Carriers - back carry?

[whigfield]

I currently use an ergobaby and LO is getting to the point where he's really exhausting to carry on my front, but just fine on a back carry!

The problem is, I find the ergobaby SO awkward to use to get a back carry on that I just end up not bothering with it. I need something fast and easy to put on without me feeling like I need 8 hands to actually get him on my back.

I've been eyeing up the BabyBjorn We Carrier - I know the older ones had issues with crotch dangling, but does this one pass the test and seem safe enough for both front and back carries? Or is the Ergobaby 360 any better for getting on a back carry?

If not, are there any you can recommend that are fairly simple to put on? I'd prefer it if I could put LO on my front and swivel him to my back or put him in before it goes onto my back, because my coordination seems terrible at feeling behind me with a wriggling, squirming baby and trying to click him into the carrier.

Wraps are no good for me, by the way. I just don't really like them.

 

[Kay_Baby]

Back carries just come with practise. I spent quite a bit of time practising over the bed at various points practising.

I use a connecta and just like an ergo you can put the baby in on you hip before putting your arms in one at a time to swing everything fully on to your back.

Alternatively you could try the superman technique. Where you put the carrier on and lift the baby over your head and down into the sling like they are superman.

 

[Kitteh_Kat]

I'm a huge fan of my Tula and after a little bit of practice, find it easy to get DD in and out of by myself. Watching YouTube videos of moms putting their young kids into the back carry position helped. There's a video of a mom on YouTube showing how she puts her Tula on her hip with her kid in it, then shimmies it around to her back. (I put it on differently, but DD always cooperates for me )

I really like the Tula because it's sturdy and gives a good seat for her, while making it feel like I'm not carrying her at all (even at 23 lbs). Plus the resale value is usually decent!

 

[Tattoo]

Back carries just come with practise. I spent quite a bit of time practising over the bed at various points practising.

I use a connecta and just like an ergo you can put the baby in on you hip before putting your arms in one at a time to swing everything fully on to your back.

Alternatively you could try the superman technique. Where you put the carrier on and lift the baby over your head and down into the sling like they are superman.

When I started back carrying my oldest in the Ergo I'd do the hip swivel. In time she got too tall to fit under my arm, so I used the superman fly, and found it so much better! It was easier to get a deep seat, my clothes didn't get all pulled about, and it looks a bit scary so you can freak out strangers in public!

 

[stripeycat5]

We have s bush baby backpack which is fabulous. It has suspension and all sorts in it and was great for carrying DS as he was always on the heavy side. You can put them in it to begin with and then put it on your back like a rucksack. It even has a little mirror attached to it so you look and see what bubba is up to! Would def recommend one and also the resale value is excellent on them (got mine off eBay for £23 they are £200 brand new but they mostly sell between £50-80) x

 

[NickyKB]

Stalking as I want to get a back carrier but hadn't been able to work out how to get baby in when I'm on my own. I have a structured rucksack type one which is fine for long walks but I'm looking for something more like the ergo for when I'm just going to the playground with my toddler and need somewhere so my 6MO doesn't get bored in the pushchair...

I had looked at the ergo 360 online as DS2 likes being forward facing on my front in my baby bjorn but it's not great for my back after a while... Has anyone tried one?

 

[MindUtopia]

See if there is a sling meet near you were you could get a consultation with a babywearing peer supporter to help you get used to doing a back carry. Honestly, any of those carriers will be the same in terms of difficulty with getting your LO on your back. It's just an acquired skill and comes with practice and not everyone finds they are comfortable with it or finds a back carry comfortable generally. But if you can get some help with getting your LO in and out in a back carry, you'll probably find that it all gets a bit more easy.

 

[bananabump]

If you Google "connecta back carry for beginners" there's a really good video which shows an easy way to do it and that's the way I do it. You'll be able to do the same with your Ergo

 

[whigfield]

Thanks ladies! I'm going to give the superman thing a try and see how we go.

 

[Fleur29]

For the poster asking re ergo 360 - I absolutely love mine! Can't recommend it enough (I've not yet dared a back carry!) x

 

[lozzy21]

It's just practice no matter what you use. Try doing it over a bed or with an helper so you don't have to worry about dropping baby (not that you will lol)