Looking into Getting an Ergo Carrier

My husband and I love ours (our daughter is a year old). I have a bad back, so it's very helpful in preventing back, neck and shoulder strain. My husband's over a foot taller than me, and it easily and quickly adjusts to fit both of us. It's quick and easy for errands, and I use both the front and back positions at this point. I use it on the front for short trips and on the back when I need my hands free for a while - grocery shopping, etc. It's one of the best purchases we've made in terms of baby gear.

I have an Ergo and LOVE it. I use it frequently with my 18 mo old and am just starting with my 8 week old. Regardless of what benefit comes with it for the baby you will be thankful to switch. It is so much more comfortable than the bjorn when the baby is over say 12 lbs. You can wear the baby front, back, or side. My husband has even used it too. It is well worth the $ especially if you like to wear your baby often.

HI J.,
I looked at both the ergo and the beco and ended up getting the beco, I think for me because it seemed more supportive for my then 3 month old because the back part came up higher. Anyway, I think they are both great. It is really comfortable because the weight is on your hips like the ergo.

I am not sure if other people told you this because I didn't read everything, but you can nurse in both the ergo and the beco by loosening the straps a little bit. I started doing this when DS was 3 months old and it took him a little bit to learn he could nurse upright but once he got it, it was great because I could nurse him in the grocery store. You just need to wear a shirt over top to cover your breasts on the side.

anyway, good luck. I was wanted to let you know another great aspect of the soft structured carriers.
S.

Hi J.,

We love, love, love our Ergo! We have 2 little girls, 4 yrs old and 15 months old. I didn't have it with the first and debated buying it for the second because it is so expensive. we bought it when our youngest was 4 months old and it has been one of the best buys ever. I had a Baby Bjorn with the first one and it killed my lower back. I have worn my daughter in all 3 positions and she loves it. When she was younger, she often slept in it while I was shopping or walking. I loved the cover so I could keep rain, sun or even wind off of her. She still loves it! She walks now, but if I'm just doing a quick shopping trip, it is great. I find it very easy to use, but putting her on my back does take a bit longer to do by myself than it does to do the other positions.

I'm not sure where you live, but I know that several places in MD have "Babywearing Classes." I know in Baltimore, there is one at the store called Bediboo. In Boonsboro, there is a store called Encore Kids that used to be in Frederick. Encore is where I bought my Ergo. Another Mom wrote about the resale value of the Ergo's and she is right, they have a great resale value.

Hope all this info. helps make your decision,
D.

Hi Mama! Ergos are awesome, and most everyone has already told you that! I also really like Patapums which are really similar to Ergos, but come in 2 sizes and are a bit less expensive. I use the Patapum b/c it has a taller back which is more comfy for me and my son. We use it on the back everyday!
I just wanted to correct a few things other posters mentioned.

Amy K- You do NOT need to meet a minimum number of posts to buy used carriers on thebabywearer.com only to sell them. Thebabywearer.com is really an awesome site, and there are a bunch of Ergos available now used for better prices than you'll find on craigslist or Ebay.

Melanie R- The spread position that the Ergo puts baby in is much better for their development because it distributes their weight over their bottom and legs not just their crotch (ie Bjorn). Also, the position that the Ergo and other wide based carriers put baby into actually mimics the position that braces used to treat hip displasia put babies legs into- see www.hipbaby.org for pictures.

Good luck!

Hey J., I have the Ergo and love it. My son is 1 and still rides in it. Mostly in the back now but it is wonderful. We have the Baby Bjorn as well we used them both but he has out grown the Baby Bjorn so we just use the Ergo. I think it is fantastic! We recently moved to an apartment and I tell you it is a life saver. I'm able to put him on my back and carry up all the shopping bags without any problems. I think it is great! Hope this helps!

S.

I started off with a baby bjorn and it always hurt my back. I now have an ergo carrier and it is outstanding!! I would tell every mom to get an ergo carrier. The weight of the baby sits on your hips and it so comfortable for you and baby. It is also easy to put on and off by yourself. My husband loves it as well. My sister is now pregnant and I'm going to buy one for her.

