Ergo Baby Carrier Black with Camel Lining
by Ergo Baby
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Our Price: $104.95 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $100.00 (click here) Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of Ergo Baby Carrier Black with Camel Lining
Customer Review: Our favorite baby carrier
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is part of a round of reviews of baby carriers my wife wrote, including her takes on the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Original - City Black (4 stars), the Boba Classic Baby Carrier, Breeze (4 stars), the Infantino Ecosash Baby Carrier, Bloomin Vines, 8-35 Pounds (3 stars), and the Infantino Balance Baby Carrier, Spindles, 8-35 Pounds (2 stars). Here's her general intro:
"I'm 5'5" and around 130 lbs. Husband is 6' and around 170 lbs. Our children seem to grow quickly, both over 15 lbs by 3 months of age, so a good carrier is vital to the health of our backs! There are many features to each carrier that I will try to touch on, and most of them have both pros and cons associated, so I might say one feature is a benefit, but I may also mention its drawbacks, or vice versa. We all have differently tempered and built babes and toddlers, differently shaped bodies, and different needs, so please take these reviews for what they're worth: my humble opinions.
And here's her take on the Ergo:
"This is truly our favorite baby product in our home. Over the last 2 years, I have done everything with this carrier: hiked, camped, climbed lighthouse stairs, shopped, cooked, cleaned, nursed, taken trains, buses, and hayrides, even peed in the woods for cripes sake and this thing has never failed us.
PROS:
* The design is sturdy and comfortable.
* The fabric is soft on the inside and sturdy on the outside.
* The shoulder straps are a full four inches longer than on the Boba which allows for a more central back buckle.
* The hood is genius and holds my kids' heads while sleeping on the front or back.
* The D-ring is great for attaching toys when the babes get bored.
* The pocket is the perfect size for my wallet, keys, AND camera and it is an extra pouch from the body of the carrier, so it doesn't force those things to stick into my child's back.
* There is a small pocket behind the pouch in which to keep the hood.
* The nylon straps are high-quality, allowing for easy one handed adjusting.
* Adjusting from Mom to Dad and back again is simple.
* The back carry is great for when your child gets a little older and their head just won't fit below yours any more.
* The carrier feels very secure and safe.
* It washes well and is well-made: i.e., it lasts through multiple children. Our son is almost 3, 38 lbs and 39 inches and still loves it.
* Comes with a DVD (at least it used to) and there are many helpful videos on YouTube.
* I can wear this for hours and not feel sore.
CONS:
* It is expensive. I know many moms who want one but can't dish out the money. That said, the resale value is very high (a major PRO), so if you can put up the cash to start, you can probably sell it in a couple years for $60 or $70 depending on wear.
* The waist band is not as stiff as on some other carriers which puts a very small amount of the weight on your back, not a big deal to me, but might be to some (but the softer waist band allows you to sit while wearing it and doesn't cause as much chafing around the hips. I know, I know, another PRO in the CONS section).
* The hood is a little hard to grab by myself when wearing on the back, but not impossible.
* The side-wearing position is elusive. DH used it several times when our son was about a year old and liked it, but then couldn't figure out how to do it anymore after a few months, perhaps our son grew out of that position?
OTHER:
* The Ergo is made in China with Fair Labor Practices. They tout this on their website.
Customer Review: My daughter LOVES the Ergo
Summary: 5 Stars
and so do I! I started out with the Moby wrap and that worked fairly well for us, but it was a hot to wear, inconvenient to wrap when out and about, and tricky (but possible) to nurse in. I knew I wanted something else, but baby carriers are expensive and one could easily spend a fortune trying out all the variations.
We decided on the Ergo and we couldn't be happier. We've had it for six months now and it is the number one thing I could not live without as far as all baby gear is concerned. I too was worried about her only facing inwards, but she has never minded and she seems to prefer it. She holds on like a little koala bear as we go about our daily business. Unlike the Moby, she isn't flat against my chest, she's sitting, so that she can easily check out the scenery by looking to the sides.
When she was big enough--probably in the neighborhood of 5.5 or 6 months, I started wearing her on my back and that is great! Now when I do those glorious household tasks like cleaning toilets and baseboards, she isn't dangling off the front of me. We get a lot more cleaning done now that she can ride on my back. :-) At first, I needed help to put her on my back. However, now that she's 9 months and can hold on a bit, I can get her on easily--I even trust our abilities over concrete these days (when I started getting her into the back carry position on my own, I would practice over the couch. It *was* tricky at first (we made some mistakes), but once we got the hang of it, it wasn't a problem at all.
