Ergo Baby Carrier: Love It or Hate It?

By A'Dell

I like the idea of babywearing. It sounds like a great way to reclaim the use of my arms while keeping baby close and (most importantly) happy. Since I'm on my third pregnancy you'd think I would know a thing or two about babywearing but I don't. I'm terrible at it.

For my first child I tried a HotSling and while the fabrics are adorable, this product is not meant for women with my body type. (My body type in the months immediately after a baby = Rather Bosomy.) I deemed it not adjustable enough for a truly good fit. It was the SLING'S fault, not mine.

For baby #2 I tried a Moby Wrap. I COULD get the baby in there comfortably and securely enough but it took me forever to wrap myself up in all those yards of fabric and it's not exactly the most graceful thing to attempt in the Walmart parking lot when it's 100-degrees. 

Baby #3 is due in January and while I could just write off babywearing as something that just isn't for me, something tells me I'm about to have even FEWER extra spare hands than I've ever had before. Finding a way to transport Baby #3 without carrying a carseat or pushing a stroller seems...wise. Yes, it seems downright PRUDENT to figure out this babywearing situation.

Enter the Ergo. At almost $100 new, the Ergo is big bucks to spend on something I'm not sure I'll even LIKE or USE. I know people who love their Ergo and I know a bunch that are rather MEH on the topic (and it seems Elizabeth liked it but her husband didn't). But if it worked and I liked it? It would be worth every damn penny to have TWO ENTIRE ARMS with three small fries running about. 

What I'd really like to know is, if you have a body type similar to mine (Rather Bosomy), do YOU like the Ergo? Do you find it simple to adjust and get on and be comfortable in? Would you recommend it? Or is there some other option I'm totally missing that allows me to have the use of both arms with three children?

(Photo: Amazon)

Comments

[Erica_H]

Maybe not helpful, because I am not now nor have I ever been bosomy, but I love love love my Ergo and use it daily. (I also couldn't make the HotSling work for me at all.)

[EmilysHollow]

Looooove it. A lot. I also, tho, liked mei tais (an Ergo style w/out the buckles), especially the first few months. They were both way more comfy and easy to use than the Moby, plus you can use both of them for back carries. It is well worth the cost, to me, and I am CHEAP.

[Dr. Maureen]

I like my Ergo, but I can't get it to work on the back, at least not by myself. And I wore AM on my back while mini-golfing this summer, and it was actually really uncomfortable, because the skinny strap pulled on my stomach. I think Arwen likes the Gemini better? And she was the one I learned about the Ergo from, from Baby Camilla days. Jonna, on the other hand, likes the K'Tan, and that one looks AWESOME and if I had extra money I'd buy it. But for me, the Ergo is sufficient. I do like it a lot for front-carrying. I am less bosomy than you. :)

[Manda]

Ok so, I do NOT have a body type like yours (I am sparsely bosomy at a small 36C. It might be 36B now. ANYWAY). I have an Ergo and I LOVE IT. As soon as my kids got past the 2-3 month mark it is by far the most comfortable and easy-to-use baby carrier, IMHO. I used a Bjorn and a Moby a lot with Elijah from age 1-6 months, both of those are better for little babies and I never got the infant insert for the Ergo, but I STILL use the Ergo with him. He's a shopping cart jumper, dude, so he rides on my back during most grocery/Target runs. He LOVES it. I carried Syd in it too until she hit the 35 pound weight limit. If we have more kids I'm getting another one (ours is very well loved and I'm not sure it would survive a third round). SO! To round up this rambling comment! Yes! Get one! But don't start using it until your kid is 12 pounds or a few months old. It will go the distance.

[agirlandaboy]

Not bosomy by nature here (except when nursing), but we LOOOOOOOVE our Ergo for babies 5 months and up. (Before that I use a homemade Moby, which is the bomb.) The best thing about it, IMO, is that it lasts a long time. We wore Wombat in it until he was two, which made it well worth the money for us. The worst thing about it is that it's a bit bulky to just throw in a diaper bag.

If you know someone who has one, maybe the thing to do is wait until the baby's here and see how he likes it. (My babies DO NOT like the Ergo as infants, which is why we use the fauxby wrap).

