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

I’ve now been using this ERGObaby product for over a week now, and can comment on my use with it so far. We’ve been to the beach, we’ve been for walks, we’ve had lunch out and we’ve even been shopping using this product, and across all these areas it was a real joy.

With it, things that were difficult to do with my son were much easier – shopping and eating, rather than doing everything one handed, I all of a sudden had a spare hand…which was, well, handy! It also meant that certain things I had to do by myself, I could now do with my son. I like to exercise early in the morning, before he normally wakes up. In the past, if he woke up before I started, I either couldn’t go as I had to stay with him, or wake up my wife to look after him. With this baby carrier, I could take him with me and enjoy some more quality time with my son.

It was comfortable, both for me and my son. There were times that his arms were resting on the upper straps and that made him uneasy, but these times were rare, and readjusting him and the straps made everything right again. I have used other baby carriers in the past, one thing that surprised me with this one was how light weight it was, yet at the same time it felt really sturdy. I’ve read the maximum weight on some products and felt it far too flimsy to cope with the weights they claimed, but with this product, even though it was light, it feels really strong, and my mind is at ease knowing my child is safely secured in it.

On a side note, my wife particularly, but many others also, have commented on the colour, they absolutely love it!

I did, admittedly, struggle getting it on by myself. In fact, even following instructions, I have yet to be able to do this. With my wife helping, it’s been fine, and she can get it on by herself. I’m sure with repeated attempts I will get there, but it does seem a bit difficult. That said, I don’t know what could be compromised, with everything feeling like it’s there for a purpose.

I would gladly recommend this product to anyone who wants to continue spending quality time with their child while doing all the normal things every day requires. In other words, everyone!

Rating it out of 5…

Comfort for baby – 4

Ease of use – 4

Versatility – 5

Overall Rating – 5

It really is a great product, comfortable, light, sturdy and safe. I’m confident putting my son in it and I’d recommend it to anyone. It’s already helped in our daily family life, and I look forward to using it all the more in the future.

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