Baby Sling Parents – Definitive Guide To Baby Carriers

Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover Mint Chocolate

Take care of feeding your baby with the luxury and privacy you both deserve. The Au Lait Mint Chocolate nursing cover features a brown with turquoise feather pattern; a “Mommy Must-Have” by mothers, celebrities, and medical professionals. This 100% cotton, machine washable cover boasts a unique rigid neckline for ventilation, as well as direct eye contact with your baby. The generous size will keep mommy completely covered at all times and can double as a blanket or even sunshade when not in use. A must have for all new mothers!

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Easy to use, truly discreet!
I bought this (finally) before taking a trip with my 5 month old which involved flying. Until then, the extent of my nursing in “public” consisted of either the ladies’ lounge at Nordstrom, the car in random parking lots, or (twice, in a pinch), a handicapped stall in a bathroom. Never again! I’m a VERY private person, but I made my husband check out whether this was full coverage, and he promised it was totally covering everything that I didn’t want out on display (including my tummy/back where I pulled up my shirt). It worked great on the plane, in the airport, and also in restaurants. It’s much better than just using a blanket, since it can’t be pulled or fall off your shoulder. Also, the boning really does work–you can see your baby easily, and you can see to put your clothes back together when you are finished. As an added bonus, it was fantastic to get my baby to sleep on the plane, it blocked out all the lights and stimulation so she could get a nap. I just wish I had bought it 5 months sooner!

5 Stars A LIFESAVER!!! LOVE this cover!!!
I LOVE this cover! It is definitely worth the price. Very high quality fabric that is heavy and big enough to keep squirming baby covered, yet light enough to not make us both hot. An awesome, unique shower gift, also.

5 Stars Bebe au Lait nursing cover – Parkside
I purchased this product for my daughter and her new baby. It is a lovely pattern but more importantly it give her total coverage — much better then a receiving blanket. She can also see baby at all times because of the “hoop” style at the neck. It washes beautifully and folds easily into pocket size. Thank you for this product; it is well worth the price.

5 Stars so handy
wow, so wish i had this for my first baby.

you can breast feed anywhere without worry of your cover falling or blowing away in the wind. This is a must have.

5 Stars A must-have for nursing moms
This nursing cover has several really great features that make it worth the price. The ribbing at the top that allows you to peek down and see your baby is great — the few times I’ve tried nursing with just a blanket over the baby, I have had a much harder time trying to get him started and if he pops off the boob, it is a struggle to get him back on. Nursing is hard enough without having to do it blind. The fabric is beautiful and light enough that baby and I aren’t sweltering under it, and I have used it as a makeshift blanket or sun shade to cover him and it has worked very well. There are two terrycloth pockets on the inside bottom corners, and these have come in handy for wiping milk or drool off of baby and myself. (I haven’t really found a need to put anything in the pockets, as I would probably just drop whatever it is anyway.)

This would be an amazing gift for a new mom who might not have considered that she would need one, or might not spend the little extra to get one with these extras.

Buy/More Info

Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling by Dr Sears Signature Khaki

Designed to grow as your baby does, our Adjustable Ring Sling – Khaki has a unique contoured padded strap that evenly distributes your baby’s weight, a covered elastic trim ensures baby’s safe and a deep pocket designed to keep baby snug and secure.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Not comfortable for baby.
I originally saw this sling at BRU but didn’t like the color so I ordered it from Amazon with free shipping. I was so excited to try it out because my son loves to be held and I just couldn’t get anything done around my house during the day without him fussing. The sling is very high quality and has a padded shoulder strap that has been comfortable for the very short periods of time I have used it. Unfortunately, every time I have put my baby in it (he is 3 months old now and we bought it when he was about 1.5 months old) he is only content for about 5 or so minutes and then he starts to fuss. I have tried the cradle hold and with him sitting upright facing me and he doesn’t like this sling in either of those positions. He seems like he is all squished up and just can’t get comfortable. I am so disappointed because I spent a decent amount of money on this sling and now it just sits in the bottom of his closet because he doesn’t like it at all. I rate it 3 stars because it is very high quality material and seems very well made, but just doesn’t work for my baby.

