Yes, I realize that some of you will make fun of me for "wearing Mekonen," but baby carrying is one of the best ways to develop the attachment needed for Mekonen. For all of his life so far, he has learned that "mommies" are replaceable due to the many nannies and caregivers that care for him at the orphanage. Our first and most important job when he comes home is to establish ourselves (Jon & I) as his primary caregivers. We have to pretty much "re-train" him to realize that mommies are not replaceable, and that he only has one forever mommy, ME! One way we have been encouraged to do this is through a baby sling. I am a small person and need something that will be easy for me to move around in when out and about with our babe. I had decided I was going to go with the peanut shell. It's so cute and I just like it. Haha. But then I have heard so much about the Ergo Baby Carrier. It doesn't have a big frame and the baby doesn't hang by his crotch like most carriers, and it can work for all stages/sizes. The peanut shell can supposedly hold them in various positions and sizes as well, it just doesn't look as comfortable out of the "laying down" position. Here are pics of the two. Anyone have any thoughts/ideas? Not your criticisms of how weird it is because I don't care if anyone thinks it's weird.
Here is the Ergo Baby Carrier. You can use it in the front (with baby facing you), on the side, or on the back. I hear it's amazing and super comfortable and lasts for all stages. Con? It costs about $100!
Here is the Peanut Shell. Way cuter looking in my opinion, but I'm not sure how practical it will be. Baby can be worn like shown (laying down), on hip, and sitting forward. Pro? It costs $50 and a different brand, same style is about $30.
Here is the Peanut Shell. Way cuter looking in my opinion, but I'm not sure how practical it will be. Baby can be worn like shown (laying down), on hip, and sitting forward. Pro? It costs $50 and a different brand, same style is about $30. 
18 comments:
here's my 2 cents. i brought a sling and the moby wrap for elias. we picked him up at 6 and 1/2 months and he hated the constraint of the sling...he wanted to move his legs. he absolutely loves the moby. so, i would go with the ergo as i don't think a sling will last you long at all.
I'm going for the Moby wrap or Sleepy wrap (both pretty much the same), and probably also the Baby Hawk (or some kind of mei tai carrier) and the Beco (similar to the Ergo).
I'll be wearing Baby D pretty much constantly when we are first home. I've carried babies in a sling like the peanut sling, but it doesn't seem (at least for me) to work for long times of wearing. It just got kind awkward and not that comfy after extended periods of time.
Can you borrow some from a friend to see what he likes best, and then buy that one?
Okay, this is the longest comment ever so I will stop!
My over the shoulder baby holder (sling model) is the only thing I have kept from my two boys. They both simply loved it! You can use a sling until a child is 3 and wear it tons of different ways, on your front, on your hip, even on your back. Mine has African animals sprinkled on it, and it will be in my bag when I head to Ethiopia to bring my hugs and kisses home. It is more difficult to handle, but more like the way your Mekonen would be carried in Ethiopia. Also, you can wear him on the front, not just on the back. That seems like more bonding to me (and there are ways to hold them in the front with his little legs out of the sling). Seriously, my little ones loved it! I am a snuggly mom and both of my boys love to snuggle now too (although only one was born enjoying it). My dear friend who adopted from Ethiopia used a sling as well to provide that extra bonding time. From my missionary mommy heart, on the back just doesn't seem like as much bonding because you can't touch their face, brush their hair out of their eyes, and stare into their beautiful brown eyes.
Just a thought, but I know you'll make the best decision for your needs.
Besitos (little kisses in Spanish),
Sarah Dawn
I recommend the Maya Wrap slings. They are adustable, they come in different sizes, and they are very versatile. I used to sell them so that may tell you how much I liked them.
I have carried both of my children in them and still carry my 2.5 year old in it from time to time. I have loved having "sling babies" as I call them, you are bonding with your child in a effortless way.
I have carried my children in the Maya Wrap in front of me, lying across me while they were sleeping, on my hip, and on my back.
Good luck with your decision, there are a lot of products out there now.
http://mayawrap.com/ is the web address if you are interested.
I heard the Bebo one is the way to go, but more expensive than that. I had the NoJo one, hated it. And I had a front pack one that was OK. I would get a Bebo if we could afford it.
