easy on the back baby sling

I'm looking for a baby pouch or sling for a friend who must be a
little careful with her back. Can any of you make a recommendation?
I have read reviews on Baby Bjorn, Nojo, Over the Shoulder, and the
Maya Wrap Sling and pouch. It seems to me that the Maya is well-liked
but I still would like to know if some are bigger backache promoters
than others! Thanks!

mypet wrote:
I'm looking for a baby pouch or sling for a friend who must be a
little careful with her back. Can any of you make a recommendation?
I have read reviews on Baby Bjorn, Nojo, Over the Shoulder, and the
Maya Wrap Sling and pouch. It seems to me that the Maya is well-liked
but I still would like to know if some are bigger backache promoters
than others! Thanks!

She should probably try them all and see what works for her (a place
like Babies R Us in the USA usually have all types that can be tried on
in the store). Everyone is different concerning their backs. IME,
regarding my own sensitive back, I found that the Baby Bjorn was really
hard on my back, but I like the fit and functionality of it. I found
the Maya Wrap a little less hard on my back, but it was a big pain in
the butt to use. It shifted around too much and required too much
constant adjustment, and using it along with trying to manage an older
child and/or a stroller was too hard. The one carrying device that I
have REALLY REALLY LOVED is my backpack carrier. It didn't affect my
back, because the weight was shifted to my hips. I could, and still do,
carry my youngest (not sure how much she weighs now, 25-30 lbs?) for
hours w/o a problem. It fit very well and also left my two hands
completely free to manage other stuff or #1. The main drawback to a
backpack carrier is that the baby has to be able to sit up by itself.

HTH
--
Jeannie
E-mail: jeannie at talisweb dot see oh em
Web: http://www.moonflour.com

"mypet" wrote in message
om...
I'm looking for a baby pouch or sling for a friend who must be a
little careful with her back. Can any of you make a recommendation?
I have read reviews on Baby Bjorn, Nojo, Over the Shoulder, and the
Maya Wrap Sling and pouch. It seems to me that the Maya is well-liked
but I still would like to know if some are bigger backache promoters
than others! Thanks!

I used the Baby Trekker because I found the Baby Bjorn was very hard on my
back. You can order it online at www.babytrekker.com - and no, I don't work
for the company, just found that it was a really great carrier with nice
features (like a big pocket in front that the whole thing folds into for
storage, etc.)

I'm looking for a baby pouch or sling for a friend who must be a
little careful with her back. Can any of you make a recommendation?
I have read reviews on Baby Bjorn, Nojo, Over the Shoulder, and the
Maya Wrap Sling and pouch. It seems to me that the Maya is well-liked
but I still would like to know if some are bigger backache promoters
than others! Thanks!


The problem with slings and pouches for those with touchy backs is that they
are all one-shoulder carriers. So the weight isn't distributed evenly, which
may cause some people to feel lopsided. But for most people they're fine, as
long as the sling fabric is wide enough to be spread out well across the back.
The Nojo is commonly despised. The OTSBH and the Maya are both better
respected brands; though they're very different from each other, I don't think
any of the differences affect how comfortable they are for someone with a bad
back. There are also many, many other brands and types available.

The problem with the Baby Bjorn, and similar frontpacks like the Baby Trekker,
is that they're not nearly as versatile as slings (you can't use it in lots of
different positions and it's much harder, if not impossible, to nurse the baby
while wearing it, for example), and they can be finicky to adjust so as to
avoid hurting the back. Even though the weight goes over both shoulders, it
tends to be centered too high up on the back for comfortable long-term wear. I
found that the Bjorn straps cut into my shoulders, too, so all in all it was
much less comfortable than my sling.

One good solution is a wraparound carrier. You might have heard of Didymos;
other common brand names are Girasol, EllaRoo, and Moby Wrap. These are
basically long scarves that you wrap around yourself and the baby in various
ways and then tie off with a knot. They're extremely versatile and comfortable
to wear, an excellent choice for someone with a bad back, but they do require a
little more effort to learn how to wear and a little more time to get on and
off even for an experienced wearer. You can get some of the same effects with
a shorter learning curve by wearing two slings (or pouches) crossed, one over
each shoulder.

