Have you used the Ergo newborn insert?

[*MamaJen*]

I'm helping a co-worker pick out a sling for her daughter who is expecting. They're both pretty crunchy and into the idea of babywearing.
I showed her my Ergo and told her all the ways I love it , and she's interested in getting one for her daughter. But I got it when DS was 12 months old and mostly used a pouch or Mei Tai before that, so I couldn't tell her much about the newborn insert.
Have any one you used the Ergo with the newborn insert? Did you like it? Or do you prefer a stretchy wrap or pouch or ring sling or whatever for the first few months?

[MissMommyNiceNice]

I'm interested to see, b/c I use the ergo all the time for my almost 3 yo, but like you I got it around 12 mos. We used a ring sling & mei tei & maya-type before that.
I have the insert for infants, and have seen it used once or twice...

[Quirky]

IME it's really a question of personal preference and there's no right or wrong answer.

The new Heart 2 Heart insert is definitely a big design improvement over the old insert.

The insert + Ergo combo can really work for parents who know they'll want an Ergo and they really want ONE carrier and only one.

OTOH, other parents want an Ergo without having to mess around with the insert -- once baby is past the super floppy newborn stage, some time between one and two months, it is possible for many babies to be carried upright with froggy feet inside the carrier.

And on the third hand, there are parents who want something less bulky and a bit easier to nurse in during the newborn stage, and will wait to use an Ergo until baby is bigger and can use it with legs out on front or back.

The appealing thing about the Ergo to many parents, especially those that are more mainstream, is that it's familiar technology -- very much like a backpack, similar enough to familiar carriers like the Bjorn that it doesn't seem all flapping fabrics and straps and mysterious rings.

Others don't mind learning more than one carrier and picking out something that will be easier to use on a newborn and then transitioning to a buckle carrier later on.

There are also buckle carriers that are more adaptable for young/newborn babies and don't require a separate insert. Pikkolo and Beco Butterfly are two, I believe Olives and Applesauce makes a buckle carrier with an infant insert although I haven't seen one in person, and Connecta is another that gets good reviews for use with a newborn.

[zoeart]

I've been using the Ergo with infant insert since my ds was about 2 weeks old... ( he's now 6 weeks) - we love it! It's the only carrier I have so far ( I also have moby, ring sling, hotsling) that I feel really sure about his positioning and neck support etc.
ds is really small- was born just under 6 lbs and is now about 8 1/2 lbs - this system is great for the really little babes.

[PaulV]

FWIW, our brand new newborn (7 lbs) didn't like it at all, and he seemed really crunched in there, but we haven't tried the new heart 2 heart insert, which looks better. On the whole, it seems like the Ergo is just too big for newborns, but I've heard others have success with them.

-Pv