MEI TEI (MT)
What is it? A mei tai is a large piece of squarish fabric with 4 straps you tie on. It can be worn on the front or the back and since it ties on, there is less issue with sizing than a structured carrier and it's easy to share this carrier since there is nothing to adjust. Variations include XL straps, a taller toddler-sized body, a contoured body, pockets, toy straps, a headrest or a hood.
Recommended companies: BabyHawk, Kozy, Wrapstar, Beanslings, Bamberoo, Dream Carriers, Two Momma Designs, Ella Belly, Happy Slings, Catbird Baby, Freehand
Newly added: Anna Carrie Baby. I have heard this carrier maker has adjusted her designs and they are now safe. I have not tried one myself though.
Similar carriers An onbuhino (onbu) carrier has top straps that loop through two rings or loops on the bottom so there is no waist strap. Companies that make onbus: Two Momma Designs, Happy Slings A podaegi (pod) has a longer blanket that has top straps. The blanket it tucked under the baby's bum and the straps give support. Companies that make pods: Zidee, Shiny Star Designs, Wrapstar A wrap conversion (WC) is a mei tai made from woven wrap (see below) and has straps similar to a wrap so you get the best of both worlds. Companies that make WCs: Wrapstar, Obimama, Bamberoo, Dream Carriers. I have also heard amazing things about Kindercarry from across the pond.
NOT recommended: Buying random cheap WAHM carriers off ebay/etsy. This is one carrier you just can't skimp on. Sellers who advertise $30 MTs are using subpar materials and are not sewing carriers properly. First check the list of carriers to avoid. If it's not on the list check to see that the carriers are made with bottomweight material, multiple internal layers of support (batting is NOT enough,) and straps sewn in with X boxes or other safe stitching options (simply double stitching is not enough.) If the listing does not say, ASK. If you aren't sure and there aren't list on TBW, ask on BBC's BWing group or Babywearing Love and Support on Facebook. Also be sure to check reviews on TBW. There are some with less than stellar customer service like Boutique Bella Bambini.
Instructions for wearing can be found here, here and here.
DIY? Yes, but a moderate level of sewing is required. Remember to select bottomweight fabrics such as denim, canvas, twill or corduroy and use internal layers and X boxes. Tutorials can be found here, here and here.
SOFT STRUCTURED CARRIERS (SSC)
What is it? A SSC is a carrier with buckles that you clip on rather than tie. It can be worn on the front or the back and hip (although it is not the most comfortable hip carrier.) Because of the waist padding found on most brands, this can be worn hiking or for long periods of time since most of the weight is distributed on the hips rather than the shoulders. This carrier is more difficult to choose since the comfort and fit are based on your size and shape and it is harder to share since you have to readjust the buckles but it is very dad-friendly!
Recommended brands: Beco, Ergo, Boba, Oh Snap, O&A, Angelpack, Action Baby Carriers, Dream Carriers, Bamberoo, Two Momma Designs, Kanga carriers by Bloo Kangaroo, Ella Belly Click, Pikkalo and Patapum
NOT Recommended: Pretty much anything you can buy at a big box store. Things are changing and some stores are starting to carry the good carriers listed above but stay away from Bjorn, Infantino or anything similar with a narrow crotch which is uncomfortable for both you and your baby (see below for more info on crotch danglers.) I also get asked about frame carriers and I usually say no to those too. If you are a serious hiker, then OK but you'll take someone out with that giant thing most other places. Plus what do you do with it when you aren't wearing it? I can roll up my Beco and toss it in my diaper bag. You can't do that with a frame carrier.
Instructions for wearing can be found here, here and here. A great comparison chart can be found here.DIY: Yes but a moderate level of skill is needed and you need to be sure your buckles and webbing are strong enough and weight tested to withstand the pressure of babywearing.
WRAPS
What is it? A wrap is a long piece of fabric wound around you and the baby. There are a ton of different lengths, types and ways to use this wrap. It is the most versitile carrier you can buy but it also has the largest learning curve. There are two main types: stretchy wraps and wovens.
