At one week before my due date, I want to complete my baby gear shopping list. The baby carrier is the last thing on my list. Some people have suggested to wait after the baby is born to try them out with my baby boy before I select one. In the meantime, I share my short list.
My husband and I initially wanted a BabyBjörn baby carrier but after reading many reviews and chatting with parents about the fact that it might be uncomfortable for a baby boy, I am leaning towards either Baby Ergo, the Beco Butterfly II or the new Beco Gemini.
If you want to read more about the concerns parents have with the BabyBjörn baby carriers, google “baby bjorn crotch”. Having said that, I know that BabyBjörn is a very popular brand for baby carriers. Therefore, I suppose that many parents must be happy with them. One point that seems obvious when I look at the pictures is that the BabyBjörn baby carriers put more weight on the shoulders of the parent. The Beco Butterfly and the Baby Ergo distribute some weight to the parent’s hips.
I like the fabric choices of the Beco Butterfly II and think that it is more stylish than the Beco Ergo. Plus, The Beco Butterfly 2 seems easier to wear the baby of your back than the Baby Ergo. On the other end, for light outdoor activities, the Baby Ergo or even the BabyBjörn give me the impression that they are more suitable for active activities.
For your information, the Beco Gemini allows you to carry your baby in the front facing out; a position that is not supported by the Beco Butterfly II. Otherwise, they seem to be pretty similar.
Before I make a choice, I would like to hear your thoughts and your experience with any of these baby carriers.
Why, How and When I Plan to Use a Baby Carrier?
But before you share your experience and recommendations, here is how I intend to use the baby carrier. I feel that I need a baby carrier to make my life easier. I plan to use the baby carrier when I go at places or do things where a stroller may be harder to maneuver.
For example, shopping at my favorite local farmers’ market on weekends with my Bugaboo Cameleon stroller with the bassinet base will restrict my mobility. Plus, I would need to go up and down many stairs. Another occasion would be when my husband and I will go hiking in the woods. I do not plan to wear it for consecutive hours at home.
Now that you know my needs, which buckle baby carrier do you recommend and why?
Vanessa
February 20, 2011 at 15:03Having just welcomed twin babies i can relate to your quest! We got two- an ergo and a bjorn from friends, and it really is up to you! We are using them more right now that they are a bit bigger! As newborns both carriers had their limitation although the bjorn was easier to figure out. I prefer the ergo, but if it is my husband using it he prefers the bjorn by far. And since our baby boy was bigger than our baby girl, he was always on the ergo… I think it is best to wait till you trythem both, or you can borrow them from friebds to find out the right fit. I would go on craigslist and get one of each for the price of one new one, so you can adapt to your situation! And while i didn’t plan on ever wearing one at home, turns out a sling was a blissful hand-me-down for a fussy baby who needs to sleep!
Good luck!
Caroline
February 20, 2011 at 15:19I have Kozzy Carrier http://kozycarrier.homestead.com/. It was a bit less expensive than the Beco line, and quite comfy, totally washable and soft to wear. I did a lot of my baby wearing around the house and for short walks around the block to calm my son. We have a BOB revolution stroller so it kinda went anywhere we needed, turns on a dime, and I didn’t carry him much when we were out. This stroller rocks, with shocks for stairs and a lockable front wheel for power walking/jogging. LOVE it.
Do wait until your son is born AND you have recovered from childbirth fully. Give yourself a couple of weeks for everything to “settle in” (read: shift back to their normal spots in your abdomen) before buying one. We were given a Bjorn (didn’t really use it, it didn’t fit very well and son squirmed a lot), and I tried it on too soon. Hips and belly were still ouchy. Go to the store with your child and try them out on both you AND hubby. We didn’t both try it, and subsequently, hubby hated the carrier I chose and didn’t use it much.
If you plan to do a lot of walking in your carrier, get one that is soft through the shoulders, with padding. If you get one with thin/canvas straps, you may find wearing hot weather clothes annoying when the straps chafe at skin on your shoulders. You may also want to buy one that has breathable fabric, so that baby doesn’t get too hot. Some of the carriers are quite thick material in the seat, and baby could overheat in the summer, depending on how they handle heat normally.
Also get one that is easy to adjust if you want to breastfeed while walking around. It takes a bit of practice (trust me, it was comical the first couple of times I tried), but once you get the hang of it, nursing while carrying means you can keep shopping, baby can eat, then nap, and all you have to do is adjust the carrier up/down a bit to allow him.
