Somebody Have Experience with Ergo Baby / Baby Carrier

I used the ergo all the time from when my son was about 4 months (when he'd out grown the Moby wpap) until he was about 20 months (when I was preg with #2). I really carried him in it ALL the time - never really liked pushing a stroller and he seemed much happier to be carried. The ergo is great because the weight distribution is so much better than the other carriers I tried - I could have used it even longer, his weight wasn't an issue, just my growing 'bump':)
As for the leg spread thing - when we first started using it I had the same concern. It looked a bit awkward because his legs wern't long enough for his knees to bend at the sides and they just kind of stuck straight out. But he didn't seem to mind, and it certainly didn't cause him any pain or damage to have his legs spread like that - he crawled/walked/and now (exclusivly;) runs just fine.

This Ergo carrier is the best. I have 2 kids and one more due Jan. With my 2nd, I didn't even buy a double stroller because I would just carry her everywere. It is so comfortable. I can even use it for my older son on my back. My 2nd loved it so much,(I could walk and breastfeed) I kept her in it on a plan ride from Sac to Boston! She was perfectly fine the whole way. I would call her my little Koala baby.

Hi C.,

It's actually better (more ergonomically correct - hence the ergo name) to have her sit the way she is in the ergo. This is because she is seated instead of hanging by her crotch as she does in the bjorn. I know it seemed awfully wide to have her legs when I first tried it with my daughter, but she soon was used to it and she loves her carrier. I don't actually use an Ergo - but a similarly constructed Beco Butterfly.

M.

My boy really disliked the Ergo. At first he liked it a lot. after about 15 minutes he got uncomfortable & every time I would try to use it after that I'd get a max of 10 min before he started crying & wriggling. The legs are too far spaced for really young babies. I was trying it out in the first three months. I also disliked other things about the carrier including the shoulder straps liked to slip off, and the nice padded support part is in front with NONE in the back where you might actually need it. My Hubby has back problems & he found the Ergo to be utterly useless. I very much preferred the Moby Baby carrier. My boy actually turned out not to be a good carry-everywhere attachment baby. He got restless in the carrier, & once he could grab things, I could no longer sew safely or do most other household tasks with him attached. Good Luck!

when my daughter was small i side carried her in the ergo until she was big enough to spread her legs enough for front carrying. the instructions were on the dvd that came with the ergo. it was not as comfortable for me as front/back carrying, but still much easier on my back than the bjorn as she got bigger. to understand if the leg position is hurting your daughter, you might want to just try carrying her in that position (legs wrapped around you) and see if she objects. if not, she's probably fine.

OMG! I love the Ergo. My son is huge (10 mo and 35lb, tall too), and the Ergo was the only carrier that fit is girth.

At first my husband couldn't carry him in it because he's feet would loose circulation a bit. But now that Thatcher is a little older and taller it is not a problem. He loves it. Lately he has learned he can tug my hair and I will turn my head to look at him - it makes him laugh!
The ergo is great for just around the house, we have figured out a way to get him on my back when no one is home. I also bring it along when we are shopping incase he just wants to be held and not in the stroller...it has allowed me to shop a little longer! I would highly-highly recommend to everyone, especially if you have larger babies!

Hi,
I have a ergo baby carrier and at first my daughter did not like it. but now she loves it and falls asleep while we walk. its really comfortable for me and her.

It is actually a better position for her to be in than in the baby bjorn, where they're just dangling from their crotch. She should be sitting so that her knees are level with her hips. There is a babywearing group on yahoo where I got a lot of information about this type of carrier (I have a beco butterfly). It was great for travel.

If she is on the small side there is probably an infant insert for littler babies, I know there is on the beco.

E.

my son loves the ergo and had been comfortable in it since 6 months, it does seem like their legs are far apart but I think it is okay and very comfortable for baby and mama, I now use it as a back pack for my 15 month old and he still enjoys it
good luck

It's really important in the Ergo (or any non-Bjorn style carrier) that they are sitting and not hanging in it. Her bottom should be LOWER than her knees and her knees should be bent. If her knees don't reach the edge of the carrier it's probably too big for her still. My daughter didn't really fit well in the Ergo until she was close to 15 lbs (which is the lower weight recommendation for that carrier anyway). If you want to try a different carrier I've had huge success with my Moby Wrap. It's only $35 and is a lot more versatile (but harder to put on and off) than the Ergo.

