Close Carrier - Are they easy to use?

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October 21st, 2009, 02:06 PM
~Trish~

Close Carrier - Are they easy to use?

I am looking for a baby carrier for my 8 week old DD. I have an Ergo which I'll use when she's a bit older. I have the Ergo infant insert (borrowed), but she hates being in that position, she likes to be upright. I only have a Baby Bjorn and we all know how much they hurt your shoulders! I dread having to use it.

I need a carrier that is good on my back/shoulders, but not difficult to use. The Close Carrier looks similar to a HAB and I'm worried it will be tricky to put on. I definitely don't want to be mucking around when getting out of the car with two other kids!

So does anyone have a Close Carrier and if so, would you say it's easy to use? Be honest please! If you find it a bit tricky please let me know too!

TIA :D
October 21st, 2009, 02:09 PM
Ozstar

Trish I LOVE mine, have only used it twice so far but am madly in love with it. I find it really easy to use and it comes with a DVD which goes through all the positions.
October 21st, 2009, 02:13 PM
feeb

Ohh good question!! I have bought one and not yet used as for when I have 2nd baby.
DS had same issue in ergo when newborn so i used a baba sling for a short period.
October 21st, 2009, 02:18 PM
~Trish~

Thanks for the feedback Ozstar! Do you find it relatively quick to put on? Or is it a bit fiddly? Do you find it distributes your bub's weight well? Sorry for the extra questions LOL!

Feeb - I've got a Bubba Moe sling (kinda similar to a Baba sling I think?) , but DD doesn't seem to like laying in that position either :doh:. I can't wait to use my Ergo again, I love it!
October 21st, 2009, 02:19 PM
Winter

I have a Tyion Sling which is similar to a Close Carrier & I put it on before I head out in the car so that when I get wherever I am going, I just take DD out of the car seat and put her straight in.

You could do that too with the Close Carrier, I'm sure.

In terms of putting wrap slings on, honestly, they are hard for the first couple of times, especially when you have a baby screaming at you, but once you have the hang of it, they are easy - so practise when DD is asleep and leave it on around the house during the day if she is unsettled. That way you can pop her straight in when she needs some comforting.
October 21st, 2009, 02:22 PM
~Trish~

Ooh, great tip Winter, thanks! :D
October 21st, 2009, 02:29 PM
Arimeh

Close Carrier is super easy to use - I tried it with Miss M when I first got it, but she was about 11 months old then, and a bit too heavy for it.. LOL

Can't wait to use it with the newborn
October 21st, 2009, 02:31 PM
Winter

Trish do you want me to PM you the details of where I got mine? They're a bit cheaper if you want to save some $$. Let me know.
October 21st, 2009, 02:37 PM
~Trish~

Thanks Mel :D. Looking at the instructions I found online it looks a bit fiddly with all the tying up, etc. It makes me feel a bit nervous LOL! Not long until you get to use yours!!

Thanks Winter, that would be great :D
October 21st, 2009, 02:40 PM
Arimeh

All the tying up??? What tying up? You only have to tie it up if you untie it in the first place.. LOL.. mine came fully assembled, and you just slip it over your shoulders like its a tshirt, and wrap the second part around and tie it at the back once bubs is in.

Even I can do it and I'm a total doofus... lol
October 21st, 2009, 02:44 PM
~Trish~

:

All the tying up??? What tying up? You only have to tie it up if you untie it in the first place.. LOL.. mine came fully assembled, and you just slip it over your shoulders like its a tshirt, and wrap the second part around and tie it at the back once bubs is in.

Even I can do it and I'm a total doofus... lol

Oh, that sounds too easy! I definitely need something idiot proof right now LOL!
October 21st, 2009, 02:51 PM
Arimeh

:

Oh, that sounds too easy! I definitely need something idiot proof right now LOL!

Thats pretty much why I got it.. needed idiot proof.. LOL
October 21st, 2009, 02:56 PM
rufalina

Trish, go to youtube and in their search engine type close carrier. The first video is 7.37 long and it is great instructions for use of the close carrier.

