my baby girl is almost 8 months old and is just shy of 16 pounds. since she is smaller than average, i have been able to easily carry her in the baby bjorn front carrier until now. however, the carrier is beginning to get uncomfortable for my back as my baby is getting heavier. we like to take walks daily with the dog and it is easiest to use the front carrier versus the stroller.
do you have a recommendation for a comfortable front carrier for a baby who is 16+ pounds--and one that she can face out (versus looking at my chest).
thanks for your advice!
Try the Dr. Sears website. askdrsears.com I just ordered a sling for my baby but he says you can "wear" you baby up to 2-3 years.
I love Meitai's. A friend of mine makes them and I could even train you to use it! her website is www.tylocreations.com.
E.
I had the same problem!!! I loved my Bjorn until baby was about the size of yours and then I posted the same message to this list :)
I found a BECO baby carrier and I love it. It can also be worn on your back, which is really nice for doing dishes, vacuuming, laundry, etc.
The baby's weight is distributed more on your hips, so you don't get that awful shoulder/back pain. My daughter is about 21 pounds now and it is still really comfy to carry her.
Baby cannot face out, which my daughter seemed to love doing in the Bjorn, but she is very happy riding on my back when I walk the dog. She can still see what is going on, and has not complained about the view.
I had the same concerns about forcing her to face inward, but I searched high and ow and there is just not a design that allows for this in a larger child.
The design of the BECO is also much healthier for baby because they are in a more natural sitting position with legs spread around your body, and not hanging from their crotch like in the Bjorn.
You can also wear them on your hip in these, although I do not do that. She is either on my front or back.
There is also an ERGO carrier that is the same design as the BECO. I only got the BECO because it comes in much nicer colors. Here are their websites:
BECO
http://www.ecobabies.com/
Hi I.,
A really good carrier for me has been the Maya Wrap Sling carrier. It can be used on a baby from newborn up to 35 pounds. It is very versatile and has an array of carry positions, including front facing out. I still use it with my 2.5 year old daughter. For her I can either put her on my hip or on my back-which is mostly how I use it with her now. I got it when she was nine months old. Before that I used a Snugli. I know what you mean about the weight being heavy for your back.
When you purchase this sling, you get a free DVD or Vhs tape, along with paper instructions that will help you adjust your sling. Here's the website: www.mayawrap.com. I hope that helps! Best Wishes!
D.
I've never been able to use those wraps. I just cannot figure them out! I bought the Playtex Hip Hammock at Babies R Us to use with my little guy when he was a baby, and it worked great. I had a friend that used one, too. Here's the link at Amazon if you want to check it out:
http://www.amazon.com/Playtex-Hip-Hammock-Standard-Black/...
You are not likely to find a good out-facing carrier for a bigger baby. But there are many good hip/back/chest carriers that are comfortable for bigger babies. I personally have a Storchenwiege wrap sling, which I love, and a Kangaroo Korner Fleece Pouch - which I also love. These are both incredibly versitile and can be used in many ways.
Lots of moms also like the Ergo Baby Carrier for older babies - it can be worn on the front or back (and maybe the hip?) Mai Tais are also very popular - they are the traditional carriers from southeast asia and I think the Ergo is based on them. You can also just make them yourself, and recently I've seen some commercial/mass-produced knock-offs of them as well.
I would check the reviews at www.thebabywearer.com and see what other people like best.
I'd highly recommend a ring sling. They are super easy to use and versitle. You can wear baby on your front (facing in or out), hip or back. And it's much more comfortable than traditional carriers.
Hope this helps!
A.
nestbabysling.com
Before you go out and purchase something else, be sure the Bjorn is adjusted correctly. A lot of times the "X" in the back is too high and therefore not properly distributing the weight of the child. The "X" should be just below the shoulder blades, and the baby should ride high in the front. You should be able to get up to 20-25 lbs. with the Bjorn. I suffer from lower back pain and never had a problem with the Bjorn as long as I kept it properly adjusted. I even used it 5 days straight, 12 hour days at Disney when one of my kids was 10 months and had no trouble. Just some thoughts!
