DH and I want to know, why are baby bjorns no good?

[Ldavis24]

I have been reading on here about carriers for LO's for a while and I was wondering why everyone is so down on baby bjorns? I received a ring sling as a requested gift, thinking it would be the easiest to use. We also received a bjorn that DH has used once or twice with DD.

The ring sling has been sooooo challenging. As a first time mom and being totally new and on my own with slings/carriers I have been struggling a lot with the ring sling since I got it when I was 8 months pregnant. DD is 4 months now and only in the past week have I really figured out how to get us both comfortable.

I did use the bjorn a few times when I first just absolutely needed to carry her and it was easier than both DD and I gettins extremely upset trying to use the sling. DH uses the bjorn sometimes still because the ring sling is too small for him. He is a very tall, large man.

I am determined to stick with the sling but am thinking of getting a baby hawk or moby, I would love to nurse while carrrying her but I am quite large chested and thus far haven't even come close to accomplishing that. Any suggestions as to which would be better? I really like the look of the moby!
Sorry for being so lengthy

[HarperRose]

Bjorns hang the baby by the crotch and provide zero support for the parent. You need a carrier that will hold the baby close to your body. I like my Ergo because it works like a backpack. Using the ring sling is great but there is a definite learning curve to it.

A Moby might be good for you, though I never could get the hang of one. I'm Wrap-challenged. They look great, I just couldn't figure it out to save my life.

A BabyHawk is nice, too. Really, any Mei Tai or buckle carrier works well for me.

[Rowansmama]

This is a great article about babywearing. It has illustrations showing correct positioning.

http://www.storchenwiege.com/babycarrierresearch.htm

Basically, this is the problem with carriers like the Baby Bjorn and Snugli:

"The baby sling should be manufactured to allow the baby’s legs to be up at least at a 90% angle, more if possible. This legs-up position provides the most support. In order to achieve this position, stretching of the baby’s legs must be inhibited by another cover or by the crotch base. The cover runs between the baby’s thigh and along the buttock of the child, and should be wide enough to reach into the popliteal fossa, the hollow or back of the knee"

ETA: I would highly recommend you get an Ergo! It's easy to put on like the Bjorn, but positions the child correctly. It's also extrememly comfortable for the wearer, and can be used up to I think 45 pounds. I love mine!

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by Rowansmama

This is a great article about babywearing. It has illustrations showing correct positioning.

http://www.storchenwiege.com/babycarrierresearch.htm

Yay! Thanks.

ETA: I would highly recommend you get an Ergo! It's easy to put on like the Bjorn, but positions the child correctly. It's also extrememly comfortable for the wearer, and can be used up to I think 45 pounds. I love mine!

My Ergo Sport goes to 40 lbs, but I did wear my 45 lb 8 yr old in it last night for a brief photo op.

I love it. I haven't tried breastfeeding my toddler in it yet, but you could totally nurse a tiny baby in it with no trouble.

[Savoir Faire]

All I'll say is that it hurt my back horribly, even with a newborn in it.

[Carrruth]

I just wanted to add that there are a ton of buckle carriers, also know as soft structured carriers, that are super simple to use if that's why you liked the Bjorn. These carries are much more supportive for parent and baby than Bjorn style carriers, but still the same simple idea and have very little learning curve to them. Some people, especially dads, prefer soft structured carriers because they are so quick and easy to get on and off and don't require practice to use properly. AngelPack, Action Baby Carrier, Ergo, and Beco are just a few soft structured carriers that are out there.

[peabean26]

Ah yes, the ring sling. It seems so simple, but is really hard to manage when your baby is little. I gave up on mine after a few tries and used a Beco carrier for many months. Then when it got hot during the summer I decided to try the ring again, and because my LO can now sit up unassisted, she can hold herself quite well in it. I now use the ring sling 90% of the time, and she's almost 9 months.

I would get a babyhawk or some other mai tai for the age you are at. They are quick to get on/off and easy to hold a baby in. They are also good for covering the baby if you want to nurse in public.

Try the ring sling again later, after 6 months, and you will probably have success.

[Cersha]

I was a ring sling failure when my LO was little. We switched to a stretchy wrap, and then to wovens. I can handle a ring sling NOW, but every time we tried when he was little, we just both ended up crying. A Mei Tai, also, is pratically fool-proof.

