BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Original - Black, Classic
by BABYBJÖRN
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List Price: Our Price: $68.65 You Save: $11.34 (14%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $68.00 (click here) Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Original - Black, Classic
Customer Review: Good for the first few months, but quickly grew out of it
Summary: 3 Stars
I registered for a Baby Bjorn (the classic version) like many other parents out there, as it seemed to be the top choice. This carrier worked out for about 3 months at most -- My daughter is 4 1/2 months old now, we didn't use it the first month (as she needed to be 8 lbs) and now at 13 1/2 lbs and 25" long, it seems she is growing out of it (granted, she is perhaps a bit longer than other babies her age, but still). Her head comes WAY above the supporting piece, especially if she has cloth diapers on, but even with disposables the carrier seems to be too small.
Additionally, I've started to get serious shoulder pain that lasts well after I've worn the carrier -- I'm 5'4", in pretty good shape considering I just had a baby, and several of my new mom friends have had the same experience.
Pros:
-Feels very secure to have baby inside
-Relatively easy (I think, anyway) to get baby strapped in
-At the current list price on Amazon, much cheaper than other carriers
Cons:
-Doesn't seem to last very long as baby has grown out of it quickly
-Shoulder/back pain, as there is no hip/back support in the classic model
-Gets pretty toasty as it doesnt seem to breathe well
I have to say I would not recommend this product to anyone planning to wear their baby around a lot. If you just want something quick and easy for the first few months, this could work, but any extended use (i.e. if you like to hike, or if you would like to wear baby for longer) I would recommend looking into another model of the Bjorn, or perhaps a different brand. Be sure to check the length adjustment of the carrier you end up with to ensure it will grow with baby -- the Bjorn classic model only adjusts to 26" so that has seriously limited how long we could use it, and we will probably end up buying the Ergo.
Customer Review: A Little Disappointed
Summary: 3 Stars
I was disappointed with this product. There is HUGE HYPE about Baby Bjorn, like it's the gold standard for "baby-wearing," but I disagree. I did love using it with my baby from about 2 months to maybe 6 months, but somewhere in there it became VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. I tend to get back/neck/shoulder pain anyway and those straps just dug into my shoulders and were very uncomfortable after about 15 pounds of baby. My husband didn't start using it until about the 5 month mark and he hated it from the first time he used it. I called him a whiner, until about a month later when it hurt me too.
I love "baby-wearing," and I loved the Baby Bjorn in the beginning. My child snuggled warmly next to me and would be content and/or sleep when he would never have been so easy if I had him in the baby carrier. But, I feel like this is an expensive product to only last such a short time. Just recently, I've purchased 2 other products to try, since the Bjorn has become obsolete for me.
May I recommend? . . . The "Moby Wrap," and/or the "Ring Sling." I recommend either or both above the Baby Bjorn. I think that the Ring Sling is the easiest to use of all 3 options. It's also very comfortable and some have a little pocket sewn in to put some cash, a binky, and your car keys in while you're running errands - awesome! The most comfortable for me, is the Moby Wrap, but it's a little tricky for some to figure out, and it's a lot of layers if you're using it in the summer because it wraps around you a few times. I had no problems understanding it and I prefer it far more than the Bjorn. Far more!!! AND I think you could buy both of these products for the price of ONE BJORN! That's CRAZY!!
All I'm saying is - there are other products out there and I'd shop around before getting wrapped up in the hype.
Customer Review: do you need to buy this? probably if you're active.
Summary: 4 Stars
so i've used this site as my secondary source (only to the baby bargains book) and have found the bjorn to be one of my best firends. One thing for new parents to pay attention to: NO BABY IS ALIKE, and that what worked for one parent may not work for you and vice versa. My baby hated the Bjorn until she truly fit into it (at 8.5lbs. and for eight trying days), but I think that her contentedness had more to do with my level of comfort (I was so stressed during her first three-weeks for life!) than with her comfort with the Bjorn itself.
