Curious - why don't more people use baby carriers?

[togarama]

I'm increasingly curious about this and just wondered if others on MN could shed some light on their choice of buggy Vs carrier (or both).

I don't know many other parents IRL and those I do come into contact with are often so obviously negative about baby carriers that I don't think I would gain anything other than a sore ear from asking them....

We've always used slings, wraps and other carriers with 20 month old DD because they're comfortable (for us and baby), convenient (especially since they leave your hands free) and fit our lifestyle. We walk a lot, like to be spontaneous and don't want to have to think about buggy access / stair problems every time we leave the house. I also travel a lot by train and tube and can't even begin to imagine the hassle of trying to cart a pram or buggy around the public transport system.

However, I'm always very conscious when with other parents (e.g. dropping DD at nursery and being stared at...) that we're very much in a minority and I don't really understand why. Carriers just seem to have so many advantages and appear much more logical for commuting and city living. But buggies are somehow still the choice of the majority.

Why is this?

Had a BabyBjorn and find it uncomfortable once they were more than about 3-4m old and hate all the wrestling to get them in. From the comments here it sounds like we've bought the wrong type and there are much more comfortable ones to use.

• SO what are recommended makes once they get a bit bigger?
• Plus prams have rain covers - what do you do when it rains?
• Also I worry about overheating or protruding legs/arms getting cold.

I bought both, I couldn't get the carrier comfy on me I have huge tits and the bigger ds got the harder it was on my back. it just wasn't strong enough to not feel very very achey and sore.

DH used the sling and loved it. but I also liked being able to have the nappy bag under the buggy and to feel that DS1 could sleep and I could have a few minutes to myself (may be selfish)

Although I like the idea of a sling in principle and would willingly give it a go, I think they are quite expensive really, especially if you find baby doesnt like the one you've chosen or its uncomfortable to wear. I do keep looking online but the ones with the good reviews seem to be £50 to £100 and that is not the sort of money I can throw at something which may or may not suit.

As to having a buggy instead, it was bought for me by my mum so no outlay there for us. Its practical for carrying shopping and baby is dead comfy in it.

I live in a rural area and drive everywhere so no issues with public transport etc. I just don't think it would get that much wear TBH.

Belgo, but I bet you can't have a nice lean back in a squashy armchair though! Also, what about carrying nappies/change of clothes/snacks etc? So handy to stow the lot under the pushchair. My baby days are well over now (sob!) but I still remember the freedom of not having to carrying a sodding bag over my shoulder. I would hate to carry a bag AND have a baby strapped to my front. I'd feel like a donkey

For those of you who havn't found a carrier that isn't uncomfortable, have you tried the Ergo? I tried a few different types before happening upon the Ergo and had problems with them all TBH they were either too faffy, uncomfortable or limited in the positions you could use, or all three.

The reason I love the Ergo is because it is so comfortable as it spreads the weight of your baby over your pelvis so you don't get aching shoulders and back. You can even use through the early months of regnancy, as have I! I have also used it for 'clingy' mindees and a 3yr old, so I have certainly got my money's worth out of it!

It is easy to use.

You can use it from birth right up until your baby is a toddler.

It is light and compact.

You can use it on your front, side or back.

Comes in some nice colours.

It has a hood that you can bring over your child's head when they fall off to slepp and it support their head from lolling around.

The only downside is it isn't cheap, you're talking north of £100 but it will last forever.

I bought my 1st one 2nd hand for about £45 when Ds was around 10mths old and wish I had known about them from birth as it made life so much easier. He wanted to be near me all the time so I just popped him on my back and I was able to get on with the housework.

I am treating myself to a new Ergo for DC2 and I'm really looking forward to it! I would definatley recommend the Ergo to anyone and those that I know who have one all love it too.

"Another friend said to me that she had carried the baby in her tummy for nine months, why should she have to carry the baby any more? That made me a bit sad."

Belgo - Do I know you? I have been known to come out with this line when I am under fire from slingwearing mums.

