Are Ergos the dogs bollocks?

[Himalaya]

I want to get my sister a sling or two for her first baby, but its a long time since I carried my own kids.

I had a ring sling and a Wilkinet, both of which I loved, but I gave them away long ago, and they seem a bit out of fashion now.

The world of baby carriers seems to have exploded since I had mine (although the inexplicable domination of Baby Bjorns in the shops hasn't changed...).

I've just ordered her a plain ring sling on ebay but would like to get her a structured one too.

Everyone seems to rave about the Ergo. Is it really the dogs bollocks?

[UnderwaterBasketWeaving]

Yes

I've got both a ring sling & ergo, still use both at 19 months.

[Gigondas]

Yes

[MousyMouse]

yes they are good and comfy and easy to use.

I still use one occaionally for carrying nearly 3yo dc and have used it pretty much constantly until 2yo.

went hiking with it, climbing over fences and everything.

[chimchar]

Loved my ergo...carried ds until he was gone 3. I used a wrap from birth til about 1 year.....suited a tiny baby much better I found.

Lovely pressie!

[PurplePidjin]

I've got dibs on the library one for PidjChick's imminent arrival.

I find it incredibly uncomfortable - clips in arm pits, shoulder straps too wide - but dp thinks it's fab and can't wait :o

I've got a stretchy wrap for the first 6 months, then will move to either a mei tai or a woven wrap

www.ergobaby.eu/en/ergo_baby_products.html is the proper website, there are very very many fakes!

[UnderwaterBasketWeaving]

My friends also rate bobs and beco (is that right?) too. Similar structure, but don't have the incredibly handy pocket that the ergo does.

[UnderwaterBasketWeaving]

Oh, and those are much prettier!

[5madthings]

i think a moby wrap is great for newborns, as is the wilkinet i used if for all my 5 and my sister used it for her baby, i think she preferred the moby over the wilkinet.

i have an ergo nad its ok, i dont love it tho, i cannot for the life of me get on with it as a back carry which i would really love to be able to do :(

mai tais are good and very simple :)

[needsadviceplease]

I reckon Ergo's greatest strength is their marketing dept...

I think they're good, but certainly no better than a number of others (Manduca - my personal preference; Boba; Patapum; Beco; Connecta). So as it's a gift, I'd look at those and see which you reckon suits aesthetically, tbh!

[SpiralDancer]

Loved carrying my dc's in the ergo, very comfortable, when they were tiny I used a fleece pouch sling (coorie) and a beautiful ring sling. But the ergo was totally fab for doing all of those home things like cooking etc and going out for very long walks. Kids spent first 3 years of their lives pretty much on my back, so really needed to be comfortable!

[KatAndKit]

they are good carriers but what put me off is the infant insert that you need for newborns. In Manducas this is actually integrated in the sling and not big and paddy so is easier to use, and in the bondolino no infant insert is necessary. I would definitely choose a Manduca over an Ergo.

[MrsGhastlyCrumb]

Manduca. :)

[Wrigglebum]

I love my Manduca, so comfy and good for DH as looks a bit more sporty. Got a Connecta Solarweave too which is great to pop in a bag as packs up so small.

Rose and Rebellion are on Zulily today for £58, good from three months and could use ring sling or Victoria Slinglady stretchy until then? Not used an R&R but they get good reviews and could prob sell it on for nearly that price if sis doesn't get on with it.

[GuylianReindeer]

I loved my Ergo, but I think I would have chosen a Manduca knowing what I know now (what KatandKit says about the baby insert). That said there were plenty of times when DS2 was transferred out of the ergo on the baby insert and straight into his cot without being woken up.

DS1 also still rides in the egro and he is nearly 3 so they do last a long time, I have not tried a manduca with a much larger child so I couldn't comment on that.

[Himalaya]

Thanks all.

Have bought a ring sling and a stretchy wrap, both used but nearly new on ebay. I do want to get her a sporty/buckle type carrier that isn't so earth motherish (.....so her DP will use it if nothing else...).

I am amazed at the resale price of Ergos and Manducas etc...and also at the low resale price of Baby Bjorns/mothercare/Tomy all the other mainstream highstreet carriers. People can hardly give them away.

I wonder why it is that all these mainstream brands cannot make a single reasonably priced and well designed baby carrier. Surely it can't be that hard?

[CMOTDibbler]

I didn't like my Ergo, and vastly preferred MeiTais once ds was past the ring sling stage. And dh loved Meitais too as he didn't like adjusting clips and buckles

[PurplePidjin]

BabyBjorn and that ilk have a bad reputation because there's research to suggest that the design might contribute to hip displacement. I think people see them in shops, buy thinking it's a good idea then research/ chat to other parents, by which time the company already has their dosh iyswim.

Stretchy wrap has gone down very well with the midwives on the maternity ward btw

[Himalaya]

Purple - yes I see what you mean.

But if one mainstream company got its act together and produced a baby carrier that didn't look hippy and was ergonomic for babies and parents, and retailed at around £35, wouldn't they make a killing? I am scratching my head and I can't work out why no one has done this.

....something like the Maclaren umbrella fold buggy of the baby carrier world

[Wrigglebum]

Well there is this. Looks quite Ergo-like but not sure what it's like.

I guess the fact it's reduced shows it's not selling well? I think it's too 'different' for people who like BBs and not decorative enough for a lot of babywearers.

[GuylianReindeer]

I saw that one recently too wrogglebum , on the boots website. I think another reason that they might not sell well is because people are obsessed with their babies facing forwards. I quite often get asked about my carrier when I am out and people often asked when DS was in a front carry it would face forwards.

[Wrigglebum]

To true Guylian, I also get asked a lot when DS will turn around. People seem to think the baby will be happier facing forward.

[Wrigglebum]

To true Guylian, I also get asked a lot when DS will turn around. People seem to think the baby will be happier facing forward.

[RarelyUnreasonable]

I love mine and have bought the newborn insert for dc2. Am tall and broad shouldered and find it v comfy.
Really didn't get on with wrap slings.