Big thanks again to everyone that is sending in their comments. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to compile some of these and add our own observations so that future parents can benefit!

On to this installment. Shirin and I are having a (not-so-)heated discussion about baby carriers, swings, pouches, wraps, and whatever else these types of products are called. We’re fairly interested in them because 1) they make life a lot easier, and 2) we like the idea of keeping the baby physically close (see the Wikipedia entry on Attachment theory and the article by Dr. Sears on babywearing).

My main problem with a lot of these products is that it’s really hard to figure out why some companies charge up to three or four times as much for what looks like the exact same thing. Does the “sport edition with moisture wick fabric” really make a difference? Wouldn’t it just be easier to buy some soft fabric and whip up a homemade sling? And are these things really as useful as they look (my initial guess was no, but I’m beginning to change my mind)?

Of course, at the end of the day, it’s impossible to tell what each child prefers and what works with each family. But we’d love to hear people’s opinions and hear your experiences. Thanks again in advance for the great comments!!