My husband can wear her too and it's simple to readjust the straps so that they fit both of us.
Like any of the carriers, this one takes some practice (though the front carry is about as easy as it can get). Breastfeeding in this for me is difficult, but I can do it in a pinch. I can carry her long distances and after a long while (probably 4-5 miles), my neck will hurt a bit, but my back is fine.
My daughter loves her Ergo in the way some kids take to a lovey. She'll stop by and give it a visit when she's crawling around exploring the house. When I see her chewing on the straps (they second as a favorite teething toy) or playing peek-a-boo with them, I'll put it on and she gets all excited (we compare it to the way a dog gets excited when his owner gets out the leash to take him for a walk). It is very sweet and funny. When she went for her first trip to our friend's house to be babysat, the only thing that would calm her when she was sad was being carried in her Ergo. If she has a meltdown when she's home with daddy, the Ergo saves the day (she just needs to play with it--not even ride in it).
I love the time my daughter and I spend walking our neighborhood with her in the Ergo. Sometimes we're quiet and other times she'll make happy bounces and that's my cue to do some hops and bounces for her. Our family members wonder why we never need a stroller. "Isn't she heavy?" they ask. They think we're a little weird. I don't know any parents out there who will look back on their child's life and wish that perhaps they had carried him/her less. We don't carry her all the time, but we do carry her more. The forward-facing position allows for optimal baby head-kissing...now who wouldn't want more of that? (except maybe the baby :-))--but a few more here and there are always nice, especially if you can sneak them in when they're asleep or not looking.
Hug your baby, carry your baby, dance with your baby...the Ergo will let you have more time to do those things *and* maybe get the dishes done too :-).
Customer Review: Lifesaver item, always works
Summary: 5 Stars
With a 3 month, 15 lb baby, the original Baby Bjorn was killing my back. I'm only 5' tall. I bought this Ergo. Initially, it was a bit confusing to put on, but once I got it, the rest was a cinch. I've had it several months now, and it's the best item I've gotten for the baby.
Every time the baby cries, even the hysterical, uncontrollable cries that used to go on for a long time, I put her in the Ergo, walk around, and she quickly falls asleep.
In bright, loud restaurants, when she can't fall asleep in the stroller, or there's no room for the stroller, I put her in the Ergo, put a little sunhat on her head (so she doesn't get distracted by the overhead lights), and quickly rock/walk her into sleep.
One time, I forgot the Ergo and she had 3 loud meltdowns at a family party at a restaurant and I couldn't soothe her out of it. I never forgot the Ergo after that. With the Ergo, I'm able to calm her down very quickly so there aren't any meltdowns.
I even breastfeed her in the Ergo. With a little cotton sunhat with a brim, you can't even tell that she's nursing. She falls asleep even faster.
So even when I'm using the stroller at the mall, or at home with the baby, I keep the Ergo handy for any crying fits so that I can get her to stop crying.
She does look inwards when she wants to, but when we're out and about, she looks from side to side and can see everything as she wants. I've noticed that she can get overwhelmed sometimes if she's not able to shut out too much stimuli, so I really like the Ergo for giving her the option to look away.
She's 18 lbs now, and still on the front. Later I'll put her on my back. The waistbelt is wonderful. I keep the belt on my hips, and not on my stomach or mid-back. I've carried her for up to 6 hours without any pain in my back. The baby's back isn't straight, I put her in it with her back a bit curved, like a mei tei.
The hood is excellent. It's kind of ugly at first sight, but when the baby is asleep and you can put the hood on and comfortably walk around with both hands free, it's incredibly practical.
When the weather is colder, I can either dress her in warmer clothing, or take a thick baby blanket and tuck the ends under the straps, putting her into a little coccoon of warmth.
It is a larger, bulkier product, but it's easy to wash, fits easily in my stroller basket, and most importantly, it's stopped every crying fit that I've used it for and puts her to sleep faster than the stroller, rocking chair, being held, etc.
The baby gets pretty warm, as you're belly to belly with her, but in colder climates, that's a plus.
I've bought the sucking pads (as baby is now biting on the straps) and the pouch (as I got tired of carrying a backpack or purse or diaper bag in addition to the Ergo).
I read that the Baby Bjorn came out with a new version with a waist belt due to the popularity of the Ergo. But at twice the price, I'd rather get the Ergo.
At the same time, Ergo came out with a lighter model, the Performance, but there's none in stock here, so I'll stick with my original Ergo.
Customer Review: The BEST carrier!