STRETCHY WRAPS are just what they sound like; they are stretchy. These are usually about 5 meters long and although some manufacturers claim they can be used for babies up to 35 pounds, this really isn't practical. They do not have the support needed to wear a larger baby and they are never to be worn on the back (except the Wrapsody.)
Recommended brands
Wrapsody Bali Stretch: This is the superman of stretchy wraps. They are thin and soft and uber supportive. These are strong enough to support a heavy baby or toddler and an experienced wrapper can use these for back carries.
SnuggyBaby: These are a great WAHM brand that are also supportive enough to carry a heavier baby. These are made with a dense weave french terry that is not as stretchy as most wraps and it has a pretty center panel.
Anaju by 3 Tree Designs: These are the softest wraps on the market. Made with %100 bamboo, they are light and cool and perfect for a summer newborn. They come in solid colors and lovely hand dyed patterns.
Sleepy Wrap: These are also French terry but it is thicker and more stretchy. They are wonderfully snuggly but not the coolest wrap around. They come in a wide variety of solid colors and are very affordable and easy to find.
Moby: These have moved back to my recommended list after trying one again recently. I think they must have changed fabrics since the ones I have tried in the past were thick, dense, hot and saggy. A new mom friend of mine has one and it is lovely, soft and breathable. They also no longer have back carry instructions so I am happy to include them on this list especially since they are the easiest to find in mainstream stores.
NOT Recommended: K'tan (too expensive and too stretchy to be useful for more than a few months), Lovey Duds (I have moved her off the recommended list for promoting back carries in a stretchy which is dangerous especially in such a thin wrap!)
DIY: YES! I highly recommend buying 5 yards of stretchy fabric and doing this one yourself. Look for a thick stretch cotton or blend that does not fray and simply cut it down the width of the fabric. You don't even have to sew it!
WOVEN WRAPS are long pieces of woven cotton, linen, hemp, silk, or cashmere. They can be worn on the front, back or hip and with newborns through high school (just kidding!) There are many different brands, weaves, fabrics, and ways to use them so it's maybe the most overwhelming of choices. I recommend a 4.6 meter cotton wrap for someone new to wrapping.
Recommended brands:Didymos-lots of different weaves and fabrics including cotton, silk, cashmere and linen. Didys have their own sizes too. These are available in the largest variety of sizes and prices. They also make ring slings.
Hoppediz- Hopps are notoriously wide and have contrasting rail colors that make tightening the rails much easier. These are thick dense woven wraps and are harder to break in. There is also a "light" version that is much thinner. These have a pocket on one end that sometimes makes it harder to tie. These make huge knots and I find the width difficult to use with a small baby. These are great to learn to do back carries with a toddler though. They come in four sizes and are relatively cheap new. They also make ring slings, a buckle carrier, a stretchy wrap and organic wovens.
Storchenweige- Storches have two weaves, Leo and stripes. The stripes are stiff at first but after breaking in are really soft. These are workhorse wraps and will last forever. These come in 5 sizes. They also make ring slings.
Girasol- There are two weaves, old and new. If you buy an old weave used, it will be thick and blankety with a right side and a wrong side. The new weave is much thinner and has the same pattern on both sides. You can also get these with fringe. There are lots of standard colors of these and lots of retailers have exclusive colorways. This was one of my first true wovens and they will always hold a special place in my heart. They are very soft even new and come in 5 sizes. Some mamas do not find these as supportive with larger babies. There is a new diamond weave and since I first posted this, there has been an EXPLOSION of exclusives. Just be careful. Not all vendors are recommended. Stick with the ones on my list below or check reviews on TBW.
Neobulle- These French wraps are some of the softest wraps on the market, even right out of the box. They have some of the most vibrant color choices too. The weave is comparable to Girasol but I find them slippery and harder to use than Girasol. They also make ring slings and other mama/baby products.
BBSlen- These are highly underrated wraps so you can sometimes get great deals on these used. Some colors are thicker than others but most are pretty thin. These are also pretty wide like the Hopps and are also sturdier than most other brands. They come in 4 sizes and carry one of the longest sizes on the market. They also make ring slings.
