[WinterIsComing]

Hi all, we have a Baby Ergo and we don't like it. It is mostly DH who uses it and these are the reasons why he has come to hate it:

1. DS falls asleep in it pretty quickly, but in doing so, he presses his face right into DH's chest, his head completely enclosed by fabric. To be honest, this freaks us out - there is not much breathing space and we are worried about a sleeping accident/SIDS.

2. He feels unless he hunches his shoulders, he cannot give the baby space - whenever he straightens his back, he feels the baby gets squashed into him.

3. It feels like DS's legs have to be too wide apart.

DS is 3 months old and 7.5 kilos.

Would BabyBjorn solve the above issues? Which BabyBjorn would you recommend - classic or comfort? Or any other carrier?

Help!


(We will keep the Ergo for when he is older, then it should be good).

[Bek+3]

Oh wow... of course all those things would be happening with bub. You need to be using a Heart to Heart infant insert with a bub that age/size. My second child was not able to sit in the Ergo without an insert until he was about 8 or 9 months.

[Bek+3]

P.S... even though I have an Ergo with insert, I also love my Hug-A-Bub.

[WinterIsComing]

I never got the insert as the instructions said that from 5.5 kilos, it was OK to use the Ergo without the insert...and DS was big from the beginning.

So you think the insert can fix those things? How much did your baby weigh when you stopped using it?

[Alacritous~Andy]

I love my Ergo, but had the same issues when DS was that little. Definitely hang onto it. DS is nearly two, and I still love mine. I started using it regularly when he was about 9-10 months.

I have a different carrier, which was a hand-me-down one with no brand on it. It is brilliant. I suspect it might be homemade, though, so that's no help.

I think the best thing to do is to go to a baby shop and try out a whole bunch of different ones. I borrowed a friend's baby bjorn one day and it was dreadful for my back/shoulders.

[Scripted]

Also loved the Hug-A-Bub but unsure if this will solve your issues. Might be worth trying one on in a shop to see?

[mummy.to.one]

We had the baby bjorn when DS was born, I ended up buying an ergo. The baby bjorn has alot of weight on your shoulders, so that might be something for your DH to think about.

Also when DS would fall asleep in the bjorn his face would be on my chest as well, every now and again I would have to lift his head up as it was just a sweat pile against my chest, so the same thing would happen.

Go into stores and try different ones on.

[Bek+3]

I never got the insert as the instructions said that from 5.5 kilos, it was OK to use the Ergo without the insert...and DS was big from the beginning.

So you think the insert can fix those things? How much did your baby weigh when you stopped using it?

I can't recall what my first child weighed when I stopped using it but my 3rd is 4 months now and 6.2kg. I tried him in the Ergo without an insert the other day and he is no where near ready. It felt dangerous. He has a long time I think before he rides without it.

[Wyn99]

You definitely need the infant insert for the Ergo. I used a Baby Bjorn until 5-6 months but then it started to hurt my back and shoulders, so I sold it. Hold on to your Ergo .. it will be fantastic when bubs is a little older (from about 9 mths up to 2 years at least). In the meantime .. mabye look at ebay for 2nd hand baby bjorns?

[MelbChick]

Hey OP. The Ergo can feel awkward with a smaller baby, for sure.... especially at first. I love mine though - I got the infant insert this time and I think it's magic! I think it would really help in your case. (You have to get the new style with the padded base). Otherwise you can use a rolled up hand towel (folded in half lengthways and rolled) to use as a bolster underneath bub's bottom and knees.

It is quite easy to get them in an awkward position and you need to get them in it and then reach inside and sort of jig them around bit until their bottom is closer to your body and the head can lean back against the fabric more. You can also roll the top of the infant insert down to form a collar to support the back of their head. I've managed to put my baby in it correctly and incorrectly, so it's a pretty subtle thing... I really think trying again is a good idea before giving up!

I've got a Baby Bjorn as well, which is not bad if you can pick a cheap one up on eBay. I wouldn't recommend buying a new one at this point because your baby will be too heavy soon and they get quite uncomfortable. The Ergo is worth persisting with for the comfort and longevity. If you get the position right then their head will lean back into the fabric and you can hold it securely with the shade cover thingy that snap-fastens to the straps. the infant insert is only $35 I think and so it's a pretty cheap 'fix' if that's all you need.

Also, get on the Ergo website and watch the videos about how to get the baby in. They're tedious at first, but it does give you the tips about where there bum should be positioned etc.