ERGO carrier for 3 year old.............

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

I had an ERGO carrier for my daughter and sold it a few months ago on craigslist (great resale!!) as my daughter did not want to use it anymore. Well, now all she wants is us to carry her! My back is killing me! We went to the state fair the other day and my back has not recovered. She does not like to sit in the stroller that much these days. So, I bought another ERGO at a local store last night. Did not want to buy another since I just sold my other one! But we are going to WDW in Dec. and I don't want to carry her around all day long for six days in a row!!! Maybe she will like being up high in the carrier. She is pretty small for her age and still fits into it great. Anyone still use their ERGO for preschoolers??

 

[Iri920]

My son who is around 34lbs and will be 4 in November still rides in it sometimes. I can't carry him for a really long period of time anymore though. Last time I think he lasted about an hour before I needed a break.

 

[ERMama]

i think youve done your job at carrying her. when shes scared or tired and wants to be held/rocked etc thats great and fine.
i physically could not and would not carry a 3 yo as their primary mode of getting around at wdw. no way no how.
(i have several baby carriers too).

 

[Schmeck]

There's so much walking at WDW - are you sure you're prepared to lug her around for miles of walking? I'd think that if she got tired enough, she'd be glad to get in a stroller, especially if that was the only option to walking.

Also, while it is not so very hot at WDW in December, it can be in the upper 70's - and that can get hot when you have someone strapped to your body.

 

[princessAMG]

Our Oldest is almost four and we've carried him in the ergo a few times at this age when we were somewhere that stollers do fit!! But he REALLY likes riding in the stroller with his little brother. Although we have a super comfy stroller and the boys can face eachother so maybe that's why.

 

[happymommy]

I wouldn't ever carry a 3 year old primarily. I agree - let her walk and give her the only other option of a stroller. She's not the boss - the parents are.

It is hard to see them unhappy, but you have to do what YOU need to, not what she seems to want, as it definitely may hurt your back.

 

[bumbershoot]

Good for you for working on meeting her needs, AND doing it in a smart way by using an Ergo. After all, they are called that b/c they are ergonomic.

Now, since it'll be hot, I can't imagine she's going to enjoy it all that much, so if I were in your shoes I doubt I would be overly concerned about her wanting to be worn for the entire trip.

My guy is prone, thanks to me, to rotten leg aches, and we actually do make sure he doesn't walk all day long, unless we WANT to be woken at 2 by him crying b/c of his legs. Making sure he's pushed or carried for part of our Disneyland days, along with wondrous arnica cream (specifically Salmon Creek Therapeutics brand), help us all sleep through the night without tears from pain.

Now, have I worn him in the Ergo since he was a bit over 2? No, but that was out of necessity. He was VERY tall for his age (he's evening out now) and was chunking up around them, and I'm rather short. So when he was in the Ergo, his feet were kicking me around my knees, and it was bugging the everything outta me, and he was getting too heavy for me to get any good walking in. So even though I philosophically wouldn't have minded at all, my bod just couldn't do it, and the kicking was making me angry, so we stopped using the Ergo.

Though walking from the Anabella Hotel to DLR and back in December, without our own stroller, did me in b/c he was so tired at night that he needed to be carried, and carrying him on my front destroyed my hips while giving him a piggyback hurt my shoulders. Ouch. Wished I had the Ergo at that point!!!

 

[happymommy]

Good for you for working on meeting her needs, AND doing it in a smart way by using an Ergo. After all, they are called that b/c they are ergonomic.

Now, since it'll be hot, I can't imagine she's going to enjoy it all that much, so if I were in your shoes I doubt I would be overly concerned about her wanting to be worn for the entire trip.

My guy is prone, thanks to me, to rotten leg aches, and we actually do make sure he doesn't walk all day long, unless we WANT to be woken at 2 by him crying b/c of his legs. Making sure he's pushed or carried for part of our Disneyland days, along with wondrous arnica cream (specifically Salmon Creek Therapeutics brand), help us all sleep through the night without tears from pain.

Now, have I worn him in the Ergo since he was a bit over 2? No, but that was out of necessity. He was VERY tall for his age (he's evening out now) and was chunking up around them, and I'm rather short. So when he was in the Ergo, his feet were kicking me around my knees, and it was bugging the everything outta me, and he was getting too heavy for me to get any good walking in. So even though I philosophically wouldn't have minded at all, my bod just couldn't do it, and the kicking was making me angry, so we stopped using the Ergo.

Though walking from the Anabella Hotel to DLR and back in December, without our own stroller, did me in b/c he was so tired at night that he needed to be carried, and carrying him on my front destroyed my hips while giving him a piggyback hurt my shoulders. Ouch. Wished I had the Ergo at that point!!!

Legs aching can also be due to needing extra potassium. A couple of bananas and some orange juice can help sometimes. Just wanted to tell you.

I think with the heat, it would be uncomfortable for both mom and child to carry much in Orlando. Maybe stop and have a break frequently, have her sit on your lap may help. Maybe she just wants to be cuddled. Enjoy that! It goes by quickly! I just couldn't carry around a child too much at Disney; it's exhausting. There is so much to see that she may not want to be carried.

