Did you read my post awhile back about dangerous vs safe baby carriers? I have found a wonderful safe carrier that I am loving! Christiano is getting heavy enough that the ring sling pulls on my back and shoulders now. He is 14 months old and 27 lbs but still wants to be carried a lot. Plus there’s those moments that he doesn’t want to stay right with us when we’re walking. It’s a lot easier on my back to have him in a carrier so I have my other 2 hands free to hold Kat and Alyce’s hands also. Without the carrier Jordan is being put in charge of one other child so that I can keep my hands on 2 of them.
My girls are usually really good at staying right beside me, but at 3 and 6, they still can get distracted at times. (Read that as, run quickly in front of me to beat their siblings to the car. I don’t want Jordan to feel responsible if one of the girls wrenches free of his hand because they don’t listen to him like they do me.)
I was on the lookout for a new carrier that would be good for my back with Christiano. In steps in Ergobaby. They sent me their Black ERGObaby Sport Carrier to try out. I actually found them through another blogger who was showing some really cute pictures of herself carrying her toddler in back and her baby in front….at the same time! That’s coordination. In her comments she replied to someone else telling them that Ergobaby is the best carrier for carrying toddlers.
And there it is.
Saturday I took it with us to soccer to try out with Christiano. Pato helped me get into the first time because I wanted to make sure the straps were tight enough. You can carry the on the back, hip, or as I do, in the front. I’m just more comfortable carrying them up front where I can see them. I always have been like that with all 4 kids.
First person who laughs at my royally wind blow hair will be shown to the door. 
My bangs were shooting straight up.
Let’s start this out with, I’m a full figured mama. I don’t like my body, but it’s what I’ve got right now. I wear a size 16 pants but the chest area is what gets me. I had a reduction back when Jordan was 1. I was a 36B. After nursing 3 more children, I’m a 38D, pushing a DD. Why is it important that I share my TMI information? Because the carrier fits me. Comfortably. The straps come folded up so that they’d fit someone smaller in size than I am. I thought, oh crud, this is never going to fit me. I’m going to have to apologize for being to big and send it back. Then I unfolded the straps and there’s room to spare!
The test was trying to wear a 27 lb baby on me during a whole soccer game. Kat’s games run about 45 minutes. I’ve tried holding Christiano standing up at games before and my back and arms burn so badly that I have to put him down. Then he tries to join the game because you know that ball out there they are kicking around is on the field just to tease him.
After about 20 minutes I turned to Pato and said, you have got to try this. No pain. None. He nodded at me. He was waiting for me to hand Christiano over and tell him my arms and back were killing me.
Didn’t happen.
Christiano didn’t even squirm for a long time. In fact for a little while he laid like this on me –
Note, bangs are down, the rest of my hair is blowing sideways. Should I note here that I am wearing Pato’s huge sunglasses? My new contacts dry out really bad in the wind and his cover my face so the wind doesn’t get in.
About 10 minutes before the game was over he wanted down. I let him down and didn’t even need to stretch out my back. It was awesome!
I was so excited for Sunday’s game and to be able to use it again. It rained. And Christiano fell asleep in the car. And the other team forgot their player cards. Our team won by default. I was kind of bummed. Don’t tell Jordan.
Here are the features on the standard carrier I got –
- Waist belt extends an additional 5 inches from 30 inches to a maximum of 48 inches
- Shoulder straps extend an additional 4 inches compared to our Standard carrier (to 27")
- Sleeping hood is detachable, and can be stored in carrier pocket
- Zippered pocket replaced by pocket with easy Velcro closure for sleeping hood storage
- 400 threads per inch cotton poplin lining and hood
- Body of carrier is 35% cotton and 65% polyester
- One inch, high density foam in shoulder straps
- Quarter inch high density neoprene foam in waist belt
- High Quality buckles tested by SGS
- High quality webbing, matched to carrier color
- Reinforcement stitching used at all fabric intersections
- Interior rip-stop reinforcements at critical intersections
- Machine washable – cold, gentle cycles, mild detergent, no bleach. Dry in low heat
The only thing that didn’t work for us that the features mentioned is the sleeping hood. I couldn’t get that to extend over Nano’s head, but that might be more for the little bitty babies.
They even have organic carriers for my eco-minded fellow mommies!
If your little one is 4 months or less, you’ll want to get the infant insert to cradle their neck and head. So see, this carrier isn’t just for carrying those heavy babies, like mine, around. It is good for newborns and up! No wasting money on carriers as they get bigger. This one will last from newborn on up to the recommended 40 lbs and possibly above. My 3 year old is only 35 lbs. I could carry her in it if I so chose. I’m actually tempted just to try it and see how she fits! Kind of like I want to also see Pato use it. He’s never tried any of my carriers before. He has been complaining lately after a few minutes of carrying Christiano around the store that his arms are starting to burn. That coming from my big strong 6’2” 230 lb husband.
Over on their website they have lots of information including their FAQs, instructions on how to use it, research, certifications, endorsements, and media, ask the DR., a photo gallery with parents showing how they use the Ergobaby, other parenting resources, and much more! I’ve spent a lot of time going through the website and it’s so much more than just selling baby carriers, back packs, front pouches, changing pads, and sucking pads. It’s just full of information for parents!
Can you tell how thrilled I am with the Ergobaby carrier? I am so excited to go grocery shopping, to the mall, anywhere that I would normally use a cart or the stroller for Christiano. It doesn’t take long before he is screaming to get down from them. Pato lets him walk when they are in the store. That’s a bad thing. I’m telling you. He thinks he has to walk everywhere now and the last thing I want to do is pick up everything he has knocked off the bottom shelf at Hy-Vee while I’m shopping. He’s happy being carried. Before I couldn’t do it for that long so it was a battle between the cart and my arms. If I can stand at a soccer game with him for that long without hurting, I can get through the grocery store with him in it also!
I haven’t done this in awhile, because honestly, I forgot I had it. But in light of this carrier, I think it’s time to bust out the big huge –
It allows me to carry Christiano and keep him safe without straining my back and arms, leaving my hands free to hold my 3 and 6 year olds hands while crossing parking lots. No one trying to dart away from me! Love it!
Absolute best carrier I have ever used in my 11 years of having children! Hands down.
Thank you so much to Ergobaby for providing me with the Black ERGObaby Sport Carrier to review. I loved it!
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