Moving on from my borrowed Baby Bjorn. Connecta or Ergo?? :)

[princessmel]

I like the look of both of these.

Don't fancy ones I need to tie or wrap.

Dh prefers the price of the connecta but it looks less sturdy than the ergo to me.
What do I know though!
Opinions please......any for sale too?? !!

connecta connecta

this is quite a useful chart. We have an ergo and use it daily to take DS (18 months) on the commute by tube to nursery. I hope it will last at least another 6 months, although he is getting a bit heavy to be carried on my front (he is 12kg). We got the ergo active because DH is 6'6'', and I am 5'6'' and slightly built, and it fits both our extremes.

ergo ergo ergo
Borrow one first though to see if it suits you

This has probably already been said, but can you get to a sling meet? Have a look on www.slingmeet.co.uk for one near you, get in touch, and with a bit of luck you'll get a chance to try them out.
Or buy one of each second hand (look on www. slingguide.co.uk for places to buy), then sell the one you don't like in the end on for what you paid - you'll probably only lose the cost of postage.
FWIW I liked a (toddler) Patapum for a SSC, but never really tried Connecta or Ergo. I use wraps mostly. I've heard that Ergo are not so good if you have narrow shoulders.

I think a Manduca beats an Ergo hands down. I used to own an Ergo and a good friend has a Manduca and I have tested it.

The Manduca is also cheaper.

Between a Manduca and a Connecta? Dunno. I'd say buy both! A girl needs more than one sling.

A Manduca has enough testosterone for men to feel manly in it but it is so cleverly designed. The Germans just seem to think of everything when it comes to ergonomics. It is also cheaper than the Ergo which IMO is overpriced. For me I think part of its appeal is that people think if a carrier is expensive it has got to be better.

Both the Connecta and Manduca can be used from newborn. They both have adjustments to make it possible.

I'm a Rose and Rebellion fan but don't know whether you can use them for a newborn (just to add another one to the list!)

Even if you don't fancy one, it's worth visiting the site because if you click on the thumbnails they open lovely arty photos with an awww factor!

Padded waist but very lightweight otherwise. There might be a trousers issue. They reverse to black so you can have pretty or plain in one carrier. (And I quite like Connecta too, and don't like Patapum and have never tried Ergo )

Wow! Loads of new messages!

ds2 is almost 6m.

I am now totally

lol

Have registered on slingmeet...there's one near me on tuesday!
Got a feeling I'm busy... I'll have to squeeze it in.

Remembered what it was, a village fun day. I've promised my friend I'd go with her. Oh bums.

Another vote for Connecta Friend of a friend owns the company

I had one and used it for both DS and DD until they were about 18 months. They retail at about £55 inc postage and I have just sold mine on Ebay for £46 + post! My friend used it with her DT's until they were well past 2.

I found it really comfortable on both front and back, both DP and I could use it (and my Mum) and it looked fab

Connecta Connecta Connecta!

I just bought an ergo for my tall 4 month old. bliss compared to baby björn, no plastic bits between your shoulder blades. Yes expensive, but you can use is a long time (my sister carries her 2year old in it). it doesn*t push my trousers down

If you don't get to a sling meet, why not just get both and sell one of them on...?

Can not afford to buy both and sell one on.

I am still so undecided.

I have messaged the lady organising the local sling meet and she will probably be gone by the time I could get there.

She did say maybe we could meet another time so hopefully it's soon.

Connecta - Pretty designs, cheaper, good reviews from you lot, Apparantly the neck support comes up higher than the ergo.

Ergo - Looks well made, good MN reviews, I like the hood (but the C has a hood too...), I don't know why but this one looks more professional....

Hi all,

Strange predicament - there doesn't seem to be one that matches our needs. We used to the Baby Björn Classic (Baby Bjorn or BB) with our first baby, and it served us quite

well. We checked and the baby's positions in the sling seemed to be very okay, both front and back.

Now, for our second baby, we decided to give Manduca (IMO, a product quite similar to the Ergo) a try. Read some reviews that promised the Manduca to be much better.

Here's a frank opinion:

---

NEWBORN, FACING INWARD/ME:
As long as it is a newborn, the Manduca and Ergo's seem way better, but the BB also fared quite well. So, this is okay and comparable.

---

NEWBORN/LITTLE BABY, FACING OUT:
We disliked the Manduca varietes! IMO, horrible, cause, it seemed to keep the baby's legs rather spread out than what it should be. And the baby kept sinking into the carrier, or then we had to make it quite tight. That was never a problem with the BB.

BB on the other hand, seemed to fare much better than the others in the facing out position.

We prefer the BB on this front.

---

EASE OF USE:
Baby Bjorn just beats the others hands down. We used to switch the baby quite often from me to my hubby and back, and the BB just wins hands down. We tried the Manduca and that was NIGHTMARE - or then we are doing something terribly wrong. We used the instructions that came with the book and still shifting baby from one parent to the other WAS AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE!!!

The other good thing was that the BB Classic, you could just leave the straps on inside the jacket and attach/remove the carrier as needed. With the Manduca, well, first the belt-strap, then twist. The other thing: Only the crossover positioned strap felt comfortable.

---

We never tried baby on the back position, even the suggested instructions seemed quite dangerous to attempt alone. BB does not even give the possibility.

