Babywearing: Soft Structured Carriers (SSCs)

This is the newest type of carrier that I've tried, since I recently purchased on on a swap board. I had heard great, raving reviews of these, and I've been wanting one for so long! So, ta da! Here it is, my Ergo!

My devastatingly handsome husband, Brett, wearing our 14-month old Squishy.

SSCs are fabulous. They've got buckles you can clip, rather than ties or wrapping, so they're a lot more beginner-friendly. You can use these for front/back/hip carries, although I'm told they're not the most comfortable hip carrier. They have an awesome padded waist strap, so they're super comfortable for long periods of babywearing, like hiking or (as I fully intend to do in a few months) at some event like a Renaissance Faire. The reason being that the baby's weight is distributed on the hips rather than the shoulders. Beautiful.

You can get infant inserts for these, but they're really better for non-newborns. They're a little harder to share, since the straps would probably have to be adjusted for each user, but it's not terribly difficult. These are extremely dad-friendly!

Some really great brands of SSCs:

• Ergo (which is what I have)
• Beco
• Boba
• Oh Snap
• Olives & Applesauce (or O&A)
• Bamberoo

Again, there are certainly more brands, but the above are brands I'm familiar with. Another word of caution--there have been some counterfeit Ergo carriers making their way around, so be sure of who & where you're getting your carrier from.