12
Jan
2010
Baby Carriers – are you a hippy or a trendy?
I know very little about baby carriers and slings. But I am nothing if not helpful, and someone asked me the other day about which one was the best, so Alex – this one’s for you. Oh, and anyone else pondering the great unknown of the carrying/wearing world. Just writing to Alex would be weird. Although she is already probably slightly uncomfortable at having a whole post dedicated to her. Quite selfish the rest of you are thinking? I know – Alex is like that. Anyway, poor Alex, don’t be mean to her if you meet her, she can’t help being like that.
So slings, carriers and pack thingies – they are your big three segments. Slings are for babywearing hippies, carriers for trendy inner-city types and packs for healthy ruddy-faced outdoorsy types. Who carry hiking sticks. Got that? I love a good generalisation. Now this is not supposed to be the pinnacle of research, just a point in the right direction for beginners, to start you off even better than my ramblings, you might want to read this Which column.
Slings
As with all things hippy, there is hot debate as to the most comfortable, ethical, and best for baby. People who use slings often describe it as babywearing. Which actually sounds quite cute. And there is no doubt that it looks comfy, has been done for thousands of years and is still done in many parts of the world as the norm. There is also no doubt that not many of the people buying these slings are heading off to the rice paddies for the day – but they do have much recycling to do inside the home, so a sling is most handy. Lots of these slings are simple pieces of fabric that need to be manipulated to get on, so ease of assembly needs to be taken into consideration. Also, age/size of baby – they are not necessarily designed for huge lumps on delicate western shoulders. There are a hundred different slings, and many many reviews – see here and here for lots.
Carriers
As with all things trendy inner-city, there is only one brand – Baby Bjorn. This is the only one I have personal experience with. Baaa. I like the way it looks, it’s cool. It seems to be pretty comfy for baby. It has lots of added extras like snow covers, carrier covers, bibs etc and is relatively easy to put on. (If you are a woman. If you are the Captain, it takes ten minutes, two goes at putting it on upside down and a lot of swearing) Personally, it makes my shoulders sore once baby is about four months and I’m walking longer than about fifteen minutes. I think I would get ‘active’ version if I was going again with this brand. But really – I read this review on the Ergo the other day and was won over. I may be hissed off the streets of West London, but the idea of being able to wear it on your front and back was a bit of a winner. There is also the Cocoon Carrier, a Mothercare version (for those in the UK) and dozens of others. You can see reviews on these here, here and here – knock yourself out.
Backpacks
I am never going to be a hiker. I don’t even like walking unless you can guarantee me a medal or a pub at the end – so I am an unlikely baby backpack reviewer. But I do like to shop, and have been known to hover in the backpack section looking longingly at the packs and imagining a life of hills and mountain air. The one that caught my eye was the Phil & Teds, but there are a dozen other varieties, including the terribly named BushBaby (visions of gumnut children on your back) – the general consensus seems to be that it’s more expensive, but the real thing. Maybe other walking types look approvingly at you as you stride past with the BushBaby and scoff at those puffing along with an inferior– who knows. There are reviews of the big ones here.
As always, personal recommendations and random mental comments most welcome.
PS And if you’re still looking and want something that is both classy and a bargain, see here.
PPS There are also ‘hip seats’ but I can’t bring myself to review them.
UPDATE – If you live in Melbourne, then you can test out all the carriers before purchasing, using the Bebe ‘Carrier Library’. Awesome idea – check it out here.
photo credit: *clairity*
I don’t know how people can carry their baby like this. I get exhausted just carrying my handbag around!!
Oh ha ha. But you’re right about the Ergo – the reviews have won me over too. I will be ordering one shortly – no doubt in some drab country colour to match my green wellies and barbour. Us country folk are far more interested in the practicalities of the products than the looks you know. I hope to trial it in the next week or so and will let you know how it works out on the short trek to school up one of Dorset’s steepest hills (followed by four mile hike of course…)
I’m a massive fan of the Ergo – super comfy and supportive. The small person was carried in it until he was 22 months.
Tip for you though, don’t get any colour other than black – the other colours are hideous, clash terribly with what you’re wearing (or blend!) and make you look like you’re wearing overalls (in particular the blue which I promptly exchanged after one wear!).
Thanks Squee – good tip. I am not a fan of the overall look – I would certainly be hissed off the trendy inner city streets in overalls. Possibly even out of my own home.
I didn’t use a hip seat – but my best friend who had that pelvic whatisname used one with her second baby and found it great for short trips – zipping in and out of shops, to the car etc. I don’t think you’d want to use one for long walks though!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Babes in Arms, onedayyou'llthankme. onedayyou'llthankme said: Are you a babywearing hippy or inner city trendy? I will offend you all. http://bit.ly/8FCi3Z [...]
I was a massive fan of the sling or baby carrier in whatever form in took. Hippy or trendy, with a baby strapped to me I’m pretty sure I look cool in anyone’s book. However, I have never used mine. Well, that’s not right. I maybe used it 4 times. I had no back, neck or other physical problems to speak of but here’s the thing – when do you use it? Going to a cafe? You want the baby in the pram rather than on your front when you arrive and want to sit back and enjoy a scolding hot beverage right? So what, you take the pram as well? Going to the supermarket? Perfect right because you need to be able to push a trolley? Except where do the wallet, keys, phone and re-useable shopping bags go? Not in a shoulder bag I’ll tell you – it does not combine well with the carrier. So what, a bum bag? Never, never, never. Ok maybe when I’m 80. But not before! So, I say think hard before you invest in one of these about when exactly you’ll be using it.
I probably didn’t use it as much the first time round, but this time? Gets an almost daily outing. Walking round park while Bear runs (alternatively lies on ground screaming, depending on whether he is getting own way), walking to the market, running into nursery, walking up to get a coffee. I have managed to combine the accross the body bag with the Bjorn quite successfully, but then in addition to being quite cool, I am quite coordinated.
Jac – if you get a bum bag when you’re 80, I’ll still disown you.
[...] as opposed to the recent post for selfish Alex, here is a selfless one dedicated entirely to myself. I am not long away from [...]
Unlike most babies who drift off to a peaceful sleep when put in the pram for a lovely walk, mine screamed. We tried without luck for 6 months to ‘break’ her. This involved walking around our neighbourhood with her hysterical for hours on end but to no avail. So we gave up on the pram and turned to the Bjorn for our primary means of transport. I became so good at carrying her in the Bjorn that I could actually go shopping and try on pants in a store (Target mind you…..they have huge changerooms and are very generous with their clothing sizing which definitely makes you feel good about your post baby arse!). Jumping on and off a tram is a breeze and wondering around the Queen Vic Market was a pure joy.
When she became an outlier on the weight chart (98 percentile) we swapped to a backpack which we picked up on eBay. It was unbranded and only AU$30 and has been the best purchase yet. My daughter is now 27 months and she still goes in it several times a week. We have taken it on all our holidays, including overseas and I can’t tell you what a delight it is in comparison to carrying a clunky pram on and off aeroplanes. I tried a Kathmandu backpack and my daughter fell through it when she was asleep. The consensus on hikers in Australia is that the Macpac is the best and most comfortable brand to buy but also the most expensive.
Thankfully, she also goes in the pram as well now………baby carriers and backpacks are hard work in 40 degrees heat!