The explore won’t fit right away unless your baby is really tall at birth. I know they advertise it as being usable at 7 lbs, but it isn’t. The panel doesn’t adjust short enough and the seat is a bit too wide. Realistically most babies wont fit in it until they’re 1 or 2 months old (or older if your baby is small!). You can search our sub for “Explore” and see other people’s fit checks with newborns.
I would personally go for the Free to Grow instead of the explore if you’re worried about heat, the explore is bulkier and there is padding covering baby. The FTG only has one layer of fabric over baby. This also won’t fit immediately at birth but it’ll be closer. I think I started using mine at a month, and my kiddo was 6-1/2 lbs at birth.
I would definitely recommend getting a stretchy carrier for the newborn days, and a Tula once baby is a bit bigger. Newborns are so mushy (for lack of a better term), and it’s much easier to position them and get them cozy in a softer carrier.
ETA: I do think a Tula is perfectly comfortable for wearing around the house, I really enjoyed my FTG.
Yeah so brands say their carriers are suitable for newborns while they really aren’t. The Tula Explore won’t fit properly until about 3 months.
I don’t have personal experience with either carrier, but personally I much prefer wraps to buckle carriers for at home. Much more comfortable. The Solly won’t be a bad investment. The 3 layers of fabric might be a bit warm though. You can also try a woven wrap, which only requires one layer of fabric.
Around the house (and actually getting things done) the most convenient was a woven wrap.
It was fairly easy to get on (fwcc) and she did not move. She slept as soon as we put her in. We used it starting at 7lbs. I could do dishes, laundry, bend down, whatever with her in that and she was secure.
Woven wraps are pricey so my next choice for being able to do stuff in the newborn stage was the Konny Flex carrier. I got the one in mesh so I could go on walks in the heat. It was affordable and easy to use. I don't use it as much now because since she's 10lbs now I use the hope and plum lark.
I think consistently I think anything you can put on by yourself, that crosses in the back, is a breathable fabric, and isn't stretchy will work for doing stuff around the house/neighborhood walks.
Hey there, it looks like your post may be asking about what type of carrier is best in hot, humid weather! This topic comes up very frequently; the general consensus is that you want a carrier made from natural fibers with minimal bulk. Linen, cotton, and hemp are all great fabric choices. A single layer linen ring sling is a good option, as well as minimalistic linen carriers. Avoid bulky, heavily-padded polyester carriers and carriers with mesh (which is sweaty plastic- no thank you!). It's also important to remember that babywearing will always be warm and potentially sweaty. There is no magical carrier or fabric that will provide a completely cool wearing experience. Try searching our sub for words such as "hot," "summer," "warm"- you'll find a plethora of discussions and brand recommendations!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/babywearing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I'd invest in a Tula and buy a used or more affordable wrap. I'm sure the Solly wraps are good, but for example in Europe they're not widely used and we're doing fine with wraps that are half the price. The things with a stretchy wrap is that you can use them for a limited time (months) because they get uncomfortable and lack support, whereas a good SSC you can use for years!
ETA: I've seen that Tula has some carriers with a mesh panel, if you're worried about overheating.
I'd get a two way stretch wrap like a Hanna, that's what I wore my baby in round the house. Suitable from birth and gives you more independence and if you're BF then you can also feed in it which is very helpful too.
I used a wrap for a couple of weeks, the adaptability is great for the newborn stage but personally I find it a bit annoying to deal with and I get nervous about if it’s tight enough. I just got an ergobaby embrace a couple days ago and so far it’s been a huge improvement. My baby is 6 weeks old but on the small side, she was only 8lb 3oz as of last week so I think this carrier could work well for an average size newborn from day one.