Yes, with winter baby loved putting her in a cosy pram with rain hood and cover and proper blankets. I wanted to get in myself!

juule, when you put your dc on your back you can give the other dcs hugs easily. dito housework.

reg. pain in the neck, "proper" carriers distribute pain evenly so the weight is carried more by the hips and whole back than the shoulders.

rain: the umbrella has been invented already

I wish I had the carrier for dc1...

Theantsgomarching: . But not sorry I asked... I'm really interested in all the reasons people have for choosing one or the other or both.

God yes thedollshouse - some days we have a violin, a sports kit and the normal bag plus my work bag - without the buggy we would be screwed. And you'd have to carry the toddler stuff as well - so I could use a carrier but then I would have to be pulling along a trailer as well. Or a donkey.

It its ideal for when they are newborn-2months but then it just becomes unbearable on your back. They're great for shopping leaving both hands free :)

P.S the Ergo also has a deep front pocket and/or an attachable rucksack thing so that you can carry around your personal items. I havn't got the attachable rucksack but I found the deep pocket ample enough for a spare nappy, some wipes, my keys, phone and purse.

I do have a sling, but don't use it that much. Because when you sit down for a coffee (for example), it's uncomfortable, the baby starts fussing and gets hot and bothered. Also, my baby sleeps better in the buggy. The buggy is so handy for keeping wallet, spare change of clothes, nappies, bit of shopping etc. I don't really use the bus or tube that much with the baby. And also I can keep better posture with a buggy, in the hope that will improve my diastasis.

Mousy, I quite like looking at my babies and would rather they were in front of me than around my back where I would feel I couldn't keep a proper eye on them.

"We've tried three so far. DD is 8m and 20lb. Suggestions welcome!"

what have you tried? I'd recomend a mei tai, or a patapum toddler.

Deep pockets? Deep enough for mobile, purse, makeup bag, nappies, change of clothes, snacks, newsspaper, spontaneous shopping, notebook, hairbrush....

Oh and if the choice is between a sleeping baby in the pram and a sleeping baby on my back while doing housework - why would I make the housework more difficult for myself carrying the extra weight around with the added risk that I might wake the baby up and couldn't sit back and relax when I'd finished?

stitched fanjo here

still giving twinges in cold weather years after the event

also hypotonic babies who slumped badly in slings

when dd was older, she always cried in pain when carried on back or shoulders

yes, I did use baby carriers, but wouldn't say it was a wild success

And nobody has addressed the sitting down for coffee aspect with a sling. Very important part of my life, that is!

I'm really clumsy & always tripping over my own feet & bumping into things - strapped into a pram with four wheels instead of onto me with two left feet seemed the safest option...

Well - the buggy doesnt hurt my back and carries my bags - although I think DS1 may be big enough to do that now ;)
Also when tiny it was much easier to whop the baby in a car seat into a buggy /trolley to do a quick shop rather than wake him to get him into a carrier.

DS1 loved his sling actually and I used it a lot for him because in the buggy he just squirmed and fidgeted, but in the sling he could see everything from up high and was much happier. He was also lighter than DS2, who knackered my back whilst still inside but also hates the sling, weighs a ton anyway (99th on the charts), and is happy as larry sitting in his buggy watching the world go by. DS1 will hold onto the buggy whilst we walk around and I can hang the shopping off it.

With DS1 I used a peanut shell for around the house, and a baby bjorn style for out and about.

So anyway, I think a lot of people dont use them through lack of knowledge, and that will change over time. And the rest, because of personal preference or baby preference!

I think baby bjorn are to blame for people not using slings - most new parents I know bought one, found it painful to carry the baby for any length of time, and assumed it was carrying the baby that was the problem, rather than the badly designed carrier.

sitting down with the ergo no problem. the legs don't dangle down like they do with cheap other carriers, so they are not in the way at all.

I think the main reason is all the extra stuff that you have to carry round with you. Nappies, wipes, muslins, spare clothes, drinks for yourself, maybe bottles and formula.

Slings are fine for short trips but lugging all the extras around makes buggies more practical generally.