Dolcino- these are super soft and snuggly and would make a great wrap for a newborn. I found them to be pretty supportive for an all cotton wrap. They come in 2 sizes. Dolcino is distributed by Moby so sometimes people think this is a Moby brand wrap.Easycare- These are also underrated and not as well known. They are super thin and become very soft and would be great in warm weather. They only come in two sizes.
Ellevill- Ellevill has several weaves including Zara and Jade in cotton, organic Karma, and silk or wool Zara. These have very narrow tapers and unhemmed edges which some mamas don't like. They used to be hand woven but now they are machine woven. They also come in lots of sizes and there are tons of new ones coming out this year.
NatiBaby- These have become very popular recently with several new colors, patterns and fabrics. These come in cotton, wool, silk, bamboo and linen. They are beautiful but in my limited experience, they are not as supportive---UPDATE---I have been told that there are lots of weaves that are killah supportive. They also make a stretchy wrap.
Vatanai- These are the makers of the famous Pamir which is hand woven on a 100 year old loom. They also do normal wraps that don't resell for upwards of $1000! Their regular wraps are thin and light and while they aren't as supportive, they are killer in the heat! NatiBaby- These have become very popular recently with several new colors, patterns and fabrics. These come in cotton, wool, silk, bamboo and linen. They are beautiful but in my limited experience, they are not as supportive---UPDATE---I have been told that there are lots of weaves that are killah supportive. They also make a stretchy wrap.
Bebina- I have not tried these but I have heard them described as soft, smooth and thin. They have a unique series of zodiac prints as well as a nice rainbow and other colors.
Ellaroo- These are super thin but are not as supportive over about 25lbs. They have solid black as well as gorgeous colors and all come with fringe.
Oscha: This is a newer brand and since I am no longer wrapping, I haven't even tried one. My babywearing friends love them though and they are in seriously high demand. There are lots of fabric and pattern choices too.
Gypsy Mama/Wrapsody Bali Breeze- These are gauze wraps rather than traditional wovens. They are very thin but very supportive and are some of the best warm weather wraps available. The vibrant colors are unique and amazingly beautiful. These are a bear to break in so you might want to find one used. Some mamas find these much harder to wrap with so I don't recommend them for tentative beginners. But if you are adventurous and patient or an experienced babywearer, these are great! These are sized in yards rather than meters. This company also makes water wraps.
DIY? I don't recommend it. I know moms who make DIY gauze or osnaburg but for the price by the yard, you'd do just as well buying a real woven used. Some sellers try to market DIY wovens. Just because a wrap is made from woven fabric does not make it a woven wrap. A woven wrap is designed to carry a baby and there is nothing else like it.
HOW TO BREAK IN A WRAP
Use it!
Wash it (according to the directions--silk, wool, and cashmere should not be put in the washer/dryer)
Put it in the dryer on no heat with an old pair of sneakers or tennis balls.
Iron it.
Sit on it.
Sleep with it.
Braid it
Use it as a swing.
Pull it back and forth through your crib bars
RING SLINGSWhat is it? A ring sling is a long piece of fabric worn over one shoulder that is threaded through a set of rings used to adjust the sling. They come in padded and unpadded and I much prefer the unpadded because they are easier to adjust and they are safer.
Recommended brands: SweetPea Ring Slings, Sleeping Baby Productions, Kalea Baby, Babyette, SnuggyBaby, Comfy Joey, Sakura Bloom, UpMama,Shiny Star Designs Zolowear, Maya Wrap, Taylormade
A new additions to the list: A Secret Garden who sells water slings on etsy. I have been using one the past two weeks and it is fabulous!
NOT Recommended: Balboa, Premaxx, SlingEZee, any other heavily padded ring sling with a large pocket or elastic rails. Watch out for slings made with shiny or welded rings (even reputable brands if you are buying used--some old ones used to use them and were recalled.)
Instructions for wearing: I love Zolowear and Sakura Bloom videos. Here is a great tute from Erin of Wrapstar as well.
DIY? Absolutely! Here is a tutorial page and check out this page for info on choosing fabrics. Do NOT use craft rings, hardware rings or rings from tack shop. Only aluminum or nylon sling rings are lightweight and strong enough to be used in carriers.
Pouches
What is it? Pouches are simple loops of fabric folded and worn over one shoulder like a ring sling. The baby sits in the folded pocket section.