We love ours!

You can do a free trial here: http://www.myfavoritebabycarrier.com/ergo.html if you want to give it a test run.

J.,
I have an Ergo Baby Carrier and totally love it. My son weighs approx. 21 lbs, and he still fits comfortably in both the front and back position. Since he is one years old, I generally stick to the back position, unless I'm attempting to nurse him while doing something such as prepping dinner.

I am pretty much a baby gear junkie. I admit that I own 4 different carriers. I also own a hand-me-down Bjorn, a Moby Wrap, and a Maya Wrap. Since my son is a lot bigger now, the Ergo is really the only one I still use. I have literally done tons of house chores with my son on my back. I also like that it is easy for my husband to use. He actually carried ds on his back last nght, while we took a little evening stroll. As I've mentioned, the Ergo truly reigns supreme.

What I like most is that the Ergo allows DS to pretty much "mold" his body to mine. He seems to be very comfortable, and is always super peaceful while in the Ergo. I also like the fact that once you adjust the straps and waist band, you really don't feel any pressure or heaviness.

The only thing I don't like, is that the Ergo looks kind of "Granola Crunchy". I've seen better colors than the camel color that I bought, but that's really my only complaint.

As far as the weight limit. I've literally seen a 7 year old or so ride in an Ergo. The kid was playing in the park, his mom called him over, he jumped up on her back, and she strapped him in. I personally don't plan to use my Ergo quite that long, but the woman was walking fine, and the kid seemed really happy. On the other hand, maybe I will.

I really think you'll love it. Try checking Craiglist to, just in case. Best of luck to you and your new crawler.

I have an Ergo carrier and I absolutely love it. I've used it since my daughter (now 7 months, 20 lbs) was about 3 months old. I love how easy it is to put on, and I love the sun hood for when she falls asleep while out on our walks. It is quite comfortable, taking weight off the shoulders and allowing for proper posture.

The Ergo doesn't let your baby face out, but personally I prefer to have my daughter facing in. That way, when she wants to fall asleep, she can just put her head down on my chest. I have not used her in the back carry position yet but will start trying it out soon.

Another alternative is the Moby wrap, which I also have. As much as I love my Ergo, I find that the Moby is even more comfortable. My daughter loves the Moby, though I could never get my husband to wear it. So my husband uses the Ergo, and I also use it for quick trips out (i.e. errands) because it is so easy to take on and off compared to the Moby. But for hiking, walks, vacation/touring, I take my Moby.

Hello,
I have never tried an Ergo but I know that they have a big following. There is a huge variety of baby carriers other than the bjorn types that they sell at baby stores & you are making a good decision to look at them. I suggest you go to The Babywearer--www.thebabywearer.com. You can read reviews about different carriers & the stores that sell them. If you join the forum & meet the minimum post requirement (by asking questions about carriers) you can buy used carriers from the for sale or trade boards. If you are looking for a 2 shoulder carrier, you may want to consider are Mei Tai's. I've always loved them because they are comfortable & sooo pretty. There are many different mama's who make them in just about every pattern you could imagine. Other popular soft structured carriers (like the Ergo)are Patapum, Beco, APLX, Connecta, and Jetpack. Hope this helps & is not information overload =).

I have use the ergo and love it. I can carry my 5 year old grandson, and the others no problem. They really are wonderful. I also carry them in my internet store. www.snootybootydiapers.com
L.

It's the best thing that ever happened to me. I still carry my 27 lb baby in it, without hurting my back. I still front carry, though have done side before. I know it's expesnive, but it's really worth every penny, and the resale on Craigslist is really good.

I have an Ergo and love it. I am 5'4" though and any shorter and I do think you would have a problem. I have a short baby-wearing mom friend who loves her Mei Tai. I think you might look into that one. it is a very similar premise, comfort wise. Good luck in your search!

