Slim/slender Ergo mamas...

[ryan'smom]

I need help with the back carry! I just got my Ergo a couple of days ago, and while I can get comfy with the front carry, when I carry ds on my back, I can't seem to get it right

Ds is 8 months and about 15lb.

When he is on my back, the straps & buckle dig into my hip bones, and when I raise the straps up to help with the discomfort, it hurts my stomach. I feel that I need the hip straps pretty tight or the carrier might slide off me on the bottom.....

I am 5'5 and about 115lb.....is this carrier made for woman who have more hip? what am i doing wrong!!!

Thanks!

[candelaria80]

I actually just sold mine yesterday because of the same issues. I am 5'4' and about 125 and it just didn't work for me. I am pretty curvy and have hips and large hip bones, when I pushed the waist band over my hips it hurt, so I pulled it higher, it was okay for a while, but with continued use would make its way to the small of my waist. I tried to tighten, but eventually just accepted it wasn't for me. I am researching other carriers now.

[scottishmommy]

I think that babywearing is harder for skinny moms. I'm 5'7" and 110lbs and could never get comfy carrying my dd. She was a HUGE baby (25 lbs @6 months), but I really feel like my body is just not centered enough for comfy babywearing. The ergo always digs into my hip bones, or hurts my tummy.

[MittensKittens]

I am 5'4" and 110 lbs, and the ergo works great for me. At first, I had trouble with it too - I thought I was too short for the carrier, but the problem was that I put the waist strap on my waist instead of hips, and the little strap in the middle that connects the shoulder straps needed to be lower down (it can just be pulled down). Once I made the adjustment, the ergo was great! I do notice that the waist strap tends to make clothes ride up or down, but I haven't had any problems with the strap itself changing positions . FWIW, I have no hips at all so the ergo can be used by women with no hips.

[fireHC11]

I'm 5'6" and 100lbs and use the Ergo for back-carries daily. My son is 14 months and around 25lbs.

It took a while to realize that I don't need the waist strap to be very tight at all. Maybe you could try loosening the strap.

What happens if you wear the Ergo over a thick sweater?

[Asparagus78]

I've used the Ergo at my smallest (115 lbs - I'm 5'4) when DS1 was about 25lbs with no issues. I just wear it at the hips, and make sure it's not too tight. Babe won't fall out. I love my Ergo!

[Lineymom]

Not as skinny as some of you, (5'8 131.5 this morning! lol 4.5 to be offically back to pre-preg weight, ) but I found that two of the suggestions you got: pulling the chest strap down and that you don't really have to tighten the waist so much helped me. I do have the problem with digging into my hipbone when worn low. With my older child, when he still used it, he liked to be high to see over my shoulder and I had to use it high on my waist thus had to do it tight so it would stay. Try tightening the shoulder straps too. relying on those more than the waist I think is helpful.

All this said, I am still not completely happy with the waist strap. I hate how my shirt gathers on it etc. Seems I liked it better with my older child. This one is 4 months. I am the same size roughly too.

[Blueone]

I'm 5'3 and somewhere between 110 and 120 (not sure). My son is 17 pounds. I liked my mei tai, but it wasn't padded enough when he got bigger for long walks. I've never had a problem with the ergo, I love it!! I borrowed it first and am now planning on buying one. Now to find one at a good price...

Oh, I keep the waist a little loose, not too loose though. If it's tight it digs in. The shoulder straps are also close to each other in the back.

[ryan'smom]

ok, still not giving up.....wore back carry again yesterday and now it feels like my hip bones are bruised.....i am truely trying to understand how you can leave the waist on the loose side and not feel as if it's going to slide right down your bum.....the strap rides up and digs into my stomach while the back sags down.....
and if he is centered on my back, the waist buckle rests right on my hip bone causing pain ....maybe if i could somehow get it off to either side, but then ds would be off center on my back......

thanks for all your suggestions, i'll tweak around some more tomorrow with it, and hopefully i can find a comfy solution!

[MamaPhD]

I'm about average weight, but I had issues with Ergo at the beginning with hip/pelvis discomfort. Turns out, I had to LOWER the waist band further down the hips, rather than higher up closer to the waist. VOILA! Problem was instantly solved. It was a very small adjustment (maybe 1/2-1"?), too, and made such a difference. I was lucky to have someone knowledgeable (my pre/postnatal yoga instructor) critique me at the beginning of my Ergo use. Maybe you can find someone to critique your baby wearing?

[Asparagus78]

Originally Posted by ryan'smom

i am truely trying to understand how you can leave the waist on the loose side and not feel as if it's going to slide right down your bum.....the strap rides up and digs into my stomach while the back sags down.....

Are you sure your DS is really sitting in the right position? His bum should be slightly lower than his knees (that way his weight ensures that the lap belt kinda rests between him and you - I know, I'm not explaining this well...). DS had a tendency to "fight" the Ergo when on a back-carry and he would hug me, which meant there was no gravity helping him stay in place. He finally learned to relax and sit back, and the difference was huge (DS1 was about 2 when we started back-carries).

Have you tried a hip carry with the Ergo?

Good luck!

[Lineymom]

Originally Posted by ryan'smom

ok, still not giving up.....wore back carry again yesterday and now it feels like my hip bones are bruised.....i am truely trying to understand how you can leave the waist on the loose side and not feel as if it's going to slide right down your bum.....the strap rides up and digs into my stomach while the back sags down.....
and if he is centered on my back, the waist buckle rests right on my hip bone causing pain ....maybe if i could somehow get it off to either side, but then ds would be off center on my back......

thanks for all your suggestions, i'll tweak around some more tomorrow with it, and hopefully i can find a comfy solution!

Yeah, what you describe is actually the root of my problem, too! The digging in the stomach and slidding down the back, buckle right on the hipbone. I just continually reajust, I guess. I will try Asparagus' suggestions next time cause maybe her bum isn't lower than her knees, hmmmm?

Originally Posted by Asparagus78

Are you sure your DS is really sitting in the right position? His bum should be slightly lower than his knees (that way his weight ensures that the lap belt kinda rests between him and you - I know, I'm not explaining this well...). DS had a tendency to "fight" the Ergo when on a back-carry and he would hug me, which meant there was no gravity helping him stay in place. He finally learned to relax and sit back, and the difference was huge (DS1 was about 2 when we started back-carries).

Have you tried a hip carry with the Ergo?

Good luck!

[candelaria80]

ryan'smom - I don't know if you are still still having Ergo issues, but if you are and are thinking about a new carrier I would try the Boba. I just got mine a week ago and what a difference!! I have been wearing it non-stop. It fits myself and DH perfectly (I am now 5'4" 117lb and DH is 5'11" 200lb). As I said before I have very prominent hip bones and the Ergo really irritated them, but the Boba feels so comfy.

I think the main difference is the padded part at the base. The Boba has a much longer padded area that stays in place because it kind of takes up the space in the nook between your waist and hipbone. It also curves lower in the center and tapers up the sides a bit which makes it not clumsy. Also the strap adujusts from BOTH sides so the buckle is in the center of your stomach and not on your hip bone. Another small feature that I like is that at the end of each strap are elastic loops so one can fold up the excess strap instead of it hanging everywhere.

If there is a con to the Boba it is that is doesn't have a sleep hood option or a pouch, but I never used either so I don't really miss them.

I found this so much more comfortable for me, I couldn't really believe it! Okay enough with the commercial.