Babes in Arms – blogging about select baby carriers and slings from around the world

The ERGObaby Performance (grey) arrived on our doorstep just as I began a one week holiday at home. My wife eyed the parcel off with a hint of jealousy, which quickly turned into mischievousness as she handed me the instruction booklet. She thought it would be good for the review if I learnt to use it on my own.

I did not read the instructions. I think I should start by putting that one right out there. This is no surprise to any Dad reading this, though the Mums are probably gasping in horror.

The carrier was easy enough to figure out. A couple of buckles is really all there is to it. I did run into a few issues at first, mostly due to me being so tall. Initially I tried to put the waist strap on my waist. The problem was the being over 6ft tall my waist is a long way from my shoulders and my daughter ended up way down my back. The trick is to give the carrier a baby-free test run to figure out where the waist should sit. Once we figured that out we had no problems.

My holiday has been spent pottering around the house, doing some gardening, some tidying and all those odd jobs that seem to build up when you are away from home. I was also determined to help my wonderful wife so we could both enjoy a bit of a break. My wife laughed when I commented on how heavy and wriggly our nine month old daughter has become, she laughed harder when I walked inside one afternoon holding my daughter against my leg with one hand and shopping bags with the other. She had started on my hip but somewhere between the car and the back door ended up sideways against my knee. The following day, this time as I was trying to hold my daughter while helping hang out the washing, my wife let me in on a big secret. She showed me how to do a hip carry
using the ERGO. I have to say this is the most complicated of all the ERGO carries, but suddenly my hands were free again with the added bonus of being face to face with my daughter.

It  amazes me how the ERGObaby Performance is able to disperse my daughter’s weight across my body, so that her weight seems to disappear. I know I am strong and she is small, but she becomes very heavy in my arms after just a short period. With a carrier I can carry her for hours and my hands are free. As the week progressed I definitely became much more confident using the carrier. This meant that I reached for it more often, making it easier to get jobs done. We did everything from picking fruit to moving bricks together using the carrier.

I have loved carrying my daughter all week and I have loved holding her close. I work long hours away from home and I sometimes worry that my daughter forgets who I am. Carrying her all week has been a real treat. Our daily walk to get the paper will stick with me through the long  hours when I am back at work. Listening to my daughter babble away on my back as we walked is the sweetest sound in the whole world. Even as I start back at work I can still feel the imprint of her head as it rests on my back. I feel like the luckiest man in the whole world.

Here is how I rate the ERGObaby Performance out of 5 in each area:

Comfort for baby 5

Ease of use 4

Versatility 5

Overall Rating 5

This is the first baby carrier that I have felt was mine. This has a lot to do with the colours, fabric and style. I have happily worn the pinks, maroons, rainbows and other girly colours that my wife has chosen for herself, but now I am happy to have a carrier that can look great wearing.

Thanks,
Bill