I suggest a sling. I use Over the Shoulder Baby Holder. It is much more versatile than a Bjorn. I carried my older daughter in it at 3yr and 35lb. Once you try a sling you won't want to use anything else including a stroller. Our stroller carries the bags and only rarely a child.

ergos are ok, but there are also many other SSCs (soft-structured carriers) being made by small, mother-owned companies. check out babywearer.com everything you could want to know about different types of carriers, reviews, used carriers, forums, etc.

HI. Th6e Erg5o carrier is Great... BUT..... They just started being mass produces in china. :( I would highly recommend getting a sasha wrap. I have used it with both of my kids and its been a life saver. I can use it by my self with no help and its really comfortable. Plus its really versatile and can be used through the toddler years. If your interested in one check out my website.
gigglemybaby.com We are in the process of updated so you can not purchase off the site. But you can see all the details and colors. Email me if you have more questions or would like to purchase one. ____@____.com

I have an Ergo and both my husband and I love it. We take a lot of walks through the woods and we never have a problem carrying my 20lb. one year old daughter in it. We used to have a generic front carrier (not a Bjorn but similar) and we both hated how much pressure it put on our shoulders. With the Ergo the child's weight is on your hips, not your shoulders which is great. It feels similar to a hiking backpack if you've ever tried one of those. My husband even says that it's one of the best baby purchases that we made. He says that he could walk for miles with my daughter on his back and be comfortable.

We also think that the Ergo is pretty easy to use. I can put my daughter in the front position by myself and it's very easy to do. The back position is a little bit more tricky though to do by yourself but is easy with someone else helping.

The only downside to the Ergo is that the baby can't face outward when in the front position. She/he can only face towards you. However, if you where the baby on your back, he/she faces toward your back and can see around. The reason for this is because the child is in more of a sitting position than in the Bjorn. I've heard that it is much better for their spine too but I'm not sure if that's true.

I hope this helps some! Overall, we love our Ergo!

Baby Bjorn puts baby in a position that is not good for hip development, not sure about the spine.

unfortunately the Ergo does the same thing, spreading the legs.

Unless your child has a developmental issue or physical issue, I'd say it's probably OK. I know several people who have Ergos and think they are the bomb.

For me, we use a sling. I love it. I love that you can even hip-carry them in it, but still the same problem if you're spreading legs.

I'm trying to come up with another way to hold my 12 mo old in the sling. She likes sleeping laying down, and front sitting up, but she's getting bigger and may need another method. I'm trying to find out a way I can keep her legs together, perhaps in Ergo or sling, and still comfortably carry her. She has Down Syndrome and low tone, along with hip displasia issues (or possible issues) and I have to be mindful of that.

My son was born almost 10 lbs and never liked to be carried in a sling. He loves ergo, though. Front carry position is a breeze, back carry gets easier the more you do it. Just have someone standing by the first few times you try. It's like french braiding your hair. You have to learn how to not rely on your eyes to tell you where everything is. I can tell you that it's comfortable, but a bigger testimony is how many times I've been stopped while grocery shopping by expectant parents who tell me how comfortable it looks and where can they get one. My son likes it better than his stroller and his is almost one year old.

As for the hip positioning, it's the same really as if you were to carry your child, the ergo just releives your arms and back. Can't say enough good about it. For younger babies, they have the infant insert which has many versatile uses after baby has outgrown it. Good luck.

I LOVE my Ergo carrier! My 21-month-old daughter is happy to "ride on Mommy" when we go grocery shopping or out for a walk. My son is 6 now, but I can still carry him in it, too. It is a lot easier than a piggy-back ride.

I injured my back years ago and have no trouble at all with the Ergo.

You can try them on and see for yourself at Noodles & Noggins in Clifton. They even have the DVD to explain how to use it.

i like it a lot. i've used it mostly for back carrying, but am trying it with my new 4 month old for front carrying. you can find it used sometimes, i would check craig's list. i bought mine at a consignment shop.

i also liked using ring slings to hold my now 3 year old on my hip, and those are usually cheaper than ergos. tons of those are available on various websites.