| Author | |
Bridget
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2198
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 6:45am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
I remember now why I have a hard time using a sling. My high needs babies want to be upright, even as newborns. No cradling for them unless they're nursing. 
I need a baby carrier that allows me to carry an infant facing forward and upright or maybe on the back. I'm looking online but there are so many (expensive) choices I hate to try anything without some recommendations.
Any ideas? Anything like this that has worked, especially for tall moms?
Thanks!
__________________
God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Elizabeth
Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5595
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 7:41am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Bridget,
For upright, I think a Baby Bjorn is great option for an infant. I know they sell a tall version or you can buy "tall straps."
__________________
Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SusanMc
Forum Pro
Joined: Jan 21 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 192
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 8:12am | IP Logged
|
|
|
For upright carrying, I use a 4.5 yard length of gause fabric (about 30 inches wide). No need to sew the edges. Then do a front cross wrap with a cumberbun over the baby's body. The baby's head can be supported, they can face your chest, AND be upright. You can either let their legs dangle (on a warm day) or tuck them up inside.
I spent about $15 on the fabric and it is now on its second use for babywearing.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmyown
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5128
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 8:15am | IP Logged
|
|
|
The Moby D is great for upright. Also, I have the Beco Butterfly which is wonderfully comfortable both front and back. It has an infant insert to keep baby higher up and secure. I got when Seth was bigger so I didn't need to use it. My favorite thing is how easy it is to move it front to back without taking the baby out!
You can watch a tutorial on their site I believe.
__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 9:11am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've never had a baby that would cradle in a sling, but I use an un padded sling with the baby upright but facing in. Make sure their knees are higher than their bum and tuck the extra fabric down and under. The higher they are, the more comfy it will be.
Many people love their Becos, Mobys, and mei tais.
I think a Mei Tai or Beco/Ergo will serve you longer than a Bjorn. The trick is that they can't face out. If you really need them to do it, you can kind of do it with a mei tai or moby, but this is really an unnatural position and won't be as comfortable for long-term for you--especially once the baby is bigger. It pulls them away from your center of gravity instead of bringing them in.
Once they are old enough to really be looking around, I switch to a back carry, personally.
I don't care for the way a bjorn holds the child (but I'm not trying to discount others experiences with it), but that aside, I think that for your money, you might be better off on something that can be used longer. A good mei tai (I like the Kozy) or the Beco or Ergo will serve you well into toddlerhood and is more comfortable, ime.
I always think that everyone's best bet is to try and find a babywearing class or group and go try the different kinds in person. There are so many different builds of moms and babies that while there is usually something to suit everyone's needs, it is hard to discern from online pictures and descriptions.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Elizabeth
Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5595
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 9:50am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Bridget,
You and I are built differently by almost a foot:-).
My sling is a petite. My Bjorn is the regular. The sling threw my hips off after nonstop carrying for the first four babies. The chiropractor suggested the Bjorn because the baby was upright and his weight was centered. So, my fifth baby was a Bjorn baby.
My sixth baby was huge and the Bjorn didn't work for him.
Back to the sling.
With Sarah, I got a Moby. It was great when she was under eight pounds and she was in it all the time, and upright much of that time. Once she was heavier though, it just didn't hold her securely. Now, I've learned I should have gotten a Moby D. I got mine in the NICU and "Ds" weren't an option. Now, I'm using that same very old sling and the Bjorn.I can rig the sling to hold her upright. In the Bjorn, I feel like she's more secure.She's snuggled tightly. I use the Bjorn when I'm vacuuming or when I'm out and pretty sure she won't need to nurse anytime. Speaking of which, my biggest strike against the Moby was that I can't nurse in it (might just be me). I have a baby who is a constant snacker--the regular old sling works best for that. Even if she doesn't nurse in the sling, it's absolutely the easiest to move out of the way.
__________________
Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LisaR
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2226
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 9:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I always had my babies upright, nestled in between my br**sts, facing inward in a regular ring sling.(head turned sideways) I pulled it as tight as I could, and this always worked fine.
NONE of my babies ever like the cradle hold, and most even wiggled out of that and nursed in weird positions, too! 
then, as they got older, I turned and faced them outward, but still upright, with legs crossed in the sling indian style.
With Maria a few people sent me informative articles about the dangers of hip displasia with using the kind of baby carriers where their legs are spread apart before age 6 months, I think.
__________________
Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Molly Smith
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 669
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 10:56am | IP Logged
|
|
|
teachingmyown wrote:
| You can watch a tutorial on their site I believe. |
|
|
Funny this should come up today as I just ordered a Moby this morning! Here is the one I ordered. You can link to the tutorial from that page and that is what sold me on it. I've seen moms wearing them before--they always look comfortable, but it looks so confusing to me. The video cleared it all up. Hopefully it will really be that easy!!
I will add that my Baby Bjorn is wonderful. I really like the idea of a sling, so I keep trying, but in the past I've always returned to the BB. I always feel like the baby is more secure in it and it distributes the weight better for me. I just can't nurse in it, hence the persistence with a sling.
__________________
Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 11:22am | IP Logged
|
|
|
CrunchyMom wrote:
The trick is that they can't face out.
Once they are old enough to really be looking around, I switch to a back carry, personally. |
|
|
That was my experience with my Ergo too. I kept thinking "but they can't face forward." But, Once they get old enough to fuss cuz they're facing toward you, they're probably old enough to be on the back. Which I MUCH prefer.
