, water, change of clothes for accidents, wipes, jacket... yes you can carry baby on your front and a backpack on your back, but for me that was pretty uncomfortable after a certain weight. Having a stroller is actually really handy as a “place to hold all that stuff.” A trip to the zoo with a stroller is pretty convenient in my opinion. And again, I’m a minimalist... but you can’t escape from this reality easily.
   
   
5. Eventually, baby gets too big to wear on your front! Then where do you carry your stuff?? I never figured that out because we pretty much just switched to stroller at that point. I’m sure pro-level-baby-wearers have techniques tho.
   
   Side note: our hospital in San Francisco REQUIRED us to have a car seat and leave with baby in the car seat, even if you don’t have a car and plan on taking public transit.
   
   Thought about getting this universal car seat carrier instead of a stroller, instead got this Britax Agile travel system and are very happy with it (and still use the stroller at 2.5 yrs). It’s very slim and un-fiddly and snaps shut/opens effortlessly.

I'm sorry I can't answer you on the safety aspect, but I did want to pop in with a suggestion. My baby hated most bottles, but tolerated the MAM. I tried these and they worked so much better! He latched like it was me, and we can do paced feeding at a comfortable angle. I was thinking this might work better for feeding in a carrier simply for angle reasons, and your baby might like it if she likes the MAM.

Blue Lizard Australian SUNSCREEN SPF 30+, Baby, SPF 30+, 8.75-Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AU15E0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_HqSMxbGMFE1A6

This stuff is the shit. No burns and my derm said it is the best. I used it before 6 months old.

We got the stroller that the carseat can just snap into. Our 1MO only likes the stroller if you're willing to really zig-zag a lot and make it pretty bouncy. This one

We are about to get a Ring Sling, because holy hell, the Moby wrap is hot AF. The moby should come with a warning that it's only comfortable if the air temp is less than 80. Even better probably 70.

I would absolutely not get a $900 stroller, unless you're very wealthy and just want it. But if that's the case, I'd probably rather have the overly expensive Snoo Smart Sleeper than an overly expensive stroller, since sleep is gonna be the thing you aren't getting enough of.

On top of what everyone else is saying re: backpack, I also recommend wearing a small crossbody purse to just contain your phone, wallet, keys, lip balm, metrocard, etc. That way, you don't need to remove your backpack to get to the important stuff.

I use a Fjallraven backpack. Some are pricey (over $60) but they are waterproof! Plus, mine hangs perfectly on the stroller if I'm using it.

I totally understand. That's why the only thing that came to mind was a pram or a secondhand infant car seat (just without the base and rest of the travel system).

You can also look into getting a travel bassinet like this or this but you would have to put it on the floor of wherever you're going. A Rock N Play or a baby bouncer can easily be folded up to go in the car, then opened up at your destination, too. They're really light-weight and could also be an option.

I liked using a stretchy wrap for the first 3 months or so (up to 10-12lbs) and a soft carrier with the infant insert up until she was about 7 months, and without 7+ months.

I was using a solly baby and Juno+. Used almost everyday less maybe a handful of times.

Not sure how cold it gets by you but I’d recommend this with the soft carrier and a larger jacket and/or something like this with the wrap.

I got this giant metal baby cage. It is a pretty large space, and has the freedom the be uncoupled to wall off a room that is baby proofed if I need to. I love that thing. My kid is 14 months (almost) and it still works great if I need to put him down for a while without him getting into crap. I didn't get it till he was 7 months old but have gotten a ton of use out of it.

*edit that is the Canadian Amazon link as I am Canadian. No idea where you are at :D

Like a hiking backpack. That's our plan when baby is a toddler and walking but still not big enough to do long walks/hikes/shopping trips. Distributes the extra weight of a bigger kid much more comfortably.

Example: Clevr Deluxe Baby Backpack Hiking Toddler Child Carrier Lightweight with Stand & Sun Shade Visor https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00LH7MEMM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EEvkDbBHA3TZJ

I couldn't find that old post. But I think it was something like this http://www.amazon.com/Heating-Cooling-Pack-Thermal-Aid-Sectional/dp/B003EMC1GW Also if you find an Arizona Babywearing forum--the person said it was a popular thing to do in Arizona.

A hanging shoe rack like this one would be cool. That way she could roll up the wraps and put them in there so they don't drag on the ground from a hook. It'd work for other carriers too if you rolled them up.

http://www.amazon.com/Household-Essentials-Hanging-Storage-Organizer/dp/B0041HNMSU

I hook a diaper clutch to the waist strap of my ergo when I'm out and about doing errands and such. Fits a few diapers and wipes, my wallet, a folding fan (hot south), and a light blanket or burp cloth. Plus i usually have a toy hooked on the handle. I keep a normal big, stuffed diaper bag in the car with extra clothes, snacks, sunscreen, etc. If I am making a big day of it, I also have a camel pack backpack for water for both of us and snacks, sunscreen and a change of clothes.
Clutch like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Portable-Changing-Cushioned/dp/B00B7XUVOE


Edit: mind you, I have zero problem looking like a pack mule going on a hike, so YMMV.

Balboa sling. It's like ring sling with no adjustments needed. Just throw it over your shoulder , as easy as putting on a purse

Balboa Baby Dr. Sears Adjustable Sling, Signature Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001Q80GO0/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Ft0Uub044SBJZ

We bought this! We bought the size up though so we didn’t have to buy it twice. It has a drawstring in the back to tighten and two strings that tie around the neck!


i play. Baby Flap Sun Protection Swim Hat, White 9-18 months https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PHANNM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NEHUCb9P5BZ1A

I'm also a FTM with the same question. No baby yet but my plan is to get a soft carrycot for my stroller and to keep in the car. It won't last long but seems like a cozy, packable place for baby to rest.

We kept one of these in our diaper bag for restaurants and travel: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IHIENS2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6rkmDbV4Z5H30

If you don’t want to make a new purchase, could LO eat picnic style while on vacation? Stand at a coffee table to eat?

[frogg togg] (http://www.amazon.com/Frogg-Togg-Chilly-Pad-Blue/dp/B003YF7W22/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405705210&sr=8-1&keywords=togg+frogg)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00K5RLPOS/

I used to use this when I went on my daily dog walks with my baby in a carrier. Just covered her head in a beanie and had her in a footed sleeper with that blanket over her and a unzipped jacket around me and it was usually enough. Only problem was my daughter was 99.9% in height so I constantly had to move the blanket over her feet to keep them covered bc she'd kick it off.

Aside from full-on carriers, I recently ordered a hip carrier for my MiL to carry my 30 pound 7 month old and it's actually really nice! He does have to be held with one arm still because they can lunge off, but I used it and was surprised at how little my own bad back hurt after trying it