It may not be a favorite, but if you become a master at inserting your child, the Baby Sling may be the baby carrier for you.

When my baby girl was born I became obsessed with the idea of a Baby Sling ($45.95). It seemed like a comfortable way to carry baby, as well as being easy to pack and clean. True: it washes and wears well, folds into a tidy little bundle, and unfurls nicely over your arm with no buckles, snaps or clips - easy as pie!

But when it was time to slide in baby . . .? Well, that's where a degree in Origami would have come in handy. It was hit or miss whether I got my daughter in comfortably with enough space to breathe deeply and wiggle her toes. On the few occasions I managed to get it right, it was a wonderful experience. She would sleep securely or curiously gaze about, warmly snuggled next to my body. I felt no strain on my back, neck or psyche (aside from the frequent questions of curious onlookers, most of whom were more than mildly intrigued by our urban papoose.)

There were those times, however, when I simply could not get baby to settle in properly. Now part of the problem might be my build: I'm not too tall and I am fairly well-endowed in the chest area, which may very well have thrown off the "proper sling drape," but, on the one occasion my husband attempted "slingage," he quickly opted for the fold-away stroller. There is a free video explaining different carries, and it is definitely worth a look. A well-practiced, carefully schooled instructor demonstrates a number of different holds and, if you can manage to follow along, you may glean some important insights.

By the way, the baby sling is touted as being a discreet way to breast-feed in public and, although it does help to keep the baby supported while nursing, it is certainly not discreet. All in all, I prefer the myriad two-piece front or classic backpack carriers.