I also 'made' mine, if chopping 5m of material in thirds constitutes making? I have used it a lot. It is brilliant for my bub to sleep in especially as he is going through an anti-cot thing for day sleeps. I was hesitant about spending the $120 on something I wasn't even sure I would use, with the plan that I would buy an ergo when he was bigger if I liked it. I think I spent about $30 on my material but has been so worth it.
I was given a hand-me down Baby bjorn from my SIL. It was good for the first little while, he is now 5.6kg and it really pulls on my shoulders. I used it for shopping and when out of the house as it was easier to put on. I have ordered a pikkolo which is sort of similiar but much much better, and can be used for longer. Plus they are prettier, that being said I did order the plain black one (still funky though) - I figured there would be more chance of my DH wearing it.
I love the pocket on the HAB. If you make one I'd persoanlly sew a pocket on it- makes short walks around the block so much easier with somewhere to put the house keys.
I love my HAB. I would not be without one, especially if you have a unsettled bub. It was a life saver for the first 3 months of Loren's life. Practice makes perfect when putting it on. Don't attempt to use it for the first time in the middle of the night when bub is upset!!!
Yes, Diva and the other girls have a point, you can make a HAB on the cheap very easily, and I always suggest that to people who can't justify spending so much money.
BUT, I bought mine full price before DD was born and from 3 days onwards she spent a good deal of time in it every day (up to 6 or 7 hours) until she was 4 months old (then around 3 or 4 hours until 6 months). It saved my life. I never regretted having spent the money for one second.
YES, they are a little fiddly especially in the beginning, but you soon have the hang of it and it will take less than a minute to put on. If you want to wear it out, I found the best way was to tie it at home, then put your bub in it when you arrive at your destination.
I have never BF in any sling or carrier. I think my boobies are too big or too low, or something, just couldn't get it to work. But maybe that's also because I used to like tying it really tight and wear DD quite high up.
DH wore it a couple of times but felt a little "girly" in it. That's why I bought an Ergo, which he likes much better. Better for Bub's spine (and your own) than a Baby Bjorn, but still more masculin in looks. I still use it a lot. Actually, in this household it's usually me who gets stuck carrying DD when we're out and about cause DH likes to complain about his "bad back"
If you do want to make one yourself, you can just buy a little iron on motif and iron it on the middle of your fabric to help with the tying.
absolutely loved my HAB, bought it with a gift voucher so not so concerned with cost myself, but think making it yourself a great idea.
i had issues with my back after my pg, and found this the most supportive and comfortable of the three i had (was lent a kapoochi and breastfeeding mothers sling). i also found i could carry DS for longer than girlfriends who had babybjorns and until he was older (around six months). and he wasn't a 'little' baby! DH didn't use it but he preferred to carry him anyway! i definitely recommend putting it on before you go out, then putting bub into it when you get there, it's not restrictive at all, and easy to readjust when neccessary too. as for learning to tie it, i found most carriers took at little getting used to.
so worth it and i can't wait to use it again for this bub!
this is an awesome thread - thank you, thank you, thank you!!- i liked the "link" to the mamatoto site. found it very helpful!! i'm now looking forward to the weekend to try and make one myself - much cheaper than buying one and than hating it later on (especially now that i'm not working anymore). i'm also going to try and make the sling/shawl one they had on their site. it looks good for bf...
I'm going to try to make one- and my friend is going to sew a hem for me around it (just cause I like things to look 'finished' ). I like the idea of the iron on motif in the middle too- thanks!
I'll let you know how I go- although I'll have to get a friend/ sister to test it out as I think my huge bump might get in the way!
That is very true sunshine_sieben ... so here's Diva's no-holds-bar review of the ergo.
Is is worth it? - Possibly. The ergo is certainly more "structured" so you can see where your money's gone ... there's no way I would try and make a bodgy DIY ergo, for what it is, they've done a fab job.
The backpack/attachable nappybag? I don't see where the money is in this ... good idea, bad design ... the attachment clips can undo with the slightest jiggle ... highly annoying when you're trying to reattach the thing, sight unseen 'cause bub's in the way. The side pocket bit is not attached inside, so it flops to the side and things can "escape" out the top as it's a hollow tube so that you can access things from the top as well as the side.
Multisized? - Not as much as the HAB. If you're "vertically challanged" (approx 5 foot or less) or ridiculously tall (6 foot plus) then it's probably not going to fit you well ... it'll fit, just not well.
If you've got small shoulders or are very broad across the shoulders then it's not going to fit you well either as the shoulder pads are very wide which makes them too wide if you're narrowed shoulders or not wide enough if you're very broad.
If you're "cuddly" then you're going to need the waist extender belt, so you're going to have two clip/buckle things digging into you when you bend/kneel/crawl.
Support? - Once again, it's not bad ... just not as good as the HAB. There's a sunshade that you can fit to cup bub's head so they're supported to a degree whilst they're asleep/shaded/kept out of the wind. If you've got a bub that doesn't like to be held really close to the body, then the support in this is great. I personally like the support in the HAB much better, as I have to hold bub's head when I bend down/crawl/kneel in the ergo leaving me one handed to retrieve things.
Ease of use? - Difficult. I honestly thought the ergo would be a "wham, bam, thank you mam" kinda design where you just chuck them in, and away you go ... but nooooooo .... first you have to put the waistband on (making sure you thread the buckle through the saftey strap). This is hard when you've got the nappybag already attached ... really easy if you don't.
