I'm just not getting the Ergo...

[BellendenBear]

I know there are a lot of Ergo enthusiasts out there, and I would be grateful for some advice about the newborn insert. I just don't seem to be able to get the hang of it!

I have the new style (I think) insert which is the 'heart2heart' type rather than the cradle position one. My daughter is almost 8 weeks old. I can't find any good demonstrations on the internet showing how to position her in the insert, apart from one using a small non-wriggly doll.

Should I be trying to bend her legs up like a frog at her size or should her legs be more apart and around me? If I try and bend her legs so that her feet are together at the front she can then push her way up until her head it sticking right out at the top and there is no neck support. But it doesn't feel right to be trying to open her legs either.

I suspect that maybe the Ergo just isn't that great for little babies and really comes into its own in a couple of months time. I can see that it will be great when she is bigger. But if anyone can explain or even show me how to use it at this stage and save me from the Bjorn then I would be very grateful.

[sophiechristophy]

Hi BB,

With the insert, to you have the little cushion thing in the bottom? It is removeable, but it sits in the bottom of the insert. Sx

[BellendenBear]

Yes, I have the one with the cushion.

[Otta]

Try searching on youtube. Sometimes they have demonstration videos on there.

[chantelle]

didn't it come with a dvd? i had the old style infant insert so can't really help. Not that I ever used it much - I hate all slings tbh but my husband still uses it from time to time with our 3 year old and has always been a big fan. We definitely used it more once our son could hold up his head, as I recall.

[sophiechristophy]

Ok, from memory - clip the ergo round your waist. Lie the insert down on a bed, and lie your baby in it with her bum sat on the cushion part at the bottom. Strap the strap across. Scoop the insert up, and hold it against you, then bring up the rest of the carrier over the insert. I think your babies knees should be bent sort of up, so she is kind of crouching inside the carrier, and all contained within the carrier. x

[apenn]

Video instructions for new and original models:

http://videos.ergobaby.com/en-us/

[Otta]

[Otta]

Actually, this is probably a better vid.

 

[BellendenBear]

Thanks apenn, that video seems to demonstrate it quite well. The DVD that came with the Ergo only shows the old style insert. It was how to position her legs that I couldn't get the hang of. The youtube demos were the ones I had already seen and mention in my original post - fine if you have a tiny immobile doll but not much use for a real baby!

I'll give it another go. Thanks everyone.

[alieh]

I think the key is the legs dangling over the insert and gently apart. My son hated having his legs squished in like they show in the video. I was surprised that it worked having his legs apart and around me but it did from a fairly early age. I did find that the Ergo didn't come up as high on his back as I would have liked but I wonder if you could remove the cushion part of insert so that she would be sitting a bit lower?

At 3.5 months I am almost confident enough about my son's neck strength to put him in the Ergo without insert. It won't be long until you can use it the regular way! We also still use ours with our 16 kg toddler (back carry).