As well as being convenient for getting things done when baby is restless or fussy, research shows that babies thrive on touch and in particular, babies that are 'worn' apparently cry less and are more in tune with their parents.
This wasn't the only reason I wanted to invest in a baby carrier. We were going on our first mini holiday as a family and lugging a pram around the beach/countryside was never going to be the most convenient option. Through researching baby carriers, I wanted to make sure it was not only comfortable for me to wear (I suffer from a bad back) but that it was also going to be comfortable for Sylvie and not put her at risk of clunky hips.
Hip dysplasia is when a baby's ball and socket hip joint doesn't fully develop and fit together as it should. I wanted to ensure that any carrier I bought encouraged healthy hip development. It can be illustrated best in the following image:
This is what I kept in mind when looking for the perfect carrier for my needs. I investigated the BabyBjorn and the Stokke carriers but found that they either didn't support my own back or baby's hips as well as would be expected. They also seemed a little complicated to put on although I am sure they aren't that hard to master with practise.
Just as I was ready to make my purchase, we found out about the newly released Ergo Baby 360. A baby carrier that offers 4 different positions for baby - front inward, front outward, back and hip. It also offered a newborn position which is what we needed, although we had to purchase a separate infant insert for this. The carrier itself is simple to put on and the carrier is ergonomically shaped to house and support baby (and her precious hips) perfectly. It does help that Ergo have a terrific name in the world of baby wearing and believe me, baby wearing is practically a movement in itself!
Sylvie does squirm and moan when she is being put into the carrier but once in, it's clear she is comfy and snug as she usually falls asleep within minutes. It's simple to put on and it offers me just the right support for my back as it hasn't caused me any back pain as yet, thankfully.
The Ergo Baby 360 is a pricey purchase so I had to be sure that I was making the right choice. At 12 weeks old, Sylvie is no longer using the infant insert and the carrier has become a staple of our daily dog walks. It's especially great for my husband to wear Sylvie as it gives them lovely, close, one on one time together.
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| on our first holiday |
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| Hangover |
Of course, traditional baby wearers (i.e slings) will be gawping and cursing my venture into it by going for a bulky carrier, however, I am on the look out for a reasonably priced sling for wearing around the house offering a bit more flexibility. As great as the Ergo Baby 360 is for my husband and for myself when we are out on long walks ... it isn't great for doing your daily chores at home when Sylvie needs to be close and comforted, so a sling would help greatly.
If anyone has sling recommendations, leave me a wee message in the comments :)
