Baby carrier recommendations

[docuventaries]

A few days ago, former colleague sent me a Facebook message asking which baby carrier she should buy. Rather than sending her a very long reply I decided I would update this LJ instead and just send her the link, since some other expecting moms might find this info useful :) and I guess I was right, since this morning I got a question about slings on YM naman. :D

Let me preface this post with the disclaimer that this is based on my limited experience with wearing Bea and Annika (who from time to time still requests a ride in "Mamma's pouch" AKA the Ergo). I have four different carriers, which seem like a lot until you find out that some die-hard babywearers have ten or more (I'm looking at you, Ria) and there are several types I haven't tried yet, like ring slings and wraps.

1. Hotsling - we purchased this from Sling Sisters when Annika was a little over two months old. At the time she was becoming dependent on nursing to sleep, and Edward was having a difficult time putting her to sleep by rocking. With the help of the sling, Edward quickly became the expert at getting Annika to take naps, and when he would pop her in the sling she would automatially close her eyes and sleep for 2 hours or longer.
2. Baby Björn Active -. we LOVED this when Annika was 3 months-8 months. We took many happy walks around the neighborhood and the city without bringing a stroller. They say this can be used from birth onwards, but we're waiting another month or so before placing Bea (5 weeks old) in it because the Björn's neck and back support doesn't seem adequate for a newborn.
3. Mei Tai - I'm currently using this for Bea because she's gotten too heavy for the sling (at her 1 month checkup she weighed 5.3 kg). It's a nice extra carrier to have but if you were only buying one or two carriers, I wouldn't recommend this because of the steep learning curve - it can be daunting for new babywearers to put their baby in one - and because men may prefer carriers that are less, umm, flowy :D so if you want daddy to share in the baby carrying duties, better go for the Baby Björn or Ergo, or even the sling.
4. 
   Ergo Baby Carrier - now this is my favorite. If you buy the infant insert you can use it with newborns (bought it second hand, so I don't have the insert). I'm looking forward to using this for Bea when she's old enough. It's a formed backpack-style carrier, and like the Mei Tai you can wear your baby on your front or back, but you can't wear the baby forward-facing on your front.

Summary: My least favorite is probably the Mei Tai. It's easy to put on once you get the hang of it, but I still prefer formed carriers. The ability to wear the baby forward-facing on your front is the main advantage of the Baby Björn, and Annika seemed very happy in this position, but experts say that this is not a good position because the baby can't tuck her head in when she is over-stimulated or tired... but note that those experts are usually promoting other carriers :D When Annika seemed tired I would just take her out and put her back in facing me, and she would sleep on my chest, so over-stimulation was never a problem for us.

In the end I would recommend getting a sling (best for newborns) and Ergo. You can still use the sling for toddlers, but in our case we preferred the convenience of the Ergo - after we got it, we didn't use any other carrier :D