babywearing - Page 4 « Back to Group Discussions

[sallyrae17]

How's the babywearing going for everyone? I just wanted to say that I got a Beco Gemini for Christmas and I definitely love it! I put Baby M in it this morning and she started squealing, she was so excited. For reference, I have the Ergo and the Moby wrap. The Ergo is definitely "sturdier" in that her legs have to go almost straight out. I like that the Beco has the "skinnier" version, where you can snap the fabric up, so there's more space for their legs to hang down. I also love that she can face out in it and I don't have to be wearing an uncomfortable Bjorn. So, I'm glad I have all three. ;-) Anyone else have additional comments on the slings/wraps/carriers they've chosen or use? Have a good holiday, ladies!

[LilyTiger]

I'm sort of wishing now I'd done the Beco for front-wearing, but I still really love our Ergo.  The sling is pretty much out these days except for short trips into a store or something.  It's just not comfortable now that she's 14# or so.  I haven't used the moby since she was about two and a half months old because it's just a pain in the butt.  I'm just not that great at tying it, etc.  So the Ergo has been my go-to carrier for the last month and I love it more and more.

She feels very secure in it, it's comfortable, and I was able to fold three loads of laundry with her in the back carry yesterday.  She was super happy and I could use the front of my body (like carrying stuff) without worrying about her bonking her head on everything.  And stuff that required bending over is a lot more workable in the back carry than when she's in front.  I'll have to work on getting her onto my back safely without DH around, but it's been awesome so far.

Penny I think said something about being able to squish the Ergo part together in the front to do a front facing carry?  Has anyone tried this?  I don't really want to buy another carrier just to do front facing, but I think she would really like it for walks and such.

[monkeyscience]

We've done some back carries with the Ergo now and he likes it. Recently got a Gypsy Mama Bali Breeze wrap, and it has been great. Still figuring it out. GTG, baby stopped eating!

[Veritas Vitae]

Oh! I will have to try doing back carries. We're loving the Ergo now that Q is bigger.

[Tizzy]

I'm disappointed, Gilbert really doesn't like the Ergo for front or back carry. He just can't seem to get comfortable!

It's my favourite colour and I find it comfortable, even with my toddler in.

On the plus side I still love my pouch sling for out and about and he often falls asleep in it. The framed backpack works great for around the farm as it did with the previous 3, and DH uses the homemade mei tei around the house.

Very sad about the Ergo...I'll probably hang onto it for a little while to see if he likes it better when he's a bit older.

[andaluza]

I didn't have luck gathering together the front of the ergo for front-facing carry, but he will tolerate being carried on my hip in it.

[pennywhistle]

I haven't tried the front-facing Ergo trick, but I remember someone else talking about it (maybe on FB?) and it seemed like there was some success?

This article has some good options listed in the comments - but read with caution, as it may cause you to covet even more carriers than before!

http://offbeatfamilies.com/2012/12/baby-wearing-for-preschoolers

I was given an Ergo from a friend, so I'm using that and the Gemini depending on context (Ergo for short trips since it's so easy to pull on & off and has the awesome front pocket for my wallet/keys/phone, Gemini for longer excursions since it has a little head rest flap that is more comfortable for Atticus and I'm more likely to have a backpack with me and therefore don't need the front pocket).  Haven't tried the back or hip carry yet.

I LOVE baby wearing and am so glad the baby's into it too!

My husband is on the "husky" side (he loves his beer & it shows), and he's been really happy with the Gemini as well.  The Ergo is a little too short for him - his belly means the baby sits a lot lower and slightly out in front, so the Gemini's longer body feels more secure.

[cinnamontwig]

I never got the hang of the moby.  I tried it a handful of times but always had to keep one arm wrapped around dd because it felt insecure.  We have used the Ergo a lot more.  How do you do the front facing thing?  It isn't in the instructions anywhere.  I know dd would love that.  And we haven't tried wearing her in back yet.  I thought she had to be bigger but she is 15 lbs now so I might try it tomorrow :-).  We saw someone in a restaurant wearing a baby smaller than ours in a carrier front facing and were curious what the carrier was.  Maybe it was the Beco. 