I got an Ergo for dd#5 this last time around and LOVE IT! WAY better than the Bjorn, cuz it's distributing the weight to your hips which is MUCH better than all the weight being on your shoulders 
The two negatives about the Ergo, that are significant to me...
1. can't nurse in it...well you CAN, but it's not as easy as the sling, so when I go places and know I'll need to nurse, I do the sling.
2. Takes longer to put a baby in it than a sling. But, again...used for different purposes.
But, for long-term-carrying, the ERGO is GREAT.
I also made a Mai-Tei, which works well too......I don't use it as much cuz the Ergo is much more comfy, but Madeleine (8) uses it a lot for carrying the baby
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bridget
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2198
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 11:24am | IP Logged
|
|
|
All these details are extremely helpful!
I am making myself hysterical over this. We have located a store that sells a variety of carriers so I'm going to go try them out. I am taking all these comments with me.
She does not like the bouncy seat either, since it means being on your back. (But that's alright. Dominic found a use for it. He uses it as a catapult for the stuffed animals.  )
It's amusing that a tiny, little person can be SO opinionated!
__________________
God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 11:38am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I just wanted to second everything Suzanne said about the Ergo. I like my sling and my Moby, esp. when they're teeny-tiny, but I LOVE my Ergo. I was having so many back issues after wearing my baby Bjorn (and br**t issues - plugged ducts every time I wore it). I bought my Ergo for Katie - when she was about 4 months old. It's been wonderful. No pain after packing her around all day yesterday on a nature walk. I like that I can wear her on my back now, and my older dd (12) is quite comfortable wearing her in the Ergo as well. It is an investment piece, but there were enough glowing reviews here...and I'm adding mine now...to say that this is a carrier you will be glad you invested in!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 11:39am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Adding a link...I don't think anyone has yet...Ergo
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 12:15pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
There is concern with the Bjorns that the baby is hanging from their crotch.. with the other carriers the baby's bottom is being held.. he's not dangling by the crotch..
You can carry a baby upright in the sling.. snuggle hold, kangaroo hold.. I rarely use a cradle hold myself.
The gauze that was mention above as a wrap, depending on if you're very petite or not you'll want a longer piece.. mine is 5.5 yards and I can't bring the ties back behind me under the baby.. 6 yards would be perfect.. is basically the same as the Moby-D.. and the directions on the Moby-D site work great.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 12:18pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Wrap Instructions
And here from the mayawrap site..Instruction on Newborn Vertical and Kangaroo Carry
I tend to transition from the NB Vertical to the hip carry.. just moving them off to the side as they get bigger but basically the same carry until they're big enough to actually do the hip carry.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 12:21pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mackfam wrote:
| I just wanted to second everything Suzanne said about the Ergo. I like my sling and my Moby, esp. when they're teeny-tiny, but I LOVE my Ergo. I was having so many back issues after wearing my baby Bjorn (and br**t issues - plugged ducts every time I wore it). I bought my Ergo for Katie - when she was about 4 months old. It's been wonderful. No pain after packing her around all day yesterday on a nature walk. I like that I can wear her on my back now, and my older dd (12) is quite comfortable wearing her in the Ergo as well. It is an investment piece, but there were enough glowing reviews here...and I'm adding mine now...to say that this is a carrier you will be glad you invested in! |
|
|
I haven't been comfortable yet with a back carry, but I'm echoing Jen. I had the same problems with Bjorn, and the Ergo was the best investment I ever made.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SaraP
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 15 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 531
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 3:56pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Another pro-Ergo vote here!
I have used ours quite comfortably with kids as big as 40lbs, so it definitely goes the distance.
ETA that I am also fairly tall (5'9) and the Ergo straps fit me with length to spare.
__________________
Mama to six on earth, two in heaven and two waiting in Russia. Foxberry Farm Almanac
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmyown
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5128
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 6:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
The Ergo was actually uncomfortable for me. I couldn't wear Seth on my back for very long. He also would lean way over to one side which would cause more pain. I found the Beco Butterfly II, which is the same type of carrier, to be far more comfortable and much easier to use. It's prettier too!
Just an alternate opinion.
Oh, and for what it's worth, I can still carry my three year old very comfortably in both the Beco and Moby D.
good luck Bridget! I took me eight children to find the "perfect" carrier!
__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lisbet
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2006
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2706
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 11:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Bridget, I would really suggest something that works well for back carries. Forward facing in the front (unless in a kangaroo carry or modified cradle carry) is not very 'natural' for babies. For one reason, Like Jodi mentioned, they tend to hang by their crotch in a Bjorn or Moby. Another reason is that it is not comfortable for them if they fall asleep, or they simply become overstimulated and cannot turn away from all of the activity and snuggle into mom. On your back, they can look about when they want to and then retreat away when they need too. This is Greta looking about at two weeks old:
She is there much of the day, looking around or nuzzled into my neck asleep. I take her down to nurse of course, and for us to gaze at each other, but when I'm doing chores or out with the other kids, she is there, on my back.
Personally, I have found the plain ole Moby wraps work very well for back carries even as the baby gets heavier, but I know it has not worked for other moms. A Moby D would be more supportive, or a woven wrap. Mei Tai's work very well for back carries too. I have never used an ergo, but I don't think it would work for back carries with a newborn. (could be wrong though.) Tree City Diapers has lots that you could try on.
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: wearing baby