Then there are pack carriers. "Asian-style" carriers can usually be used for
back carries, even with relatively young infants, and can also be worn on the
front, sort of like a Bjorn. But because of the way they're constructed, and
because they can be worn on the back, they're usually more comfortable for both
baby and wearer. In most cases, part of the weight is borne on both shoulders,
and some of it on the hips (via lower straps that get wrapped around the
wearer's waist). There are other "structured" carriers that can be a good
choice for those who don't want to learn how to tie an Asian-style one, though:
the Ergo and Sutemi are both more backpack-like, but are softer and more
compact than frame backpacks, and easier on the wearer's back because they hold
the baby's weight close against the body.

Quite likely the best thing for your friend will be to have a few different
carriers, so that she can use whichever type is most appropriate for what she's
doing at the time, and so that she can switch back and forth so as to
periodically give her back a break from a given position. The best thing with
which to start her off depends on what you think her priorities will be for
ease of use, versatility, and appearance. And, of course, on your budget!

I recommend a visit to www.thebabywearer.com -- I signed up not long ago and
it's become a new Internet addiction ;-) -- which is a great place to confound
yourself with all of the many options and learn about which are best for what.

Holly
Mom to Camden, 3yo
EDD #2 6/8/04

"New York Jen" wrote in message
t...

"mypet" wrote in message
om...
I'm looking for a baby pouch or sling for a friend who must be a
little careful with her back. Can any of you make a recommendation?
I have read reviews on Baby Bjorn, Nojo, Over the Shoulder, and the
Maya Wrap Sling and pouch. It seems to me that the Maya is well-liked
but I still would like to know if some are bigger backache promoters
than others! Thanks!

I used the Baby Trekker because I found the Baby Bjorn was very hard on my
back. You can order it online at www.babytrekker.com - and no, I don't
work
for the company, just found that it was a really great carrier with nice
features (like a big pocket in front that the whole thing folds into for
storage, etc.)




OMG!! It's made in the town I was born!!!! That's SOOO cool!

G'day

Holly wrote:

One good solution is a wraparound carrier.

Google for mkb posts by me and others on the hug-a-bub. Or just go look
at their website.

http://www.hug-a-bub.com.au/

They are an australian product, but they'll deliver to you in the states
(or elsewhere I presume). People would stop me in the street all the
time. I buy them for all my pregnant friends. They buy them for all
their pregnant friends. I have back, neck and shoulder problems and I
wore DS practically full time all day at work every day for months. The
weight is distributed onto your hips, not your shoulders and neck.

There are two photos of us on the first page of the hug-a-bub gallery,
including one of my teaching a lecture while wearing DS.

DrRuth

HollyLewis was all, like:
I'm looking for a baby pouch or sling for a friend who must be a
little careful with her back. Can any of you make a recommendation?
I have read reviews on Baby Bjorn, Nojo, Over the Shoulder, and the
Maya Wrap Sling and pouch. It seems to me that the Maya is
well-liked but I still would like to know if some are bigger
backache promoters than others! Thanks!

[snip informative post]

I recommend a visit to www.thebabywearer.com -- I signed up not long
ago and it's become a new Internet addiction ;-) -- which is a great
place to confound yourself with all of the many options and learn
about which are best for what.

I can't add a whole lot to Holly's post, except my own experience, since I'm
one of those baby wearers with a bad back. I use the Ultimate Baby Wrap,
which is similar to the Hug-a-Bub, but quite a bit cheaper, and, I gather,
more cheaply made. But it's served me well, with my son now over 18lbs, I'm
still comfortable in it. (The pocket ripped out, and I haven't repaired it,
and the rings are superfluous, so I removed them--so now it's just a long
piece of lycra-strengthened t-shirt material.)

I *cannot* use the Maya without pain. I've just bought the Ergo soft
carrier, and was really disappointed in how difficult it is to put on...had
I seen the manual beforehand, I wouldn't have bought it. But I may be able
to figure out a solution for it--otherwise, it goes back. I've also just
ordered a Kozy carrier.

The Baby Trekker looks nice.

I second the recommendation of www.thebabywearer.com.

"zeldabee" wrote in message .. .
HollyLewis was all, like:
I'm looking for a baby pouch or sling for a friend who must be a
[----]

I *cannot* use the Maya without pain. I've just bought the Ergo soft
carrier, and was really disappointed in how difficult it is to put on...had
I seen the manual beforehand, I wouldn't have bought it. But I may be able
to figure out a solution for it--otherwise, it goes back. I've also just
ordered a Kozy carrier.

The Baby Trekker looks nice.