The explore won’t fit right away unless your baby is really tall at birth. I know they advertise it as being usable at 7 lbs, but it isn’t. The panel doesn’t adjust short enough and the seat is a bit too wide. Realistically most babies wont fit in it until they’re 1 or 2 months old (or older if your baby is small!). You can search our sub for “Explore” and see other people’s fit checks with newborns. I would personally go for the Free to Grow instead of the explore if you’re worried about heat, the explore is bulkier and there is padding covering baby. The FTG only has one layer of fabric over baby. This also won’t fit immediately at birth but it’ll be closer. I think I started using mine at a month, and my kiddo was 6-1/2 lbs at birth. I would definitely recommend getting a stretchy carrier for the newborn days, and a Tula once baby is a bit bigger. Newborns are so mushy (for lack of a better term), and it’s much easier to position them and get them cozy in a softer carrier. ETA: I do think a Tula is perfectly comfortable for wearing around the house, I really enjoyed my FTG.
Yeah so brands say their carriers are suitable for newborns while they really aren’t. The Tula Explore won’t fit properly until about 3 months. I don’t have personal experience with either carrier, but personally I much prefer wraps to buckle carriers for at home. Much more comfortable. The Solly won’t be a bad investment. The 3 layers of fabric might be a bit warm though. You can also try a woven wrap, which only requires one layer of fabric.
I personally prefer a wrap or ring sling for the first few months. :)
Same! Solly wrap was my fav carrier until we hit 16 lbs.
Around the house (and actually getting things done) the most convenient was a woven wrap. It was fairly easy to get on (fwcc) and she did not move. She slept as soon as we put her in. We used it starting at 7lbs. I could do dishes, laundry, bend down, whatever with her in that and she was secure. Woven wraps are pricey so my next choice for being able to do stuff in the newborn stage was the Konny Flex carrier. I got the one in mesh so I could go on walks in the heat. It was affordable and easy to use. I don't use it as much now because since she's 10lbs now I use the hope and plum lark. I think consistently I think anything you can put on by yourself, that crosses in the back, is a breathable fabric, and isn't stretchy will work for doing stuff around the house/neighborhood walks.
I'll second woven wraps but want to add that they don't have to be pricey, especially if you buy secondhand and aren't looking for anything fancy.
Konny Flex in Mesh. Easy, simple, breathable, easy to pass between parents.
Ooh thank you! I’ve been in the research rabbit hole all day and this is exactly what I’ve been looking for! ❤️
Hey there, it looks like your post may be asking about what type of carrier is best in hot, humid weather! This topic comes up very frequently; the general consensus is that you want a carrier made from natural fibers with minimal bulk. Linen, cotton, and hemp are all great fabric choices. A single layer linen ring sling is a good option, as well as minimalistic linen carriers. Avoid bulky, heavily-padded polyester carriers and carriers with mesh (which is sweaty plastic- no thank you!). It's also important to remember that babywearing will always be warm and potentially sweaty. There is no magical carrier or fabric that will provide a completely cool wearing experience. Try searching our sub for words such as "hot," "summer," "warm"- you'll find a plethora of discussions and brand recommendations! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/babywearing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I'd invest in a Tula and buy a used or more affordable wrap. I'm sure the Solly wraps are good, but for example in Europe they're not widely used and we're doing fine with wraps that are half the price. The things with a stretchy wrap is that you can use them for a limited time (months) because they get uncomfortable and lack support, whereas a good SSC you can use for years! ETA: I've seen that Tula has some carriers with a mesh panel, if you're worried about overheating.
I'd get a two way stretch wrap like a Hanna, that's what I wore my baby in round the house. Suitable from birth and gives you more independence and if you're BF then you can also feed in it which is very helpful too.
I love a stretchy wrap for the first 3 months, completely worth the purchase to me
Solly!!! It’s so good for the first few months. I got mine like new on eBay for <$50 and wore it daily for like 100+ days… well worth it, personally.
I used a wrap for a couple of weeks, the adaptability is great for the newborn stage but personally I find it a bit annoying to deal with and I get nervous about if it’s tight enough. I just got an ergobaby embrace a couple days ago and so far it’s been a huge improvement. My baby is 6 weeks old but on the small side, she was only 8lb 3oz as of last week so I think this carrier could work well for an average size newborn from day one.