Sling/Carriers - what am I doing wrong?

[Catinabox21]

DC3 is 4 months old. She hates the pram (have tried every possible orientation) and so we rely on our Ergo Embrace to get out and about. Thankfully she seems very happy in it.

After some trial and error (and several YouTube videos), I worked out how to adjust it so that it doesn't hurt my back or shoulders - fine.

However, as DD gets bigger, I am finding it increasingly hard work! I'm just very 'aware' of the extra weight when walking briskly, climbing steps or carrying anything else at the same time. It's not sore, just heavy and slow. I come back from the school run feeling like I've just done a workout!

My question: is the Embrace the problem here, or is this just the reality of having a 1.5 stone baby strapped to you as you go about your day?

I know that many people happily use their carriers into toddlerhood, so thinking I've got to be missing something!

The embrace is brilliant for the newborn stage but not very supportive for you after that. So yes, it's the carrier. I also have the ergobaby adapt and that's a lovely carrier - I still carry my 17 month old chunk in it on my front and my 3.5 year old on my back!

Are you facing the baby in or out?

In is a lot comfier and your baby can still see things if you have them high enough

I am not especially strong and carried mine till they were around 18 months so it definitely can be done

Baby has been facing in (so far anyway).

It's extortionately priced but have you considered an artipop carrier? Absolute life saver for me after buying about 4 different carriers that just didn't work for us. Well worth the money imo.

I'd probably recommend the OP finding a sling library to try a few before leaping in for a pricy one. Glad you found one that worked for you though!

I used an ergo baby omni 360 with mesh until DS was around 18 months.
I found that when he in front facing in was easier on my back than facing outwards but when he got older I used the back carry option more (and carried my rucksack on my front).

The embrace is wonderful for the newborn stage but is maxed out by six months (or before depending on centiles) it’s the stretchyness of the fabric, it has too much bounce. The integra is great if you like the style of the embrace or head to a sling library or get a couple of rentals from an online sling library if you don’t have one near by.

Tbh I never got on with a sling or carrier apart from when my babies were very small, and around the house only.
They just hurt my back, and I'd had PGP during both pregnancies which didn't disappear straight away so using a sling aggravated that too.
Both my babies were quite big, especially my youngest which can't have helped!
I was really envious of other mums walking around with carriers, that's what I imagined I would be like too but i just couldn't do it!

I don’t know this carrier specifically since it’s new since I had my two. If it’s marketed as a newborn carrier though, you will likely have outgrown it in terms of weight/support by 4 months. My newborn stretchy wrap couldn’t support my 4 month olds anymore. We switched to a woven wrap (my preference) or sometimes used a soft structured ergobaby. I could still carry mine in both until they were 3, so it’s definitely about getting a more supportive wrap/carrier as your baby grows.

Just an update in case it's ever of help to anyone else.

I was able to try out the Ergo 360. Straight away I could feel how much more supportive it was (PP nailed it when they said the Embrace has too much bounce). However, it was just too bulky for me - I felt like I was going into space. I'm short and even on the tightest settings the shoulder straps were massive.

So I did a bit more research and now have a Beco Gemini - so far I really like it! Supportive while still lightweight and foldable.

Thanks for the input everyone.

I agree with PP, the embrace is great for newborns but I would definitely look at something more supportive as they get bigger, I really love the Tula explore and find it so comfortable, still used daily for my very large 18 month old clinger. Can get them very reasonably second hand from Vinted.