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March 11th, 2011

Disneyland, an ERGObaby, Two Toddlers and an Unexpected Trip to the Doctor

Posted by Leah in ERGObaby Sport, Los Angeles, Summer Holidays, Travelling with Baby Made Easy | No Comments »

Today we continue Emma’s ERGObaby journey as she travels abroad with a 2 year old and 6 month old baby. Enjoy!

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Both David and I were very excited (probably more so me) to be taking the boys to Disneyland. We went to Disney as part of our honeymoon and a dream of mine has always been to one day take our family there. When an opportunity presented itself for us to travel over to the US, it was an opportunity for us to try and fulfil a dream of taking the boys to Disney.

The boys had been dream children on the 17 hour flight. Mitchell was content in his bassinet to sleep and Lachlan was very impressed that the seats had a television in the back all for his viewing pleasure.  About an hour out of LA, Lachlan became ill on the plane. David changed him into a new set of clothing only to have to repeat that process in 5 minutes time. Unfortunately this was the beginning of what was going to be a very difficult two weeks.

We arrived at LAX without further incident and were able to navigate our way through the airport and to the car hire terminal without any problems. I again used the ERGObaby with Mitchell in the front carry position, our ERGO really is worth its weight in gold.

Due to Lachlan not being 100% well, we stayed close to the hotel for the first 24 hours. The following night we went to Downtown Disney for a walk around and to show the boys what to expect over the following few days. Downtown Disney is a food and shopping precinct just at the end of Disneyland and California Adventure Park. It is a fantastic place to shop and eat. Downtown is also the connecting path between one of the main Disney Hotels and the two theme parks and is always decorated beautifully.  With it being the week following Christmas, the trees and shops were decorated with beautiful Christmas garlands and lights. Lachlan was immediately transported somewhere magical.

Downtown Disney

What we weren’t planning on was the cold weather. We had been to LA before but it was not this cold.  The ERGO was fantastic for keeping Mitchell snugly and warm. I carried him with a blanket wrapped around his legs and knew that my body heat was keeping him warm whilst we were walking around.

We thought by Thursday Lachlan was probably well enough to brave Disney. It was only a 2 minute shuttle ride away from our hotel and he was wanting to leave the hotel room and play.  We didn’t end up getting down to Disney until about 11am.  We walked in and straight away Lachlan saw Mickey Mouse, which he thought was wonderful.

Meeting Mickey Mouse

Disney was incredibly busy. It had reached capacity on both Monday and Tuesday following Christmas and speaking with the Disney Staff, they told us that they had never encountered crowds like they had this particular week. Ques to rides were in excess of 2 hours and there were even Marshalls directing pedestrian traffic, it was insane.  I was so glad that we weren’t fighting with a pram. I was able to keep Mitchell close and warm to me and Lachlan was happy to walk or be picked up if he wanted to see something.

California Adventure Park – Hello Goofy

The Famous Teacup Ride

We lined up and took Lachlan on the Carousel and tea cups. Unfortunately he didn’t want to go the Dumbo ride *sob* After the Tea Cups we started heading down to Toon Town where you can meet some of the Disney Characters and tour Mickey’s house etc. Toon town is geared to the younger guests and it is bright, colourful and wonderful.  As we were making our way down, David realised that Lachlan’s hands had started to swell and were quite red.  We rolled his sleeves up and red welts were appearing all over his hands in front of our eyes.  It looked as though he had started to have an allergic reaction to something. So we turned around and started making our way to the First Aid room.  Upon presenting at the first aid room, they told us we needed to give Lachlan some Benadryl, wash his hands and start icing them.  We did this and the red lumps started to go away. After about 30 minutes his hands were swollen but had not lumps on them as we were packing up to go, the red lumps started appearing further up his arms. We were given a list of urgent care facilities and it was suggested that we take Lachlan to be looked at by a Dr.

Mitchell and his Mickey ears

We ended up at St Joseph’s hospital that night and the Dr’s that reviewed Lachlan believed the skin irritation was possibly part of the virus that he had.  We didn’t get home until after 11pm and I wore Mitchell all day in the ERGObaby, both he and I were very comfortable and warm :-)

The following day we stayed home in the Hotel again to give Lachlan some more time to rest and that we would head down to Sea World at San Diego if he was ok on Saturday.

