Baby Carriers: Back vs. Front at WDW

[bekkiz]

We have two Ergos that I imagine will get a lot of use at WDW this fall (the boys will be almost 1). Until now, we've only ever carried them in front, mostly because I like to see what they're doing.

However, they're getting bigger (20lbs/29in and 22lbs/30.5in) and I tried them in a back carry, and it was SO much more comfortable.

DH thinks the back carry is mean though, because they are just looking at your shoulder blades. It also makes me nervous to not be able to see them.

Please sell me on the back carry, I think I'll be more comfortable, I'm just worried about the little guys

 

[stephie1012]

if you can get the carrier higher up on you they should be able to see over your shoulders ,or they can look side to side. Its not really much different from them looking at your chest kwim?

DS was in a front carry alot in disney bc it was easier for ups and downs for the rides and it was too hard for him to stay asleep on the bus on my back and then when we got to the room it was easier to get him down. He was 28lbs maybe a lil less when we went!!!
In Sept im bringing my ringsling so he can go on my hip for the line waits. Do you plan on bringing a stroller? im glad we brought ours. he was worn his entire life and he started loving the stroller in disney. We wore him to go down to sleep leaving the parks and waiting on lines.

 

[estherhead]

LOVE LOVE LOVE my Ergo. I have a 2.5 year old & have been carrying her around in my Ergo for awhile. It's not mean in the back, they totally love it & your back doesn't hurt at the end of the day.

However, in Fantasyland I would front carry simply because you can run around & do all the rides with the babies still in the Ergo. They just are sitting on your lap when you get in the boats/honeypots/etc.

Back carry & don't worry. It is my full intention to be lugging my kid around in the Ergo until she's four. Course, not at Disney at four, but we have bigger kids & back carrying in the Ergo has allowed us to do hikes that are safe for bigger kids but I would be terrified with a 2.5 year old!

If babies don't like something, they tell you. Nice & loud.

 

[dismama]

I didn't have an Ergo but did have a babyhawk and DD loved backcarry. With the babyhawk I could put it kind of high up so she could see over my shoulder so she had a great view of what was going on.

 

[bumbershoot]

Back carry is great! It's how so much of the rest of the world deals with their babies.

They aren't just looking at shoulder blades, they are looking everywhere! Since you use the Ergos, that means the babies are facing you guys in a front carry, right? So does he feel bad that the babies are only looking at you guys? no! He knows that they see you, they see over your shoulders, they see to the sides, etc etc. And it's the same with a back carry.

The only thing to worry about with a back carry is when they get tired, so you'll each want to watch the other's baby to make sure they are wide awake. If they start getting sleepy, be ready to get the hood thingie on to keep their heads and necks OK.

Oh, and tell your husband that on a hot day, there is nothing lovelier than passing back a little bit of water to your baby, and having baby spill half of the cold water down your back....ahhhhhh. Refreshing! OK maybe don't tell him, b/c that might not sound good to him now, but it will feel good when it happens.

 

[stacy6552]

Front front front. If you put the baby up front, you can wear them through the line and ON the ride or IN the show. If they're on the back you'll have to take them off, which is a pain. For comfort make sure that you are wearing baby high enough, you should have to look around baby's head at that age.

 

[Mommy2Julia&Brynn]

Have you tried a Pikkolo? It's very much like an Ergo (soft structured carrier), but there's a cinching mechanism in it so they can face outward on the front and there's also a hip carry, which I LOVE! You might want to get the padded belt since they're 20 lbs plus, but you don't have to.

As far as riding on the back, I don't think it's mean. My DDs look all around the whole time, and they constantly peak over my shoulder. Just situate them higher on your back. For ease of rides and napping, I'd suggest front carry (obviously inward facing for napping, and we love the napping hoods!). However, there's been many times DD has fallen asleep on my back...I'm just more careful when she's sleeping back there because I don't want her head to flop back!!

 

[Big Kid]

Our son loved back carry when he was one, and preferred it to riding in a stroller because he could see more and still feel connected. Our carrier is a heavy-duty hiking model so not the best fit for WDW; in hindsight, I wish that I had taken a smaller one for his 18-month-old trip though since I ended up carrying him in my arms a lot. (We tried a stroller, but he insisted that he would push it, not ride in it.)

By the time he was 20 pounds, I found it really uncomfortable to carry him in a front pack.

The carrier I bought came with a small plastic mirror, about 2" x 4", in a pouch on the belt so that I can keep an eye on him while he's back there.

 

[Piecey]

I bought a side carrier... DS is still 1lb too light for me to try him in it, but anyone ever used one of those?

All these reviews are making me think I need to buy a different carrier.

I have this: http://www.infantino.com/Carriers/151-302.php

 

[Charitycase20]

I have never used an Ergo before but we have an APLX, same kind of animal

And Zach has been on my back since he was about 8M old, first in my Babyhawk and then the APLX. Its great, he's happy, hates the stroller, and he can still see fine even back there. Now my only issue is our May 2010 trip to WDW, do I wear him the whole entire time or force him in a stroller?

Long story, short, wear them on your back if you want, they will be fine. And have a great time!!

 

[stephie1012]

I bought a side carrier... DS is still 1lb too light for me to try him in it, but anyone ever used one of those?

All these reviews are making me think I need to buy a different carrier.

I have this: http://www.infantino.com/Carriers/151-302.php

i agree with you needing a new carrier lol check out thebabywearer.com its like the DIS for baby carriers. You can buy used carriers there for a fraction of the cost. won what type you are looking foror DS it depends on what type you are looking for. In my carriers and the carriers you will find at that site are rated from birth to 35lbs. i wore ds around when he was 4lbs with no problem.

 

[Neko]

We used the Tatonka baby carrier when DS was 18 mo. It's a back carrier and was wonderful. It's easy to slip on and off, plus has great compartments for storing other little things. It can stand on it's own, so when DS fell asleep, we set him next to the table while we ate.

 

[irene_dsc]

I think both front and back carries have their advantages and disadvantages. I mainly used a Kozy after my dd was older, and I wore dd on the front or back, depending on the situation, until dd got tall enough that I really couldn't see over her in a front carry anymore.

Front: more cuddles, more eye contact (front facing in), less comfy on back, easier to sit.
Back: more comfy on back, but risk of child grabbing stuff without you knowing and inadvertently shoplifting, or pulling your hair. Some kids sleep well on backs - others flop their heads back. Difficult to sit - esp on a ride.

Always learn to do back carries with a spotter available! I always tried new carries with a stuffed animal or doll before trying it with a kid, btw - it was never quite the same, but I felt more secure fumbling around that way. Also, always check your carrier in the mirror or other reflective surface, esp. for back carries, to make sure your kid is in there securely. (I sometimes used the car window, lol)

Oh, yeah - another side benefit of back carries - the chance to freak out passers-by with your amazing abilities, when you oh-so-calmly situate your kid on your back.

 

[Piecey]

i agree with you needing a new carrier lol check out thebabywearer.com its like the DIS for baby carriers. You can buy used carriers there for a fraction of the cost. won what type you are looking foror DS it depends on what type you are looking for. In my carriers and the carriers you will find at that site are rated from birth to 35lbs. i wore ds around when he was 4lbs with no problem.

for Disney in October.
He'll be 23wks when we go.