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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why baby Björn baby carriers are so popular?

58 replies

froken · 08/10/2013 19:02

My ds is 9 months old and pretty average in terms of weight (10.5kg/23ish pounds.) We have a rose and rebellion sling and we also used a moby wrap when he was tiny.

I have left my carrier at my mums, she has posted it back to us but it isn't here yet.

Today me and a friend who has a ds the same as as my ds went for a walk, my ds was fussing in his pram and my friend kindly suggested I borrowed her baby Björn carrier.

I have seen the reveiws saying that that sort of carrier can make hip problems worse and facing forward stesses the baby but I am a little sceptical as to how "dangerous" they are so I wasn't worried about ds using the baby Björn carrier, especially as it was for such a short time.

It was so uncomfortable! Because ds was facing forward it was like his weight was tipping me over where as in our usual carrier his legs are wrapped around me so the weight seems to push down rather than forward. His weight was almost all on my shoulders. Ds kept trying to twist his head around to look at me (although this may well be because he is used to looking at me.)

It really felt like an unnatural way to carry a baby, it sort of felt like a baby had been stuck to me rather than having support to carry a baby in the way I would naturally hold a baby, it felt like harder work than just carrying him on my hip or on my shoulders.

I must say ds was happy but no more than in his usual carrier.

Maybe I was using it wrong?

If it is the case that I was using it right I don't understand why 90% of the people I see using carriers are using a baby Björn type carrier. Is there an advantage to these sort of carrier that I havn't thought of?

OP posts:
jasminerose · 08/10/2013 19:06

I didnt know baby bjorns went forward facing? I used mine for months the other way round

NotYouNaanBread · 08/10/2013 19:06

It was fine when DD1 was tiny, but as soon as she had any weight at all, it was agony after 45 mins or so. I didn't have a fancypants one.

We got an Ergo and it was brilliant - we still bring it on long walks so she can ride in it now at 4.5yo and obv. used it for DD2 too - in fact, we got a 2nd, because DD1 was only 2 when DD2 was born, so we'd have both in them, and yes, I did try double-ergo-ing once, but it was v. uncomfortable and I didn't actually leave the house. :)

I didn't really take to the sling, but probably just didn't practice enough. The Ergo always felt really right for me and DH (who hates prams but loves carriers).

Meglet · 08/10/2013 19:08

I preferred my DC's to be forward facing (even in the buggy), the big wide world is far more interesting than I am. And it allowed them to interact with 'strangers'.

It's whatever you and your dc prefer really.

PlumpkinPie · 08/10/2013 19:10

He's quite old for a BB though. Both mine adored it - from birth to about 4 months they were inward facing and then outward at 4 months they loved being at that height. For DC#2 I had a different sling from about 6 months (neither of mine made it past 7 months in the bb) which worked well until about 2 years.
However I passed my BB onto SIL who hated it - and reckoned so did all three of hers!! Each to their own I guess.

MaeMobley · 08/10/2013 19:10

I hated mine but my sister used it until her daughter was 18 months. It felt all wrong to me but she found it brilliant.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 08/10/2013 19:11

I think it's jus because they are available in mainstream shops

DontmindifIdo · 08/10/2013 19:12

You could put ds in rear facing. I think they are popular because they are the one people are used to seeing, we bought one before having ds and there wasn't many others available in the main baby shops, however we got the sport one, which i do find comfortable carrying dd in, never tried the normal type, it does look less supportive on your back. I do prefer putting dd in rear facing, it feels more like I'm just holding her, although she then tries to turn around to see out, so you can't really win... Smile

PeppaPigStinks · 08/10/2013 19:12

Y are NBU

I have one (from a carboot sale) and a wrap sling and much much prefer the wrap. It distributes the weight more evenly and is way more comfortable!

Still want to get an ergo... And try a ring sling!

trixymalixy · 08/10/2013 19:12

I tried loads of slings. The only one I liked was the baby bjorn.

noblegiraffe · 08/10/2013 19:12

They only go up to 25lb so you were pushing it on the weight limit. But for a small baby I found it far easier than the ergo with its sodding newborn insert.

Nora2012 · 08/10/2013 19:13

We have one of those little life full on back pack things, which I actually love. DH feels a but self conscious in it cause it is kinda big, but for big dog walks in the woods, up hills etc. I find it really comfortable and DD seems very happy. Although I do have to put up with the occasional hair pull. I'd recommend it.

Smartiepants79 · 08/10/2013 19:15

I loved mine and so did my daughters.
They loved being able to see what was going on. They felt totally safe cos I was right there, behind them, touching them and talking to them.
Personally I can't imagine carrying my wriggly, nosey 9 month old with her face squashed into my cleavage.
They do hurt my back tho!

DontmindifIdo · 08/10/2013 19:16

Oh yes, just seen how old your ds is, he's probably just too big for it! It's really designed for under 6months.

