Any babywearers out there?

[LastminuteLouLou]

I'm planning on taking our Ergo carrier for my 19 month old (25ish pounds) and the umbrella stroller for the almost 4 year old.

Is there anything I need to take into consideration regarding the baby carrier?

Specifically, are there any issues (safety, comfort, practicality) with simply wearing the carrier when I take him out for rides and such?

Beth

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't know about WDW, but there were no concerns when I wore DS at DLR.

Had him on my front, facing me, in the mei tai when he was about 16 months old, and had him on my back in the Ergo when he was almost 2.5 y.o. He got down more often from the Ergo, obviously.

Since you already use the Ergo you're probably good with it already; I didn't even start with the Ergo until he was 2 so I had a long learning curve with it. I always needed someone with me to put him on my back. So I couldn't have run off without another adult, as I was not the picture-perfect baby-wearer during those days, since it was so awkward.


I generally held DS's legs in a bit when walking through stores with breakables. But that was everywhere; not just Disney!

Are you going soon? If you're going when it's really hot, you'll probably want to take him off more often. That or hand baby a nice cup of cold water, to sip from and occasionally dump down your back. Refreshing!!!!

 

[J3nn78]

I wore our 1.5 year old in April and DH wore our 3 year old. I would be wearing the youngest again in a few weeks, except I will not be walking.

Anyway, I had no issues. I wore him on lots of rides, including Dumbo. This is when he was in front though. I wore him in the Ergo in front when he was sleepy and on my back when he was wide awake. I was really looking forward to doing so again in a few weeks. So I am a bit bummed.

 

[LastminuteLouLou]

J3nn78, I just went back and read about your Achilles tendon! How awful! Your predicament did make me look at my situation a little differently, though. I generally love carrying my little guy but wasn't too excited about being the sole person to be in charge of it at the parks. (My husband is a "big guy" and even with the extension we bought, I don't think he can wear the Ergo. I need to get him to try it before we leave somehow without making him feel like crap. ) Anyway....Now I'm looking forward to it a little more.

bumpershoot - I also like the idea of cold ice water dripped down my back! I can hardly wait!!! (Everything's better in WDW, right?)

Beth

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

We're babywearers and my 300lb 6'2 DH can back carry the kids in our toddlerhawk (toddler sized mei tai made by babyhawk) we had it made with the extended straps and it works great for him.

We alternated who we carried dependant on need- we have four kids, we took a mac stroller, a toddlerhawk meitai and a freehand meitai (smaller bodied) My DH can handle carrying our very large 5 year old son if he needs it (I can't!) it worked out well, better for us than taking more strollers BUT we are seasoned babywearers... we don't own a car, we walk pretty much everywhere and the mac is the first stroller I've owned for the youngest baby- he got to 19 months without ever being in a stroller.

I would say depending on when you're going just be aware of the heat and humidity and make sure both yourself and the worn baby take plenty to drink, sunblock little limbs really well and make sure you have friends to keep slapping their sunhat back on!

 

[tanyaandallie]

When my ds was 20 mos I wore him in my beco most of the time. However, we also had a double stroller so he could ride when he wanted to. I like having the stroller as well as back up.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We used our Ergo at WDW last October and plan on using it again in January. It was fabulous! We did as the PP said - back when awake and front when asleep, but now that #1 is older, she falls asleep in the back and is fine. Little arms around the neck - sigh!

Only thing is that having a 2nd back-up umbrella isn't a bad plan. WDW is quite a bit more walking than DL (we're there all the time), so you may find you need a rest after a couple days of it.

Thinking about it, though, you'll have the umbrella anyway, you'll be able to rest a bit when your oldest decides to walk. That should work out fine!

We are still wimps and can't do a whole day of wearing. Since our oldest is younger than yours, we still will plan on taking our Duo Quattro to WDW and then keep the carrier in the bottom and can switch back and forth. That worked well for us last year and saved our backs at night.

Have fun! I know you'll make it work!

 

[bumbershoot]

LastminuteLouLou, hubby wouldn't have been able to use the Ergo either, when we were using it. Even with the extension. But for some reason he really wanted a maya wrap, and he LOVED that thing! He didn't use it much, and didn't use it at Disney, but around town he felt like the coolest papa around.

mommy-on-the-move, just the other day hubby suggested I start using the Ergo with our 4 year old again, since on long walks if we don't bring the stroller I end up carrying him on my back anyway. I dunno, when he was 2 his feet would bang into my legs obnoxiously...now he's even taller and I'm still short 'n shrimpy, I would think the leg-banging would be even worse now! For your hubby to wear your 5 year old, wow! We didn't have a stroller until DS was 2, either. Ordered the jogging stroller and the Ergo in the same week, I believe.


That said, on the wearing trips to DLR we *did* rent a stroller. He barely used it (on the second trip he did nap in it) but it was there, just in case.

 

[design_mom]

We did 3 days at WDW when my DD was about the same age/size as your son. I took the Ergo and an umbrella stroller. On the second two days, we ended up leaving the stroller in the hotel. The Ergo was just so much more convenient (no looking for it when you get off rides, etc.)

We did the back carry the whole time and DH and I "fought" over who got to wear the Ergo. Whoever wasn't carrying DD had to carry the backpack diaper bag we brought (the diaper bag had uncomfortable straps -- a poor purchase). Carrying DD was easier and more comfortable than that stupid diaper bag! (As you'll notice from my avatar, I "won" most of the time!)

Anyway -- the only "concern" I'd mention is to watch that your little one doesn't get sunburned. The ERGO doesn't have a canopy and if they're behind you it can be easy not to notice until they're already a little toasty. DD wore a sunhat and sunscreen the whole time.

 

[Sabriel]

We are going to WDW in 2 weeks (woohoo!). My little one will be 4 months, so too young for my Ergo, but I am taking my 2 buckle teis. I also have a 2 year old, so we are taking a double stroller too. I figure I will be wearing one or the other a lot of the time, but since it will probably be in the 80s I want to make sure we have the double stroller. I am just afraid it will be too hot to count on wearing the baby constantly. I plan on wearing her on most/all of the rides though.

 

[thunderbug548]

I wear dd off and on in a MT usually. It gets too hot to wear her all day during the summer so she takes turns with her brother in the stroller. I wore her all day Sat. though in my Olives & Applesauce SSC (like an ergo) at the F&WF and Sunday and Monday my legs were killing me! I wasn't used to wearing her for that many hours and walking all day. Just fair warning! LOL