bumping. I got a bit of a scare with slings as I was reading on article from the March of Dimes about babies suffocating in them. Curious others experience.

I second everything hbarnstein said. Also, carries with the baby facing out aren't really good for the baby *or* the parent because of the way they encourage baby to lean away from the wearer.

I've had a ring sling that I love ever since my second baby. It's a simple carrier that's good for newborns all the way through toddlers, and is known for being easy for breastfeeding. I've also had a simple, lightly padded mei tai since my fifth baby, which I really like for back carries, though I've also used it for breastfeeding while walking around a store. For this baby, I've bought my first wrap, which is a very versatile carrier that is good for many things, but has a learning curve. I got a woven wrap instead of a stretchy one (Moby is stretchy) because it's still good for heavy babies and can be used for back carries.

Some good brands are Maya Wrap, Moby, Infantino, Little Frog, Didymos. I recommend the Babywearing On A Budget Facebook group - it's a great swap for new and used carriers, lots of knowledgeable and friendly moms, and everything is $100 or less. You can find some really good deals.

There are a million great slings.

The suffocation occurs because of positional asphyxiation, which can also be a hazard if you leave your baby unbuckled in the carseat (ie your baby falls asleep in the car, you bring them inside and set them down, and then unbuckle the harness so they will be more comfortable or something) or if your infant carseat is installed in a too-upright position. The baby slouches into a position where the chin touches the chest and cuts off breathing - like a kink in a hose. You can avoid this by not carrying your baby in any sling where it's sort of "duffel bag" hold... it can happen in a deep pouch sling, or in a "bag" sling. I believe Infantino and Boppy made them and they should have been recalled. If you are concerned about suffocation, though, I'd say there's far more risk in a carseat since you are not holding the baby right up against your body and less likely to notice that your baby has stopped breathing.

A ring sling is safe and very adjustable, but only one shoulder. Not a great choice for your back if you'll wear the baby for hours at a time, but wonderful if you want something easy for quick trips. My absolute favorite sling. I've been using my ring slings for about 7 years and I recall there being a bit of a learning curve.

I like a mei tai or soft structured carrier like the Ergo or Beco for longer trips.

Wraps... the stretchy wrap like the moby is very popular for newborns but because it stretches it will sag as the baby gets heavier, and need constant readjustment. Woven wraps are awesome but you have to be pretty motivated to learn wrapping technique.

I've just bought a Beco Soleil and LOVE it!

It's one that keeps the baby's legs in the M position that's supposed to be best for little hips. It's got buckles like a Baby Bjorn, so no long tails to drop in puddles in the car park when you're putting it on. It's great for feeding in too and lasts from newborn to 2/3 years and can go on your back once they get too heavy to heave about on your front. I also like that with this model you can cross the straps over on your back when you're doing a front carry as this takes a lot of weight off your shoulders.

Other brands of similar carriers (called Soft Structured Carriers SSC's) are Tula, Manduca, Boba. I got mine from GreenMums.

Ah, I love babywearing. Mobys are really only good for very tiny babies. I also have an ergo that I still use for my 2-year-old and love, and I have a ring sling which is slightly less comfy than the Ergo but very fast to get on and off, plus it's made of a quick drying fabric so I use it when swimming. The carriers that were suffocating babies seemed to be a particular kind, iirc, that has been recalled.