Then you have to "centre" your child in the middle whilst picking up one shoulder strap. I found this really difficult as I have G cup boobs and couldn't see if our son was centred ... he always looked it up top, but his bottom half was doing a whole different thing.
The other difficult thing about this supposedly easy manover was that I kept picking up the lower bit of the strap, not the strap itself (as it was down too low), so I would have to bend over with child in one hand whilst fishing for that first strap.
Once you've got them, putting the straps on is easy, and wiggling bub down into a seated position is really easy too, a bit of a jiggle here, a poke and prod there.
But then we come to the part where you need to be at least double jointed, or have a yoga degree ... clipping togther the chest strap that is now around your neck.
This bit is easy if it is up around your neck, but I found this position uncomfortable and really needed the chest strap to be around my bra line ... something I just couldn't do no matter how I tried ... I needed help.
Then you've got to adjust ... the shoulder straps, the waistband, the chest/neck strap, the sunshade (depending on whether they're asleep or awake and the weather) ... most of this you can do beforehand, some you have to do whilst bub is in place.
I also "tried" to do the backcarry and almost dropped our son repeatedly ... I just don't have enough hands or the right balance, and quite frankly, it's not something a nervous nellie mother could do with confidence first time round ... it would take alot of practise.
So I'm thinking of selling it ... I took it out today to see the CHN. I got the waistband sorted, that was quite comfy, but I just couldn't get the shoulder straps comfortable by myself, but I did get it better than yesterday.
The attachable nappybag weighed everything down so much that it made putting on the ergo very difficult, and also taking it off was horrible too. I had to get the CHN nurse to hold our son whilst I got myself back into it, and our son screamed the house down as we were trying to get him settled in it (I don't think he likes having his legs splayed that much), which is something I hate, 'cause I want to be as self sufficent as possible.
It's also got no rain protection what-so-ever which is something vital on this squally island.
So we've decided to buy the baby carrier that we've always wanted ... we feel very silly for not buying it in the first place.
Now it's not going to be for everybody (maybe anybody ) but considering that we walk about 6km every day, and fly off this island regulary and therefore use public transport ALOT and can be away from home/hotel 24hrs or more, in all sorts of weather (snow as well) I'm thinking this will suit our needs best.
We're going to go with the macpac possum+rainbow+sleepyhead, or the Mont Bambino. But we'll definately keep the HAB for round the house and we'll put it in the possum's or bambino's spare pocket, for when the framed carrier is a bit too much.
We'll let you know which one we chose next Wednesday and do a review on that one as well ....
For all those with a HAB or Moby Wrap and you're thinking pastures are greener in ergo land they're not.
Unless you've got a toddler ... I personally think the ergo would be brilliant for toddlers on your back ... just not before.
Yep Diva - the ERGO isn't too good for the less than 6month old. But it is great for my 1yo!! The back carry was a waste of time until he was almost 1 - before that he couldn't see and was unhappy. I also wear it on my hips because I am shorter so his head is not in my face but for back carry that means his head is under my shoulder blades. Now he is longer it works out fine. He can also sit still while I spin him around to the back and he thinks it is a horsey ride and giggles and bounces for some more
As for the between the shoulders strap - I have it sitting higher between my shoulder blades rather than under them which keeps the straps on my shoulders and means I don't need to be a contortionist!! It is easier to do up if the shoulder tightening straps are loose so it is higher (at neck level) and then moves to a better position when they are tightened. And it does get easier with practice - and an older child.
I still prefer the HAB for the 0-6 month age group and I will still use it for DS now. Although I have moved to the peanut sling to hold him on my hip when we are out doing a quick shop. Easy to get on and off and I can be hands free and still have him sitting where he wants to be on my hip.
Last edited by Michelle71; July 2nd, 2008 at 10:41 PM.
Diva, thank you for your very detailed "critique" of the Ergo.
It does sound like you're having a very hard time with it. And I agree, it probably just isn't the right carrier for you.
It sounds like a lot of your problems stem from you using the backpack attachment kind thingy. I don't have that, so have no idea how that changes things.
When I travelled to Europe by myself with DD (6 months) I used the Ergo with her on the front and a regular backpack on my back. It worked really well for me. But we're talking older babies here.
I never had any trouble "centering her" or clipping the chest strap together, but I don't have G-Cup boobs, either. Geez, I didn't even know they made G-cups!!!
And I have the chest strap quite high. So it's easy to reach. I find that comfy, but it might not be for different builds.
But one thing I noticed is that your son is only 2 1/2 months old. I never used the Ergo with a kid this young. In fact, don't they usually recommend using the baby insert before 4 months of age? From my experience, babies this young really don't like they're legs spread that far. I used mine with DD from about 3 months, but with her feet tuckd under her, frog style.
You are very right when you say they are more suited for toddlers. I wouldn't even attempt to carry a 2 month old on my back. actually, with a baby this young, I like to see her, so want her on my front.
I hope you like your new carrier better. And, I hope your son will like it, too.
One good thing is that Ergos usually have a decent resale value, so you should not loose too much.
BellyBelly Member
). I like the idea of the iron on motif in the middle too- thanks!
) but considering that we walk about 6km every day, and fly off this island regulary and therefore use public transport ALOT and can be away from home/hotel 24hrs or more, in all sorts of weather (snow as well) I'm thinking this will suit our needs best.
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