carriers -- moby, beco, bjorn, ergo?

[TwistGrl101]

We haven't done much with facing out, because even with ergo/beco it's still not good for them to face out for too long. if we go somewhere like the aquarium or disney, we will likely face out for a short while - but only in short bursts.

Why???

 

[corneredbycorn]

Why???

Three reasons.

First, the majority of mainstream carriers on the market do not have the baby sitting ergonomically at all, let alone when facing forward (and those that are more ergonomic still aren't perfect). When the baby is not in a seated position with their legs spread wide and the fabric of the carrier going knee to knee and their knees above their bum, it puts a lot of pressure on their little spines and hips.

There isn't much hard evidence for this though, but that leads to the next point.

Second, it's a comfort issue for both the baby and the wearer. Even the few carriers that are more ergonomic have the baby's body weight pulling forward on the carrier, changing your center of gravity, causing both the baby and the wearer discomfort in their backs, hips, and shoulders. Usually this discomfort can be fixed by doing what the person you replied to plans to do, which is to only face forward in short spurts.

Third, facing forward offers the child no way in which to shield themselves from overstimulation. When the child is facing you, they can bury their head if they are getting overstimulated or scared. That's just not possible when facing away from you and that can be very exhausting and sometimes even scary for a baby.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Three reasons.

First, the majority of mainstream carriers on the market do not have the baby sitting ergonomically at all, let alone when facing forward (and those that are more ergonomic still aren't perfect). When the baby is not in a seated position with their legs spread wide and the fabric of the carrier going knee to knee and their knees above their bum, it puts a lot of pressure on their little spines and hips.

There isn't much hard evidence for this though, but that leads to the next point.

Second, it's a comfort issue for both the baby and the wearer. Even the few carriers that are more ergonomic have the baby's body weight pulling forward on the carrier, changing your center of gravity, causing both the baby and the wearer discomfort in their backs, hips, and shoulders. Usually this discomfort can be fixed by doing what the person you replied to plans to do, which is to only face forward in short spurts.

Third, facing forward offers the child no way in which to shield themselves from overstimulation. When the child is facing you, they can bury their head if they are getting overstimulated or scared. That's just not possible when facing away from you and that can be very exhausting and sometimes even scary for a baby.

Ditto to all of the this. The beco is a good carrier, ergonomically, for a baby to sit in (knees above bum position), but facing out is just overall not as secure as facing in (either on the front or back).

Our plan for Disney when we're wearing her is to have her in a back carry most of the time - she can still see a lot of what's going on around her, but she can turn away from it all if she wants to as well. If we get to a ride and she's awake, we'll switch her to FF when we get closer to the front of the line (or just take her out and hold her, depending on the ride and comfort level). If she's asleep, whoever's wearing her will just have to wait til she wakes up

 

[corneredbycorn]

Ditto to all of the this. The beco is a good carrier, ergonomically, for a baby to sit in (knees above bum position), but facing out is just overall not as secure as facing in (either on the front or back).

Our plan for Disney when we're wearing her is to have her in a back carry most of the time - she can still see a lot of what's going on around her, but she can turn away from it all if she wants to as well. If we get to a ride and she's awake, we'll switch her to FF when we get closer to the front of the line (or just take her out and hold her, depending on the ride and comfort level). If she's asleep, whoever's wearing her will just have to wait til she wakes up

This is pretty much what we're doing as well, except for with the Lillebaby. On my back the majority of the time, front facing out for rides, front facing in for naps.

I'm still trying to figure out how to handle a bag though. Ideally I will use my Vera Bradley baby backpack, but I can't exactly wear that on my back if DD is there too and DH is not going to happily hold a bag covered in hot pink flowers. It does have a good handle though so I could just carry it with that or put one of my arms through the straps. Thankfully my parents will be with us and my mom and dad will probably be happy to help (my dad dealt with two girls, flowers are no longer kryptonite).

 

[Sundancer UK]

Three reasons.

First, the majority of mainstream carriers on the market do not have the baby sitting ergonomically at all, let alone when facing forward (and those that are more ergonomic still aren't perfect). When the baby is not in a seated position with their legs spread wide and the fabric of the carrier going knee to knee and their knees above their bum, it puts a lot of pressure on their little spines and hips.

There isn't much hard evidence for this though, but that leads to the next point.

Second, it's a comfort issue for both the baby and the wearer. Even the few carriers that are more ergonomic have the baby's body weight pulling forward on the carrier, changing your center of gravity, causing both the baby and the wearer discomfort in their backs, hips, and shoulders. Usually this discomfort can be fixed by doing what the person you replied to plans to do, which is to only face forward in short spurts.

Third, facing forward offers the child no way in which to shield themselves from overstimulation. When the child is facing you, they can bury their head if they are getting overstimulated or scared. That's just not possible when facing away from you and that can be very exhausting and sometimes even scary for a baby.

^All of this

I think of it like a puzzle too - you and the baby are two pieces. When the baby is worn facing in to you, you fit. It's comfortable because your baby becomes more like a part of your body weight.
Facing out and the baby is dangling, no matter what carrier you use. Dangling means the baby is pulling down and away from you, which is tiring and uncomfortable.

Yes totally to the overstimulation, especially somewhere like Disney!

I'm another that does a lot of back carries there. You can get the baby pretty high for a good view, but also it's cooler than carrying on my front I find.

 

[njmom76]

We leave tomorrow and plan on wearing DS (7mos) in a Kinderpack that I love.

