I found this draft tucked away in WordPress this week. I hope you enjoy this blog “B-side” that is finally making its way to the light!
Remember my crazy search to find the perfect stroller that would fulfill all my dreams and wishes? Would it surprise you to learn that I did the same thing with baby carriers? No? Well, then….
When Ian was born, I was a baby-wearing neophyte. A friend gave me their Bjorn, and I was delighted. They were expensive, and all those pictures of people wearing their babies in Bjorns looked so cozy and fun! I soon found out that Bjorns are hard to put on, and Ian definitely wasn’t a fan. I used our Bjorn to take Ian on walks and to keep him with me while I did laundry, but we never quite settled into a comfortable routine.
I also tried a fair trade ring sling with Ian, but Ian was far more interested in stretching and exploring than being bundled in a sling. The lactation consultants I saw suggested a padded ring sling as the answer to my baby-wearing and breastfeeding problems. Apparently baby and I just needed to relax and bond, and everything would be fixed. I found a leopard-print padded ring sling at a consignment sale, but at five-months old Ian had other ideas than being bundled into a sling with mom. I surrendered my baby-wearing goals and enjoyed chasing my little guy instead.
By the time David came into the picture a few months later, I was determined to be a baby-wearing, crunchy granola momma. I did my research and finally settled on the Moby wrap. My Mom gave it to me for Christmas shortly before David was born. And it was wonderful. The wrap was complicated to put on, but once I got David settled in he was a happy camper. He slept contently in the wrap, and I followed Ian around playgrounds and ambled through antique stores with David tied comfortably to my front. As we discovered the details of David’s back problems, I was grateful to find that the Moby supported David in a seated position, placing less strain on his back than other carriers.
I used the Moby right up until David’s surgery at 5 months. After the operation, he had to stay in a suppine position for six weeks, so we got out of the baby-wearing habit. I used the wrap occasionally after David was cleared for more movement, but with his wiggles and size, the Moby didn’t feel like a good fit any more. Plus, it covered up my Nashville Predators jersey when I wore it to hockey games (PRIORITIES, people).
When David turned one and wasn’t showing signs of walking, I started to look into other options. I still loved the Moby, but I found it impractical to tie when I was out somewhere and needed my hands free to chase Ian. I started seeing moms at local playgrounds with Ergo carriers….and….you guys…..I wanted one. I saw newborns and two-year-olds in those carriers with happy, comfortable moms. When David passed fourteen months and still wasn’t walking, I treated myself to an Ergo to prepare ourselves for a summer of adventures.
The Ergo was glorious. I wish I had ordered one from the start of my parenting journey. I mostly used the baby-in-front position, but occasionally I had Paul help me into the baby-on-the-back position for hikes and other family activities. With the Ergo, I had my hands free to take both my boys apple picking. Getting David in and out of the Ergo was a relatively easy process, and we both loved the cozy freedom it allowed.
Until a year ago, I still had my beloved Ergo hanging in our entryway. I couldn’t quite make myself give it up, especially since David hadn’t yet reached the suggested weight limit of 35 lbs. He’s was already big boy, though, a big 3-year-old, and he needed his mommy to encourage him to walk and run and jump. So the Ergo found its was to a home with my sister-in-law and my sweet baby niece. I hope it brings them many fun adventures.
Do you have a favorite baby carrier, or another item so full of memories you can barely stand to part with it? I’d love to hear your stories!
I still miss wearing Sloan, and she is a first grader! Loved the Moby until she was 6-8 months old. After that, we used our beloved Ergo until she was 3. She finally outgrew it, and I passed it on.
loved the wrap for my newborns (but finally found the lighter (and superior) solly on my fourth after sweating through two summer babies in the moby). and the ergo is the only way to fly for me. especially living in philadelphia – almost everyone uses an ergo or ergo-type baby carrier at some point. it’s tragic you didn’t find it until the end, but at least you got to enjoy it for some time!
I have a moby in the cost a friend passed in to me, but i have to admit, it intimidated me and E never experienced it. E only really liked our ring sling for her first see seven months, but then. But then. She went for the Ergo that you sent so I can finally put her in my back! Hurray! Of course by then she had outgrown the insert I got for her, but I’ll take it. The other positive is the my husband wears E more easily with the Ergo. I can’t believe you got to use it until David was 3?!? She’s not quite a year and she’s 30 lbs! I couldn’t do year this without the Ergo. Seriously.
Yeah, lot of guys like baby bjorn cuz it’s guyish lol! The only bad thing about those type’s of banaewyribg is that it olnt goes up to 15lbs. and most of the weight is on your shoulders :[ And some of those are like $100!! Thats crazy! I’m glad we didn’t buy one, we almost did! Yikes!