Baby Wearing Help (please & thank you!!)

So, Adison is just past 5 months old, and approx. 16 lbs...we will find out her exact weight at her 6 month appointment, that is just her being weighed w/ another person on a bathroom scale.  
I have tried babywearing before, and it was torturous to my back/shoulders..however I am pretty sure that it was due to the carriers that I tried.  I have an Infantino Sling Rider, and that was fine when she was tiny, but even when she was just at around 8 lbs, it KILLED my back to carry her in it, even for just a half hour.  She did seem to like being in the sling, though.  I also had a Snugli front carrier. I tried that, thinking it might not hurt my back, w/ the different style, however I was wrong.  Adison didn't even seem to love being in the Snugli, but she was younger so maybe she was just still in that "loves to be cradled" stage.
I SO want to try baby wearing again, I know all of the benefits that it gives to babies, and I also think it would be convenient & give me a reason to go for more walks (don't have to drag the stroller downstairs).  I am willing to spend more on a carrier that will be good for her, good to my back, and we will be able to use for a long time.  By "more" I mean more than my $20-$25 carriers that I have tried already.  I would love to say that it's important to fit Mike too, however the Sling Rider is one taht HE chose and he has yet to try it, ever, so this will be just for me & Adison (ie: if it must be fitted, that would be fine).
My question is:  what carriers do you ladies use?  I have seen a lot of you say Hot Slings & Peanut Shells.  I want to be able to do different carries, not JUST a front carry or JUST a cradle carry.  Back carrying is not important to me, so hip, front, cradle, etc would be my "needs" in a carrier.  
Optimally I would like to spend up to $60ish on a carrier, however if it is something that could possibly bring us up through toddlerhood, I would be willing to spend more.  
Thanks a lot, ladies, I know that so many of you are knowledgable on this topic & I could really use the advice!!
**cross posting this in PWI/FFA..thanks!

I have heard awesome things about Hot Slings but have not tried it myself. I think you can get them at Target for around $40.

Hi!

I've been using a sling from www.slingling.com. I love that sling. You can choose whatever fabric you want, and they're really quick about shipping (I got mine in less than a week) I think with shipping I paid $55 but well worth it. And you can do all the carry styles with it...they even post instructional videos on their web page.

Good luck!! Hope I helped!

I'm looking into getting another carrier for Kendall...she LOVES her snuggli, but as she's getting bigger, my back is feeling her in it.... I can usually go a few hours with her in the snuggli...if its hurting your back quickly, then you might have to do some adjusting... I know when she was at like the 10 lb mark and I was using my infantino, I had the straps adjusted wrong, and OH BOY did that hurt.

I'm looking into a mei tai or something simular

Quoting Afloridacracker:“ I'm looking into getting another carrier for Kendall...she LOVES her snuggli, but as she's getting bigger, ... [snip!] ... my infantino, I had the straps adjusted wrong, and OH BOY did that hurt. I'm looking into a mei tai or something simular”

 Yeah, I want to get a "good" carrier, and after my experience w/ the cheaper ones, plus just having people tell me to get a more expensive one, now I just want to stop trying to save  $ on it & just find whichever type is going to be the best for us   I will try the sling rider again & readjust the straps, but I hated the snugli & got rid of it after trying it twice!!

Quoting Ilovemygirl:“ Hi! I've been using a sling from www.slingling.com. I love that sling. You can choose whatever fabric ... [snip!] ... you can do all the carry styles with it...they even post instructional videos on their web page. Good luck!! Hope I helped!”

 Thank you!  I have a collection of links to investigate after work today!

I have been baby wearing since Jacob was born and have tried about 7 different one. The best I have found are Zolo wear which is really expensive, and sweetpea ring sling which is about $45 and up. Sweetpea is actually my favorite and I now have two of them. You can pick your fabric and then she makes it and you have it in about 1-2 weeks. Shipping is very reasonable. Go to www.ckgraphicsonline.com It is the best thing I ever purchased for him. I wear it everyday. He is 20 pounds now and it feels like nothing when I have it on right. It can do all the positions even back wearing. Good luck and let me know what you end up getting and how you like it.
Lindsey

I had an infantino baby carrier when Hailey was 2 months old..either of us liked it.

I waited until 5 months and bought a custom made "hotsling" (similair)..and it was the smallest I could find.. it was TOO BIG on me  

I bought a ring sling (Hailey was 6 months old) next and by the time I started getting use to wearing it, Hailey was big enough to sit in a shopping cart and didn't need me to carry her.

I still have my ring sling.. I hope to use it if I have another baby.. Then I can get more than a couple of weeks use out of it.

Quoting rmendaann:“ I had an infantino baby carrier when Hailey was 2 months old..either of us liked it. I waited until ... [snip!] ... still have my ring sling.. I hope to use it if I have another baby.. Then I can get more than a couple of weeks use out of it.”

Jake can sit in the shopping cart as well, but we both love using the ring sling. Plus it is nice when we are at the park, outside, or something with our five year old. Otherwise I am always stuck sitting next to the stroller. So with the sling I can move around and play with our five year old.

Is it still beneficial to a baby if you carry them instead of wear them?  I have a snugli and use it often but most of the time, I just carry him.

Hi, I have 4 children now and I think I can safely say that I have tried most slings on the market and HANDS DOWN my favorite one is the adjustable fleece pouch sling by kangaroo korner. It's about $70 and worth every penny. I even sold my Ergo because I didn't like it as much!!!! They are really great feom newborn up to 35 pounds. You can have them in front, on your hip and on your back. People always stop my when I'm in public to ask about it.......I hope this helps.

I have a Peanut Shell and so far I really like it. I think you can use it more then one way the bigger the baby gets. I love baby wearing and she seems to always be content when we are in public. Plus those carseats are so heavy I can't imagine carrying them everywhere....People always stop me in public and ask me about the sling but some people look at me kinda crazy too LOL!

I have a Moby Wrap, and it's the best thing since sliced bread, seriously. It's the most ergonomic of all the carriers and the most versitile. It's basically a long piece of fabric you can wrap up a million ways, to carry your child on your front or back or side or breastfeed or whatever... it's totally awesome because it doesn't pull on your neck or shoulders, plus your child is essentially swaddled to you.. Robert loves it.

http://www.mobywrap.com/t-instructions-Lotus.aspx

check those out, the hug hold and the joey hold (the last picture on the lotus hold page) are the ones we use.

And I swear it is way easier than it looks to put on. The two holds we use are the same wrap, just the baby is flipped around.

I wore Robert in Walmart for 3 hours and didn't get sore! And he had a blast the whole time.


BTW I don't actually have an official Moby Wrap, I bought mine from a lady who makes them herself.. but it's the same thing.

I have the baby bjorn air carrier and I LOVE it! and my baby was and always has been one heavy little dude! I still use it and he is 19.5 lbs... I think they are good up until 22 lbs... I don't know what I'd do without it!

Quoting merbobear:“ So, Adison is just past 5 months old, and approx. 16 lbs...we will find out her exact weight at her 6 ... [snip!] ... so many of you are knowledgable on this topic & I could really use the advice!! **cross posting this in PWI/FFA..thanks!”

want me to make you a sling?