Friday was incident and spot free at the Hotel so Saturday we drove down to San Diego with the intentions of going to both Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, San Diego was about an hour and a half drive away.  We arrived at Sea World just in time for the Dolphin Show, which was great. We had to walk high up into the stadium for a seat but this was easily done using the ERGObaby and David helping Lachlan. Unfortunately, directly following the show, Lachlan started breaking out in welts and started puffing up again. After speaking to the medic in the First Aid room, they suggested that we take him down to the local children’s hospital.  We just couldn’t believe it, we hadn’t even been at Sea World 2 hours.  So off we went again, to a new hospital this time! We arrived home late again after visiting San Diego and still were none the wiser as to what was happening with Lachlan.

Sunday was our last day in LA. We decided that we wanted to give Disney one more go. Lachlan seemed fine in himself, he wasn’t itchy and his appetite had picked up again so off we went. Mitchell again in the ERGObaby and Lachlan walking, we waited for the shuttle bus to pick us up at the front of the Marriott.  As we were waiting, it started to drizzle.  We jumped off the shuttle at Disney and headed over to California Adventure Park. I really wanted the boys to see the Magical World of Colour show which was on at night but you had to reserve seats and get tickets. We took some photos with Mickey and Goofy out the front and headed in to reserve a seat. The rain got heavier and heavier as we wound our way through the park. Desperate not to let the rain ruin our last day in LA we picked up some umbrellas and poncho’s to try and keep dry.  I was able to wear a Poncho over Mitchell in the ERGO and we hired a stroller and wrapped this and Lachlan in a Poncho to keep him dry too.

Unfortunately the rain got heavier and heavier and reached the point where we were unable walk, the water was too deep on the pavement. Beaten and wet, we made the decision at 6.30pm to give up. It was too cold and wet to be out with two young children. Our time in LA wasn’t quite what we expected. The ERGObaby again was a god send. I was able to navigate easily through busy crowds, hospitals and was even able to take Mitchell on the Tea Cup ride with him securely attached to me.

Last Day – Outside our Hotel

We left LA hoping that New Orleans was going to bring us some better luck.

January 25th, 2011

Roving Reporter: New Years with an ERGObaby in Hong Kong

Posted by Leah in ERGObaby Carriers, Roving Reporter - China, Travel Blogs | No Comments »

This week we travelled to Hong Kong where our ERGObaby got its biggest workout yet. Adyn was carried on planes, trains, trams and even a couple of cable cars. There is no way we could have managed without it. Adyn has also learnt to sleep in his ERGO! (of particular significance with all the travelling we are doing)

As soon as we checked into our hotel, we jumped straight into sightseeing. First stop “The Peak”. We hopped on the tram, which climbs the hill at such a steep rate the buildings looked like they were built on a tilt.

About to Board the Tram “up” The Peak. Adyn Asleep.

The trip was well worth the 1 hour wait. I’m sure there are off-peak times to go, but when we went the line was around the corner. Inside the station everyone was jammed in like sardines. Thankfully the ERGObaby carrier allowed us to squish in without needing to think of how to transport a pram! I had read previously that you need to go at night and during the day… well, they were right! The views up there were amazing and by night, they were even better. The whole city lights up.

Views from The Peak

We enjoyed dinner at the famous Bubba Gump Restaurant with views to enjoy. There was so much up there! Restaurants and shopping galore. We also bumped into a fellow ERGObaby wearer whilst at the top. The journey down was the same as going up. It actually felt like I was lying down at one point.

Waiting for our Table at Bubba Gump

Day 2 was Disneyland. I think I was more excited then Adyn. If you ever go, be prepared to spend most of your day in lines. When it comes to lines, I wish someone would pop me in a giant ERGObaby so I could have a nap too.

Adyn met Mickey and Goofy (who made him cry) and waved at Woody during the day parade. He also got a kiss from Cinderella. Adyn also loved the train ride around the park. My favourite was the river cruise where we were squirted by the elephants and shot at by some warriors.

We Meet Mickey Mouse

Adyn trying to hide from Goofy

On the way home, Adyn made friends with a little boy on the train home, who was also tucked away safely in his ERGObaby carrier. It was cute watching them reach out and high five each other. We got back to the hotel absolutely exhausted, but still grinning from the fun we all had.

Day 3 we took the train to Ngong Ping 360. Jacob asked if we could take the Crystal Cabin (a cable car with a glass bottom). I’m afraid of heights but thought it would be another good experience so reluctantly said yes.

The journey is approximately 25 minutes which runs along a 5.7km rope-way. On board you enjoy views of the South China Sea, rolling hills, Hong Kong International Airport and as you approach the top, views of the Tian Tan Buddha Statue.