[Carlin]

I really liked my ring sling when DD was a newborn, but by about 10 weeks she was really starting to protest the legs in position, but is still too little to comfortably have her legs out. At the moment the Snugli is her favourite carrier, although I'm hoping she will be big enough to have her legs out in a soft structured carrier by the end of the month, as the Snugli is already starting to get uncomfortable for me.

[*MamaJen*]

Yeah, I'm really bad with spatial awareness, and I could not figure out how to adjust the ring sling. I'd go into a crunchy baby store, they'd adjust it for me and show me how to do it, and ... yeah, it didn't work. I loved my pouch sling, and also my babyhawk, and now I especially love my ergo.

[terrabella]

I LOVED the old Baby Bjorns. I had two, and loved them. These new ones? Awful! I found a brand new one in a thrift store. Snatched it up in an instant. Turned around and donated it right back Just awful.

[Ldavis24]

Thanks for the info! The ring sling, I love the idea but in reality it has had me and DD in tears on more than one occasion.
We are still going to work on it but in the meantime I want something I can bring to the supermarket and carry in her that doesn't take 20 minutes in a parking lot with a screaming baby to figure out!

I really like the look of the ergo and am considering that or the babyhawk which I also like a lot. DH said he would use both of those as well, he doesn't want to go near the ring sling though. I don't blame him for that one!

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by Ldavis24

I really like the look of the ergo and am considering that or the babyhawk which I also like a lot. DH said he would use both of those as well, he doesn't want to go near the ring sling though. I don't blame him for that one!

There's a definite learning curve to the ring sling.

I like my Ergo. I put it on, but ds on my back, then work the straps up like I'm putting on a jacket or backpack. Can't really screw that up. For a front carry, it's even easier.

A BabyHawk only requires tying instead of buckling, but is equally easy to use and figure out.

[weliveintheforest]

Originally Posted by Ldavis24

I really like the look of the ergo and am considering that or the babyhawk which I also like a lot. DH said he would use both of those as well, he doesn't want to go near the ring sling though.

These are both good types of carriers. If you consider a wrap I would probably not choose a moby, since your baby is already getting bigger. A woven wrap would be more supportive and be more useful, longer.

[Leatherette]

The Bjorn killed my back.

I used a ring sling, and ended up always using it on the same side, and did mess my back up and I just finished physical therapy....but it sure felt better at the time. My high needs baby was worn most of the waking hours for the first two and a half years, so it was extreme. She is six now, and I think it helped her so much with breathing, reflux, and sensory issues. I don't regret it for a minute.

[tinyblackdot]

Have you looked into a Beco?

I find the Ergos to hold the baby too low for my personal taste, My dd really likes to look over my shoulders when she is on my back, and i liked her really high when i was able to carry her front carry.

As for the Bejorns, i had one when dd was teeny tiny, i also had one of those horrible pouches that you can get from BRU, i HATED both, the pouch was unsafe and she was never comfortable in there, and it always seemed like she was going to get smothered. And the Bjorn killed my shoulders and back, i could only wear her for like 30 minutes in it.

I used a ringsling and had a hard time getting a good fit with it, and then shortly after got a Beco, and fell in love. My dd will be 3 in january and i still wear her daily.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by Savoir Faire

All I'll say is that it hurt my back horribly, even with a newborn in it.

Totally OT, but I love your avatar pic.

[jellies]

the original post seems just like my story.
i actually cried in frustration when i had to struggle how to use the ringsling all by myself..and it was very tiring because i was carrying my baby in the lying position (feeding position) and was abit scared to let my hands go so i had onehand under the baby for the whole time.

i also had another carrier which was a japanese brand. it also left the baby's legs dangling like the bjorn. but i knew nothing about carriers that time and was just attracted to the look of that carrier. plus it's easy to use when i am alone... put baby inside and snap up the sides, then wear like a backpack... (i didn't know how to get baby on my back just with my bare hands). but the shoulders hurt badly.

sorry for rattling.. i just could so relate to your situation now.

what you need is just to have a structured waist band... like the ergo kind. the weight all goes onto the hips and it's good for mama's and baby's comfort. good luck!