GOOD LUCK!

[Elizabeth]

I wanted to love it because it was so comfortable, but both my children hated it with a fiery hot passion. HATED IT. It was the ONLY time Katie cried. I sold it on Ebay or I'd send it to you! I think I was so short that I couldn't get her in there without jostling her so much that she was REALLY mad by the time I was done? I don't know.
That being said, I think it really depends on the baby. Both my kids did LOVE the moby but it worked better on tiny babies and did have a steep learning curve. I will say though that although it was not as comfy on the back as the Ergo, Katie LOVED the Baby Bjorn, and we used that for many months, and it was convenient it was almost worth it for the back pain. I love how the front section snaps off entirely, if a baby falls asleep you can put them down and NOT WAKE THEM.
But Eli hated it, fyi. I always tell peoeple to wait until they get the baby and THEN try out carriers, because you just never know.

[Maggie]

I borrowed an Ergo when EJ was about 4 months, so not sure what it's like with a teeny baby. I liked it, but not for every day - I thought the Moby was more comfortable to wear at home. I did use it at the grocery store if I had to bring all the kids and it was great, but most of the time I preferred to just use a stroller when we went out. But now that she's big? OMG I LOVE THE ERGO. I do not know how I'd be doing all my school pick ups and drop offs without it. EJ is SO HEAVY and the stroller is such a pain to get in and out and the Ergo is SO EASY and saves a lot of struggle and time. I find myself using it much more when we go out now. Mine was free (they ended up giving it to me!) but I was prepared to buy one if they wanted it back. And yes, I think it's easy to use/adjust and totally comfortable for both of us. RECOMMEND.

[LivLaughEat]

I am bosomy! I used the Moby when R was an infant (couldn't hold his head up) and then the Ergo after that. We LOVE the Ergo in our house (even my husband who is of the super skinny body type) - it's easily adjustable to both of us and very comfortable. Gave me use of both arms back and now, at almost 2 years old, we have switched R to riding on the back which he loves and is even more comfy/convenient. I bought mine used off Craigslist for $50 though I do live in a hippie-ish area so there are a ton of Ergos on Craigslist. I would say stick with the regular Ergo, skip the sport unless you're really tall, it was too long for my frame.

[Roberta]

Love love love my Ergo. I am also bosomy. :-) it was by far the most comfortable carrier for me. I used it from newborn to 2 year old, front & back. I liked it better than any ring sling or any big backpack carrier. It is a little tricky figuring out how to get the baby on your back at first, but so great for hands free baby carrying. You can put the baby on your back whole cooking, etc. I used to stick Helene when she was fussy, walk around the house doing chores, and she'd fall asleep. Try one on in a store. You can even stick Charlotte in it and see what you think.

[Cassie]

I love my ergo. I got it for my first when he was about three months. For my second, I got the infant insert and he loves it as much as the moby. It is a little warm with the insert, but if your baby is coming in January that's probably not an issue. I'm not sure my size right now, since #2 is only five weeks but I was 34DD while nursing my first, I think that qualifies as bosomy, and I'm kind of short waisted. We also used it for a long long time with my first. He loved riding in the backpack until I got pregnant again and had to stop. Once he was around a year and a half, he could climb on my back from the couch so I could safely get him in on my own. My cousin uses theirs with their four year old to go hiking. It's definitely got a long life.

[Jesabes]

I really want to try the Ergo, but never have. I almost bought one last week because it would still be useful with Paul, but wasn't sure enough to spend that much.

[Christa]

I am bosomy and love my ergo. I would wait until the two month mark so that you don't have to use the infant insert, which isn't as comfortable. I highly recommend.

[Kathleen]

Not bosomy, but I love the Ergo. It is the most comfortable way to wear my baby that I've tried. I find it extremely easy to get on and off. I really won't use anything else because nothing compares.

[Lynnette]

I loved it and used it from 4 months until 2yrs old, when I got pregnant again. Not great for newborns. I got the K'Tan on Jonna's rec and liked it very much, but I'm glad Louis is 4 months now because I can use my beloved Ergo again.