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all - if you are considering buying this carrier but aren't sure - DO IT! YOU WON'T BE SORRY!!! I did quite a bit of research and reading of reviews before committing to putting this on my registry. Well, I am SO glad that I did. It was definitely among the top 5 best baby items to have.
My son is now 9 months old and 25 lbs. and I am still using it and plan to continue using it until my son stops loving it!
Why I love the Ergo:
- Ease of use: yes, it seems challenging to get it on at first, and I'll admit it took a little bit of practice before I had mastered the front carry, but once you get the hang of it (only a few times), you'll be able to do it blindfolded. There are 3 different ways you can carry your baby. I prefer the front carry, but there is also a back carry and a hip carry. The back carry I have just started getting used to and love it.
- Infant insert: I purchased the infant insert for when my little guy was too small to splay his legs apart. I literally started using it when he was about 1 week old and both he and I were addicted. It was wonderful for getting things done around the house, and for going on walks, going to the supermarket, breastfeeding. I did everything with it.
- Comfort: Everyone would swear up and down that the Bjorn was great - when their babies were little, like less than 15 lbs. Once they hit 15 lbs, it starts to kill your back, not to mention that the positioning of the Bjorn is not healthy for your baby. The circulation to their legs gets constricted because their bums are not properly supported and they are facing out. In the Ergo, your baby sits naturally as though you would be carrying him holding his bum facing towards you, not facing out. Because of this natural positioning, and the use of the hip belt - not a waist belt - I can still comfortably carry my 25 lb. baby and have ZERO back pain. The shoulder straps and hip belt are so well padded that I never have shoulder pain either.
- Quality and convenience features: The Ergo has several features that make it not only a handy carrier, but make it clearly a higher quality than other carriers. I have the carrier with the camel lining, and while it is not the organic cotton, it is 100% cotton. A very high quality, thick cotton with excellent padding. The convenience features include: a sun/privacy shade, which is especially helpful if you are nursing your baby in the carrier, if the sun is quite strong, or if your little one has fallen asleep in the carrier and needs his/her head supported. I love the sun shade. There is also a zippered pouch which is great for carrying a cell phone, keys, credit cards or whatever else. There is an additional pocket which holds the sun shade when it is not in use, but when it is in use, can be used for additional storage.
I can't say enough good things about this carrier. It is definitely a MUST HAVE if you plan to babywear. It will make you want to wear your baby all the time!!!
Customer Review: I take this everywhere with me, and I love it.
Summary: 5 Stars
I tried the Moby Wrap, the Jelly Bean, and the Bjorn prior to purchasing this Ergo. The Ergo works best for me and my baby.
Note: Prior to four or five months old (around the time the baby hits 15 pounds or so) you will need the infant insert.
Why it's great for my almost-six-month old baby:
-My baby loves being close to me, but not that close. This offered more space for her. The other ones were too confining.
-It's easy to put her in. She complained when I put her in all of the other wraps.
-She's able to go around with me wherever I go because it's comfortable for both of us.
-She prefers this to the stroller.
Why it's great for me:
-It's really easy to put on. The baby slides very easily in. I often put her in the carrier while I'm sitting in the back of my two-door car, no problem.
-It is super comfortable on my back and shoulders. I walk miles in this thing. I couldn't walk all day with her in it, but I can go a long, long while.
-It supports the baby completely so I can use my hands to do other things. I found that was not the case with the Moby or the Jelly Bean carriers.
-Until recently, my baby really didn't like the stroller. If it wasn't for this, we wouldn't have been able to go anywhere.
-I actually prefer to go on walks and outings with my baby in this rather than with the stroller because I can get more places (I don't necessarily need a sidewalk); it doesn't take up a lot of space in crowds; I can use both of my hands to carry an umbrella if it's raining, or to put items in the shopping cart, or whatever; and I love having her warm and snuggled up against me.
-It worked great for me when my baby was smaller and it is working great for me now that she's almost six months old. I had to use the infant insert for her when she was smaller. When she was very small, she kept her legs scrunched up against my chest, but as she got longer, she simply wrapped her legs around my waist while she sat in the infant insert. In the last month, we've stopped using the infant insert.
-It's versatile. You can hold your baby in various ways, the front, the side, and the back (I actually haven't tried the back yet, but if I find it's hard I'll update this review). It took a while to get a hang of the side position, but now it's easy.
-It has pockets for me to put the minimum things I need in.
-Baby falls asleep and stays asleep in it.
Possible cons: It could be too warm for baby and adult in very hot weather.
Bottom line: I take this with me wherever I go.