You are NOT WEIRD AT ALL! I still carry my baby and she's 18 months! :0) I have a Moby Wrap which I love! When she was little I carried on my front facing me so she could sleep whenever she wanted to, when she got to the stage where she was interested in everything I carried her on my front facing out, then she went to the back, and now I carry her on my hip. I think it's great. It's just cloth so you can leave it wrapped on you even after you take them out (like getting in and out of the car, etc.) and just pop them back in when you're ready again.
I've used the Baby Hawk Mei Tai (I think it's similar to the Ergo - on your front or back) with both my girls. It's really comfortable, and easy to wear. I tried a sling with my first, and it seemed awkward, and I always felt like she was about to fall out. I would also think that you could only use the sling while he was small, but the Mei Tai I could still use with Marissa at 3 years old.
-Stacy
I have a sling, which I've used faithfully (I have a nojo) since my guy was 4months old. He's 2 and half now, and when he's asleep and I have to still run into a store or soemthing, I still use it.
I will FOR SURE be purcasing an ergo before we get baby girl. The sling is good, I mainly used it when kiddo was sleeping. It was just easier on my back to carry his weight. But once he was past newborn stage he didn't want to be it awake. He didn't want to lay down, or be confined. I've tried ergos and they are soooo comfy.
I've heard stories about babies loving one or the other so safest bet is to bring two different styles. Fortunately, Dawit loves both so I alternate since I've found that continual use of one or the other can really put wierd strains on your back/shoulders (especially as he gets bigger).
I purchased my sling and Ergo off Ebay for about 1/2 the price of retail (you can see pics of both on my blog- I just wrote about carriers). Good luck with your choice.
Just thought I'd stop back by and leave you a link of a shop that I love. It's an all natural baby store that we frequent! :0)
http://sproutingup.com/
I would go with the ergo...Reese loves it, it is comfy...and bonus...Jon can wear it too... I currently am borrowing the moby and a sling...but prefer the ergo...It is just easier...
ps...carrying him is great! I don't know anyone that would think that was weird...
I'd say go with the moby... not that I've ever used one yet, but my sister has said it's the most comfortable for your shoulders and back. Also comes in MANY colors and isn't too terribly expensive. We're planning on getting a whole mass of different slings/carriers, another being the bjorn (which I hear is easiest for men to carry but may tug a woman's shoulders forward too much) b/c we'll each be holding a child! Can't believe we're at the stage where we get to buy things for when our baby boys come home! :)
We adopted our two children from Guatemala at 10 months and 2 1/2 year old. The Ergo saved me, seriously it was the best thing we bought for travel and bonding. Even our 2 1/2 year old liked it. Our daughter was extremely clingy when she came home and I think that the ergo saved both her and I as she was in it all the time. It also was really good for my back. I would recommend it hands down!
I have both the styles you are looking at. We never really used either of them. You are coming from a totally different stand point than we did with the whole bonding thing. I have a wrap that my friend gave me and she and her friend love them...I wasn't a fan because I got so hot being all wraped up! Jeremy used the other style which is a pro...Jon could use it too because it doesn't really look feminine. :-) Maybe we'll use it with our second...but we didn't really use them at all with Rex.
The moby is the best baby carrier in my experience. I loved it and so did not Thomas and Samuel. There are different positions you can put them on and it extremely portable. As it is only a strip of cloth, you can go through airport security without the trouble of taking off Mekonen. Also if you don't want to pay for moby you can get patterns online and make it yourself. If you are not sewing savvy, sucker one of your friends into doing it. Luckily I just borrowed one from a friend of mine whose babies are already grown up.
oops..take out the not....Thomas and Samuel loved it! wow...that is what i get for multi-tasking.
I just ordered an Ergo for Ferhan! Hope he likes it; he's already 3 but he is still small in size and he wanted to be held all the time. My daughter Josie (from Zambia) LOVED being on the back and we should have bought the Ergo for her. In Zambia they use a cloth (called chitenge) but it was never comfortable for me since the weight is all on one shoulder and the knot kind of digs in. She would have been 100% happy to be in that thing all day.
i personally think that the sling is uncomfortable if you're really trying to get something done, or if you have it on for awhile. i'm going to get an ergo when we get our baby. i have a baby bjorn and that was nice, but it doesn't hold them past a certain weight (and since cale was 14 lbs at 2 months, it dodn't last long). i have the 5-in-1 sling thing and it's really annoying to have to wrap all around. i did keep both, but i'm looking forward to getting an ergo. my friend has one and loves it. good luck either way. if you're like me, you'll just end up holding him most of the time, because you can move him around. :)
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