Recommended brands: Hotslings, Karma Baby, Gorgeous Baby, Peanut Shell, Lucky Baby, Slinglings
NOT recommended: Seven Slings are much too thin and even with the "free for shipping" codes are not worth it especially since the shipping costs over $10. They are not worth the $10, trust me! These slings are paper thin and rough. It is probably safe enough but it's sure not comfortable at all.
Instructions for wearing: The Hotslings videos are awesome! Also check here for positioning info.
DIY? Not the easiest one to make since sizing is such an issue but here is a tute.
CARRIERS TO AVOID
These carriers have been checked out by me and my fellow babywearers. They are not reputable sellers and I do not recommend buying a carrier or anything else from them. If you find a carrier that you are concerned about that I should add to the list, send me a comment or an email. Thanks! (updated 6/2012)
NEW LISTING!
BOUTIQUE BELLA BAMBINI/ Earthy Bliss
This has been a long time coming. I know I recommended her at one time but that was before her customer service went in the crapper. Although most of her carriers are safe, her oldest version of her ring slings are not safe or easy to use. But even though most of her other carriers are relatively safe, I will not recommend her because of her horrendous customer service and unprofessional attitude both of which I have experienced firsthand. You can read my reviews on TBW if you are interested, username: pumpkinbearsmom. Bottomline: If you have one, fine. If you find one used, fine. I just don't recommend buying from her directly based on my own personal experiences. ****This has been edited to comply with the cease and desist letter I was sent by Johna's lawyer in Sept 2012.****
BOUTIQUE BELLA BAMBINI/ Earthy Bliss
This has been a long time coming. I know I recommended her at one time but that was before her customer service went in the crapper. Although most of her carriers are safe, her oldest version of her ring slings are not safe or easy to use. But even though most of her other carriers are relatively safe, I will not recommend her because of her horrendous customer service and unprofessional attitude both of which I have experienced firsthand. You can read my reviews on TBW if you are interested, username: pumpkinbearsmom. Bottomline: If you have one, fine. If you find one used, fine. I just don't recommend buying from her directly based on my own personal experiences. ****This has been edited to comply with the cease and desist letter I was sent by Johna's lawyer in Sept 2012.****
Rhiamon on etsy: She is selling ring slings with small stainless rings rather than aluminum sling rings. She says "The rings are stainless steel and hold up to 200lbs. They are smaller than traditional rings, making them stronger and safer." Also I am concerned about the fabric she uses as most of the ones listed look like one layer of thin cotton which is not strong enough to hold a baby comfortably and safely. The kicker though is she is not even wearing the slings properly in her photos. I have a hard time trusting a carrier maker who can't wear her own carriers properly.
Strawberry Baby: [THESE ARE CURRENTLY NOT LISTED FOR SALE.]
There are two styles, regular and fleece and both are unacceptable from the small bit of information I am able to get. The regular mei tai is made with bar tacking rather than X boxes which is OK if industrial sewing machines are used which I doubt in this case. The real problem though is that the straps are attached to a tiny tab sticking off the body of the carrier and there is not way that is going to hold up in the long run (you can sort of see this in the blurry cell phone photos on the regular link above). The body of the carrier is only 2 layers of decorator fabric which is also unacceptable. The fleece carriers are all one piece with a fabric panel added. There is no way a mei tai with one layer of fleece is strong enough to hold a baby. I contacted the maker of the carrier personally after being alerted to some serious drama on Facebook and she has now said she is no longer offering them for sale and her Facebook page is gone. I have to apologize to the owner of eLeMeNo Pee for posting that I had contacted her before. I thought I was talking to the owner when I first posted this review but later learned she was just a rep for the company. I have edited those statements out now that I have more info. Of course they ARE still up for sale even though the carrier maker told me she wouldn't offer them for sale anymore.