The carrier needs patience as does everything else in early infanthood, so you'll have to work with the straps here and there until you're (and your baby is) comfortable. But the Bjorn is great for most babies. Your babe might fuss for the first few minutes, but once you start to move, most babies love the workout.
My babe is 12 lbs. dressed, and I walk with her for 2 hours at a time...my shoulders and neck are mildly sore the next day (I was only moderately active in pregnancy), but I never feel the soreness or discomfort while I'm walking.
Getting my baby in and out of the carrier is easy (though not seamless) and she's very content while in the carrier (i.e. ALWAYS falls asleep). I can do some household tasks with my baby in the carrier but I cannot to everything (i.e. I still feel pregnant in terms of how far I can reach).
Overall, the Origianl Bjorn is a great investment. I may invest in the Active Carrier (my baby is getting heavy for my two-hour shoulder-carry walk), but the original has surpassed my expectations to date. Very comfortable for this first part of motherhood..I'd imagine that the Active meets my new expectations of comfort with a 15lb+ baby just as well!
Customer Review: Surprised that this is our favorite carrier!
Summary: 5 Stars
There have been so many times we really loved this carrier. Originally, though, I wanted a sling because I thought they were better for baby, like the previous reviewer, and all my crunchy friends recommended them. They may be, but we've tried the hotsling, the maya wrap, and even the ergo baby carrier, and this is by far the best and easiest for us.
For months, the only way to get my baby to stop his colicky crying was to put him in the Bjorn and go for a walk. It would put him right to sleep like magic, and we'd come inside, lean over his rocker, and unlatch the Bjorn with him in it (the outer piece comes completely off) and he would just stay asleep. Try that with a sling!
Now that he's past his colicky phase, I use the sling a lot and it's great, but for a quick run to the store, nothing beats the Bjorn for speed. It's so easy to put on and take off - and it's also easier to get my husband (and my dad!) to wear the baby with the Bjorn, he thinks the sling is for moms.
I had two problems: at about 20 pounds and 27 inches, his arms don't fit in the arm holes, and they don't fit above them either. It still works without the top latches, though, and it's cooler in summer. I just keep a hold on him to be sure. And when he was a couple months old and I was wearing the Bjorn a lot, I got a plugged milk duct. I thought it was about where the strap lay on my chest, so I stopped wearing the Bjorn for a while. I was having other breastfeeding problems at the time so it might not have been the Bjorn, but who knows?
I got this as a hand-me-down, and I thought it was going to just collect dust, but boy was I wrong. It's in the washer right now!
Customer Review: Worth the money!
Summary: 5 Stars
Like so many people have said before, this is a great carrier! Before I tried one, I thought, "What is so great about this thing to warrant spending almost $100 on it?" Then I had a baby who liked to be held all the time! GAH! We tried a Hotsling, and while it was comfortable for me, the baby didn't like it. Then we shelled out the extra bucks for this one just yesterday, and used it for the first time today in a store that doesn't accommodate strollers very well. She could look around and see everything, and best of all, she fell asleep! I was very impressed.
The carrier is simple but stylish, and seems to be very sturdy and well-made. The locking mechanisms are simple and easy to use yet give me confidence that my baby is secure. Even my husband was impressed, as it means we don't have to spend more money on a huge piece of equipment to get around with both kids (newborn and a toddler). It's easy to put on and adjust, and you can put the baby in and take her out without needing help from someone else, which is great for when you're alone or out with your older child. For a baby who likes to be held or has reflux/spits up a lot, this is a great carrier. Although I have yet to try it, you can even nurse with this thing on, which is awesome!
One thing to note: with newborns, make sure their airways are clear if they fall asleep on your chest. I just turn my baby's head to the side slightly to make sure her airway isn't obstructed by my clothing or something.
Don't let the price scare you. If it doesn't work out, save your receipt. But so far we are very impressed and are glad we spent the extra $$.