On one of my mom list servs, a new mom sent out a call for recommendations on baby carriers. A veteran mom promptly replied back that she had nine carriers. Nine. And then gave a run down of all of them. How they worked, how they breathed, how the baby sat in them, how much they cost, etc. Nine carriers. But not one Ergo.
Perhaps that is why she owned so many.
I’ve seen and even owned one other type—there are slings, wraps, o-slings, backpacks and Mei Teis (it’s an Asian Baby Carrier – not a cocktail). When I traveled to China to adopt Spicy Girl I wanted to buy an Ergo, but they were out of stock and I had to settle on a sling as other styles of carriers didn’t fit me well. In the interest of full disclosure I’m well endowed and the “girls” got squashed with many of the other options.
The sling was fine, but not that comfortable, and the hubby wouldn’t wear it at all. He hated it. The major issue for me was in the airport going through security. The sling was not easy to get on and off, which made that process more stressful then it needed to be.
When I got home I bought an Ergo and I have recommended it to everyone possible ever since. Made by ErgoBaby, the Ergo is the center point to their “attachment parenting” philosophy. (Note: if you get overwhelmed by hippy parenting techniques, don’t go on the website. It looks like the opening of an episode of “Family Ties” times 10.)
My rational fact-checker side liked two things about the Ergo: the ease of use, and the minimization of strain on the child’s hips.
Regarding the latter, I had read several articles about how other baby carriers could cause strain on the child’s hips from the unnatural position that the carriers left their legs. Sure, I may have over reacted to the research, but I’m a parent and that’s my prerogative.
When it came to ease of use, I wasn’t as convinced that I was going to be able to figure the Ergo out until I watched the DVD that came with it. Sure, some of it was a bit preachy about the benefits of the Ergo attachment parenting philosophy, but the instructional portions on how to use it were spot on.
Spicy Girl is just under 30 pounds, and I can still put her in it with no strain to my back and she is comfortable. There is an infant insert that they recommend for newborns, and there are other accessories available such as a front pouch, a backpack and even a foul weather cover for those all-weather parents.
The Ergo is not the cheapest carrier available, but it is very sturdy and is an item that you will be able to use child to child, hand off to a friend, or sell used.
Comments are closed.