[Mama Chickadee]

We are using the Moby mostly now. I finally got the hang of wrapping it so that she is snug and comfortable, and now that I figured out that I can slip her out, and then just wear it until she wants "in" again, it makes the initial work of getting it on worth it. 

I am starting to wonder if maybe the random seeming episodes of plugged ducts were being cause by the Ergo? I wore her for about 2.5 hours in the Ergo a few weeks ago, and then I got a plugged duct on the side of my breast where the strap pressed against me. I've worn it since then, but only when I knew it was going to be for a short time. Anyone else have an issue with this?

[pennywhistle]

I just tried the side/hip carry with the Beco last night at a party, and it was AWESOME.  It's the perfect combination of facing out & in - he can look out and see what's going on, but is still facing me so he can hide his face if he gets overwhelmed, and best of all I can see his little face and interact with him instead of him not being able to see me at all.  I highly recommend it!  Especially for social situations like parties, where other people will want to see & interact with the baby.  The side carry lets you keep the baby close to you but still lets others get a peek.  I found people way less likely to get intrusive or try to touch him when he was carried this way as opposed to facing completely in.

[mtngirl81]

Hrm good to know. I think there's an option to do a hip/side carry with the Ergo (since we have that).  We also do have a Moby but it freaks me out when I try to use it. Feels too unsecure.

[pennywhistle]

Just found this: http://www.livestrong.com/article/220237-how-to-wear-an-ergo-baby-on-the-side/

There are also some youtube videos if you search "ergo side carry."  I haven't tried it with my Ergo, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.  Try it out!  I wouldn't recommend it for long walks, since the weight is off-balance, but it really is so good for letting other people see your baby without having to hand him over!

[LilyTiger]

I just tried the Ergo side carry today and while it worked ok, it was a little awkward.  I felt like the strap kept creeping up toward my neck and I was getting smacked in the face with buckle-y things.  I'll try again since it actually would be super helpful for short jaunts.  The front carry does not work well for stuff like bending over to pick up dog poop.  The hip carry would give me a better frontal view.  I'll keep working at it....

[pennywhistle]

Yeah, the hip carry is much nicer if you need to use your hands for anything (picking up dog poop, drinking a beer, etc).

[mtngirl81]

Haaa! Dog poop is the bane of my existence. We have 2 that are pooping machines. Good thing that it's only -20 today. Frozen poop much easier to scoop than summer poop! I just do a bit of a squat with Kenzie in the ergo to pick the crap. Good for the legs, anyhow. Gotta condition them for the upcoming hiking season.

(sorry for the poop talk...)

[NewMumJoy]

Ohhhh yeah..... now that I'm living in a 5th floor apartment with no yard, taking the dog out several times a day is such a PITA!!  William gets packed in the Ergo every time, at all hours of the day in all kinds of weather (so far still pretty mild here thankfully) and then I have to get in that crazy squat to pick up the poop.  Gonna be lots of fun when William gets bigger and can reach out... *sigh*

[Ninetales]

I've pretty much given up on the sling and Moby. Oscar never seemed comfortable in either, and I really get frustrated trying to get them snug enough. I find it much easier to pop him in and out of the Ergo around the house. And I use the Beco Butterfly II when we're out. It's cuter than my Ergo.

[CCoello]

The Beco is so much cuter than the Ergo! I wish I had a Beco now too :) Plus it does the forward facing without a hack, right?

I'm definitely saving the Moby for my next newborn, as it rocked until Armie was about 13lbs, 8ozs (maybe this was the issue, Ninetales?).

I never felt secure in the sling.

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

For a hip carry nothing will match the ring sling. The key is to keep baby upright and get the bottom rail at baby's knees and to rail at baby's neck. If you like the moby but didn't feel secure you may want to try a woven wrap - it's the same idea but without the stretch