I've carried my son in an Ergo since he was 14 days old. We 'pack him down' for naps. I've walked 9 miles with him in there. If your daughter hasn't been in a carrier much, it might just take some getting used to. It's fabulous though once they get the hang of it. We vacuum together, wash dishes and water the plants outside. I put him in there when we grocery shop and he's happy as a clam. Just keep trying, hopefully she'll grow to love seeing things at your height. Some studies say that it helps the kids developmentally to be up at our eye level and it's great strength training for you too.

Best of luck!
L.

From what I have been told at a baby carrier presentation, the ergo is better because the weight distribution is more even across the child's bottom and legs and is carried less in the spine/pelvic area as with the Bjorn. I think it's fine, if her legs start looking like they are lacking in circulation, try adjusting the shoulder straps out a bit, it may give her a little more leg room.

I love my ergo. It isn't uncommon for babies to cry when first put in a carrier and they often settle if you move just as you say your daughter did. You could try sitting her sideways in it as if she were an infant and at her age I doubt you would need the insert. Also don't forget to buckle the snap that holds the straps together behind your back. If you do that the straps can not fall off your shoulders as some people seem to be experiencing.

Have a great trip!
C.

i love my ergo. once your child is old enough the wide spaced legs is fine. it could be your child is still too small for the carrier. it takes some getting used to if the child is used to the bjorn. the ergo is soooo much more comfortable and great when you get to move them to the back. no complaints here!

she's probably fine if she's not crying. but you can also try tucking her legs under like a frog or like child's pose, or fetal position.
good luck! ergo is great because it puts the weight on your hips.

I had the same thought when we got ours! I can say it was a great thing for back napping and going out and about when she would tolerate it, and her legs seem fine.
They are surprisingly flexible things!

Sorry for so late of a reply, by nine months your daughter should be able to sit in the Ergo easily. When you put her in she isn't spreading her legs like the Bjorn (which killed my back also). She should be sitting but with her legs on either side of you. My daughter never minded that she didn't face forward. But every kid has a preference. so again heer legs should bend at the hips like she is sitting and then go around you. She is not in the same position as a Bjorn (sort of like standing for jumping jacks with your legs apart).

It's a great carrier. That wide-leg position is safe and natural for them. I like the baby on my back w/the Ergo- but don't try to get her in and out by yourself- have someone help place her on your back- then get the straps up. I love it- I've been using it for 3 kids and lots of hiking/walking everywhere. Good luck!

My husband and I have loved the ergo carriers. We used an old version with my son who is now 4 1/2 and a newer version with my now 2 year old daughter. My husband still uses it with her but I am taking a break now that I am pregnant with #3. My husband could only use the ergo on his back due to back problems but really loved being able to carry the kids.

I would say that the big problem I see with first time users is that they tend not to hug the baby close to their body in the ergo but if you were carrying your baby in your arms you would hug them close. Don't be afraid to really strap her in. If you don't have the baby torso to torso then the straps will tend to slip off and you might be at risk for having some lower back pain since the baby will be too far from your body. The problem I had with the Bjorn is that the baby hangs away from your body and not in a way that you would naturally carry a baby. You might also want to take your daughter for a walk outdoors once you get her in the ergo. It's much more interesting for them to take a spin outside than around the house at first.

I don't know if you are breastfeeding but it is possible to nurse a baby in the carrier. That is the only time I ever loosened the straps a little bit. For me it was the only way to make sure she was fed while trying to keep up with her older brother.

There are lots of other carriers out there. Check out the web site below to get some ideas:
http://www.thebabywearer.com/

Hope this helps.

Hi C.. I had the same concern you have when I got the ergo for my little girl. I had the bjorn with my son and I found it not to be comfortable for me either. I asked the pediatrician about it. What I was told is that it is fine and should not hurt their legs, pelvis, etc. The doctor indicated that if I am going to be carrying her around all day, all the time, that I try to use different carriers just so she has different positions to sit it. But he said that if I don't have multiple types of carriers that it was ok.

It's fine. I used the Ergo with my daughter since she was 3 months old and loved it. The weight distribution was much better than the bjorn which killed my shoulders and back.

the position that she is in in the ergo will actually help her legs and hips develop. it's called the ergo because it is ergonomic for both mama and baby.

Hey C.,
I love my Ergo baby. I assume you are carring her on the front still. Make sure her legs are kinda bent up and flat against your tummy. It's not like the Bjorn where their legs hang down. If that dosn't work try the side carry. She won't have to open her legs so wide.
Also the Bjorns now come with back support if you had to go back to that. You can get them at Babies R Us

Hope it helps.

A lot of people think it's a better position for the baby to be in, better than the Bjorn which is hard on the baby's spine (supposedly). The Bjorn killed my shoulders too, and I love my Ergo. I think it's fine for the baby. Good luck!