Victoria2002 · 08/10/2013 19:17

I totally agree they are awful. Same as bugaboo bee-crap design yet really popular. Many parents don't get to compare day-to-day use of these big purchases.

tiredandtiredandtired · 08/10/2013 19:17

YANBU. There are so many better and cheaper options now. I use a Manduca and can still carry my 27lb 11 month old on my front facing in to me with ease

YoniBottsBumgina · 08/10/2013 19:17

It's because they're the only thing you can buy in shops like Mothercare and John Lewis. Most people won't bother to research other kinds of slings online and if they do come across them, won't look to buy them online either because it's unknown and you can't see it in the flesh before you buy it.

There's also a bit of a general perception that fabric type slings are a bit "hippyish" and that's what you tend to come across when researching them. If you only know of baby bjorn type slings and the "hippy fabric ones" then you might not realise that, for example, an ergo is somewhere between the two, you would probably assume it was one or the other.

Plus if you've never tried a "good" sling you may not realise that the bjorns etc are uncomfortable in comparison. Also, I think they are better suited to some body types than others, particularly women with good upper body strength, and men.

YoniBottsBumgina · 08/10/2013 19:19

Baby isn't squished into your boobs in a good sling because the sling supports their body properly so they can look around and out even when facing inwards.

TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 08/10/2013 19:21

My Wilkinet is somewhere between the two and is (apparently) designed to spread the weight on your shoulders. I usually stop at about 10 months, not due to weight but that's when they start to kick me, in er, and hit my chin when they throw their head back (I am not very tall ...).

petitemarionette · 08/10/2013 19:21

First, I think the price attracts people. A bog standard Baby Bjorn is cheaper than a Rose and Rebellion. Anyone who is inexperienced with regards to baby carriers (most first-time parents!) are unlikely to realise that they'll get much more wear out of another type of carrier. If I had a penny for every time I had to reassure someone that their backache was due to the BB and not because they were doing something wrong, I'd be able to afford a brand new sling. Smile My neighbour was carrying her 1 year old and taking ibuprofen every day. Sad

Second, people go with what they know. The more people see the Baby Bjorn out and about, the more people will get one themselves. I think they're available in a few UK department stores now, whereas other carriers are harder to try on in person.

Seeing as you already use slings, I'm going to assume you were using the BB correctly and not letting your baby dangle, as so many do. The forward facing position is also problematic. I've tried it in a wrap and it was somewhat like you described. Also, did your friend have a new or old BB carrier? Apparently, the old ones don't have the lumbar support which was added to new editions.

badguider · 08/10/2013 19:23

I was given one and use it for newborn ds when I need to get him (and me) in and out of it quickly and don't plan to wear it very long.

I have a fabric sling too but the bb is unrivalled in how quick it is to get on and it doesn't trail in the dirt in a carpark - I have it with me with the pram and use it for buses or when I have to 'park' the pram and carry ds or when I have the car but am not going far enough from the car to make taking the pram in the car worth it.

As he's only tiny I have only used it with him facing me, and to be honest it's no more uncomfortable than my fabric sling and in some ways it feels more secure when I walk quickly (ds doesn't bob around as much as in the stretchy wrap).

jasminerose · 08/10/2013 19:25

I got mine second hand so I didnt ever read the instructions. I used it from 0-9 months facing to my cleavage. Is was bfing until past then so it was easier. I very rarely see anyone use a sling in rl.

Original poster
froken · 08/10/2013 19:25

My friend said it was fine up to 12kg, so ds was within the weight limit.

When I carry him in our sling we have his arms out and he is pretty high so he looks to the side lots, no face squished into my chest unless he falls asleep. we also carry him on our backs and that works well.

We used to carry ds lots when he was under 6 months but we use our carrier much more often now as since his seperation anxiety has kicked in he wants to be close to us much more where as when he was younger he was as happy in the pram as he was in the sling it was just that the sling was easier for us.

It is a shame a wider selection of slings is not available on the highstreet.

OP posts:
BuntyCollocks · 08/10/2013 19:25

YANBU. I didn't like it, and don't agree with them facing forward due to the 'crotch dangle'.

Love my rose and rebellion. It's on it's second baby, now, dd is 9mo and it's v comfy to carry her.

stargirl1701 · 08/10/2013 19:26

I hated the BB that we were loaned. I used a Moby wrap initially then an Ergo from 6 months. I would live to try a hemp or linen wrap now Grin

jeansthatfit · 08/10/2013 19:26

I tried so many slings and carriers.... bjorn with the back support harness was comfiest by far for me. I never used it outward facing, only inward facing (got a Little Life style rucksack when they were bigger, for longer carries and walks).

I have good upper body strength, I wonder if that helps?

But wrap slings always turned into a sweaty wrestle with a huge amount of material - I couldn't even get the hang of the Closer carrier, always got it lopsided - I had high hopes of the manduca, but tbh, although not bad once on, I still find there are too many fiddly clips compared to the bjorn. The bjorn is just quicker. I also have large boobs, and found the carriers where baby legs go around you more had my babies leaning 'out' a lot, as my bust pushed them away from me. It just felt very uncomfy.

For me, it really wasn't lack of knowledge or trying! It was just comfier with a Bjorn active. I have to say, I have never seen a baby that looked 100 per cent comfy in any front wearing outward facing carry. They all seem to 'dangle'. I think a back carrier is much comfier.

(btw, Bjorn was a godsend with a refluxy baby who wanted to be held upright a LOT, esp after a feed....)

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