I didn't enjoy using a sling for the infancy period. We had a stretchy "cuddly" wrap which both my husband and I used. When she got a bit too heavy for that we got an ergo which we both used and still use on occassion especially for longer amounts of time or distances. For short everyday in and out trips a ring sling became indispensible from the age of 6 mths or so until 24 mths or so.

My favorite carrier type is the woven wraps. I have two a didymos and a girasol. I just loved the snuggly feeling of wearing them in a wrap. My husband put it in these words "It looks like you are wearing a big hug". I also love how high they are on your back - they see what you see - wheras in the ergo she only sees from side to side on my back not over my shoulder. Admittedly the wrapping requires a lot of cloth and a some learning but between youtube and friends and TBW (The Babywearer) website it wasn't too difficult.

At the time we lived in London, Ontario and there was a great group of babywearing moms who met monthly at the library and helped teach each other how to use carriers and shared carriers amongst each other for trial periods it was a great resource.