In the car I have a Babyhawk and either my hemp Hotslings pouch or my fleece Peanut Shell pouch, depending on season. Pouches are the easiest for quick trips in/out of places, and for Up/Down stages of toddlerhood.

At home I have another Babyhawk, a solarveil Mei-Tai for summer/water, a Moby stretchy wrap, a Bundleboo woven wrap (this has leg holes to make it easier/safer to learn), a WAHM Mei Tai, and a Blue Celery system (also look at the Baby Buddha… the Blue Celery’s great, but there are a few reasons I wish I would’ve spent the extra for the Buddha instead). I tried a couple ring slings, but they weren’t for me. And in the first few months with my first baby, I tried a fancy “ergonomic” Snugli, as well as a Bjorn, but both of these had my back scraming in pain within 10 minutes. And he was a tiny baby too!

After being in a car accident a few months ago, my ribs were far too bruised to wear any of my carriers for a couple weeks, and it was awful! I couldn’t do anything while I was holding my baby… I’m so used to having my hands free while I carry him, I don’t know how people with babies or toddlers do anything without having a carrier!

I also agree with the weight loss aspect. With my first, I only started wearing him at about 6 months, and by 10 months I wa 20lbs LESS than my prepregnancy weight! My second is now 9 months and I’ve still got a couple pounds to go, but he was a 2lb 10 oz baby, who’s only 12lbs now, so he’s not as much work to wear yet, lol.

I at one time had quite the collection myself, and the REALLY great thing about it was, as my son got older, and less likely to be slung 24 hours a day/7 days a week, I was able to GIVE my slings away to parents who needed them! I met a couple in the mail room of my apartment complex with a preemie, daddy was carrying the baby in the middle of his chest, so I ran to get my wrap style sling, and the video to make it easier for him to give his newborn kangaroo care! I have given ring slings, pouches and more to complete strangers, all of which were grateful (and hopefully continued using them!).

Now I am down to one Maya Wrap, the same one I used for my daughter, and while he doesn’t ride in it as much as he used to, neither of us is ready to give it up yet. But, if we see a mom or dad struggling with their baby, we may just feel the overwhelming need to give them a sling and a helping hand :)

In the first year after giving birth I lost over 80 pounds, (despite recovering from a rather vicious c-section) and another 45 the second year (and continue to do so heading into the third year!) the majority of which I attribute to majority of to babywearing.

I’m itching for a BabyHawk this time around. Right now my faves are the Zolowear ring sling, SlingEzee padded ring sling, and the Rockin’ Baby Adjustable Pouch Sling.

I also enjoy the Beco and think it is a nice alternative for people attached to their Bjorn who want to make the switch to something more ergonomically correct for baby and parent.