I'm doing something wrong with my Close baby carrier.... can anyone help?

[Maenad]

I bought a Close baby carrier as I'd read nothing but good reviews of it - but I can't seem to get it to work properly. I've tried both the newborn positions, and it just seems to sag down too far and when I tighten it right up, the cross at the back just rides up and then my back aches after a while. What am I doing wrong??

Are you spreading the fabric over your shoulders evenly? Are you very petite?

Thinking about the front carry (rather than the peapod), are you spreading the fabric of the lower strap over your baby's bottom properly before spreading the fabric of the upper strap over? Are you spreading the fabric out over your shoulders properly? How old is your baby?

Put it on and adjust it before you put the baby in. It needs to be tight acoss your body ime, because your baby needs to be quite close otherwise the fabric will sag as you say.Put the cross quite far down in the small of your back, and make sure you are carrying your baby quite high- being able to kiss the top of their head is a good guide. It takes a while to get the fabric on right over your shoulders too. Now ds 21 weeks it is second nature (I really miss being able to carry him in the newborn position)

Also, the instructions don't say, but I find it helpful to bring the fabric that dangles at the sides around to the front and tie them together- gives a little extra support under the baby

Have you tried loosening the fabric a bit more so the cross is right down in the small of your back? I am just getting the hang of mine and this seems to be the trick.

I then get her in with the x under her bum and tighten it up a bit more (although it says get right position before putting baby in).

Also, as LL says I tie the dangly bits under her bum a. for more support and b. gets them out the way.

Persevere - I love carrying C in this on my chest.

Yes, AccidentalMum - I am quite petite - I hope this doesn't mean my efforts are doomed!

My baby is 3 weeks old so I haven't been trying this for very long. I have I think been spreading the fabric out OK though Gunpowder.

I'll try tying the dangly bits underneath her and see if that helps keep her up a bit higher. I'm feeling a bit confused about the looseness required to keep the cross down low on my back versus the tightness required to stop it from dropping down too low at the front. Um.

I don't have one but a common problem with a carrier with any limits to it's adjustability is that they don't go small enough, although if the fabric can just continue to pass through the rings indefinitely it shouldn't be a problem. With a stretchy carrier, you have to be brave when utting it on initially. It needn't look like there is any room for the baby before you pop him/her in IFYSWIM. Check on SlingMeet for a local group.

Whereabouts are you in the country (roughly)?

agree with accidentalmum- don 't leave room for the bay iyswim- the fabric has plenty of give in it. Did you get the dvd in the box? I could post you mine if you didn't

Thanks for the offer littlelamb - but don't worry, I do have the dvd. I just can't seem to translate it to what I'm doing!

I'm in north London, Gunpowder.

This morning I tried it out with the dangly bits tied underneath her bum, and it definitely helped. The cross still slid up my back a bit, but I think it was better.

Will persevere...

I'm in SW London so could potentially give you a critique in person i you don't get the hang of it...

thank you Gunpowder! If I don't master it, I would love to take you up on that.