At the top we explored some of Ngong Ping village before taking the ‘Walking with Buddha’ Tour. This multimedia tour allows you to follow the life of Siddhartha Gautama (the man who became Buddha) and his journey to enlightenment. Both Jacob and I really enjoyed this as it gave us more understanding of Buddhism.

After enjoying lunch, we decided to make the trek up to the Tian Tan Buddha Statue. After climbing all 268 steps (no I didn’t count, the brochure told me this), we finally made it to the top to enjoy more spectacular views. Buddha has the best seat in the house up there! Adyn fell asleep just as I reached the top, so he didn’t get to enjoy the views or climb the steps.

Climbing the Stairs to Tian Tan Buddha

Inside the Buddha statue there is a 3-storey exhibition hall, we only got to explore the bottom floor as you need tickets to climb to the top. After walking all 268 steps back to the bottom we went to the Monkeys Tale Theatre and enjoyed an animation about 3 monkeys (Tag-a-long, Doof us and Clever).

That evening we explored the night markets in Kowloon and enjoyed some late night shopping. These markets were more my style: clothes, souvenirs, shoes, bags, food… the list goes on. We scooped up a few good bargains before taking our first peak hour train back to the city.

On our last day in Hong Kong we headed towards the harbour to see what we could find. We couldn’t work out where to go and ended up in ‘The Big Bus Tours’ office. We decided to purchase a ticket and take their Stanley Tour where we could board their San Pam boat tour. The Stanley tour was great.

On Board the Sampan

If we ever come to Hong Kong again, I think we’ll stay in Stanley Bay. Adyn fell asleep on the bus but thankfully he went into his ERGObaby without waking so I could enjoy lunch and the Stanley Market. The markets there are even nicer than the night markets and the beaches and restaurants were just lovely.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Hong Kong, DO IT! If you have young children pack your carrier or sling as public transport during peak hours was exactly like in the movies (everyone jammed in and pushing to get on board the train/tram/bus etc.). I wouldn’t even bother trying to get a pram onto a peak hour train, and I don’t think you could ever get one onto the tram.  Our ERGObaby was used every day (and evenings).

Oh and HAPPY NEW YEAR! We didn’t really celebrate this year as we had an early flight back to freezing cold Zouping the next morning. Not sure how we’ll cope going from winter – summer???

January 10th, 2011

Due for release in Early March – New ERGObaby Options Carrier

Posted by Leah in ERGObaby Carriers, What's New | No Comments »

One Carrier – Three Covers – Four Options. The world’s most loved baby carrier has just pioneered a new concept! The multi award-winning ERGObaby introduces the ‘Options’ range – change the carrier’s look to suit your day or dress.

Wear the new all-black ‘Options’ carrier as is or snap on specially designed detachable covers. The covers are available in sets of three distinct designs – choose between bold graphics or exotic florals – with more designs to follow.

Sharing all the ergonomic features of the original ERGObaby, the new ‘Options’ carrier offers hands-free comfort and security for you and your baby. Perfect from birth to preschool up to 20kgs, ERGObaby supports your child in three easy-to-use positions – front, hip and back – promoting healthy spinal development. ERGObaby features adjustable wide padded shoulder straps and waist belt that distribute the baby’s load to the parent’s hips, alleviating neck and shoulder stress.

Be flexible and free with the new ERGObaby ‘Options’ Carrier!

Arriving March 7th!

November 20th, 2010

Baby Vs Baby Carrier

Posted by Leah in ERGObaby Carriers, Friday Inspiration | 3 Comments »

A big thank you to our twitter friend @BreastFeedTips for the link to this hilarious video clip. Thankfully, whilst not all our partners use the video instructions, the ERGObaby carrier isn’t that difficult to use!

October 13th, 2010

Herald Sun Covers Babywearing! Baby Wear Gets a Grip on Australian Men

Posted by Leah in A Year in the Life of an ERGObaby, Media | No Comments »

The Herald Sun (Melbourne) covered babywearing yesterday, writing a lovely piece on the benefits of father babywearing. We were so excited to see an ERGObaby wearing dad featured and both Babes in Arms and Anita mentioned! What a great way to wrap up Australia & NZ Babywearing week, don’t you think?

Here it is:

By Elissa Doherty From: Herald Sun  October 12, 2010 8:06PM 

DADS are carrying the bundle – and embracing it with open arms. The baby-wearing craze is now hooking men, with specially tailored carriers and slings. Having evolved from the hippie-style cloth slings, baby carriers now feature pockets for mobile phones, added functionality and longer straps.