There are two styles, regular and fleece and both are unacceptable from the small bit of information I am able to get. The regular mei tai is made with bar tacking rather than X boxes which is OK if industrial sewing machines are used which I doubt in this case. The real problem though is that the straps are attached to a tiny tab sticking off the body of the carrier and there is not way that is going to hold up in the long run (you can sort of see this in the blurry cell phone photos on the regular link above). The body of the carrier is only 2 layers of decorator fabric which is also unacceptable. The fleece carriers are all one piece with a fabric panel added. There is no way a mei tai with one layer of fleece is strong enough to hold a baby. I contacted the maker of the carrier personally after being alerted to some serious drama on Facebook and she has now said she is no longer offering them for sale and her Facebook page is gone. I have to apologize to the owner of eLeMeNo Pee for posting that I had contacted her before. I thought I was talking to the owner when I first posted this review but later learned she was just a rep for the company. I have edited those statements out now that I have more info. Of course they ARE still up for sale even though the carrier maker told me she wouldn't offer them for sale anymore.
4bebella: Makes MTs, RSs, and wraps. I have contacted this ebay seller directly to ask a huge series of questions. There are TONS of red flags on these carriers. For both carriers, she outsources the making of the carriers to India and refused to answer if she used fair trade practices to pay her workers. Her RSs do not use the proper rings or the proper fabric. She said they are weight tested but could not tell me how that test was done or if it was the rings or the fabric that was tested. In addition to that, in just about every photo advertising her ring slings, she is using them incorrectly. For the MTs, she refused to answer what weight cotton was used, or how many layers she puts in the carriers, but she does admit that she only has double stitching on her straps which is not good enough. Her wraps are simply hemmed cotton fabric, nothing special and not worth the money. She does offer a money back guarantee but you have to pay return shipping and a 30% restocking fee. There is nothing good to say about ANYTHING this seller produces. UPDATE: A mom on my message board took one of these MTs apart and it was garbage. It was simply 2 layers of lightweight fabric. There was a small bit of cotton batting but no inner layers and no bottomweight fabric. In addition, the straps extended less than an inch into the carrier and were simply sewn in using the topstitching of the body fabric. Avoid this at all costs!
UPDATE #2 The maker of this carrier has posted on my message board saying that this review is unfair. She has claimed that I have never contacted her. I have found the email that ebay sends when you get a message and I am happy to try one out for myself but from the information I currently have, I am not convinced that this carrier would be safe to carry a chihuahua much less a child. I stand by this review and I feel obligated to share that with y'all!
UPDATE #2 The maker of this carrier has posted on my message board saying that this review is unfair. She has claimed that I have never contacted her. I have found the email that ebay sends when you get a message and I am happy to try one out for myself but from the information I currently have, I am not convinced that this carrier would be safe to carry a chihuahua much less a child. I stand by this review and I feel obligated to share that with y'all!
Bundle with Love: Makes pouches, ring slings, stretchy wraps and mei tais. Fabrics for RS and MT are much too thin, RSs do not use the correct rings, MT straps are much too narrow where they meet the carrier. Unknown if this seller uses X boxes. Plus it drives me nuts when carriers are advertised being used incorrectly and she uses the name brands Maya and Native to describe her carriers. On etsy & ebay
Cuddling Baby: This is one of the worst MT makers I have encountered. First the carriers are not well made. She advertises that she uses 4 layers of material and batting and uses X boxes (which has not always been the case--she only changed when people complained) but she is just using a thin poly/cotton blend fabric which is not strong enough for a baby carrier. Also if you look at the photos of her carriers, you can see how narrow the straps are where they meet the body and who knows how far those straps extend into the body of the carrier. X boxes or not, this isn't as safe as it should be. She admits to making 60-70 of these a month and common sense will tell you no one can do that and still take the time needed to make a safe well-made carrier.
In addition to all that, this seller's track record is spotty at best. Her ebay reviews speak for themselves (including the retalitory feedback left for her unhappy customers) and she has a disclaimer on her website that she was in the hospital so she could not complete some orders quickly. However, she continued to take orders that she knew she could not fill and lied to her customers about it. Moms had to file with Paypal to get their money back. Then she also told a mama on my message board that the delay was due to a house fire which was another lie because a local mama checked with the fire department and there was no fire. Local mamas also report that she is posting on Freecycle that she has carriers available right now even though she has jilted her ebay customers. She also had a series of deaths in her family that delayed shipments. This woman must have the worst luck on the planet!