[Kristen]

Love the ergo! Used (and loved) the moby until baby was probably 4-6 months old. And the ergo after that. On the back for longer outdoor adventures, it's a seriously great baby wearer! And if you're tricky, you can wear the baby on your hip, baby can see the world, you still have your hands free! A lot of the higher end baby stores here in Portland will let you wear the different carriers around before buying, try it in your area!

[Christy]

I am bosomy and I LOVED my Ergo. I didn't get it until Lily was about a year old and once she hit 2 1/2 she refused any babywearing devices, but for that small time it was a life saver. I used it constantly and found it very comfortable. As a compassion I was gifted a Lilababy carrier that looks just like the Ergo and I hated it. The Lilababy (I think that's the name)was so god awfully uncomfortable that I packed it away after the first use and wrote it off.
I also have a mei tai that I bought at a consignment shop and it was good, but I found the Ergo so much easier to use and just plain comfortable.
I also had a ring sling that I got at around 7 months of age and really liked it for very quick wearings. I felt it put too much stress on my shoulder for long wearings.

[HereWeGoAJen]

Yes, what Maureen said. The internet told me to get the Beco Gemini this time and the Baby K'Tan. And so I did. Give me a week or two and I will give you a detailed report.

(Disclaimer: I am baby carrier crazy. I have something like nine now... But the Beco and the K'Tan are my new ones.)

[Meghan]

I had the same problem with the hot sling and I was madly in love with my ergo. I still use it sometimes with A and she's almost 2. I never used it with the infant insert, I've heard that it is super hot and a lite uncomfortable. I really wanted 2 of them, one to live in the car (it was literally the only way I could get through a store with the 2 kids) and one for the house. But that was a little out of my budget ;) If you stalk babysteals they usually have them 50% off twice a year. But I'd say its worth full price...and I'm pretty cheap ;)

[Wendi]

I liked the sling for when they were really small but I used the ergo all the time after about 3 months!! It was so easy.

[HollyLynne]

I love the Ergo so much we have THREE of them. We still use one regularly with our 2 1/2 year old. In fact, we have a fancy framed hiking carrier and we still choose to use the Ergo while hiking instead. It is that comfortable. So, so, so worth the price.

[HollyLynne]

. . . and yes, it works just fine if you're bosomy. I was an F cup for a while after my son was born (F for "Fail"!) and that never interfered with the fit of the carrier.

[Holly]

I bought a new Beco carrier with my first, and it was useless until she was about 7 months old, and even then she didn't really like it much because she couldn't face forward. I didn't like it much because there were so many strappy buckley things and I could never quite see which arm went where and snap and adjust that how? And I'm a scientist. I bought a used Bjorn (despite all cries of 'but baby's hips?!')off ebay for like $20 and it was FANTASTIC. She was in that from about 2.5ish months on (she had good head control early), so she could face forward and see the world. I used it mostly for trips to Target and Trader Joe's, so short bursts. As baby gets heavier, it is hard on your back because there is no waist support. New BB models have that now. Am thinking of seeing if this new baby likes facing forward, and if so, I'll get either the Gemini or the new Bjorn with the waist strap. I suggest borrowing some carriers for a day or buying used before committing.

My SIL likes the Maya wrap a whole bunch. It looks really easy to use.

[Colleen]

I've never tried the Ergo, but have done a sling, faux moby and snugli. I don't know if it's available in the States, but have you ever heard of the Blue Celery wrap? It's like a moby, but simplified. Two loops of stretchy fabric and one long strip. So you can wear it like the Moby, but without trying to wind it around yourself in store parking lots without trailing it on the ground (even more fun if it is winter in Canada). Just slip on the two loops, stick in the baby and wrap the long strip around for security.

[Shelby]

I'm bosomy too, and I prefer the Beco Gemini to the Ergo. I find the Gemini more comfortable (straps are worn crossed in the back), more versatile (baby can face in or out), and you don't need an infant insert.

[Nanette]

I have all the bosom and found the Ergo Sport, which I believe has longer straps, to be awesome. I was also a big fan of the Beco and the Moby. (Quick Moby tip -- put it on yourself before you leave the house to go somewhere, and then retighten it and slip your baby in it when you arrive. That way you don't have to deal with all that fabric in the parking lot.)