Good Back Carriers?

Hey J.,
I used the Bjorn and switched to the Ergo (organic) and am very happy with it; I can keep my 11 MO in it while I grocery shop with a cart; very convenient! MUCH easier on the back than the Bjorn, and also supposedly much better for baby's spine. It is hard to put on with a big coat unless you loosen everything but that's pretty minor. You can't have the baby front-facing with it, however, although it can be used as a backpack. Still in all, I would recommend it highly.
S.

I love my "Moby" wrap. And I made it myself. Try this:
Purchase 5 yards of jersey fabric. Cut it in half up the middle (so that you have two 5 yard pieces) - now you have two wraps! You can find wrapping instructions online. It carries front or back, in many different configurations.

J.,
I dont' know where you are, but try to go to a store that allows you to try them on with your baby. There's a store in Rochester, NY - Luvaboos (and they are online) that has several to try. If you are worried about back support/pain, you might try making your own - but a WRAP, while a little complicated to get to know at first, is going to be your best bet - because you can ADD a little variation that supports your lower back. You just need to get the hang of wrapping it. Once you get used to it, it goes on in a flash - I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN SO DON'T KNOCK IT YET. Your back needs this support. Convenience is not always the best measure of a product! : )

good luck,
M.

Hi! I have used the Moby Wrap, Baby Bjorn and Ergo Sport. The Moby was good when my daughter was a tiny baby, it supported her and cuddled her. It's a pain to wrap around, and not supportive of an older, moving baby. It's hot in the summer. It does not have good back/waist support. The Baby Bjorn is easy to take on and off, has good head support for a baby who still needs it, but does not have good back and waist support, so, I switched to the Ergo. I prefer carriers with buckles over ones that tie like the Baby Hawk Mei Tai because the buckles seem faster to use and more secure. I chose the Ergo Sport over the Baby Hawk Oh Snap because it had the sleeping hood and seemed more secure. You can also do a hip carry with the Ergo. The waist belt is awesome and just like a hiking backpack, puts all the weight on your hips. It holds a child up to 50 lb. according to the info, so it's up to you if you can handle that weight I guess! I personally need two people to put my daughter on the back, but the front carry is easy. The only trouble I have is snapping the "sternum" strap behind me when I carry my daughter in the front b/c I have a bad neck and it's hard to reach around. I have to loosen it all the way before I put the carrier on so I can reach it. I'm planning to sell the Baby Bjorn because the Ergo is great for me and my husband.

Check out the lille baby carrier. They sell them @ buy buybaby. A bit less bulky than an ergo & a few more options for carrying.

I love my ERGO. It allowed me to carry my son from newborn until 15 months old. Granted, he is a wee guy (both my husband and I are petite) but the carrier was so comfortable that I would wear it for hours. Example #1: on the plane to help rock son to sleep and #2 at a family wedding where son fell asleep during dinner, but putting him in the Ergo allowed me to at least have some cake before heading back to the hotel. It is expensive, but worth every penny. Plus, you can wear the child either in the front, side or hip. the only drawback was it that it took me a bit to get the hang of it. My cousin had to show me. :)

I have never been really comfortable using my Moby to back carry, much too stretchy. Of course for a front carrier I don't think there is anything better.

Some really great back carriers are the Ergo, Beco Butterfly and Mei Tai.
It is really benificial, if you have the opportunity, to try them on either at a store or if a friend has one. Fit, style, expense and comfort all come into play when you are shopping around for a good carrier.
Everyone is going to have their own opinion of why they prefer one carrier over the other. I love my Beco but the friend that I bought it from didn't like it at all and bought an Ergo instead. My hubby will wear the Ergo (Sport) but will NOT wear my pretty Beco Butterfly(Alice) or Mei Tai.
I am also so very fond of my Mei Tai. I think that is the one I run out of the house with most. It's comfortable and soft so when I am not wearing it I can store it in my purse and I made it so it was very inexpenive.

SO you have many options but the best advice I can give is to try them on and see what fits you best before you make an investment. Do you have any babywearing circles in your area?
Maybe check out http://www.thebabywearer.com/ You will find tons of great info and people to chat with if you have any questions.
Good Luck!

J. - you need to find what works best for you but I have to also say the ERGO was my favorite. I had the Bjorn, Hip Hammock and the ERGO and it was the most comfortable for longer distances/time. We lived in Germany when my two girls were little and I hiked all over with them in it. The great thing was I could carry my little one (6-7 months) in it and when she wanted out I would hand her off and put my 3 y/o in it. I was easily able to use the ERGO until my children were between 3 and 4. I learned quickly how to put them in on my back. Basically slid them from my hip to my back and then pulled the straps up = but there is a great insruction video that comes with it. It is small so it easily folds up and can put it under the stroller or even in a larger diaper bag. Our ERGO has helped us travel Europe stroller free as well as Disney, and even used it to mop my floors when my kids were young and fussy.