---

BABY BJORN OVERALL:

• Ease of use; especially for quick strap on and switching to the other parent.
• Facing out position seemed more comfortable for the baby
• The new BB Active had fantastic back support

• More expensive than the others
• Size and weight limit in comparision

---

MANDUCA OVERALL:

• Size and weight limit in comparision
• Good support for the my stomach

• COMPLEX usage; extremely hard to put on single handed.
• Stress again: Extremely complex; hard to switch from one parent to other
• Strap holders a good idea, but not good enough - straps hang close to the ground
• Bad back support

---

WHAT WE WANT?
A carrier with the ease of use, and excellent back support of BB, and the weight limit of the Manduca. Any suggestions?

Cheers,
El

Hi all, just to confuse matters further, I'm a recent convert to the Manduca and think it's fabulous ... here's why:

GREAT for back carriers with a heavier baby/toddler. My not so little girl is now 3+ years, around 30lbs (not a giant, but heavy enough) and we've been thoroughly enjoying spring walks every day over the past 2-weeks since easter.

OK, it takes just a little practice to master the back carry position but not much and certainly not complicated, especially with an older child. When they're smaller, it must be absolutely fabulous in front carry position (facing inward) as also tried this out for a cosy cuddle and still comfortable!

FRONT CARRY/FACING OUTWARD ... not applicable as the manufacturer doesn't recommend this position which is probably why the little one above looked uncomfortable/awkward and was slipping down.

Some camps also recommend against the forward facing position for many reasons. I think for short periods if your little one likes to look around, the hip position is a good compromise. They can still see the world around but cuddle into mum's bossom/dad's chest when in need of reassurance. Well worth the investment for a dedicated hip carrier if using long-term and would totally recommend the Scootababy Hip (my day-to-day love affair continues with this one!)

I've used the Baby Bjorn and Tomy Carriers in the past with young babies and they were neat and convenient, but not so comfortable when the they started to put on weight. After 2 children, converted to the likes of Beco, Connecta etc. and much, much better in the long term with the youngest 2 (4 in total) now requesting regularly to ride in Scoots!

Final thoughts:

Ergo - great all-round and also loved by dads, but back/body of carrier could be higher offering more support for bigger babes.

Manduca - as above, but with a higher back and built in infant insert so spot on.

Beco - for me, falls between the Manduca and Connecta. Good high back, funky prints, sleep hood (as do the others) built in infant insert, great front carrier even with heavy babies, neat like the Connecta but some find fiddly for back carries (due to built in insert, i.e. extra buckles/panel)

Connecta - also great with funky prints and everything functional and neat, but I personally prefer the more structured waist band on the Manduca for holding the weight of a heavier baby.

Baby Bjorn - neat and functional for early months, offers forward facing position but otherwise, not the best longterm investment.

Enough said .. sorry to ramble on!!

Cheers,
T

Dalmatianmum: a very good carrier does not need good back support for the user.

The BB needs the back support because it is so poorly designed.

the reason a Manduca etc does not need the 'lumbar support' of the BB is because it is designed to carry the child very high and very close to the adult's body. The result is that the body wieght of the child is transferred from the adult's neck and shoulders and into his skeleton, sending the wieght into the wearer's hips and legs. Like into tree trunks carrying the wieght of its branches.

It is impossible to get the child as high and as tight in a BB hence the strain on the adult's back, neck and shoulders and the 'need' for lumbar support.

FWIW, between the Manduca and the Ergo, the Ergo wins hands down. Between the Manduca and the Connecta, I would want them both.

Ooh yeah foxy, baby bjorns are horrible- not slings at all imo!
The baby just dangling in the air- ugh.

Correction: FWIW, between the Manduca and the Ergo, the Ergo Manduca wins hands down. Between the Manduca and the Connecta, I'd have them both.

to charliegal

Great post foxy!
Although some people do prefer the ergo to the manduca.

Dalmationmum - to be honest, the manduca tends to be used for babies in a very different age range to the BB.

It would be more helpful to compare the BB to another sling aimed at the birth-6mth bracket such as a stretchy wrap. This would beat the BB hands down for almost everyone.
Certainly, it's far better for the baby.

Perhaps the BB 'wins' the 'facing out' comparisons, but this is not a position that babies should be carried in at all so other sling manufacturers won't even entertain the position.

I was only giving my opinions of the Manduca and Ergo. I really didn't get on with the Ergo because I am so skinny small boned that the waistband or the shoulder straps were too big for me. The Manduca didn't have this problem and I found it was just an all round more thought out carrier.

Dalmatianmum: this thread discusses more in detail about some of the issues with the BB. If you search 'pavlik harness' in the last month, another good thread with links comes up. But then you probably are not as anal geeky about carriers as I am.

Oh I know foxy
I'm more of a calyx girl myself but it's not really mainstream enough for mumsnet lol

tee hee. I take it you are a regular on naturalmamas then. I tidied my carriers this morning and counted 15 (including the one that is dh's. ) I have just sold off 3 this last month but really want to buy another one.

LOL me? never!
15 is quite conservative in the grand scheme of things - think I only have 9 though so I'm super-small-stashed

Oh I know that 15 is conservative. I am trying to bring down my figure ot about 10but I can't see that ever happening.

Another vote for the Manduca - just got mine this week and completely love it. I've also tried a Rose and Rebellion, and although I loved the patterns they come in, the Manduca is in another league in terms of design and construction. It's really adjustable so you can get the perfect fit for you and your baby as your baby grows. I carried my DS out for a couple of hours walk yesterday and my back didn't hurt at all. He seemed really comfy too And it's made from 100% organic cotton and hemp!

When comparing the Manduca with the Ergo, I found that the Ergo wasn't as adjustable and therefore not as comfortable. I've also heard bad things about their business practices... for example on this thread.

SlingGuide is really good for advice about comparing slings (...and reasons why carrying your baby facing forwards is not a good idea...)