Also operated on etsy under the name Beeba but that account is now inactive (it was opened in Nov 2009 during the time she was supposedly in the hospital and took orders through Dec 2009)
TBW reviews as a vendor and for her carriers and more info here, here, here and here. Photos here. Notice that anyone defending her carriers is not really very experienced based on feedback and post counts. Also look at her own personal responses.
UPDATE: One of the moms on my message board took one of these carriers apart to demonstrate how unsafe it is. It was actually worse than I thought. See here for more details and to see how bad a bad carrier can be.
This carrier maker is out of business but she has been popping back up on esty occasionally under variations of the name BeeBa. This is the current one. Beware. As soon as she gets some bad feedback here, she’ll close this username and open a new one.
In addition to all that, this seller's track record is spotty at best. Her ebay reviews speak for themselves (including the retalitory feedback left for her unhappy customers) and she has a disclaimer on her website that she was in the hospital so she could not complete some orders quickly. However, she continued to take orders that she knew she could not fill and lied to her customers about it. Moms had to file with Paypal to get their money back. Then she also told a mama on my message board that the delay was due to a house fire which was another lie because a local mama checked with the fire department and there was no fire. Local mamas also report that she is posting on Freecycle that she has carriers available right now even though she has jilted her ebay customers. She also had a series of deaths in her family that delayed shipments. This woman must have the worst luck on the planet!
Also operated on etsy under the name Beeba but that account is now inactive (it was opened in Nov 2009 during the time she was supposedly in the hospital and took orders through Dec 2009)
TBW reviews as a vendor and for her carriers and more info here, here, here and here. Photos here. Notice that anyone defending her carriers is not really very experienced based on feedback and post counts. Also look at her own personal responses.
UPDATE: One of the moms on my message board took one of these carriers apart to demonstrate how unsafe it is. It was actually worse than I thought. See here for more details and to see how bad a bad carrier can be.
This carrier maker is out of business but she has been popping back up on esty occasionally under variations of the name BeeBa. This is the current one. Beware. As soon as she gets some bad feedback here, she’ll close this username and open a new one.
Little Rubi: Makes MTs, pouches and RSs. Judging from some of the close-up picks on ebay, the stitching is not very straight. Her carriers are very close to looking like either Kozy MTs with a rounded top or BabyHawk MTs with padded headrests and I hate copycats. I think for the price, I would rather have the real thing. These might be better than I think but there is no proven track record on TBW and she is not wearing the slings properly in her photos either. The copycat idea aside, I worry about the safety of the carrier.
Milky Baby MTs: These are very similar in quality to the 4bebella carriers. Also the straps are not angled and that is not a design that will be comfortable to wear even if these were made well. How much can you trust a carrier for less than $20? UPDATE: Another mom I know took one of these apart and like similar carriers on this list, it has no support, no X-boxes and only lightweight decorator fabric. UPDATE #2: I have corresponded with the owner of Milky Baby recently. She claimed that the carrier is safe but said that she is using decorator fabric as support, batting for the guts, and triple stitching for the straps. I explained how to make the carrier safer and she promised to start using x boxes and extending the straps further into the carrier. This is great news but until she starts adding more layers and uses thicker fabric, I will not be able to take Milky Baby off the list.
UPDATE #3: I just checked on Milky Baby on ebay and she's still using the same photos and description so I am not convinced that she has strengthened the design of her carrier. :(
UPDATE#4: I got to try one of these in person (Thanks Cat!) and it is garbage. The straps and back are made with thicker canvas type fabric but the straps are only one layer. They are hemmed around the edges not doubled so they are very very thin and narrow. The straps extend less than 1 inch into the carrier at the waist and the shoulders. The body itself is made of just three layers, the thicker strap fabric, a thin layer of batting, and a VERY thin layer of cotton. It is uncomfortable even with my tiny peanut who is about 13lbs. Still not recommended.
UPDATE #3: I just checked on Milky Baby on ebay and she's still using the same photos and description so I am not convinced that she has strengthened the design of her carrier. :(
UPDATE#4: I got to try one of these in person (Thanks Cat!) and it is garbage. The straps and back are made with thicker canvas type fabric but the straps are only one layer. They are hemmed around the edges not doubled so they are very very thin and narrow. The straps extend less than 1 inch into the carrier at the waist and the shoulders. The body itself is made of just three layers, the thicker strap fabric, a thin layer of batting, and a VERY thin layer of cotton. It is uncomfortable even with my tiny peanut who is about 13lbs. Still not recommended.
