I really want a baby bjorn, but...

[katiegolightly]

I'm addicted to the basket under my buggy. The appeal of free hands and easy stairs is immense, but don't you struggle on a day out even with your change stuff in a back pack?

Where/how do you get the best use out of this product and how do you carry your other stuff?

Is it worth the investment in your opinions?

How old is your baby? Baby Bjorns are only really suitable up until 4-6 months before the user gets backache (at least on the experience of all the people who come to my sling library at that point looking for something more comfy). There are better carriers that will last much longer that are definitely worth the investment.

I use a sling for lots of things - around the house, doing jobs, entertaining older children, going out, or just because we both fancy a cuddle.

As for the stuff - you get used to carrying a whole lot less stuff. So
couple of clean nappies
small pack of wipes
limited clean clothes (I usually just chuck in a sleepsuit)
small bottle of water for me
debit card, cash, keys.

I can fit that in a small handbag.

Baby bjorns aren't much good for heavier babies IMO.

I use a sling for journeys where I only need to carry stuff for baby but no shopping etc. otherwise I take a pushchair.

Ah ok. She's 3 and a half months so perhaps the bb is not an ideal sling. I have a fabric close sling but she feels too big and unsupported for that already and I just feel like I can't carry all my stuff when I'm out. I feel like I don't want to get 'stuck' not being able to put her down anywhere. I guess the sort of thing I feel I could use a sling for is (I'm guessing):

• trips that are a couple of hours
• riverside walks where I think she'd be bumped along too much in the buggy
• trips to places where there isn't space for a buggy - lunch out etc
• trips on the bus/tube (my nearest station is stairs only so I've avoided anything that isn't local)

airports (we have a few flights coming up and I wonder if this will be useful)

but in reality I'm not sure that a sling would be 'everyday', so I'm not sure if it's worth parting with the cash for something that I'd find 'very useful' twice a month.

Are there things you would have avoided doing without your slings because the buggy is just too much effort?

A soft structured carrier such as for instance the Manduca would last until she is 2 or more, and holds its value very well. They are around £90 new but usually sell for £60-70 2nd hand. So even if you didn't use it very much you probably wouldn't lose a lot of money on it iyswim.

Things I'd have avoided doing without slings.... I guess I wouldn't get out and about nearly so much (I have a 4 month old, 3 year old and 4 year old). Much easier for all travel (airports, tube, bus). Much easier and safer to carry the littlest and have two hands free to hold hands with the other two on station platforms, near busy roads etc. When they get to the stage of wanting to walk, way easier to have a sling in your bag or around your waist for when they get tired than pushing an empty buggy around - and much easier to chase them if they make a dash for it.

Another vote for ERGO, also has a pocket big enough for nappy/wallet/keys.

I kind of agree. But I did love my wrap. I suppose my lifestyle just has lots of those sorts of trips in it.

I used a cotton shopper on my shoulder with slimmed down supplies when I went out without the buggy. I didn't take my changing bag, for example, just nappies, a half pack of wipes and a muslin to use as a changing mat.

I did think there was an issue about not having a place to put the baby down, it can be quite a tricky way to manage a baby if you are on your own for a substantial period without access to Starbucks. Not everyone finds this, though.

Ergo here too.

I've got a disposable nappy, a sandwich bag of wipes and a couple of oaty biscuits and a straw in the pocket.

With the raincover attached to the waist belt we can be out & about for a good few hours if necessary. (cash, phone & keys in my pockets - I was never a handbag person anyway!)

Pushchair rarely comes out now. I honestly don't know why more people don't do it, it's so liberating!

DS is 16mo now, btw. Used ergo since 5 months.

Oh, I loved my wrap too, but found carrying the baby at the front too heavy by 6 months and never managed a back-carry on my own with the wrap.

Mind you, I do also still use a buggy (DS2 is 2.4...) at times. When he is not on his scooter .

Amazing, how quickly time passes

I love my babybjorn but agree that it's only really for up to 6mths, I've just bought a Manduca which works for both my 3mo and my 3yo and is structured and ds2 feels safe and secure in it. For stuff - if it's just the 3mo then there really isn't v much that is necessary - travel change mat with a few wipes and a nappy, a muslin and for a longer trip a spare sleepsuit and I put all that in my handbag. If I'm out with both of them I use a changing bag. Or you could have a small rucksack.

I use my carrier on a daily basis, so much easier to have two hands free to deal with ds1 and using it around the house means I can cook dinner/do chores etc while keeping ds2 happy and close to me. I live in London so a carrier is so much easier than a buggy on the tube. Guess it depends on where you live/ whether your baby is happy to be put down etc but I wouldn't have been without my babybjorn (and now the Manduca) with either ds1 or ds2

I use a pognae which is the Korean version of the Ergo (cheaper!). I've found a small messenger style bag is enough for all my stuff, I just lengthen the strap and throw it on over the sling so it sits under DD's bum, or at the side under her foot.

Definitely worth the investment, even if you only ever use it for popping to the shops. Mine's coming into it's own now I'm minding someone else's child too - probably not a consideration for everyone, but if you're planning more DC you'll get your money's worth.

Flootshoot- the pognae looks great! Where did you get yours from?

Ergo bought! Thanks for all the tips everyone

Now looking forward to working it out tonight!!

Where did you buy the Ergo from, Katie? I want one, but scared of getting a fake!

Amazon:

www.amazon.co.uk/ERGO-baby-Carrier-Galaxy-Grey/dp/B002NGMXR2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1343854302&sr=8-2

Super dooper and genuine article!

katiegolightly - some people have reported buying fakes from Amazon as well as ebay. It is worth checking that the seller is one of Ergo's authorised distributors, and if not I'd be very wary.

Sorry to be so paranoid but the fakes are turning up all over the place and I've seen a fake Galaxy Grey one.