Hope you find something that works!

The Ergo is great and hold larger kids. bigbluetrunk is currently offering a giveaway for one.

http://www.bigbluetrunk.com/editorblog/776

The Ergo is popular for many people, but the best thing to do is find a store that stocks several types of brands and carriers. Most small businesses will be well-informed on the pros and cons of each, they'll let you try them on, show you proper use, etc. It's really the best way to see what works well for you before spending the money.

Hi J.
The ERGO, hands down. I've had several types of carriers - the Baby Bjorn Active (OK until baby hit 20lbs, very hot in summer), the Baby Bjorn Air (cool for summer but no back support and too expensive, Infantino sling (recently recalled because of danger of suffocation) and, after all these failed to ease my back pain, I discovered my all-time favorite Ergo. It allowed me to carry my baby for hours at a time very comfortably, let him nap and nurse in privacy. Can't say enough good things about it, I used it while doing housework, running errands, grocery shopping, and while traveling, far more than my stroller actually.

Another great thing about it is that it can be easily adapted for use with any body type - your hubby won't be embarassed to use it either!

I bought mine years ago when it was popular mostly among hikers but now it's become very mainstream. Buy Buy Baby sells a wide assortment of colors and inserts for use with newborns - 5 month olds. If you have a Bed Bath & Beyond coupon (the blue ones you get in the mail), you can get 20% off here as they are the parent company.

Jetwithkids.com highly recommends it:
http://www.jetwithkids.com/blog/traveling-with-kids-ergob... (full review)
http://www.jetwithkids.com/faqs.html#bringstroller (use with multiple kids)

"Q / What carrier holds heavier kids?
A/ A great carrier for carrying heavier kids is the ERGObaby In fact, it's great for infants too! I was able to carry my 30 lb. preschooler around London and Vienna without back strain! The carrier is rated to 40lbs., yet can be folded up and stored in luggage or the bottom of a stroller.
Q/ What makes your recommended carrier so great?
A/ When my child sits in the ERGObaby carrier, his legs are at a 90 degree angle - this is the most comfortable position for the child and best for his little body for long periods (not being suspended by the crotch is a good thing!) When my son fell asleep, his head did not drop back and roll around. Instead the hood was supportive and kept the sun out of his eyes. On cold days, this hood was a wind blocker. Easy to apply, or remove and tuck away, the hood is a great feature of the ERGObaby carrier! "

We loooove our Pikkolo carrier, which is the only one that has an adjustable crotch for smaller babies. I bought mine from www.quirkybaby.com and was really surprised at the special deal and great service. You can even get help learning how to use it by emailing them. The rep I spoke to was super helpful and nice. I recommend also buying the waist adapter for toddlers. Worth it!

www.mobywrap.com After 3 kids, 7 different carriers, I can tell you, this one is my favorite. We hiked to lighthouses with our daughter carried on the front. I didn't even know she was there - SOOOOOOOO easy on my back and she got to see everything. My son was over 10 pounds at birth and was the size of most 1 year olds at 6 months...and it never hurt my back, since I couldn't carry any of them in teh Bjorn longer than 10 minutes and my back was spasming.

i have the ergo baby carrier so do four of my cousins and my best friend. we all LOVE them, between us we have 12kids. i use any carrier for more than 20minutes without killer back pain but the ergo is the best never had any back pain or any pain with it for that matter. the longest i have worn it at one time was walking around the zoo for 2 to 3 hours, and that was with my son who was born at 10lbs8oz. i have carried my daughter through a store when she was 30lbs and no problems. it is great for breastfeeding in and hip and back carring. it is well worth the cost and u dont have to have the infant insert you can just use a blanket. hope this helps. there are a few places in portland that carry them so you can go try them on, Generations on hawthorne on the eastside.

Moby Wrap ROCKS! As does BabyHawk! I teach babywearing and people love them and I highly recommend both brands!

I travel with my Babyhawk. My son is 33 lbs at 21 months! Couldn't survive without it!

My daughter just turned 6 months a couple of days ago and she weighs 15lbs. I also have a 4 year old and when she was a baby I used the Baby Bjorn until it started hurting my back as my daughter got bigger. Then I switched to the Ergo and LOVED it. I'm sorry, I'm not sure which one since I got it so long ago.
Now with my new baby, I have loved the Moby Wrap, but lately feel my baby is getting too heavy for that, plus it is getting a little hot to be wrapped in all that material now that the weather is getting warmer. I started using the Ergo again and I am so glad I have it. It isn't as hot as other carriers and I find it really easy to put baby in the front position. I have to say that I find it harder to put her in the back position, but then maybe I just haven't had enough practice.
Best of luck,B.