I second the recommendation of www.thebabywearer.com.

I just bought an ergo (www.ergobabycarrier.com) and found it pretty
easy to use as a front carrier. Haven't tried it yet on the back yet,
which is probably trickier. I walked around with 16 lb dd for a couple
of hours with it and it was pretty comfortable. However for a bad back
I think the hug-a-bub is the most comfortable since the baby's weight
is distributed better. And, as everyone else said, stay away from the
baby bjorn. That is the worst for a bad back.

Rachel

(HollyLewis) wrote in message news:
One good solution is a wraparound carrier. ...
other common brand names are ... Moby Wrap.

Has anyone here tried this product? I've looked around and it seems
clear that this is the least expensive of this type. I like the idea
of stretchy fabric -- I've read good things about that feature here on
Usenet.

I already own two "regular" one-shoulder type slings -- one padded,
one unpadded. They both really wear on my back and shoulders after a
while. I completely stopped using them months ago when my toddler
just got too big and she learned to walk. So, I would like to try
something that has a reputation for being a lot easier on backs and
shoulders.

I think I'd like to hear some positive reviews before I actually buy a
Moby, though. It looks like the learning curve for tying it might be
pretty steep. What I would probably prefer is a hug-a-bub, but
there's no way I'm shelling out all the dough for one of those!

--
-- Vicki
Married DH May 21, 1995. Ima shel DS, born 11/16/99; DD, born at
home 5/19/02, and "the Final Frontier", "due" September 4, 2004.
"Stay-at-home" Ima since October 2002.
An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. -Spanish proverb

::wishing I'd read this before posting my own recommendation request:::

HollyLewis wrote:

The problem with slings and pouches for those with touchy backs is
that they are all one-shoulder carriers. So the weight isn't
distributed evenly, which may cause some people to feel lopsided.
But for most people they're fine, as long as the sling fabric is
wide enough to be spread out well across the back. The Nojo is
commonly despised. The OTSBH and the Maya are both better respected
brands; though they're very different from each other, I don't think
any of the differences affect how comfortable they are for someone
with a bad back. There are also many, many other brands and types
available.

The problem with the Baby Bjorn, and similar frontpacks like the
Baby Trekker, is that they're not nearly as versatile as slings (you
can't use it in lots of different positions and it's much harder, if
not impossible, to nurse the baby while wearing it, for example),
and they can be finicky to adjust so as to avoid hurting the back.
Even though the weight goes over both shoulders, it tends to be
centered too high up on the back for comfortable long-term wear. I
found that the Bjorn straps cut into my shoulders, too, so all in
all it was much less comfortable than my sling.

One good solution is a wraparound carrier. You might have heard of
Didymos; other common brand names are Girasol, EllaRoo, and Moby
Wrap. These are basically long scarves that you wrap around
yourself and the baby in various ways and then tie off with a knot.
They're extremely versatile and comfortable to wear, an excellent
choice for someone with a bad back, but they do require a little
more effort to learn how to wear and a little more time to get on
and off even for an experienced wearer. You can get some of the
same effects with a shorter learning curve by wearing two slings (or
pouches) crossed, one over each shoulder.

Then there are pack carriers. "Asian-style" carriers can usually be
used for back carries, even with relatively young infants, and can
also be worn on the front, sort of like a Bjorn. But because of the
way they're constructed, and because they can be worn on the back,
they're usually more comfortable for both baby and wearer. In most
cases, part of the weight is borne on both shoulders, and some of it
on the hips (via lower straps that get wrapped around the wearer's
waist). There are other "structured" carriers that can be a good
choice for those who don't want to learn how to tie an Asian-style
one, though: the Ergo and Sutemi are both more backpack-like, but
are softer and more compact than frame backpacks, and easier on the
wearer's back because they hold the baby's weight close against the
body.

Quite likely the best thing for your friend will be to have a few
different carriers, so that she can use whichever type is most
appropriate for what she's doing at the time, and so that she can
switch back and forth so as to periodically give her back a break
from a given position. The best thing with which to start her off
depends on what you think her priorities will be for ease of use,
versatility, and appearance. And, of course, on your budget!

I recommend a visit to www.thebabywearer.com -- I signed up not long
ago and it's become a new Internet addiction ;-) -- which is a great
place to confound yourself with all of the many options and learn
about which are best for what.

Holly
Mom to Camden, 3yo
EDD #2 6/8/04