Kids Are Like Wine, They Get Even Better With Age
Carriers for older--heavier!-- babies
Does anyone have a suggestion for a carrier for an older baby? Anna is 11 months old now, and she is way too heavy for the Bjorn. (She was 22 lbs at her 9 month check up, and although the Bjorn goes to 26 lbs, we were finding it difficult to carry her for more than 10 minutes or so.) She's okay in her stroller or shopping cart for a little while, but eventually she wants me to pick her up, and she gets heavy after awhile!
I have heard good things about the Ergo baby carrier, and I was wondering if anyone had experience with it or another one that they really liked?
I have heard good things about the Ergo baby carrier, and I was wondering if anyone had experience with it or another one that they really liked?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Angie Gassner on -
another ergo lover here...although i have to admit, i haven't used mine in awhile. i do have a friend who still uses hers with her 2.5 year old, so i'm sure i'll pull it out again...maybe when the weather gets a little nicer!
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer on -
Cheryl, I use a mei tei carry (yummy mummy that I got at Milagro's). It's definitely more difficult to use the the Baby Bjorn but is much lighter and surprising more comfortable to wear. Kyle is almost 20lbs and I have preferred this one to the Bjorn for the last few pounds except when it came to airports where speed of putting on was much more critical. There are other mei teis out there that have more padding in the straps (blackhawk or something like that). I finally got Phil to try it out and he said it was more comfortable to wear than the baby bjorn.
I believe the mei tei is similar in structure for holding the baby as the ergo but takes a bit more skill to put on. When I got it was very hot out and I was looking for something that wasn't too hot.
I have friends who have sling carried their little ones until a few years old. I still haven't mastered the sling a friend gave me so I can't comment on that carrier as much.
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Permalink Reply by Kara on -
I also have an Ergo...I like it, but when I put Sam on my back I feel like my pants are going to fall down! Does anyone else have this problem? I must have the belt in the wrong position. In any event...I would see if you could borrow some carriers from friends for a day and try them out. It's all so individual. I still carry Sam in my "Sleepy Wrap" too, but have not mastered that on the back yet.
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Permalink Reply by Heather McPhee on -
This just happened to me in my Beco yesterday. We went to Target and I thought my pants were going to fall down. I even checked my zipper! I think it's a matter of lower rising jeans and the waist belt sitting on top of the jeans, so it feels like they are being pushed down.
Who knows, maybe "mom jeans" will come back in style and the problem will be solved. After all the kids are wearing leg warmers and skinny jeans again. :)
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Permalink Reply by Cheryl on -
Thanks for all of the responses! I am glad that you all have had really good experiences with the Ergo (I'll watch for the falling pants, though :-)--that really made me laugh!) I think I'll call around and see who carries the Ergo and the Mei Tei and go in and try them out. Iam a bit far from Milagros, but if the shops closer to me don't carry them I will make the trip out there. I like the idea of bringing Casey, too, since there's a 10 inch height difference between us and what works for me might not work for him.
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Permalink Reply by Cheryl on
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Cute! I love the way you talk about her, and by her pictures I can tell she is just darling.
Yes, Baby Anna was 22 lbs, 30 inches at her 9 month check up, so I am assuming she is at least a few pounds heavier and a bit longer. When born, she was 9 lbs, 10 oz and 22 1/2 inches. I, too, can attribute her length to her papa (he's 6'5").
I will be interested to see who else has a "larger-size" baby.
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Permalink Reply by Heather McPhee on
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I have a Beco and a Babyhawk Mei Tai. Hadley is 11 months old and not quite 18 pounds yet. Although she isn't a big baby, I had to quit using the Bjorn around 4 months old because it killed my back. I love my Beco and my Mei Tai because they are both so comfortable. The Beco is very similar to the Ergo, except it comes in customizable prints.
Advantages to the Beco is that it is smaller for stuffing into my diaper bag and it is easier to put on. I love it and got a pretty gender neutral print so my husband has worn it as well. The downside is that if John wears it, he needs to readjust the buckles to fit him and then I need to do the same when I wear it again.
I love my Mei Tai but there is definitely a learning curve to putting it on. John still needs me to tie it around him, as he isn't confident in doing that yet. An advantage is that it doesn't have buckles so it can fit anyone. I love that there are tons of different carries and holds for it, (I searched youTube and found different instructionals for carries).
I got my Beco online and my Mei Tai at Bella Stella on NE Broadway. They sell the Beco, Ergo and Mei Tai among other carriers. They let you try them on and walk around to get the feel of them too.
Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Angie Gassner on
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not sure how often you guys get on here and check...but thought i'd share this craigslist add for an ergo that was listed today:
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bab/974855828.html
i bought mine on craigslist and have been very happy with it!
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Permalink Reply by Angie Gassner on
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ps. there are actually a number of listings on craigslist and some cheaper than this. they all look to be in really good shape too!
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Permalink Reply by Becky on -
We have the Bjorn and the Ergo (and 2 slings...). Bjorn killed my back, so we switched to the Ergo. I love the Ergo - however, it took Scarlett a good 2 months to become okay with facing me instead of facing out as she was in the Bjorn. Now she is great with it for about an hour. Just something to think about if you go for the Ergo. I haven't figured out the back-wearing option with the Ergo quite yet.
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Permalink Reply by susannah on -
We have an Ergo and really like it. Ben was 25+ pounds and 31" tall at 12 months. He like to ride on our backs and sides--and on the front with me. I like that my husband can use it too. It is pretty easy to use when you get the hang of it--but I agree with Stephanie--there doesn't seem to be a lot of head support and sometimes we could use more support--I feel like it cuts off about 2-3 inches too short on his torso. That would be my only negative to the carrier--that and I wish it would fold more compactly.
Overall for a big baby it supports both of us and I feel like I can carry him for long periods of time. I am looking for another carrier that will come up higher now--maybe the Beco or a mei tai...
One thing to look into in your area--we have a babywearers group--I found them on yahoo I think. I was able to go to one of their meetings and look/try on different soft structured carriers. It was a pretty helpful experience.
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Permalink Reply by Cheryl on
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Well, I finally ended up going with the Ergo, and so far I haven't been disappointed. I can feel that most of Anna's weight (25 pounds now) is being supported by my hips, which is not uncomfortable at all. The front carry is incredibly easy to get her in and out of--much easier than the Bjorn. I've just started getting used to doing the side carry, since it's a bit trickier to accomplish. (The back carry will have to wait awhile, although when I tried the Ergo on in the store, the back carry was also very comfortable...it's the getting in and out of that is challenging to me.)
I got my Ergo at Mother Nature's on SE Clinton. They are very, very helpful, and they have several types of carriers that you can try on. The woman also encouraged me to come back if I needed help using the carrier (an offer I have taken her up on!).
Thanks for everyone's help!
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