The Loving Bean (on etsy) Blog : She might be done selling slings but just in case I am listing her. She was selling slings with craft rings and tried passing them off as aluminum SlingRings. She had two listed and a fellow babywearer linked me after she convo'd her and asked about the shiny craft rings she was using. The seller told her they were Sling Rings but there is no way because the ones pictured were very thin and shiny, not thick and dull like aluminum rings. Then she sent a pretty defensive message to my friend about it accusing her of harassment (she just asked for a better pic of the rings) but then she told me she had sold it locally. I don't want moms being harassed but I don't think that was the case here, especially since she has also accused me of harassment as well. UPDATE: This mom convo'd me several more times (for a total of about 10 times so who is harassing who?) and now has resorted to the foulest language I have ever seen a mother use! Plus she has admitted to sending all her friends to harass me as well. Etsy has gotten involved since this is against their policy. If this is the way she treats customers who ask questions, I would not buy anything from her! Be safe, buy only brushed metal rings!
PLACES TO BUY
To buy used
The Baby Wearer: Must be a member (it’s free!) and to sell on the FSOT board, you must be a member for 30 days AND have 30 posts. This can be a little overwhelming at first.
Diaper Swappers: Must be a member (it’s free!) and there is no post minimum to sell. You do have to have 10 posts to add photos though. You will find the occasional crappy carrier here but there are lots of great deals here too.
Ebay (do you really need a link?) Just be wary of non-name brand slings. Do your homework first. When in doubt, shoot me an email with the listing and I'd be happy to check it out for you!
To buy newRiver Bugs
Jessica carries Moby, Sleepy Wrap, Ellevill, Ellaroo, Didymos, and Bebina wraps. She has the super cool Boba and Oh Snap by BabyHawk and Ellaroo and Comfy Joey ring slings. She also has highly coveted dye spots with DyeHard custom dyes. Her store is ever expanding and she is a sweet mama to boot!
Zerberts
Ruth has free shipping to the lower 48 states and discounted shipping everywhere else.
She carries AngelPack, Action Baby Carrier, Oh Snap, BabyHawk, Eden MTs, SweetPea Ring Slings, Kalea Baby Ring Slings, Hoppediz, and Wrapsody.
Sweet Pickles Now known as The Blueberry Tree (You can still get there through the old website though)
(there are 2 different links to the regular site and to Hyena Cart)
Susan carries these wraps: Colimacon & Cie, Didymos, Girasol (including exclusives!), Natibaby, Storch, and Wrapsody (including exclusives!) plus
Catbird Baby MTs, Pikkalo, Olives and Applesauce, and sometimes SBP ring slings. She also carries lots of other cute baby stuff!
Frogmama
Lorene has killer sales on Becos and other great carriers!
She carries Angelpack, Beco, Oh Snap, BabyHawk, Didymos, Storch, KarmaBaby, Slinglings, plus lots of other cool natural mama and baby items.
PaxBaby
Jillian is one of the coolest mamas I know but she looks way too good for a mom of 5 and one on the way!
She carries Sakura Bloom, Hotslings, Kozy, BabyHawk, Beco, Ergo, Oh Snap, Olives and Applesauce, Pikkalo, Wrapsody, and BBSlen. She also does super cute custom Beco and Wrapstar carriers with matching drool pads! She has just acquired "Pimp My Carrier" and can now help you make your babywearing experience even cuter!
Bebewearing Mamas
Naomi carries Slinglings, Comfy Joey, Kalea Baby, Eden MT, Catbird Baby MT, Sleepy Wrap, BBslen, Didymos, and Ellevill.
To buy used
The Baby Wearer: Must be a member (it’s free!) and to sell on the FSOT board, you must be a member for 30 days AND have 30 posts. This can be a little overwhelming at first.
