Mabe Monarch Carrier

Thread: "Going to be a new dad! Which carrier do I get? I've seen a lot of people recommend Mabe Monarch Carrier & Ergobaby Omni 360. So many options its stressful."

If you want to wear from birth you'll need something newborn-focused. The Omni 360 will likely be too big for a month or so (unless your baby is quite large), and the Monarch is very large and will fit at 3+ months for most babies. A *lot* of carrier brands advertise their carriers as being usable from 7lbs, but for most that's an over exaggeration to sell more carriers. If baby's head is covered or hips are overextended then it's too large. You'll need a stretchy wrap, woven wrap, ring sling, meh dai, or a newborn specific carrier like an Ergo Embrace for the first few months. My husband and I are similar heights (I'm 5'5", he's 6') and we easily shared a Tula Free to Grow. >The Omni 360 seems to win in a lot of polls. Major review sites you'd typically turn to for other products (like Wirecutter or the Bump) only review big box store/mainstream carrier brands like Ergobaby and Baby Bjorn. This is a big field of bulky, utilitarian carriers without much nuance or comfort IMO. Online reviews are even worse to filter through, as most people don't really understand how a carrier should fit or feel. Their 5 star review is glowing, but the photo they post of themselves babywearing shows a baby a peril of suffocating or falling. An Ergobaby is a safe, serviceable carrier. I would choose it over the Mabe. Are there better, potentially more comfortable options out there-- yes, absolutely. In general, carriers made from breathable natural materials are much more comfortable and temperature regulating (for both baby and wearer). Carriers that are padded all over are stuffed with polyester like a winter coat. They're hot and bulky. LennyLamb, Oscha, Happy Baby, Sakura Bloom, Hope & Plum, Integra, Didymos, Stokke Limas, etc all make nice lightweight carriers. Tula's Free to Grow is the less bulky cousin to an Ergo carrier, they have lighter fabrics but still have padded shoulder straps which I personally find comfortable. If you want my list of things to avoid while purchasing a carrier: - carriers made by carseat manufactures. They're largely terrible. Infantino, Graco, Chicco, Nuna, Diono, etc. They all make overcomplicated, poorly designed, bulky, hot carriers. I would include Baby Bjorn on this list as well. - most Lillebaby carriers. They're bulky and only have two seat widths (very narrow, and very wide) which leaves a ton of time (months!) where neither setting fits baby well. - buying a carrier on Amazon. There are a mountain of counterfeits out there, especially Ergobaby branded ones. Most (if not all) carrier manufacturers have their own websites and offer discounts and free shipping which tend to be a better deal, and you know you're getting an authentic product. - carriers without a waistband, like a Baby Bjorn Mini or Tactical Baby carrier. These are poorly designed and uncomfortable, all of baby's weight is on your shoulders and upper back. It's not a carrier design you can wear for any length of time. Edit: Thanks for the awards!

Thread: "Opinions on the Solly Wrap & Mabe Monarch as "starter" carriers? "

The Mabe is a cheap carrier that is mass produced and white labeled with the Mabe branding. You can find the actual supplier selling them for $18 on Alibaba (you have to buy 300 though so you can’t just buy one lol). It doesn’t have safety elastics, has no warranty, and they won’t repair damage (because they don’t manufacture them so can’t lol). The fabric feels cheap and people are starting to complain about the waistband losing shape permanently after a few months of wear. The price is cheaper than competitors because it’s a cheap carrier. You can find the exact same one for cheaper on Amazon - the key difference being Mabe has at least done safety testing, which the Amazon ones have not. I highly recommend looking into brands like Happy Baby, Hope & Plum, and Lenny Lamb instead.

Thread: "Going to be a new dad! Which carrier do I get? I've seen a lot of people recommend Mabe Monarch Carrier & Ergobaby Omni 360. So many options its stressful."

How much learning curve do you want to deal with. Low, medium, or high? The higher the learning curve, the more comfortable the carrier. Do you want a thin carrier, something with thick straps (thick straps aren’t necessary for comfort), etc. there are a lot of wonderful baby carrier brands, most of which the average person doesn’t know about, so may not show up in these polls. Personally not a fan of ergo baby (the embrace is a great newborn carrier, though, you usually need a separate carrier for the newborn stage).

Thread: "Going to be a new dad! Which carrier do I get? I've seen a lot of people recommend Mabe Monarch Carrier & Ergobaby Omni 360. So many options its stressful."

Bones over here is giving the best advice. Can we pin this for all the new people in the sub to read because YES! 🙌 OP, to make short of what Bones said, if you want carriers of what you asked about, get both the Ergobaby Omni 360 and the Embrace to get the safest fit for all the stages. Otherwise, welcome to the rabbit hole and we can't wait to see what you end up loving!

Thread: "Going to be a new dad! Which carrier do I get? I've seen a lot of people recommend Mabe Monarch Carrier & Ergobaby Omni 360. So many options its stressful."

I definitely recommend trying to find a babywearing group near you (most of them can be can be found on Facebook) to see if you can try on some! Carriers are like a pair of jeans, everybody likes something different. The ergo embrace is pretty universally beloved for newborns, but you’ll want something else once baby hits 13-15 lbs.

Thread: "What’s the deal with wildbird and mabe"

Wildbird is really great for some people, awful for others, as is the case with many carriers. I have one and I liked it a lot when my baby was like 3-9 months old, used it almost daily. I think most people’s issue with Mabe is that it’s white label- made to look like a high-end, luxury carrier, but is actually just basically a Temu carrier with a pretty label. I’ve never had a Mabe, but I see lots of reviews about it here and in the Babywearing BST and ChitChat Facebook where I’ve learned a ton, and bought most of my carriers and don’t hear many good things about it.

Thread: "Going to be a new dad! Which carrier do I get? I've seen a lot of people recommend Mabe Monarch Carrier & Ergobaby Omni 360. So many options its stressful."

I just like how no nonsense you are about some of the stuff, especially when it comes to the safety and ergonomics. If we as parents are putting our precious cargo in these things I just want someone to be straight about it with me. My pride might get hit if I did it wrong or didn’t know any better, but I’d rather someone tell me so I can fix it, learn, and help teach others along the way.

Thread: "What’s the deal with wildbird and mabe"

FWIW, I have a Mabe and like it. I use it for front carry and never world facing. The price point is great and it feels high quality to me. I did end up asking for a LennyLight after being influenced by this sub, but I plan on keeping my Mabe as a backup in my husband’s car.

Thread: "Overwhelmed With Carrier Options and Plus Size"

I will say you absolutely get what you pay for when it comes to ease of use and comfort. However, if you’re on a budget, I’d suggest looking second hand on marketplace, Craigslist, or at a consignment shop like Once Upon a Child. You can find many high-end carriers for a great price. That being said: I LOVE my Ergobaby Omni and Mabe carriers. Both are very easy to use and are plus-size friendly. Hope & Plum is specifically a size-inclusive baby carrier company. These carriers are absolutely beautiful! They’re a small business, handmade in Minnesota, and fit up to size 6X. They do have a higher price tag, but truly if there’s anywhere to splurge when it comes to baby gear, a quality carrier is the thing!

Thread: "How do you keep baby cool in carrier in hot weather?"

That sounds like a great plan, using an umbrella for shade and switching to a more secure carrier like the Mabe while relying on the stroller for hotter days is smart, it’s all about finding what keeps your little one safe and comfortable, and it’s wonderful you’re adapting as the temperature rises!