5 Stars Comfortable product
This has been a great product to have. I also have a Baby Bjorn, but I love this one for around the house for my own comfort. We just started to face him forward in this while I eat, it helps support him on my lap until he’s big enough for a booster seat. I still use my hand to support him as well since I feel more comfortable by doing so.

Buy/More Info

Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling by Dr Sears Black Signature

Designed to grow as your baby does, our Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling – Signature Black has a unique contoured padded strap that evenly distributes your baby’s weight. While the covered elastic trim ensures your baby is safe and positioned close to you, the deep pocket design keeps baby snug and secure, allowing you to move freely without worry.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars I am not a sling fan anymore
I am just not a sling fan. I tried about every type of carrying device for my baby because she was so fussy. I got this because I read Dr. Sears fussy baby book. My baby was hyperalert from a very young age and by 3-4 months, I kid you not, she could get out of the sling, she would pull and rip at it and try to throw herself overboard. It was just not safe. Same thing with the Moby wrap(gift), it worked while she was younger, but not by the time she hit 3-4 months, which make these seem wasteful. Also with the recent stories of children getting positional asphyxia in these from their heads being in too tight of a c-shape, I am not sure they are worth it.

I tried the baby bjorn (gift) also when she was small and she loved it, but by around 4 months she wanted to ride forward, and for some reason she did not like riding forward in the bjorn.

I also tried and ultimately purchased an Ergo, that was the best fit for baby and me. She does ride forward but can easily turn to the side and see, she can also ride on the hip. When she gets bigger I can use it as a backpack and carry her on my back up to 40lbs. I did not buy the infant insert or use the ergo until she was about 4-5 months old. So I can’t speak to how well that one works for small infants. I can say she is currently 7 months old and loves her ergo. I know I can’t use the sling for her even now, because she will try to “escape” and fall out. She can’t get out of the ergo even if something upsets her (tired, fussy, general baby meltdown) and when she does fall asleep her head rests on my chest in an upright position with a nice clear airway (unlike what was happening with some of those slings- although this sling was not specifically cited in the infant sling deaths at the time of this writing)

The sling was well made with nice soft fabrics and had a little storage pouch that was big enough for a few dollars or a pacifier to be tucked into it.

3 Stars Not great for the money
This sling was just okay, and I was expecting a lot more for the amount of money I spent. The pouch was nice and big, and it was easy to adjust, but the plastic ring was really uncomfortable on my shoulder and the single-shoulder design was really hard on my back. This sling may work well for others, as it seems well-made and sturdy, but it just was not a good fit for me and my baby.

1 Star Too deep; baby gets lost
I put my very large baby into this sling and he disappeared! He was swallowed in the deep pouch. He hated it! And the way the pouch is made, he couldn’t really be upright in it. Still looking for something better.

5 Stars Glad I Bought this Product, Comfy
I recieved this product yesterday. I tested it out with my 2 month old boy as soon as I opened it. He immediately calmed down once in the pouch. I didn’t realize at first that you need to wear the sling high on you. You need to be able to easily kiss your baby’s forehead. It’s the biggest thing Dr. Sears urges for this product, having learned that from watching one of his YouTube Safety videos. But it doesn’t highlight that in the directions. The adjustable strap is only so long, but if you need to get the carrier higher on you (for you more petite peeps) it is perfectly fine to pull more fabric through the rings to get it as comfortable as possible for you and your baby. (Don’t adjust strap while baby is in sling to prevent pinching.) He seems to mello out every time I place him in the sling. His neck is still unstable so I do keep one hand over his neck when moving around with it, atleast until he’s a little older.

I love the design. Very fashionable and cute. I purchased the solid black color to savor my husband’s masculinity for when he uses it, but I really do love the colorful ones with those beautiful patterns. Not to say that the black isn’t cute and sleek in it’s own right, because it is. The material is soft and the shoulder pad is thick and comfy.

