Basics on Baby Carriers

The cure for the obesity epidemic facing the United States is two-pronged, as it requires a shift in both dietary and activity habits.  In this blog, I address many options for improving the quality of the food that children and families consume, but parents also face the question of how to raise active children in the age of technology.  Personally, I believe that young children do not need virtual-reality before they have explored their own reality with both hands.  But much like foods, the confidence to explore comes from exposure.

In Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods, a University of Maryland professor introduces the concept of “containerized” children, stating that the current generation is not simply limited to indoors, but whether indoor or out, they are forced into small “containers” that physically restrain them.  As a mom who has a jogging stroller, carrier, and bike trailer and uses each, I am not here to tell you to stop using your stroller because he can never be constrained, anymore than I would tell you to never let him see a DVD.  There is a place and use for everything, as the containers from which your child is allowed to see a park, woods, or dad running,  does not limit them, but exposes them to both an active lifestyle and the outdoors.

Moms and dads use joggers, bike trailers, and back packs, to allow them to not only continue to do the activities that they love post-baby, but to include their children in them, as there is the alternative of leaving them at home.  Thus, the child is taught from a very early age about the enjoyment of an active lifestyle and the outdoors, versus the limits of indoors and the confined world of electronics.  Thus the I am writing a three-part series on the three “containers” that every active parent should consider:

My son at 9 months in his Bjorn.
Note that he has it in his hand to
chew on it.

Carriers: I loved my Bjorn Original (Amazon $63.96), as it is easy to put on, take off, load and unload baby without an extra set of hands.  It is also safe for infants weighing more than eight pounds, so it is an option for many parents from birth.  It offers two positions: bonding with baby chest to chest in the early months and then turning them around to see the world.  Regardless of anything else, it is lighter than a carrier/car seat and it keeps mom or dad’s hands free.  My son loved his Bjorn carrier and there was no problem that it could not solve.  In it we logged far too many miles, until mom’s back simply could not handle it anymore, which is the drawback to the Bjorn; it has a lower weight limit (25 lbs) and no lumbar support, but its simple design and easy style allows the seeming impossibility of mommy chic-ness and baby happiness.   

Once my son reached the age that I could no longer comfortably carry him for long periods in his Bjorn, I bought an Ergo Baby Carrier ($115-145).  This carrier allows your child to face your body on your front or back, which forces children face sideways, as it is impossible to see around mom or dad.  The carrier is much more comfortable for mom and dad, as weight is distributed between hips and shoulders, which is a moot point, as it takes two to load a child safely and snap all straps and children are left to ride in an awkward position.  The other drawback to this carrier is that babies must be large enough to “straddle” an adult’s torso, so up until 4-5 months, depending upon the size of your baby, an insert (Amazon $24.50 to 38) is recommended that allows infants to comfortably ride sideways.  Although an advantage for some moms is that an infant can easily breastfeed while in the carrier, I was swayed by the aesthetic; Ergo does not have the clean lines and simple style of the Bjorn, looking instead like a floppy backpack, and with a baby and diaper bag added to my un-showered and drooled on attire, I had all the floppy that I could handle!

Synergy from behind.

Bjorn has developed new carriers that provide back support.  Synergy (Amazon $127.93) and Active (Amazon $95.85) both have a lumbar support panel and are made in two pieces to allow for placing a child in the carrier unassisted; users state that it does not provide as much support as the Ergo but is more convenient and certainly more comfortable with older children that the Original.  The Synergy is made of a breathable mesh, as parents complained that the back support and none breathable fabric of the Active was simply too hot and bulky, but the mesh of the Synergy will not eliminate the added heat of a large panel in the middle of the back on a hot day.  Both provide use from newborn/8 lbs to 26 lbs. 

Comfort from behind.

Finally, there is the new Comfort Carrier (Amazon $151.77), which has a strap that allows the majority of the weight of the child to be transferred to mom or dad’s hips, thus allowing it to be used by children up to two years of age or 31lbs (forward facing only 26lbs).  The drawback, is that it cannot be used until infants are 13lbs.  The other great thing about the Comfort is that the classic Bjorn colors are made from organic materials, which is comforting, as your child will love chewing on the Bjorn more than all other teething toys combined (regardless of organic or simply health-hazardous-free, the bibs are a must for a Bjorn, if for no other reason than they are less bulky to wash than the carrier.  Please note that the Comfort has its own bib that is different from that of other carriers).  

Recommendation: Bjorn.  A Bjorn is the only carrier that you will need and you will want to use it from the minute that your baby arrives, as baby is happy and you are in constant contact with them, while still able to accomplish life’s little tasks.  You will also want something that you can get your baby into quickly and without assistance, as you will want to use the carrier everywhere from the mall and grocery store to long walks.  If you have a winter baby and live in a place that experiences any consistent drop in temperature, you may be able to get away with an Original and save $16 on the upgrade to the Air, which is a definite must for babies born in other seasons, as you and your child will sweat.  If your child likes the Bjorn, when your back needs the extra support, buy a Comfort, as it can be used for a longer period than the other styles and the ability to transfer your child’s weight to your hips is going to make a far greater difference in comfort than a hot back support.  Also, Bjorn products are backed by great customer service, which is based in Ohio, so if there is a problem, there is a quick turn-around. 

Searching for a jogging stroller?  Find out what strollers we like.