SSC and buckles, do they fail?

[noobmom]

I'm in the market for a new carrier--DD is getting too big and heavy for me to carry for long periods of time in the ring sling. I tried my friend's Ergo the other day and it felt awesome, but I was nervous the entire time that the buckle is the only thing keeping the baby from falling off my back. I've done back carries before with a mei tai and even if the knot comes loose, it wouldn't be a big deal--I would notice the loosening and be able to get the baby out. My friend showed me the safety loop, but I didn't get a chance to test it to see how it works. Anyway, I'm just wondering if anyone has thoughts about the buckles on SSC.

[mrs_mandolini]

The ergo buckles are rated to 200 lb or so, I read this on their website or in their literature or something. So I don't think you have too much to worry about, if your baby were 200 lb you wouldn't be carrying it anyway...

[cchrissyy]

I've only ever heard of buckles breaking in the sense of a crack when being slammed in a car door. Not during use. Can you imagine the lawsuits and recalls if that ever happened? We all would have heard of it.

[2ID_Wife]

I have never heard of them failing. Like posted they are rated to way more then you would ever carry your child at.

[Quirky]

I definitely recommend using the safety elastic on the Ergo if you end up getting an Ergo, but even if not they're tested and high-quality buckles if you go with a good reputable name brand carrier. Like military grade/hiking grade plastic buckles. As Christine says you have to watch out for car doors -- that's the enemy #1 of plastic buckles.

I always teach parents that they have to listen for that good solid "click" just like they do with a carseat -- I think the biggest risk is not buckle failure but user error from being in too much of a hurry and not making sure the buckle is fully engaged or getting a pinch of shirt caught in it. But I've been using buckle carriers extensively since the first Ergo came out, and have never had one fail on me or a friend or a customer (except for the dreaded car door accident).

[rhiOrion]

besides, if a buckle failed it would certainly not be more than one buckle at the time. so if one buckle breaks you'd probably have a second to grab baby before baby fell out or anything.

[noobmom]

Originally Posted by Quirky

I definitely recommend using the safety elastic on the Ergo if you end up getting an Ergo, but even if not they're tested and high-quality buckles if you go with a good reputable name brand carrier. Like military grade/hiking grade plastic buckles. As Christine says you have to watch out for car doors -- that's the enemy #1 of plastic buckles.

I always teach parents that they have to listen for that good solid "click" just like they do with a carseat -- I think the biggest risk is not buckle failure but user error from being in too much of a hurry and not making sure the buckle is fully engaged or getting a pinch of shirt caught in it. But I've been using buckle carriers extensively since the first Ergo came out, and have never had one fail on me or a friend or a customer (except for the dreaded car door accident).

That's actually the scenario I'm thinking of, more than the buckle failing spontaneously, so to speak. I found myself worrying that it could somehow "pop" open. The buckle on my "MyBreastFriend" does it all the time. I do know that it's a completely different buckle rated for a completely different task, but that's how the idea got into my head.

[Limabean1975]

Originally Posted by noobmom

That's actually the scenario I'm thinking of, more than the buckle failing spontaneously, so to speak. I found myself worrying that it could somehow "pop" open. The buckle on my "MyBreastFriend" does it all the time. I do know that it's a completely different buckle rated for a completely different task, but that's how the idea got into my head.

I had a MyBrestFriend. I don't know what is up with that buckle, but it's awful and does pop open all the time. That NEVER ever ever happened with my old first generation Ergo or with my new Boba (very similar to Ergo. Boba's literature calls their buckles "military grade", whatever that means.).

Really - don't base your buckle opnions on that darn MyBrestFriend buckle!

[AislinCarys]

We found at times that we hadn't done up the buckle - just put it through the safety loop. I think it says a lot for the strength of the safety loop that it held! It would feel a bit loose around the waist, and so we'd notice. And DD was over 8 months old, and never any risk of her falling!