Another thing I love about it is that unlike the other carrier I have(Infantino Front2Back Rider), with this one I can get him out of the sling easily and very quickly. A concern of mine was that I have chronic back problems, but surprisingly with this product my baby seems light and it doesn’t agitate my back whatsoever. And the rings do not dig into my shoulders like I have seen on other reviews. Wearing the sling high and correctly should take care of those problems–be sure to read all the instructions before using. (There are demonstration videos on YouTube for how to place your baby for each type of carry. The manual instructions are good, but it’s even more helpful to SEE t done.) Overall, I like this product and am glad I bought this one and not another brand or type of sling. I look forward to using it in the coming months.

5 Stars Life saver
I am a mother of four and this is so helpful. I am a petite person and most things don’t fit me very well, this sling however fits me perfectly. Grocery shopping with a 2-year-old and a 1-month-old is a challenge, but using the sling has helped greatly. I don’t have to worry about the car seat taking up space in the shopping cart. My baby loves to be snuggled up close to me. He feels safe and secure, he curls up and falls asleep. The only bad thing is after about an hour my shoulder does get a little sore, but I’m sure once I build up some muscle it will get better. The sling is better than the other carriers I’ve used, because it doesn’t put pressure on my abdomen–I had to deliver all my babies via c-section so to me this a very important key factor. The sling is durable and comfortable. This is an important part of my daily life and I hope other parents will read this review and give this sling a chance!! I recommend this to all parents.

Buy/More Info

Philips Avent Variable Flow Nipple BPA Free 2 Pack

Avent Variable Flow Nipple Reusable Bottle Nipple The Avent reusable bottle can reduce incidents of painful gas after feeding. The key is the unique Avent reusable nipple with the patented anti-vacuum valve. As baby feeds, the anti-vacuum valve of the nipple allows air to flow into the bottle, replacing the milk at a rate baby controls by natural reflex. This natural reflex reduces air ingestion and painful gas. The result is a happier baby with fewer incidents of discomfort after feeding.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Not exactly what I hoped for
I bought a lot of these nipples before my son was born thinking that they would be all that I would need. But the level 1 is much too fast for a newborn. Level 1 in variable nipples are comparable to stage 2 slow flow nipples. Now at 5 months we are finally starting to use the variable nipples on level 1. Finding the “1″ in the early morning hours is more of a pain than I thought it would be. Our son is starting to hold his own bottle, which makes it hard to keep the “1″ pointing towards his nose. And using the variable nipples for daycare is not very realistic, so we are still purchasing some of the stage nipples to send on his daycare bottles.

In retrospect, I would skip the variable nipples and just put the money on the stage nipples.

5 Stars Perfect for reflux babies that need thickened milk
My baby had serious reflux and our pediatrician advised us to thicken his milk with rice cereal. I spent 2 months buying nipples and trying to enlarge the flow holes until I found these. SO MUCH EASIER!! Really great product!

5 Stars Best Nipple for older infants/toddlers
My daughter was put on a rice cereal formula which was thick in texture making it impossible to use the regular nipples without becoming tired or sometimes even giving up & staying hungry. I switched to the Variable Flow, which her doctor had recommended & it was great!! She was able to drink her formula without any difficulties. THANKS AVENT!!!

5 Stars Two thumbs up
At just over 7 months I add rice cereal (and even slip a little pureed baby food) in my baby’s bottle. These nipples allow for smooth suction with no collapses and baby is happy!! Baby controls flow and is fully satisfied after drinking. WONDERFUL PRODUCT!!!

5 Stars Nice to have
After I dropped a nipple down the garbage disposal while washing I was in the market for a few replacements. The replacements seem to be holding up better than the originals!

