ErgoBaby carrier

[ladywotlunches]

Hi All

A friend of mine recommended the Ergobaby carrier, as I have to do the school run with my 7 month old ideally without a buggy, and she's getting a bit heavy for the babybjorn already. I've looked on their website and it seems a good option, as I was thinking about getting a back carrier, but am a bit put off by some of the 'framed' carriers I've seen, as they will just add to the weight, and the difficulty in loading/unloading.

Can anyone provide more first hand thoughts on the Ergobaby please and/or other recommendations for carrying baby regularly for short, but intense journeys? (Its up and down a very steep hill both ways to school!)

Thanks

[Gubodge]

I've had both a framed carrier and an ergo. The framed carrier was used once, the ergo was used constantly. I took my then 8th month old up to an exhibition in town one day and was carrying her for about 6 hours with no problems at all. It was definitely one of my baby best-buys.

[helibell]

i think slings are really individual. loved my ergo. pm me if you'd like to try it.

[buggie]

I got a beco gemini about 8wks ago and have barely used my buggie since! Got it through a website called slumber roo and actually started off by hiring one from them to check I liked it, and then got a discount when I bought it. My thanks have to go to bluesuperted for putting me on the right track!

[ladywotlunches]

The Beco Gemini looks interesting too, thanks Buggie. The only potential problem I saw with Ergo is there is no Front Facing option (Babywotlunches currently travels facing forward and loves it!). With the Gemini they have that option too. How much was the hire - can't seem to get a hire price on the site?

[The Nappy Lady]

LWL - I find that with the Ergo they are just as happy on your back, and it seems much better for the carrier, as less strain on your back than with the forward facing front carry position.

It takes a bit of practice to get used to getting them in and out of the sling with the back carry, but you soon get used to is - I used to sit on a chair or the edge of the bed to practice. Now my 2 year old just clambers into position herself if I sit on the chair with the sling clipped around my waist LOL!

The Beco is very similar, just in prettier fabrics - I've got 1 of each, though my Beco is quite old...from the days when they were called Eco Baby...you are welcome to borrow one of them to try for a week if you like? PM me.

Molly

[bluesuperted]

Thanks Buggie :) I think my whole NCT group has either an Ergo or a Beco Gemini now, possibly to do with my general raving about them both!

I agree with Molly and I don't do the facing out position - it puts too much of a strain on my back and is not as optimal for babies spinal development - but I know lots of people like it. Once they are big enough I find they can see quite a lot in the facing in position and my poor boy doesn't know any different so he doesn't mind! I will be moving him to the back when he is too heavy but at the moment we're both comfy with him on the front and I'd rather keep him where I can see him for now. Husband has tried baby on the back though and they both enjoyed it - baby went straight to sleep in fact.

I love both the Ergo and the Beco Gemini, the Ergo is my old faithful and fantastic for naps with the built in hood. The Beco is sooooo comfy in the facing in position as you can cross the shoulder straps which makes quite a difference with a 23lb+ baby. You can buy a universal hood apparently but I haven't got one (yet). I do not use my buggy either and go here, there and everywhere with mine but I am a bit obsessed! Only when MIL comes and insists on it...(grr) it literally has not been moved from under our stairs since early March... Molly your Beco might be a bit different as I think the Gemini only came out in 2010. I also have a Beco Butterfly Duo which is still in its box... not sure if I'm going to keep it or resell. It has an internal harness which is supposed to make back carries easier but like Molly says I think with practice that should be doable in the Ergo/Gemini anyway.

With the Slumber Roo site I think it's ?10.99 plus postage but you click on the hire section and then pay as normal - the money they charge you is a calculated percentage of the replacement cost of the carrier initially, but it's just a deposit at this stage. They are great, the two owners are super helpful and delivery is swift.

