Ergo

[shamrock20]

Just bought one yesterday in prep for our trip next week. Used a Bjorn with our 25month old DS and new DD (5.5months now) but after all the research thought this was a smart investment. Ami I right?

1.) She is not yet sitting on her own but has pretty good head control. Which position is best at this age? Didn't buy the infant carrier, she is of avg size.

2.) Will I really be able to stuff my 2 year old DS in it? He weighs 30 lbs.

3.) I am not one of those mech inclined mamas! Slings have always intimidated me! I can handle the Bjorn just fine though - is the ERGO also user friendly? (MY sales person wasn't very informative and my DS was about ready to tear up her store so I needed to move fast)

 

[tkme4ard]

yes nyou can wear your 2 yo in it. I've seen kids as old as 4 in an ergo comfortably.

Ergo takes practice just like any baby wearing device. I find it easiest to do a back carry by having the child sit on the table with what ever under their bum then lean back, scoot them forward and then pull them on you while leaning forward so that your like a turtle with a shell on your back while you put the ties in the right place. You really need to have another adult helping you to get used to it though. Or if you aren't wanting to learn to do it yourself alone, then just tie on the ergo with room slide the child in and then adjust as needed. I know there is a video online so give me a sec and I'll post it.

 

[tkme4ard]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gw9pI-QrrQ&feature=related

here is one

 

[MinnieMe2DW]

I had one too.. you can definitely carry both in there! I carried my 17 month old hunk of boy - I think he was easily close to 30+ lbs, very comfortably. The tricky part is getting them up there and getting used to putting it on.

 

[bumbershoot]

2.5 year old at Disneyland in Ergo here.



Do the new Ergos still have the little hoods for little heads? You could do the back carry and use that if she's getting sleepy, but I always loved doing a front carry facing my body with a littler one. That's not the norm for Bjorn users, but front carry with baby facing you is just fabulous, IMO. And babies/kids can interact with people MUCH more behind you, because when people know the parent isn't watching, they get much much sillier with kids, which is more fun for kids!

Practice practice practice!

 

[frtchr]

If you carry your child on your back, you'll have to take him off and on when you do rides. I love my Ergo, but I don't want to take my toddler in it for that reason.

Have a good trip!

 

[Relish]

An Ergo is a lot like wearing a backpack. You have a waist belt to adjust and then the shoulder straps. That is about as intimidating as it gets.

Your Dd may or may not want to split her legs in the Ergo the whole time. I She's a little old for frogging them inside (usually we do this with 3mo and under) but she might prefer it sometimes. You really shouldn't need the infant insert at all. I would mostly wear her in front, facing me so I can keep an eye on her sun exposure. But if she's a good chunker or if she's going to nap in there you could put her on your back with the sun hood up. We often carried an umbrella with us for portable shade.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[Nanu57v]

The ERGO is not very difficult to figure out at all. It is like wearing a backpack. You should be able to carry the older child backcarry with no problem. Front carry you may need help getting snapped in. Actually help on the back with a squirmy toddler is good too. Wearing the child on the back just seemed more intuitive to me, but I've held my toddler front carry too. I couldn't figure out hip carry.

 

[dis-happy]

I just got one last month ($20. at the consignment store--new condition!!!) and the video instruction on the ERGO website really helped me out. DH watched with me and helped me adjust everything which also made it easier at the beginning. One thing it took me awhile to realize: the main straps have to sit on your hips---at first I tried to tighten them more around my waist and it didn't fit right because I have a smaller waist in porportion to my hips. My ds just turned 6 months old and I can't imagine wearing him on my back yet (due to head control), just stick with the front carry IMHO. Good luck!!

 

[captainpixiedust]

I'm thinking of buying an Ergo for our trip in May. I thought it might be useful for holding DD1 while in attraction lines and in areas that are not so stroller friendly. Can I keep DD in the Ergo to go on rides (the ones without height restrictions of course) if I have her in the front hold?
I've also heard that some people use the back carry and then "shuffle" the baby to a front hold when needed... how is this done? Is it difficult to learn?

Thanks all for your help!

 

[Lauren-n-Jeff]

You can absolutely wear your 2yo in it! I wore my son on my back in it from when he was 2 until he was just shy of 4 years old to do a 4 mile round trip walk to a local park every few days. He was about 30 lbs or so.... We even put him in it last spring when we went to Puerto Rico at about 35 lbs as we hiked down to one of the waterfalls in the rainforest... You could barely tell he was there!

It took me a few tries to get comfy with my Ergo, but I quickly was able to get my son onto and off of my back without any help. Hip carry was ridiculous and I could never get the hang of it (I like slings better for hip carry anyway!)...

I absolutely adore my Ergo... to be able to wear your child for hours without feeling any strain?!?! Amazing!