Buy/More Info

Scootababy Baby Carrier Black

The Scootababy is a hands free side carrier that allows you to comfortably carry your child as you would naturally, only more easily. We helped to test this product and found it to be the hip carrier we were waiting for. It combines the padded waist of a structured carrier with the brilliant spread out shoulder; no strap riding up your neck. This hip carrier is comfortable front, hip or back from the very first use with little adjusting or fiddling. Usage is totally intuitive for most people. Scootababy Features: Lightly padded, shaped seat for baby Can be worn on either side Supportive fleece shoulder is stretchy and conforms to shoulder without impeding arm movement Wide, padded waist belt Custom buckles easily adjusted with one hand Fits most adults – waist fits 19″ to 49″ Fits babies from 5 months and up (up to 40 pounds) Easily slides around for tummy to tummy or quick back carries Folds compactly to fit into nylon storage bag Patent pending design. Top quality materials from U.S. suppliers: fleece from Malden Mills, 100% cotton ring-spun denim from U.S. mills, performance EVA foam. Made with precision in the U.S.A.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars So Disappointed, Wanted to Like it
I am so disappointed with this carrier. After reading the rave reviews, I couldn’t wait to get this. I tried it 3 different times, trying different positions and adjustments. I hated it more and more with each time I wore it. I think it might be related to the fact that I am very thin and petite and it just didn’t fit my frame properly. My poor 7 mo daughter was slipping down my body and I had to keep an arm under her to keep her up. And the pain around my waist was downright unbearable. It also pulled down the waistband of all of my pants and made it is so that my pants were literally falling off of me. It’s a great concept and very nicely made, the Picadilly Circus print is super cute. I have given up on carriers and we just bought a backpack carrier for my husband instead that my little one loves!

5 Stars Perfect if you love hip carries!
My daughter (now 6 months old) has loved hip carries since she could hold her head up. It’s the perfect balance of being able to look around at the world, but still being able to see me and bury her head in my chest if she is overstimulated (facing directly out is really not good for most babies.) Since I found she always wanted to be carried this way anyway, I’ve shelved my other carriers and use this one most of the time.

It can be scooted around and used on the front or back, but it’s not ideal – get an Ergo or Beco if that’s what you want to do! Those carriers can be used for hip carries as well although it’s somewhat awkward.

I love that this centers the weight on my waist/hips and uses my shoulder just for balance. I have no back pain using the Scootababy! Even after several hours, my torso muscles get tired but never painful. If you’ve only used a Snugli or Baby Bjorn type carrier, forget it – this is a million times better! So is almost any carrier though

Like any front or hip carry, it does limit my movement somewhat – each arm has a lot of freedom but I can’t necessarily get my hands together (i.e. washing your hands, opening a jar.) I’ve found that I need to be realistic about what housework I can really get done while babywearing. It beats the heck out of trying to get anything done while holding a baby in your arms though, or while letting the poor baby cry because she wants to be picked up.

5 Stars best older baby carrier
WOW is all I can say! After reading the raving reviews for this carrier I ordered it…so glad I did! Now that my grandson is 23 lbs, nearly 11 mos, this carrier is the perfect “next step” from my Peanut Shell Sling (which I love and still use for rocking him to sleep at times)! We use this for walks as well as shopping (when not using a cart cover or stroller) and it is so comfortable besides being quick and easy to adjust the fit for small adult to large so everyone can use! I can’t say enough good things about this carrier…attractive besides!

5 Stars great for carrying twins!!!
i am a mom of twins and have tried a lot of products for twin baby wearing. this is one of my favorite! both of my girls are very happy and comfortable in it and i am comfortable wearing them for long periods. i also frequently use 2 ergos and do a front/back carry (which is probably more comfortable for really long time periods and i also like the ergos a lot), but my girls like being on my hips better than being on the front and back. i have tried pouch and ring slings to do the double hip carry, but never got comfortable and the babies got heavy quickly with all the weight on my shoulders. it was also very difficult to move either arm without the sling slipping off. Because the weight is on my hips with the scootababy, I am very comfortable and i am able to move both arms. Great product!

5 Stars Trying to decide which carrier?
Carriers are a huge investment and there’s always those one or two reviews which says the carrier doesn’t fit the person. I’m a new mom and was a little overwhelmed with all the choices and I didn’t want to spend 100-150 each time to try a new carrier.

I found a store that will let you rent carriers before you purchase so that you can make the best decision.

[...] – baby carrier rentals. You can rent the scootababy (or beco, or ergo, or babyhawk) and try it out first. Scootababy works great for children that are a little older.

Buy/More Info