 

[J3nn78]

DH carried our 3 year old on our last Disney Trip and I carried our 18 month old. We usually only used our carriers when we went back to the parks in the late afternoon-evening when we did not want to fight the night time parades and rush with strollers. They were a lifesaver.

I think if you are comfortable with DS in your Ergo, go for it as a rest for him in between walking. You can certainly just strap it around you when not in use. It should also not be too hot in Dec either. I use mine for our younger throughout the summer around here and do not get too terrible hot.
I plan on taking our Ergos again for the same use. They are such great carriers and put no strain on the back or shoulders.

My only suggestion would be to use it more and more as the trip approaches to build up your strength on the extra weight. Maybe take a nightly walk in it.

 

[julm26]

I would never carry my DD3 - first of all - i was would have a broken back and second of all - they are should be walking - not being carried like a baby...

We will have a stroller in WDW - cause its a lot of walking, but there is no way i'm carrying my kid, be the parent and make her walk....

 

[J3nn78]

I would never carry my DD3 - first of all - i was would have a broken back and second of all - they are should be walking - not being carried like a baby...

We will have a stroller in WDW - cause its a lot of walking, but there is no way i'm carrying my kid, be the parent and make her walk....

WHy the insulting remark? Just because you do not see it appropriate to carry a 3 year old does not make you any more of a parent than the OP. FYI Babywearing is nothing like carrying a child anyway. Honestly, if a parent is willing to do it, how is it different from the stroller? They are still not walking? I would prefer to babywear my toddler when he was tired of walking rather than deal with a stroller not in use half the time and taking up space and hard to maneuver through crowds. When the carrier is not in use it is virtually weightless and can be worn around the waist

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

J3nn78-
Thank you for the support! I did feel a little insulted by that comment. I am the parent. My daughter is very little for her age and I just wanted an alturnative to the stroller. When we go to WDW she will want to see eveyrthing and I just thought the carrier would be a good thing.

 

[Schmeck]

I checked out the Ergo website - I think she'd have a better view from the stroller, actually, unless you plan on carrying her on your chest, facing out? If you carry her that way, won't her head be in your way? If she's on your back, your head will be in her way, unless she pushes her feet into your back to boost herself up?

 

[Ariel8676]

If you are comfortable wearing your 3 year old, go for it. I'm not sure if an Ergo would be tall enough though, there is an awesome carrier called a Kanga XT http://www.bloo-kangaroo.com/ if you can get one it is SOOO comfortable, and they are really pretty too..i have a Kanga X. The XT is 21 inches high. They have a really good resale value on http://thebabywearer.com/ too. Also to the PP if the child is on your back they can see just fine, all they have to do is look over your shoulder..actually a better view than looking at rear ends all day in a stroller..lol
And a 3 yo is still a baby, they still need to be held and cuddled..."Be the parent let her walk", really that is just sad.. she is 3 not 13. Good Luck to you, and i feel that kids grow up way too fast today... let them be your "baby" for as long as possible!!!

 

[ERMama]

I was at state fair last week too. If days later you were still hurting from carrying her, I dont see how using the Ergo alot at Disney is going to be any better. Being that sore is not going to make your trip very enjoyable.
And honestly, Dec is still 4 months away. Who knows what your daughter will want to do physically then.

 

[britfish]

I really wanted to get a ergo carrier for my just turned 4year old. She is only 28 lbs. so I don't think it would be uncomfortable I just don't know if I should spend the money. I thought it might be an alternative to the stroller. DD spent lots of time snuggled in her maya wrap and loved it, I thought the ergo might help "slow" her down and help w/ the over stimulation a little. Well see how finances turn out....

 

[MommyBryn]

I carry my 2.5 year old around in the Ergo whenever she'll tolerate it (she's never liked being worn), but she's pretty small- tiny, but a lean 25 lbs. I don't know if I could do it in Disney though. I don't even plan on wearing my then 8 month old while we're there just because we both get so hot (I'll bring a pouch or wrap in the diaper bag if but won't plan on using it exclusively).

 

[toesmom]

I had an ERGO carrier for my daughter and sold it a few months ago on craigslist (great resale!!) as my daughter did not want to use it anymore. Well, now all she wants is us to carry her! My back is killing me! We went to the state fair the other day and my back has not recovered. She does not like to sit in the stroller that much these days. So, I bought another ERGO at a local store last night. Did not want to buy another since I just sold my other one! But we are going to WDW in Dec. and I don't want to carry her around all day long for six days in a row!!! Maybe she will like being up high in the carrier. She is pretty small for her age and still fits into it great. Anyone still use their ERGO for preschoolers??

I used my ergo until my ds was over 4 years old, and especially at disney. He was almost uncontrollable in stores and it was tough to manage older dd who wanted to look around.

I think it's a great idea, and I found the carrier comfortable. One tip, I found it more comfortable by crossing the front straps across my chest and tightening it. Found the weight to be better distributed.

I could carry ds for hours. And he was heavy.

I forgot to mention it was great at the airport waiting in lines and clearing security area.