Older Baby Wearing??

Hi everyone,

My daughter is 12 months old and I'm a bit slow to catch on to the baby wearing scene. Is it too late to start to wear my older baby? and if not, what would people recommend I try?

All advice/tips welcome!

pelaja

Hi, i don't baby wear every day, maybe once a week when the situation requires it and recently alot for long haul flights etc. I bought an ergo and my 16 month old took to it very easy. he's not too into the hood thing for sleeping but i've found he doesn't really need it as if he sleep s when on my back he naturally keeps his head to my back and it doesn't loll. The ergo is great and says it will carry up to a 5 year old. I've tried it with my nearly 3 year old and it's really great - he doesn't feel any weight at all so it is worth the money for it's longevity. hth
Julie x

I still carry my DD about 50% of the time (18months old). I usually carry her on my back in a homemade meitai. I've only read good things about the ergo though...

Bx

thanks everyone,

Julie - can you wear your toddler on the front of the ergo?

pelaja

my daughter is smaller than most, and i still use my HAB for her - she's 16 months. Will look at an ergo when finances allow...

I still put Tom in my pocket sling sometimes and he's 12 months. That's the one with the rings on the shoulder. I usually wear him on my front, but when Jack was this age I wore him on my hip more often.

i have an ergo and love it!! it can be worn ont he front ,back and hip

Lexie is a titch at 12 months.......she still goes everywhere in my Baby Bjorn.......

Hi Pelaja

yep, i put Will on my front sometimes or back - haven't tried the hip position yet. Only had Osc on my back so far as he is quiet tall so i think big ones are best at the back. Will is great at the front though - allowed me to wear a big backpack for travelling to the UK.

Julie x

I saw a mum wearing the new Baby Bjorn yesterday at PlayGroup. It looked very good! Had this new back support... infact it looked way more supportive than older models. I haven't seen an ergo (might Google now) but this one looked great and she said they had designed it to hold older babies too.

I Googled the Ergo and just from appearances it doesn't seem to have as good support as the new BB I just mentioned. However I guess it's designed to wear on your back as well. The straps look a bit unpadded for my liking though.

We have two baby carriers, a Pixie sling that's kinda like the new BB but not quite as sophisticated and a proper structured backpack style carrier (can't think of the brand off the top of my head). Both have nice thick straps but the backback more so, and a stomach belt with lower back support. Actually it's pictured in my photo in the gallery entitled "The Kids" with my youngest in it. It's really good also as it has an aluminium stand that you can use to prop the whole thing on the ground with baby still in it. We have used this to feed our 1yo whilst on picnics and to keep him in one place when it's not safe to roam around. Anyhow I should go and see what brand it is...

Baby bjorns aren't so great for baby's spine, and while the ergo and the like don't look as support because they don't have all the extra stuff at the back, the ergo and others like it are very comfortable as the baby is held close the parent's body and draws the centre of gravity into the parent.

I love our Ergo for the back carry option for the older babies. My bubs have always loved to see what's going on over my shoulder and it is so good to have the front of my body free to get things done. I don't often use it for front carry but that is both mine and baby's preference. We still use the Ergo on occasion with our 3 year old and have used it consistently with either of our children from 6 months onwards.

Now that I am pregnant, I'm not finding the Ergo so comfortable due to the big waistband and my belly bump not agreeing, but I have found a beautiful carrier called the "Pikkolo" which I tried on the other day (thanks to a sling demo I went to) that looks and feels much like an Ergo, but without the big waistband. I'm looking forward to getting it :)

That being said, I still use my ring sling for quick trips because it is easy to store in the car (it doesn't take up much space) and it is super quick to get 16mth old in and out of .

ERGO ERGO ERGO ....

i have massive back and neck problems (car accidents) and ergo is the only one i can wear and it doesnt place any stress on my shoulder ... i boutght it last month and use it every day ... my son is nearly one (next week ..eeeeeppp ) and is about 11kgs ...

i cant feel his weight in the ergo .... and you can use it till the child is around 5 yrs old ..

considering your coming in late to BW .. the ergo can let you carry them till bus is 4 and make up for lost time .... hehe

Kaos, I agree the older style Baby Bjorns were bad for babies spine but this new model i have seen is totally different in style and baby is worn much closer to the mum's chest and the back part is higher (can be folder down for older babies) than the older style.