We first bought the ever-so-popular Baby Bjorn but it was just not comfortable, so we returned it. Then my husband did some research online and found good reviews for the Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch. It’s soft and stretchy, and very comfortable for both adult and child. It comes in other fabrics too, but we chose the fleece because it stretches more and it is also warmer during the winter. The color was a nice olive green that’s manly enough for Daddy to wear too. Since I was breastfeeding, he had trouble getting the baby to fall asleep on his own. After we got the Kangaroo, he would wear our son in the evenings after coming home from work, in order to give me a couple of hours break. The nice thing about the pouch is that the baby can be positioned in many different ways. He would usually start out upright, and he really enjoyed the view from his new vantage point. My husband would do be able to do the dishes and walk around the house with his arms free. Then, snuggled up against Daddy’s chest, the baby would soon start to feel sleepy so my husband would slide him down into a semi-reclining position. Often they would both end up falling asleep on the couch.
I think that the Kangaroo gave my husband a wonderful bonding experience with our son, especially in those early days when the baby was almost always attached to my breast. And I think it gave our newborn a lot of comfort too, falling asleep to the sound of Daddy’s heartbeat – not quite the same as Mommy’s, I’m sure, but familiar nonetheless. I myself had trouble using any baby carrier in the first few months, since I was still healing from the C-section at first, and then also my breasts were still adjusting and were just too sensitive for quite a while.
The only downside of the Kangaroo fleece was that it was too warm at times. It’s a lovely thick polar fleece that’s so soft and cushiony, and still looks brand new after multiple machine washings. It’s great for wearing outdoors in the cold, or inside when the temperature is cool. But often indoors, both the adult and child would end up sweaty after a while. (The company does discuss this issue on their website – see link above, click on “Wearing in Warmer Climates”) We love this sling, but we didn’t really use it anymore after the weather turned warm in May. However, we’re saving it and looking forward to using it again with our second baby someday. Perhaps a lighter fabric, even if it’s not quite as snuggly soft and stretchy as the fleece, will have greater durability. Also, the way the sling is made, no straps or ties are required. That makes it very easy to use, but sizing it to the adult wearing it becomes important. It comes in a variety of sizes, so if you and your husband (or whoever else might be “wearing” your baby as well – nanny, grandparents, etc) are very different in size, then you would have to purchase 2 different pouches instead of being able to share one.