I have bought one for this baby, and have loaned it to my sister while I am not using it and she loves it, and is finding it easy, after watching that video. She went to some food markets over the weekend, and was excited to have been able to walk around with her DH and DD, with DS in the close, and be able to breastfeed at the same time.

I cant wait to use it.....

Good luck hun. xo
October 21st, 2009, 03:26 PM
Doing my best

Trish,

I was given one by some wonderful BB girls just before DS was born.. And I am so not clued up on these things, but I find it quite easy to use. And I am not normally a carrier person, so would find fault with all of them :hide: and the only thing I find is that DS gets quite hot in it on a hot day (but that might be because I love my space on a hot day :p).
October 21st, 2009, 03:32 PM
Ginger

trish another great thing to do is to actually put the carrier on you before you leave home (so you can take your time doing it/ do it in front of a mirror), and then drive to the destination with it on you. then when you get somewhere you just have to slip the baby into it. i used to do this with my hab when ds2 was a brand new bubs. it seemed to decrease my anxiety of getting him into the sling quickly.
like winter said though, it really doesn't take long to become an 'old pro' at putting them on.
October 21st, 2009, 05:48 PM
~Trish~

Rufalina - I will go and check You Tube, I shoulda done that in the first place LOL! I'm glad to hear your sister loves the carrier and I love that you can BF in it, that would be so handy :D

Heather - Thanks so much for your feedback, it puts my mind at ease. I probably won't have the hot problem as much down here in Melbourne :lol:. Thanks for the PM too ;)

Ginger - That is such a great idea to put the carrier on when getting into the car. If I get one I'll definitely be doing that. It's so stressful trying to get three kids out of a car as it is!

:think: Think I'll have to have a chat with DH now...thanks so much everyone for your help!!
October 21st, 2009, 08:36 PM
Ozstar

Sorry Trish meant to come back to this earlier. I find it so easy to put on, especially after watching the DVD. Like Mel said you only need to tie it up if you untie it, but even then it is super easy to do.
I had DD in it tonight while we went out for dinner and she slept the whole time. I had a HAB with DS and loved it except I always felt like I had to tighten it after a while, with the CC you simply pull the straps and it tightens. I am hoping to try it in the newborn postion and try a BF in it too. I used to put my HAB on before getting in the car and driving but the CC is so easy and quick to put on that I havent bothered yet.
October 22nd, 2009, 08:20 AM
~Trish~

Thanks so much everyone for your feedback! You have all convinced me and I just bought one online. I can't wait to get it!!!
October 22nd, 2009, 08:22 AM
Ozstar

What colour did you get Trish? I am sure you will love it, you will have to let us know.
October 22nd, 2009, 08:26 AM
Willow

Trish, I was considering this a few weeks ago but because DS is quite a big bub, I'm just going to bide my time till I can use the Ergo - how old do you think they'll need to be?

He isn't in a carrier much, only for preschool drop off/pick up and I"m still using my Bjorn for that (for the same reason as you - it's soooo easy and quick to put on and for that short period of time, it doesn't hurt my shoulders at all). Kinda can't justify the expense of another carrier when I know he's my last bub.

Having said all that, let me know how it is when you get it!
October 22nd, 2009, 08:31 AM
~Trish~

Ozstar - I got chocolate brown. I'll definitely be back to let you all know what I think :D

Willow - I usually end up wearing Alana in the Baby Bjorn in the evenings while getting dinner ready too, so my shoulders are KILLING me! If it was just for kinder drop offs I wouldn't worry. The Ergo you can usually start using when they are around 3-4 months (K was 4 months when I first bought mine), I think it all depends on their size and head/neck control? I bought the Close Carrier second hand (of course LOL) so I'll just onsell it when I'm done with it ;)
October 22nd, 2009, 08:35 AM
Willow

Ahhh, clever cookie, should have known :)

Where'd you get a second hand one??

Well D is nearly 3 months so I think I might try him in it and see how he goes. Needs a wash so will do that today. You ever washed yours? I think I read you can just pop it in the machine ona gentle cycle.

Let us know how the close carrier is when you get it.
October 22nd, 2009, 09:03 AM
rufalina

oh Trish - I could not find a close second hand... well done. Hope it works out for you.

