to wonder why baby Björn baby carriers are so popular?

[froken]

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?

My BB Active has been a godsend for me, to the end that my pram has hardly been used. It's great having my hands free to deal with a 4 year old, plus great for keeling baby upright after feeds when rushing off straight after for nursery pick up.

Both the physio and the osteopath who treated my DD (for congenital spine/neck issues) fully recommended the BB and rubbished the hip problem theories.

The osteopath who subsequently treated my frozen shoulder was less keen on the BB! This was a few months down the line though, and I carried DD a lot (reflux). I do have good upper body/shoulder strength (used to row/do triathlons) and TBF the newer BBs with the back support are better, but I had a BB original.

I also used wraps and from about 4m on, switched to a Connecta as my SSC. I tried an Ergo and resold it - too tall for me and the waistbelt can adjust to only 27" at smallest so kept slipping down. I also have a Manduca.

When DS was born, I used the BB again for the first month or so. It has a lot of advantages -iit's quick and easy to undo/take off, especially if the baby's asleep, which is much more practical at newborn stage; it's machine washable and tumble dryable, which is totally necessary if you have two DC with severe reflux; it's snugger for a newborn than the Connecta; you're not wrestling with metres of fabric whilst trying to handle the newborn and run after your bolting toddler; it can be used one-handed (the Manduca claims that it's a safety feature that you need two hands to open the release button - not if you'd prefer to be holding the baby with one arm!); and finally, if you've just had a CS, the back crossover design is a hell of a lot more comfortable than anything which tightens round your waist.

DS was quite a big strong baby though and I switched to the Connecta fairly early, when I was more confident of his head strength (still supported in the Connecta but not as much) and when my scar had healed. I'd really recommend a BB for anyone having a CS, but I'd also advise them to buy secondhand, as I reckon it has about 2-3 months' life max compared to 'for as long as the child will go in it' for many others.

They're widely available and simple to use.

The risks for babies prone to hip dysplasia aren't advertised along with them. Funnily enough.

Mums start carrying somewhere, usually in a BB style, and I would like to think once a mum who wants to carry knows better, she does better. Live and learn, yadda yadda.

I started with a BB style, it was uncomfy, hugely so. I then bought a Hop Tye, fab and very easy to use. I now have a Lenny Lamb wrap. you can't beat them for comfort when carrying, and the peace of mind that you're doing it safely. Just in case.

They also keep their value unlike BB style carriers. I bought my Hop Tye for £55 and 14 months later I sold it for £55 (I paid the postage as well to the new owner which was £7).

YANBU my 9 month old causes me agony in the baby Bjorn, I have a baba sling and I'm bidding on an ergo baby as we speak!

I used my R&R until my DC was nearly 4. I used my BB (the most expensive one with back support etc) until she was about 6 weeks before I felt like my back was going to explode.

My R&R I sold for nearly as much as i paid for it after 2 years. I couldn't give my BB away to anyone!

DD loved hers for about 6 months or so, but she didn't weigh anywhere near as much as your DS. Even though there is technically a weight limit, I don't know anyone who would use one at that size.

The new babybjorn seems more like the ergo/ manduca/ beco etc now. Now hanging from hips, waist support for parents and back carry

www.babybjorn.co.uk/products/baby-carriers/one/baby-carrier-one/

I have a connecta baby carrier and I can still put my 3yr old inward facing! Its like carrying them in your arms facing inwards but with much better support. But after half an hour or so it does get uncomfortable because of her weight - im only 7 stone so that probably doesn't help. I love carrying her though but do so rarely now it's kind of sad.