Desperate to find a good carrier r/babywearing

[realist1981]

I am desperate, and I mean absolutely desperate to find a good carrier. The price tag isn’t even an issue at this point because I’m really that desperate. Baby is 3 months, ~15lb. Solly wrap has been great but needed something more as she grows. I have a Tula explore and don’t love it, way too bulky for the SC heat. Just got a hope & plum lark carrier- can’t quite put my finger on exactly what it is but I hate it. Curious about wildbird aerial and artipoppe zeitgeist? Is the artipoppe worth it? Also have been recommended to try happy baby but the overall style is so similar to the h&p lark that i immediately shy away. Prefer something linen/cotton/hemp due to climate. Any recommendations welcome!!!

 

[decrypted]

@realist1981 Is there a local babywearing group near you? I just discovered one in the city near me that lets you try different carriers out.

Maybe a woven wrap?

 

[alexander7791]

@realist1981 How about a meh dai? Someone mentioned hope and plum but there are lots of others, didymos, Lenny Lamb, girasol, and Oscha for example, and they're all a little different so you could take a look and see if any of them appeal to you.

Or a half buckle - most of those companies and some others offer half buckles.

 

[goodusername]

@realist1981 Are you interested in a woven wrap or a linen ring sling? Maybe a meh dai with a lighter weight fabric, I like the airflow of a meh dai personally.
(And people can come for me but no, artipoppe isn't worth it unless your number one goal is aesthetic.)

 

[richgsr7]

@realist1981 If you liked the Solly you should try a woven wrap. Single layer carries so it's cooler. A thin cotton/linen blend, second hand.

You can try these different carries with your Solly to see if you like tying them. It won't be super supportive though until you try with a woven.

https://sheenslings.com/2020/04/04/what-can-i-do-with-a-stretchy-wrap/

 

[sls2labs]

@realist1981 I would highly recommend scheduling a (free) fit consultation with Hope&Plum! You might like it better with some easy adjustments.

 

[pitcharan]

@realist1981 The Aerial is going to be like your Lark except bulkier/more padded. AP is not worth it unless you purely love the looks, functionally it’s not going to be better.

Do you know if it’s the cross back straps bothering you? Would you rather have H straps? Or the apron waistband?

I’d recommend looking at LennyLamb’s Lenny Light, Tula’s Free to Grow (which is not bulky or padded over baby, just a single layer of fabric and you can choose linen). Happy Baby and Sakura Bloom are also lightweight, but they are apron style like the Lark. Integra makes a lightweight carrier, and their Solar carrier is water friendly I believe (if that matters to you). Naked Panda also makes lightweight carriers.

 

[realist1981]

@pitcharan I know for sure I hate the straps on the lark but I don’t think it’s so much the cross back, but more so the straps going across my back where the fabric ends. The apron style doesn’t seem to bother me. Maybe I need to try happy baby?

 

[tytyty]

@realist1981 If you hate the webbing after the fabric ends, maybe give Hope&Plum another chance with their Meh Dai? The Lark is essentially a SSC version of their Meh Dai- it doesn’t have any webbing so it’s just comfy all of the way around.

 

[pitcharan]

@realist1981

I don’t think it’s so much the cross back, but more so the straps going across my back where the fabric ends

That's going to be the case on most (if not all) full buckle carriers then. I agree a meh dai or half buckle would solve that problem, but they are slower to put on and less convenient when you're out of the house.

 

[guinin]

@pitcharan I disagree on the last part of your comment. If you use it enough it can be just as fast. It’s just personal preference.

 

[suicidegirl1988]

@realist1981 Is there a reason why you chose a Tula Explore ocer a Standard or FTG? They aren’t as hunky and you can get the ones with the mesh panel on the back or in linen.

 

[pashapotte]

@realist1981 Try something from the try before buy program at littlezenone. Try a half buckle, a woven wrap, a carrier. They have many different ones.

See if there's a babywearing educator in your area. They often have many carriers and also help with a fit check right away.

 

[martaja]

@realist1981 I haven’t tried them yet but you might look at OScha slings. They also have online lessons and people seem pretty in love. I got an aerial and ring sling recently from Wild bird and like the aerial but I can’t speak to it very much because I’ve only worn it a few times and baby is fussy quickly in carriers so far

 

[sitapea]

@realist1981 As someone that does Florida every summer, they’re all kinda the same (hbc, boba x, Tula) they’re going to be hot no matter what but linen is the way to go & some of the fans that go around your neck pointed at the baby helps. Add in a cooling towel around the back neck area and frequently letting them down to cool off their body as well.

 

[bjn]

@realist1981 I use Artipoppe and i swear by it. Also have a Mumma etc and sakura bloom. I love them but my artipoppe has been our #1 choice so far