Willow - I have washed my ero in the machine. Comes out well, but needs a good hot day in the sun to dry. I think I did a short cycle in the front loader, and didnt use a lot of powder.
October 22nd, 2009, 10:05 AM
~Trish~

I think I got lucky to find one second hand Rufalina, they appear to be a rare find! I rarely buy things new if I can help it, I'm such a tight-wad LOL!

Willow - I've never fully washed my Ergo, just spot washed it. I worry it will fade. Let me know how yours goes, I might dare to wash mine if yours is fine!
October 22nd, 2009, 11:04 AM
rufalina

Trish I love second hand too... And was hoping I could sell mine after I finish with it... Good to know there is a market for them! And go on, wash the ergo. It will be fine. Comes out smelling nice and clean. The only thing that takes a bit to dry is the padding, but a day on the line was fine.
October 27th, 2009, 07:30 PM
~Trish~

I got my Close Carrier today :D. I have worn it twice on the walk to DS1's kinder and it is soooo much more comfortable than the Baby Bjorn and Alana loved it! I had so many mums come up and say how snug she looked in there LOL!

The only thing that I'm not sure about is that I can't get her to stay up as high as the photos show. She seems to slowly slide down the more I walk around. By the time I got back from one of the walks she had moved right down low. Am I doing something wrong? Will tightening it regularly stop this? Does anyone know?

Apart from that, I think it's great! Thanks again to everyone who helped me decide to buy one :D
October 27th, 2009, 07:50 PM
Ozstar

YAY Trish, so glad you love it. I dont have much of a prob with bub slipping down, but she is still so little. Is it tight when you put it on? I have mine rather tight when I put her in, I would just tighten it as you need to though.
October 27th, 2009, 08:01 PM
mbear

Great purchase !!! Hon, if i can use it, then you can use it. Ive got 4 to get out of the car - the CC is like putting a tshirt on - its super easy. It does take a bit of getting used to, i found sometimes i would have it too low, or H would be up too high, but now, we're justtttttttttt right....;)
October 27th, 2009, 08:05 PM
mbear

:

The only thing that I'm not sure about is that I can't get her to stay up as high as the photos show. She seems to slowly slide down the more I walk around. By the time I got back from one of the walks she had moved right down low. Am I doing something wrong? Will tightening it regularly stop this? Does anyone know?

...he, he. that reminds me. H was about 8 wks old too....i was in coles, and he was sliding down, he was screaming too, everyone was looking at me - it wasnt a good situation. Felt rather flustered after all that. But went back to watch the DVD, and Utube....i think i used to have it too loose. YOu want the cross high on your back....i guess you wouldnt have any dolls lying around the house with your DD being only weeks old. But i used to practice with a doll, and walked aroudn the house with it on - practice makes perfect as they say......GL;)...
October 27th, 2009, 08:12 PM
~Trish~

Thanks Ozstar :D, I'll play around with it again tomorrow and try making it tighter to begin with.

Ha ha, thanks mbear, I don't have any dolls yet unfortunately! Yeah, I think I might have had it too loose to begin with? I thought the cross was meant to sit low on your back? I might watch the DVD, I only watched the demo on YouTube. Do you find your DS stays in the same spot now you've got the hang of it?
October 27th, 2009, 08:13 PM
Doing my best

I tie it up at the front, that stops it slipping too..
October 27th, 2009, 08:16 PM
~Trish~

Thanks Heather, I tied it at the front too. The fabric just feels so slippery through the rings, I wondered if it's because of that? Or maybe it's just because I went for such a long walk up a hill!
October 27th, 2009, 08:25 PM
mbear

:

Do you find your DS stays in the same spot now you've got the hang of it?

....depends on his mood...if he is sleepy, his head will stay to one side. If he's overtired he thrashes his head from left to right and it becomes a right ole PITA.....im yet to face him the other way....not game enough.
October 27th, 2009, 09:12 PM
BekZ

Enjoy your CC. I use mine everyday and yep it took a bit to get it just right and I had to watch the dvd a few times but over all I am happy with it.

MBear - I had the exact same experience in Target and DD2 was also going off at the same time - boy did I get some looks