I second the Moby wrap. You can carry in a lot of positions and it seems very comfy- my kids love it. Babies R Us has a version like the Moby wrap that is a little cheaper (it's with all the Bjorns, etc). There is a website www.thebabywearer.com where you can check out reviews. I have many baby carriers and to be honest the Baby Bjorn is the least comfortable one. Good luck.
Well I see that many of you have beat me to chance at recommending the Moby wrap. I have a client that uses it and it is the greatest thing. No stress on back! It is very versatile.
J., LMT, ICCE-CD,CD
Massage therapist, Childbirth Educator, Doula
I belong to an online mommy group and I would say about half of the 50 women there have ergo carriers and LOVE them.
Here is the site: http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/
There's a woman I know who has a company that makes mai thai (sp?) styled baby carriers. They sell them at Be By Baby (www.bebybaby.com) in the city or online at www.catbirdbaby.com. The woman at Be By Baby says she carries her 4 year old in it still. They come in fun patterns but are also reversable to neutral if dad wants to go for a stroll and wants something less "fun" to wear. I think both the store and the website are women owned companies in Chicago so you'd have the benefit of supporting them as well with a purchase.
My vote goes out out to the Ergo as well! I just bought one and I love it. Before that we used a mei tai and a Moby wrap. I still love the mei tai, but I find that my daughter is to heavy for the Moby (she's also 7 months and just 15lbs). The Moby is made of stretchy material, and I find that I need to re-adjust the wrap to often because it stretches out. The Ergo and the mei tai are also much easier to put on. If you like the wrap idea though, go for a non-stretchy material (Storchenwiege, Didymos or Ellaroo)
Facing out gets harder as they get heavier, and slings, I find, give me shoulderand neck pain after a while since the weight is only on one shoulder.
If you want reviews of different carriers go to thebabywearer.com.
If you want to see some carriers and try them on go to Be By Baby on Roscoe in Chicago. The ladies working there are great!
J.
I have heard rave reviews from several moms on this carrier:
http://www.kozycarrier.homestead.com/
Llana:
Look at the Moby Wrap (www.mobywrap.com)it is designed so that you can use a number of carrying positions and becuase the fabric goes over both shoulders the weight is distributed evenly. I have yet to have anyone return one.
P. RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com
My husband and I just purchased a Didymos wrap. This thing is amazing, and can be used facing in, out, on the back, like a sling-- it comes with a video and pictures to show you how to wrap it. Trust me, if my husband can do it, anyone can. It is a bit pricey, but one size can be used by you, a babysitter, spouse, etc. We purchased it a BeByBaby in the city, who offers a free sling class, which demonstrates several types of carries (including the mai tie, which someone else recommended). According to the person who ran the class, she can still carry her 4 year old in it! Another benefit is that it can be tied over both shoulders, reducing back pressure that some of the slings cause.
Check out the Ergo baby carrier at the-ergo-lady.com, this is the best baby carrier I have found, and it converts to a back pack when they get to be a little more stable. I carry my 14 month old in it and I carry my 3 year old in it. It is amazing.
you should try a hotsling. my daughter is almost 9 months and she has always loved it!
or you can buy one at be by baby on paulina and roscoe.
I don't know anything about the Moby wrap as the others are talking about, but I use the Evenflo Trailblazer backpack carrier. It's like a hiking backpack carrier with a metal frame for babies. Stands up as well so the baby can sit/hang in it in the backpack on the ground...also making it easier for getting it on and off. It works great from like 5 months and I am still using it with my 19 month old. It's comfortable, though big (like a stroller almost) for storage since it has the frame. The baby sits higher in it so they can look around to the side of your head. Don't know if this is any help to you, but I like it a lot, as it's easy and my kids liked it a lot. I do home day care so I have one child in this backpack carrier and 2 in a double stroller for walks so I can take all three of the little ones out together, and it's nice even for taking my two out with the dog to not have to mess with the stroller...one on his bike, one in the backpack carrier and then the dog on the leash. That Moby wrap sounds neat, but I don't know anything about it...just thought I'd pass on info on what I use.
