He hates it! Always has. Is it the ergo? Should I try something different? Or will he never like anything?
Tell me I'm not alone!
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How old is he?
What do you do once he is in it?
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I can't remember when we changed - but we switched to the Baby Bjorn after the Ergo and have had a lot more success with it. Plus, both my husband and I feel much more supported in the BB.
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You aren' alone. I find the best carrier for a baby/child is one that's able to mimic how they like to be held. It's possible that he's just not in a comfy position.
My first recommendation is to find a babywearing meeting near you, or even a retailer who carries some options you might consider buying, and try some things. As always, try to practice at times when you are both at your best. Start when he's happy, and if he starts to get upset, I would just respectfully end there until another time.
How does he like you to hold him best?
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@Mamaof2: he's 7 months.
@Mrs. Twine: I was hoping you'd reply!
He loves facing out. When I hold him facing me, he pushes and turns himself out. -
Does your son run warm? If so, the Ergo is like a sweatbox!
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@Ash: Have you tried back or hip?
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@Ash: My LO was never a fan of babywearing. Hated the K'tan, hated the Baby Bjorn.
Trying the Beco with #2 and hoping she's a bigger fan.
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@Ash: J HATED it. I had all these babywearing dreams and he hated facing in more than anything. I did get a BabyBjorn so he could face out when he was about your LO's age and he really, really enjoyed it. I didn't use it for long stretches at a time, but trips to the store, a short walk, etc.
J did learn to love the Ergo when he could sit up better and get his arms out and over the top. I actually still carry him in it here and there, he's 2.5 now!
ETA: just saw your comment to @Mrs.Twine - same! J would push against me and screeeam when he was facing in up until he was a little older.
He was also a baby that hated being swaddled. -
So far mine hates it and it confuses me so much. He loves being held and carried upright but he hates being in the ergo. I kinda wish I had done the Gemini...I think he might like facing out occasionally!
Thanks for the info @Mrs. Twine! My LO loves being upright over our shoulder to see everything...maybe he's annoyed he can't see as well in it!
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@Mrs. Twine: have you ever tried a hip carry with the ergo? Maybe lo would like it better that way. In truth though, he doesn't like being held or carried period, so i don't know how much that would help.
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@looch: They sure can be.
Frogg Toggs (http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=frog+togs+chilly+pad&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=43855191449&hvpos=1t3&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11308737979202818386&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=t&ref=pd_sl_sopkw1dt5_b) are cheap and a really neat way to make carriers, even wraps and slings, less roasty.
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@looch: yes he does! He's a hot box! He won't stay in it long enough to get sweaty though.
@Mrs. Twine: I tried back once and he hated that too. Maybe he was tired. I'm not sure anymore. He just stiffens up and fights it. I could try hip.
@locavore_mama: I used to stuff him into the k'tan when he was itty bitty and he would sleep. But that didn't last long.
@rachiecakes: you're giving me hope! I had huge baby wearing dreams too but they're getting shot down! Thank you!
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R doesn't love it! We couldn't use it for so long cause we didn't have the infant insert. So she was a year before she really fits in it but she doesn't like it. But she loved the Ktan.
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Try the back or hip carry. My LO really enjoys being cuddled next to me, but the times that she doesn't she will love facing out on my back.
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@Mrs. Lion: I have-- you can do it, but it's not that comfy. I'd maybe sell the Ergo and get a ring sling or wrap that fit my budget if I was going to do more hip carries.
Okay-- these kiddos facing out. Personally, I have worn both girls facing out in their lives. I will get flogged from here to eternity by BWI so you aren't going to tell on me.
Is it the most ergonomic option? No. But Ellie was the sort of kid who did not want to snuggle into me and would scream her head off if she was pressed tummy to tummy and couldn't have some space. In my personal opinion, facing out can be a decent wearing option for some kids provided it's not for extended periods, and provided that you are taking care to do it as ergonomically as possible. There are some ways you can use a wrap that minimize the amount of pressure placed on the hips, and I think there are some hacks for carriers like Ergo/Bjorn (I'll have to do some checking). Another good option for kids like this if they have head control is on the hip. Ellie didn't like being FFI (forward facing in) or on my back, but she LOVED facing out or hip carries. Again, think about how your child likes to be held and how you can mimic that.
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@Ash: It really sounds like he just wants more body movement freedom and doesn't like the constraint aspect. You know him best, but if you think he has the muscle control (like he can sit on his own, or maybe even if he's sitting supported still but has really good trunk control) you can try more options where his arms and shoulders and upper chest aren't secured. Lorelei likes to pop her arms in and out when she's wrapped, but we always start by tightening for arms out because she gets pissed if she can't get her arms free when she wants to.
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@Mrs. Twine: I think you're right! So would you recommend I get a wrap? Please say yes!
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Mine hated it and was only semi-okay with it in hip carry. Since he was a newborn he hated being held facing in so in general he didn't allow me to Baby-wear him.
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@Ash: I will go so far as to say that I think a wrap will give you the most options.
So you have my blessing. Unfortunately it sounds like the Ergo isn't going to be great for his preferences until he gets a bit bigger. Feel free to wall me or get in touch (I'll give you my contact info) if you want to chat some more about the selection process.
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@avivoca: Facing out in the Ergo as in back to back?
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@Alivoo01: No, belly to back. Sometimes she wants to be held but doesn't want to face me but enjoys riding on my back and being able to look around. I put the bottom pillow in the Ergo so she sits up a bit higher.
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My LO hated front facing carriers because we didn't put him in one until he got colicky. It was a bad move on our part. We have hand me down Baby Bjorns. When he got older, I would strap him to me and go down the street for coffee forward facing. He's a people watcher like us, so it makes sense.
When we have another LO, I'm going to expose that one to the carrier sooner especially since we'll have a toddler in tow too.
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J hated the Ergo too! He just didn't like to be confined, or maybe he wanted to be facing out... but I just gave up on baby carrying him because he was completely fine hanging out in the stroller or carseat! He preferred being put down.
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My LO is almost 4 months and she had to learn to love it. I'm glad I didn't give up because it's so great now! I'm able to wear her for long periods and she will happily look around and then fall asleep
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Mine never loved being worn. We did go through a phase where she was ok with it and even slept in it sometimes, but it was only a couple months before she just screamed in it again. Keeping it for the second kid...
Is it the most ergonomic option? No. But Ellie was the sort of kid who did not want to snuggle into me and would scream her head off if she was pressed tummy to tummy and couldn't have some space. In my personal opinion, facing out can be a decent wearing option for some kids provided it's not for extended periods, and provided that you are taking care to do it as ergonomically as possible. There are some ways you can use a wrap that minimize the amount of pressure placed on the hips, and I think there are some hacks for carriers like Ergo/Bjorn (I'll have to do some checking). Another good option for kids like this if they have head control is on the hip. Ellie didn't like being FFI (forward facing in) or on my back, but she LOVED facing out or hip carries. Again, think about how your child likes to be held and how you can mimic that.
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