Love the ergo. As for ebay, you need to look at the feddback score of the seller you are buying it from.

I have been in love with my Beco Butterfly forever - one of those things that was a 'best buy'. Like the Ergo it sits firmly on the hips taking all the weight off your back and shoulders. A borrowed Baby Bjorn also gave me bad back ache when baby was still small. But I could still use the Beco Butterfly on my back when she was over two - and I was four months pregnant!

Regarding the feeding, I used a Baba Sling indoors for feeding (once through the speeches at a wedding - nobody batted an eyelid as I had a black dress on and the sling was black. Also really great for having a small sleeping baby on your lap and close to you while sitting at the computer, and even pottering around the house, just takes the weight off and frees up your hands.

Back to the Beco (Ergo also looks good, I just don't know it). Beco has a great little fabric bit that attaches to support your baby's head when she/he falls asleep and/or protect from the sun - and when you don't need it it slides into a little pouch. When you aren't using the Beco it rolls up surprising small and you can stuff it into something so its easy to carry around. It also has fabric between you and the child making the whole thing including baby easy to transfer to another person if necessary. I used my Beco Butterfly almost every day of my daughter's life until after she was two and it still looks brand new.

I didn't worry about the 'facing out' issue as its strongly recommended that baby's don't face out until after six months due to hip problems. I loved the facing in, and so did my little girl. Probably depends on the child.

Good luck in researching and enjoy! I really miss those days of carrying a baby in a sling!

just to add to loving the Boba, our baby has never faced out, he loves facing in and the position is such that he can see everything and loves it. It can also go on your back so baby can face out

Easy to use and great features like key/bag holder and little pockets

Forgot to say - I was a bit scared of the tying process and how long it would take to get it on each time. It actually took me very little time to get used to it and once you get the hang of it (2days?) it's super quick and easy.

We had both the Babybjorn Active carrier and the Sleepy wrap. My husband used the Babybjorn but hands down my fave from the start was the Sleepy Wrap. I don't think we ever really used the pram before George was about 4 months old, especially given he was such a sicky baby and could never be on his back. I'd just stick him in the wrap and he was one happy bunny. We went EVERYWHERE with it and I can honestly say, if you buy one thing for your newborn, it's that wrap. Soooooo useful and wonderful! Ours was the Sleepy Wrap Organic but the brand is now called Boba. I did so much research (as for everything else...) and I found it to be the best + it's a bargain, given how much you use it. George is now 18 months and although he's now a heavier, walking toddler, we still use it from time to time and I even use it to tie him to a chair for his lunch if we're out and about and there's no highchair.

We're still comfortably using our Becko Gemini at 10kg. Baby loves facing out, but face in for sleeping. Not sure I would have been able to breast feed while carrying in it though (but wouldn't that be tricky with any carrier?). We bought ours when my daughter was 6 weeks old. They sell them in Twist in Balham.

Just a further post to say Wuzzaleena makes a very good point about eBay - you need to be sure where you are purchasing it from so that it is genuine. I did find a (pretty much brand new!) Ergo in Fara for £15 once...

Totally recommend baby carrying as a way to comfort, be close to and help baby sleep. I found the Bjorn a little too uncomfy as our baby got bigger, especially as the legs hang down straight and you have to sit with yhour legs apart! The best way to carry a baby is the M shape so legs are spread and higher, not hanging down

We had a Close one initially but being fabric it did not feel secure after our baby got bigger. It was fabulous in the beginning, tho, really comforting

South London Sling Library as mentioned previously is excellent and will give you masses of advice even if you do not borrow a sling. Email and have a chat that way, I found them fabulous

I have a Baba Sling which I am selling (if anyone wants it) but I did not get on with it as the weight was all on one shoulder and I have a bad shoulder.

I bought a Boba which is like the Ergo and we are still using it really happily and so comfortably and my baby is now a year old and 11kg. He loves it and loves being out and about iin it, his face lights up when we get it out. It is so good for tube and travel too


Totally recommend it and love it a lot.

We got it online, their website is good but I found it on Amazon a little cheaper as it was a previous design, really pretty tho.


http://www.naturalmamas.co.uk/

is a really good source of information

We used the Baby Bjorn until our daughter was about 8.5kg, and then got the Ergo which is useful and she'll sleep in it, which is good. She's now 10.5kg and it balances the weight well. The only downside of the Ergo is that the fabric meets her legs behind the knee and chafes a bit. That said, she has mild eczema, which is no doubt contributing to the chafing. I agree with the above poster who suggested you try a number of them out, if possible. All the best.

Hello!

I had the Patapum for a toddler and it was great. It is the only one i have used with all of my children, I did a lot of tourism with a 1 year old on my back!! I am considering getting the Ergo for a newborn baby, not sure if worth the difference, but I haven't tried the Patapum for baby nor seen many reviews, which makes me think it may be better for toddlers. I got it from Littleposums (sorry if misspelled) too.
I hope you get the one that works wonderfully for you, it makes you feel so good to get it right!
Xx

There are a few local(ish) sling meets and libraries where you can try things out/hire before you buy if that would help make a decision?

http://www.slingmeet.co.uk/forums/showt ... -Wimbledon

South London Sling Library
http://southlondonslings.com/

Good luck - I've got a baby bjorn that I'll probably use with no2 due in Jan also, but my friend used a baba sling quite effectively recently. Not sure if she ever worked out how to breastfeed in it though!

I loved my Calin Bleu micro fleece wrap for a winter newborn. They also do a cotton gauze version for warmer weather and/or when your baby is a bit bigger. Don't be put off by thinking a wrap is complicated - they come with excellent instructions and there are loads of videos on the web. Once you've tied it a few times, it is second nature. http://www.calinbleu.com

We also have an ergo baby carrier and they are great, especially when the babe is older and can go on your back.

Beco Gemini is brilliant. Similar to Ergo but better in my opinion as you can also have baby outward facing when they get older and you don't need a newborn insert. My baby isn't a fan of the buggy so has spent a lot of time in the sling and there is a huge difference between this one and the baby Bjorn in terms of how it carries the weight of the baby. The BB hurts my back within 5 minutes but with the Beco she can be in there all day.

For a small baby (say up to 8 months or so), I absolutely loved my sleepywrap. I always fed in it when out and about and it was very discreet. It is so snug and cozy for winter too. When my babies were older I bought a beco butterfly 2, similar to ergo. I tried an ergo but preferred the beco because the straps were less bulky and you don't have to take the baby out to put on your back or to transfer to another wearer. There is fabric inside that the baby sits on rather than just being held close to your body. I have used a baby bjorn and think that they are awful! Really bad for the back.

Ergo's are great and I would thoroughly recommend however be very careful about buying from sites such as ebay as there are alot of fakes around.

http://www.ergobaby.eu/en/blog_31-as-se ... itain.html