This post was originally posted by Farrah, credit to her.
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Note: Reposted from my blog for the benefit of other new babywearers. I know some of us might be tempted to suggest other types of carriers for newborns. But sometimes the idea of MTs and wraps are just too overwhelming for babywearing newbies, whilst SSCs are just too expensive. Please feel free to add your suggestions if you have any.   This is a looong over due post. I get asked this a LOT. Really sorry to all you my friends. I meant to post this entry but just couldn't find the time.So, what I'll be posting here, will be based on my personal experience. All pictures in this post were taken when my babies were 2 months and below. You are free to choose which ever carrier you wish to try as your first babywearing gear.

SIZING
Pouch
Fixed. Unless you get the adjustable ones, like the Adjustable Hotsling for instance.
Pros: Easy! No adjusting needed. Just slip in the pouch, pop in the baby, and there you're done!
Cons:
- It's NOT easy to get the right size! Especially when you're pregnant (cos you're sure to shrink at least a little after delivery), although you can still get your sizing by measuring across your flat back instead of your bulging front. Even an inch difference makes a huge difference. Just don't go wrong when choosing your pouch size. But if your pouch is slightly bigger, you can always send it to a tailor and make it small.
- Because the size is fixed, you can't really share it with other people, unless that other person has more or less the same body size as yours.
Now the thing is, when you carry a newborn in a pouch, you might feel a little comfortable and secure if the pouch is slightly bigger than the size recommended for your body. Why? Because cradle carry takes a little bit of horizontal space. And newborns are particularly very fragile. And for new mamas, or even not-so-new mamas who forgot what it was like to hold a newborn, holding a newborn could be pretty nerve-wrecking. So imagine this, trying to balance your newborn in one arm, while the other arm tries to hold the sling in place at the same time. Not so easy for first timers.
So maybe okay, you'll get a slightly bigger pouch. So you used it well during the first 3-4 months. But once the baby was ready to sit upright, you might feel a little uncomfortable. A slight strain on your shoulder perhaps? And hey, whaddaya know, the pouch is now a little too big, cos baby is now vertical in the pouch instead of horizontal. So you either try to "fix" it by doing the shoulder flip, or send it to a tailor to downsize it, or get a new pouch.
 
Ring Sling
Pros: Adjustable size! When it's adjustable, it means you can share it with your partner, or anyone else. It also means that when you shrink, you can fit in it, and when you unwantedly grow a little in size, yes, you can still use it.
Cons: Just take a little practice. Which is very easy to master. You just need someone to guide you. Or watch tutorials on YouTube videos. And do a lot of practice.

POSITIONING
Pouch
For a newborn, you can only do cradle carry. That's about it. The bad news is, not all babies like sinking deep within a pouch (or even a ring sling for that matter). So positioning is really important.
 
Ring Sling
I LOVE wearing a newborn in a ring sling! I wore Emir in upright tummy-to-tummy position. Many babies love this. You can't ever do this with a pouch. With a ring sling, you can do either cradle carry or tummy-to-tummy. It's YOUR choice!
  IMPORTANT Note: Please read further here about SAFE positioning for babies. DON'T sink your babies deep within your pouch or ring sling. It would be BEST if you can see your baby, so you can always check on him/her.
DON'T let your baby's body curl so much in such a way that his/her chin touches his/her chest as this would constrict the airway.

BREASTFEEDING
Pouch
Do-able. Although not everyone seems to be able to nurse in a pouch. I personally would rather nurse in a ring sling.
 
Ring Sling
It takes practice, but once you get it, oh! what a heaven sent the ring sling is! You can use the tail to cover up. Because of this, I never needed my nursing covers anymore. When you're good at this, you can even nurse while walking around in malls, and nobody would ever suspect you're nursing a baby. You won't even have to run and hide in the nursing room.
 
MY preference for a newborn carrier
- Ring sling for quick and easy in easy out
- Mei tai for outings (double-shoulder carrier makes babywearing even more comfortable and hands free)
- Wrap for those long sleepless nites and cranky hours

Another IMPORTANT Note: Please DON'T buy bag slings. Read more about it here.
 

I started BW with a pouch. but I would very much agree with Norley, go for RS.
DS was a month plus when I started BW. my perception was..er..quite easy..not bad at all, tho actually the sz is slightly bigger for me. those days, i do appreciate the size cos senang to cradle carry. 
later that i found out about babywearing safety, feel kinda scary pulak looking at the pics of my DS in pouch. 
when I tried RS, deep down inside.. i wish i bot RS instead of a pouch..(save duit takyah beli pouch). RS can last longer, i didnt use my pouch when DS is bigger cos susah mau cradle carry n cant do other carry also cos the pouch is big. pouch mmg kene measure betul2.
so again, go for RS. great for newborn and last till your baby is bigger. 

I started to wear my 1st DS at 8 mnths or so with a pouch...only able to wear for a mnths or so as he was soo heavy to carry in pouch..and then when he already got his feet, i just let him walk.. so the 2nd DS I'm starting early with the same pouch..but when i'm out with him with the pouch in cradle positions, he kept making noises like he's not comfy...so i bought  a new cotton RS recently...my..my...what a heaven..i can carry him  tummy to tummy, or kangaroo carry or even cradle him when he's asleep...and he just goes to sleep each time put in the RS..so now, the Rs is in the car for me to just snatch n carry him around...love the RS...

me too..start BW with pouch for my 1st child. 2nd child , I opted RS, but after he is 8months, I prefer pouch. Love my pouch very much.it was sewn by WAHM mom, a quality japanese cotton and I bet we can't find as cheap as I got this pouch nowadays..

I bought a pouch and the saleslady swore i was a size S... but i just couldnt seem to get my gendut son in.. lol. so it is still left unused.

i tried my sister's Baby Loft Silk RS next... not that comfy and it kept slippling (cos of the plasticky rings?).. so i gave up ring slings and moved on to SSCs...... then wraps... but i have my one and only psling for quick ups and downs..

It depends on ur preference.if u feel more comfortable using pouch, may b u shud get one.or may be u can rent/pinjam from mbw member dulu.but for me, i prefer to use rs.reason: sng mau adjust but mcm Far ckp, it will take sometime for u to learn. I pun terkial2 jugak dulu then lama2 ok la.

hmmm.. i terbalik dgn semuorg.. my first BW gear was an RS, and my goto gear for a newborn is a pouch :-)

i dunno, pouches just feel cozy-er to me and more secure on a newborn. maybe coz d sizing was just nice kot. and xyah adjust as its always perfectly snug. and d baby never protested, so i pun ok la.. 

Things i found that worked:
1. Keeping baby's head up/out when awake. they oso wanna see d view :-)
2. letting baby cradle in when sleeping. tidur lg lama..
3. breastfeeding in pouch is totally possible.. while walking and shopping in public yay!

I love an RS when baby's a bit older though.. when stage yg tidur (cradle)+bgn (duduk head up)+nak turun lari2 all at the same time.. senang adjust for diff carries.

i guess its just me

No prob, Rita!

Though now tetiba terasa nak wrap a newborn... newborn dah ada, wrap pulak xde lol! SO whats a good wrap for a newborn btw? ke, kena bukak topic lain (i hv a feeling its going to be a looong option list).