[sophiechristophy]

I use my ergo all the time, every day. It is brilliant, and perfect the the journeys you are talking about - when i am doing quick in and out of the car journeys I just leave it belted round my waist while I'm driving, then you just throw the baby in and off you go! A million times quicker than a buggy, easy and comfy. S

[bluesuperted]

Agree agree Sophie - we spent the best part of two weeks travelling around the UK, in and out of relatives, cars, tourist spots, shops, beaches and didn't take a buggy. Not once did we regret it or even mention it!

[JessB]

I have a rose and rebellion which is a very similar style sling - front and back carry but no face forward. They come in lovely patterns with all reversible to plain black. I think merry go round on half moon lane in Herne hill will be stocking them from next week. It is sooooo comfortable!

[Ruth_Baldock]

Our ergo arrived last week and my husband has been happily wearing our inquisitive 16mo old on his back frequently since then. Baby loves it, my husband finds the constant pointing and 'whassat?!' from

y son distracting though. I've tried him on my back too but he wasn't too keen (likes mummy cuddles lots ATM, he's clocked that he's got less than 2mo until the world will no longer Soley revolve around him)

I'd listen to everything BSP has to say up there ^ she's the babywearing queen.

To summate this useless comment; go for an ergo!

[buggie]

Bugglet loves facing in and outwards in the Becco and can see around in either position (am sure everyone who's met her will agree she's v noisy inquisitive!).

Bluesuperted is right - the hire charge is ?10.99 plus the returnable deposit (which was returned really quickly once the carrier was back with them). They also then give you a 10% discount code for any purchases you want to make. I kept the wrapping it got sent out in and re-wrapped in it to send it back to them!

[Peppa]

A bit too heavy at 7 months? My little one seemed too heavy for the babybjorn at 2 months!! Anyway, just to agree with everyone, the ergo really is fantastic and you're welcome to pop over and try it.

[Moos]

Ladywot, you can borrow our Ergo - we don't sling very often.

[The Nappy Lady]

BST, my Beco (Ecobaby) is almost identical to an Ergo, looks like the Beco Butterfly i think, with a built in hood, and in lovely patterned fabric on one side. The new Beco seems more padded to me. I got the Ergo to compare & so I could keep one in the car at all times & have to say I find little difference between the 2 slings.

I find the slings so useful now, especially for days out in town when C can pretty much walk all day but might need a quick lunchtime snooze for an hour. You feel so free when not lumping a buggy around

Very glad I had dinky girls though I must say!!

[Belle]

This is v interesting - do like the idea of a sling that you can use from birth and has the facing out option (though take on board the caveats). Though personally i do rely on the buggy for longer periods out of the house, when my son was smaller I did find it a bit much having him 'on' me all the time if we went out with just the sling, but that's probably because he was such a wriggler!

To the OP, I bought a patapum (similarish to ergo but cheaper) when my son got too heavy for the bjorn, was perfect for the kind of situation you describe, and e.g. when he was ill and needing cuddles, I'd use it to carry him to the doctor's.

[The Nappy Lady]

My main issue with using the sling when they are little is that by the time I had sling, plus my stuff, plus Nappies etc all bagged up & on me I felt like a pack horse!

For school runs (5 mins each way) & other short trips, at home when trying to get stuff done, or if going out & with another adult (so 1 carries baby & 1 carries all the other stuff) it's fine. As they get older & need less paraphernalia I find that's when I use the slings for the longer periods/trips.

They are life savers on many levels though, not least for getting a resistant toddler to take a nap!

[Belle]

Ha ha, know what you mean re packhorse, I've felt like that as my change bag is a rucksack. Also find I rely on e.g. hood of buggy to pop things in when I'm walking around.

[ladywotlunches]

Thanks everyone for the advice, and rave reviews. An Ergo (type) carrier does seem to be the way to go. Thanks so much for all the offers to try out the carriers too. I've taken one of them up - will let you know how I and Babywotlunches get on!

[MichelleT]

I'd add a vote for the Manduca - very similar to the Ergo. Since I got mine I carry my (big) 9 month old all the time and he loves it. Great for getting him off to sleep.

[bluesuperted]

Have trialled the manduca and really liked it. Very streamlined and possible to cross the straps too.