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Hi all,
I bought an ergo carrier recently and I was jus wondering if I really need to buy an infant insert? Can you use the carrier without it when they are tiny or do you have to have the insert? At what age will I stop using the insert? Bubs will be small over summer and it gets pretty hot where I live so was wondering if you can get away with not using the insert.
TIA :)
Hey there
I had a small bub and definitely needed the insert. We used it until she was about 10 weeks and had better neck support. It does get a bit hot so I dressed both if us in one less layer.
Personally I wouldn't pop a newborn in without it, but others may have different experiences. I guess another option would be to swaddle froggy-legged in a light wrap first, though I haven't tried that myself.
I'd be happy to send you mine, it's just the one bub for us :) PM if you're interested.
I couldn't use the ergo until both my boys were around 3-4 months. They didn't fit comfortably until then.
I was the same with both my daughters, but for us it was closer to 5-6 months before they felt comfortable. I tried to use the heart-to-heart infant insert, but it just didn;t work well for them. My babies lived in the hug-a-bub (which we love) when they were little. Soooo much more support, and when they fell asleep you could tuck their little head under the material and it was so supported and cosy.:
Once they got big enough the Ergo was great. I use mine all the time. My 20 month old can be carried on my back, and my 5 month old is always on my chest. It's a life saver when I have to take three littlies out and about. Two in the pram and one on me :)
i had a big baby, and we still didn't use the ergo til he was over 4 months. (i didn't have an insert). Can you get a light stretchy wrap for the first few months?
I borrowed the insert but DS hated it. Was much happier in sling and wrap until 5-6 months when he could support himself better in the ergo.
my girls didnt really love the ergo until they were much older as well. the insert really annoyed DD2 beyond belief. so we stuck with the close carrier and the ring sling for that newborn stage.
I had a big baby and have only just stopped using the insert with her now. She was definitely more comfortable in a ring sling for the first good 6-8 weeks though.
Even a big baby would not be comfortable in an ergo without an insert as the body of the carrier is so wide. And it will be too hot in summer. My DD 9 weeks) loves the ergo in insert but is already starting to get too warm now in the day. I would either try a ring sling or wrap (non-stretchy) for summer.
DD is happy in the insert - she was in it for the first time at about 2w old (about 3.5kg) and will settle happily in it. There is no way I'd put her in the ergo without it as she'd get lost in it, its too big for until she gets bigger
DS is 3.5yrs and loves it too (obviously without the infant insert)
We had the insert for baby number 1, but found it all a bit annoying, so preferred the mei tai or close carrier up til 5 months, when she didnt need the insert anymore.
If you do decide to go with getting an insert, have a look at the Performance insert instead of the standard one, Have read they are much cooler than the quilted cotton in the standard. But i confess to not being an insert fan, i would rather use something perfect for newborns like a light wrap or good ring sling, and move to the Ergo when it fits.
if you haven't used it yet I would return it and get a Manduca. It has the infant insert in-built and is much comfier and a better fit.