Diaper Swappers: Must be a member (it’s free!) and there is no post minimum to sell. You do have to have 10 posts to add photos though. You will find the occasional crappy carrier here but there are lots of great deals here too.
Ebay (do you really need a link?) Just be wary of non-name brand slings. Do your homework first. When in doubt, shoot me an email with the listing and I'd be happy to check it out for you!
To buy newRiver Bugs
Jessica carries Moby, Sleepy Wrap, Ellevill, Ellaroo, Didymos, and Bebina wraps. She has the super cool Boba and Oh Snap by BabyHawk and Ellaroo and Comfy Joey ring slings. She also has highly coveted dye spots with DyeHard custom dyes. Her store is ever expanding and she is a sweet mama to boot!
Zerberts
Ruth has free shipping to the lower 48 states and discounted shipping everywhere else.
She carries AngelPack, Action Baby Carrier, Oh Snap, BabyHawk, Eden MTs, SweetPea Ring Slings, Kalea Baby Ring Slings, Hoppediz, and Wrapsody.
Sweet Pickles Now known as The Blueberry Tree (You can still get there through the old website though)
(there are 2 different links to the regular site and to Hyena Cart)
Susan carries these wraps: Colimacon & Cie, Didymos, Girasol (including exclusives!), Natibaby, Storch, and Wrapsody (including exclusives!) plus
Catbird Baby MTs, Pikkalo, Olives and Applesauce, and sometimes SBP ring slings. She also carries lots of other cute baby stuff!
Frogmama
Lorene has killer sales on Becos and other great carriers!
She carries Angelpack, Beco, Oh Snap, BabyHawk, Didymos, Storch, KarmaBaby, Slinglings, plus lots of other cool natural mama and baby items.
PaxBaby
Jillian is one of the coolest mamas I know but she looks way too good for a mom of 5 and one on the way!
She carries Sakura Bloom, Hotslings, Kozy, BabyHawk, Beco, Ergo, Oh Snap, Olives and Applesauce, Pikkalo, Wrapsody, and BBSlen. She also does super cute custom Beco and Wrapstar carriers with matching drool pads! She has just acquired "Pimp My Carrier" and can now help you make your babywearing experience even cuter!
Bebewearing Mamas
Naomi carries Slinglings, Comfy Joey, Kalea Baby, Eden MT, Catbird Baby MT, Sleepy Wrap, BBslen, Didymos, and Ellevill.
Metro Minis
This NYC retailer has just about everything you could possibly imagine from carriers to about a million other baby products! They have some of the best Girasol exclusives as well!
MTs: Kozy, Napsack Baby, and Mei Tai Baby
RS: Upmama, Pslings, and Sakura Bloom
SSCs: Ergo, Beco, Oh Snap, Angelpack, Pikkalo
Wraps: Girasol, Didymos, Barabarn, BBSlen, Ellevill, Storch
Quirky Baby
Kozy, BabyHawk, Hotslings, Ergo, Beco, Oh Snap, Angelpack, and Wrapsody, plus this is also a retailer of Babylegs
McKinley Kid Baby Gear
This Alaskan retailer sells Beco, Ergo, Pikkalo, Catbird Baby, Ball Baby Overall (discontinued but so great!), Sakura Bloom, Storch, Ellaroo wraps, KarmaBaby and they have killer sales!
Heavenly Hold
This shop carries Ergo and all the possible accessories, Beco, Oh Snap, BabyHawk, Slinglings, and SleepyWrap as well as lots of other great mama/baby stuff.
Granola Babies/ Piece of Cloth
Giselle sells lots of different brands of wraps and other carriers. She has just branched out into cloth diapers and other natural baby stuff.
Marsupial Mamas
This was off the list for a while while I acted like a middle schooler. The owner was badmouthing this blog and I thought, "Fine! Then you don't need to be on it!" The company has since changed hands and I have have unbunched my panties and honestly, they belong on the list. I have heard nothing but great things about the customer service.
Regarding Peanut
This is a store that is recommended by the owner of It's a Preemie Thing which I LOVE so I checked them out and decided to add them here too. Katy carries Sakura Bloom ring slings, Pikkalo SSCs and several brands of mei tais and wraps. She is a fellow preemie mama as well and has a great buying guide found here.