A sun shade attachment may also be a good idea for baby’s head. I used a receiving blanket tucked up into the straps as a cheap alternative, it just wasn’t very stylish. 🙂
Best of luck with your delivery, and rest well until then!
Andrea S.
February 20, 2011 at 22:49I have tried several different types of carriers and really prefer the Ergo. However, I don’t think that one carrier really fits all needs. I had a Baby Hawk Mai Tai for the early days (up until my daughter was around 18lbs) but her weight began to pull on my back at that point, so I switched to an Ergo. I also tried a Baby Trekker (which allowed for forward or inward facing carries too) but found that difficult to get on and not very comfortable for my daughter. I also tried a Snugli but found that was only good for about a 1-2 month window from age 2-4 months.
I would recommend going to the Montreal Babywearing group (http://www.emportemoi.com/) once you have your son. They have a great collection of carriers you can try on-site and even borrow for a few weeks to see how they work for you.
I finally settled on the Black Organic Ergo with an embroidered butterfly print. I still use it frequently with my 2 year old. She is over 30 pounds and can easily be carried for hours on my back with no strain. She’s comfortable and so am I. I have not tried the Beco or the Bobba, but the Ergo really worked well for me. I would recommend a wrap or Mai Tai for the first 2-3 months if you can borrow one, then would suggest trying out the ones on your short list. If you are concerned about patterns, the new Ergo Options Carrier is quite nice. It has two packs of patterned covers you can swap on to match your mood or outfit.
Trust your instinct and go with the most comfortable option over the most fashionable one.
Allison
February 21, 2011 at 10:06Agree it depends – on your preferences and the baby’s. I’d also try to borrow one from a friend, or go to a store and try each of them on for a bit w/ baby and see your preference.
I have to say I had several different carriers and I used them all at different stages, each of them had pros/cons and I found it really changed from stage to stage.
To start baby is very small so carriers don’t work great for the first short bit. Then, I really liked the Bjorn. It was easy to carry them around and fit the baby nice, I felt like they had enough support.
Then I transitioned to a sling, and would alternate between the both. I liked my hotsling when baby had head control and I could kind of sit them on my hip. I also had a ring sling that I used at this time – actually I think I used the ring one when my boys were a bit smaller, then the hotsling…
I also had an Ergo and I LOVED it with my first child. But I didn’t use it til baby was bigger and I wore him on my back. My second guy I have to admit he did not like the Ergo.
I never really realized how many carrying devices I had!! 😛 Some were gifts and some I bought. I don’t think you need this many! But I do think it totally can depend on the individual and child. A good excuse to get out with baby in the earlier days and do some trying on! 🙂
good luck!
Tara
February 21, 2011 at 16:50The Beco is beautiful and worth every penny. 🙂
Kim
February 22, 2011 at 15:52Good to know, Tara.
Alissa
February 23, 2011 at 09:16I highly recommend that you try them. The Beco Butterfly tends to be the top choice, but the newer Beco Gemini is gaining popularity. The Ergo is a nice, solid choice, but you need a separate insert to use it with an infant, and it is bulky and hot. I have used them all, so if I can help you with your decision, feel free to ask! We tend not to recommend any facing out positions as it is very hard on the user’s back, and there is some concern about damage to baby’s back and hips when they are in a dangling position. My babies were able to see plenty of the world around them when facing me, and between 6 and 9 months we switch to almost exclusively back carries.
Kori Clark
March 1, 2011 at 08:19I loved my Ergo! It’s heavy duty, but very comfortable for both myself and the little one!
Lucie
March 2, 2011 at 16:42I have a Baby Bjorn and I really enjoy it with a small, lightweight baby–up to about 14 pounds, which was around 3 months for my sons. After that, I find that the shoulders aren’t padded enough. When I had my first son, I just stopped carrying him for a few months, and then we bought a Kelty hiking baby carrier. We enjoyed that kind of carrier a lot from 8 months-2 years. It can be used a little before that (when baby can sit on its own, around 6 months) and supposedly until your toddler reaches 45 pounds (if you’re strong enough to walk around with 45+ pounds on your back… which I’m not!). We used it for hiking, but also at home (great for keeping baby happy when cooking!) and in city transit (if you don’t have too much to carry besides the baby, it’s easier than a stroller in the subway with stairs and crowded trains).