 

[Katd52]

I wore my Tula Baby Carrier to Disney it it was sooooo comfortable.

http://www.tulababycarriers.com/

DS at 15 Mos and 25 lbs is just starting to get too small for it and I'm upsizing to the Toddler size. It can be worn on the front or back.
Here we are at the Zoo last week.



I had my straps a little too loose in the 2nd pic

 

[Sarah_Rose]

When we went to Disney I restricted myself to a mere four slings. Ahem. A Didymos wrap which we used so often it was like a comfort blanket for my DS (he was 23 months then), a Kozy carrier (pretty mei tai), an Ocah wrap conversion (SO comfortable and easy!), a ringsling (fantastic for a toddler who tires out or to take with a pushchair for when you've parked your wheels as it packs so small) and another mei tai which brand I don't remember but it had a fantastic solarveil panel and hood to keep us cool.

Hey there mama!

I also had a five carrier rule for our last Disney trip - a mei tai, a Kinderpack (standard sized), a Tula (toddler sized) and two woven wraps (a Natibaby and our comfort blanket Vatanai that is too light to comfortably carry anyone for more than 20 minutes, but it still comes everywhere).

I think I stumbled on your pre-trip report and you had a lovely picture of you wearing your baby in a woven? I'm pretty sure I did a happy dance, if that was you.

I also have an Ocah full-buckle wrap conversion, and I swear that thing is sewn from unicorn hair.

Ok, and now I have nothing to add to this thread, so I'll step away from the carrier geeking out.

 

[Sundancer UK]

Haha - if it was a PTR that was never complete then it may well have been! Sooo glad I'm not alone in taking a sling collection to Disney - I feel slightly less crazy!

 

[scrappinginontario]

I lurve the Ergo. Have used it since my DD was about 14 months of age. She is now 4.5yo and I'll still be brining it to use in a pinch. As a single mom it's sometimes tough to fold the stroller while holding her when she's sleeping. The Ergo is still used by me in a pinch although she's really too tall for it now.

Hope you find something that works for you.

 

[angelmom27]

For that age all of the ones you listed I would scratch off the list. Tula or kinderpack are great carriers for the toddler stage. Moby definitely not, bjorn I would just stop ever using, beco and ergo don't last long during that age. They start to out grow it.

Another option is a woven wrap or a ring sling. Love our wraps and sling. Especially now carrying my 2.5 yr old DD while being pregnant. The sling is our best friend right now.

 

[hipporina]

What type of carry are you ladies using for bigger kids in ring slings? I used my ring sling all the time when my lo was smaller, but I can't get him very comfortable now.

On our trip when he was 7 months old, I used my ring sling one evening and it got pretty uncomfortable after a while. I used my Beco Gemini the majority of the trip and LOVED it!

We are going back in December and I'm already thinking about what to do. DS will be 22 months old, but he is on the smaller side. I know I will want to wear him some, but this trip will be a back carry instead of front (much more comfortable now that he is bigger.)

 

[angelmom27]

What type of carry are you ladies using for bigger kids in ring slings? I used my ring sling all the time when my lo was smaller, but I can't get him very comfortable now.

On our trip when he was 7 months old, I used my ring sling one evening and it got pretty uncomfortable after a while. I used my Beco Gemini the majority of the trip and LOVED it!

We are going back in December and I'm already thinking about what to do. DS will be 22 months old, but he is on the smaller side. I know I will want to wear him some, but this trip will be a back carry instead of front (much more comfortable now that he is bigger.)

If my RS was long enough I would do the ruck tied under bum or off on the side. Paxbaby has a video about it. I just like buckle carriers for disney and back carries.

 

[Sundancer UK]

For a toddler I'd carry on my hip in a ringsling. Pretty much as I would if I had no carrier, it just gives some more support and hands free

 

[Angel Ariel]

I know I will want to wear him some, but this trip will be a back carry instead of front (much more comfortable now that he is bigger.)

If he doesn't fit in the beco gemini any more, I'd look at getting a kinderpack. They have different sizes which should allow you to get one that will work best for your son.

 

[kstgelais4]

I didn't read through all the responses, but I actually brought 4 carriers on our last trip for our 20 month old. I brought 2 wraps (a didymos woven ((my carrier of choice)) and a gypsymama bali baby breeze which is made from cotton guaze and is really breatheable) and 2 mei tie's (babyhawk and a disney mei tie that I made). I preferred the woven wrap out of all of them for all day comfort for me, but my DH and oldest son preferred either of the mei tie's. You definitely DON't want a bjorn, not adequate support for wither you or your baby, and if you are new to babywearing, SSC like beco or ergo are a good place to start!

 

[tloveswdw]

Beco or ergo... They are fantastic for an awake or sleepy kiddo.

 

[jennylyn_b]

I loved my Moby wrap in WDW when dd was 12.5 months. So comfy for us both!

 

[4myBenandEllie]

I will echo the previous posters. Kinderpack or a mei tai, and learn how to back carry. The baby will get the best view that way and it will be the most comfortable for you with all of the walking.

 

[RatherBeInAK]

Just to throw another option at you, I absolutely love my Pognae carrier. I was looking for a carrier that was good for petite women and ran across the Pogane. I LOVE it. It distributes the weight so well. I can't even tell I'm wearing my 4 month in it. And I can carry my 2.5 year old in it for quite a while without feeling tired. It also has a great zippered area at the baby's back. While zipped up it has the cute fabric panel. When unzipped it has a mesh panel that helps to keep the baby cool. It's a great feature for our hot southern summers. It's also not as expensive as some of the other options out there.
Good luck!