The chief executive of distributor Babes in Arms, Anita Lincolne-Lomax, said, “The more involved the man is early on with the baby, the better it is for their relationship long term. Baby-wearing means a man is able to get out of the house without all the fuss. “They don’t have to lug a pram around or try to navigate it over sand. “They can still lead an outdoor healthy lifestyle.” She said baby-wearing helped parents and bubs bond, aided with reflux and helped prevent hip misalignment and flat-head syndrome.

But the absence of Australian safety standards for baby carriers is a growing concern. One style of sling reportedly caused three baby deaths in the US last year. Concerns have also been raised about the risk of suffocation and the potential for babies to fall out. Monash University Accident Research Centre said at least 16 children under the age of two had been treated in a Victorian emergency department for injuries resulting from a sling in the past nine years.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has also cautioned parents, saying injuries include fractures, open wounds, head injuries, bruising and abrasions. The commission is working with international, state and territory counterparts to determine if a proposed US standard is suitable here. It recommends parents position their infants in a manner that allows parents to regularly monitor their infant’s breathing.

Ms Lincolne-Lomax, who founded Australia and New Zealand Babywearing Week, also advised avoiding risky activities that could lead to a fall, and being mindful of what the baby can reach. She said the baby should be carried high and tight against the chest.

Father of three Richard Delahoy, 42, has carried all his girls in an ERGO baby carrier. “The kids love it for a start, it’s easy for you and comfortable,” he said. “It’s also good when they are sick because all they want to do is be held. “You can hold them like that for a few hours.”

You can read the article here.

October 8th, 2010

Canberra Times Feature: Parents Like Children Riding High

Posted by Leah in Australia and New Zealand Babywearing Week, Media | No Comments »

On Monday, October 4, 2010, The Canberra Times ran an article on Babywearing titled “Parents Like Children Riding High”. It featured a lovely image of three ERGObaby fans: Ashley and Kirsten Randle and their gorgeous son Oliver.  It was lovely to see the ERGObaby featured as well as a direct Babes in Arms mention.

Please read see the press clippings below and, as they are possibly too small to read, a copy of the article for you to read.

Wearing a baby in a sling is not just for hippies and fans of “continuum parenting” any more. Baby slings and carriers have become increasingly popular in recent years and a huge variety of styles and brands can be bought in stores and over the internet. But there is no current Australian safety standard for the devices, prompting warnings to parents about selecting and using slings and baby carriers. Safety will be one of the key themes of Baby Wearing Week, being celebrated by the Australian and New Zealand Baby Wearers Association this week.

Gordon couple Ashley and Kirsten Oliver started using a sling to carry their son, Oliver, almost as soon as he was born six months ago. Mrs Oliver, 29, said the sling and then a baby carrier had been particularly helpful for comforting Oliver, who suffered from reflux. “He’s a lot happier when he’s being held upright in the [carrier] or in the sling, than when he’s lying down.” she said. “It’s made him a happier baby. He knows that mummy’s close by or daddy’s close by. Therefore it’s not an issue. Especially now that he’s getting to that clingy stage.” Mr Oliver, 25, said using a carrier had been a good way of keeping Oliver warm during winter. “He would just cuddle up and the whole close to the heartbeat thing really worked,” he said.

Anita Lincolne -Lomax, whose company Babes-in-Arms distributes baby-wearing devices, said although there were no current Australian standards for slings and carriers, parents could check if devices complied with strict US safety rules.

The primary risk to babies in slings is from suffocation, particularly among babies with a low birth weight, who were born prematurely or had breathing issues. Ms Lincolne-Lomax said parents should carefully check written or video safety instructions after purchasing a carrier. “Make sure your baby has always got good airflow, that you can see your baby at all times without peeling back layers of fabric. “You didn’t want your baby down too low you want them riding up nice and high so that you could kiss the top of their head.” Ms Lincolne-Lomax said carers using slings should ensure that the baby’s chin was not pressing against the chest.

The Australian and New Zealand Baby Wearers Association will host an event at Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park at noon tomorrow.

Written by Peter Jean
Canberra Times
Monday 4/10/2010
Page: 5
Section: General News
September 6th, 2010

A Year in the Life of an ERGObaby: Tahnee meets ERGO (August)

Posted by Leah in A Year in the Life of an ERGObaby, Parent Testimonials | 1 Comment »

We found out we were pregnant with baby number 5 in August 2009. It was a huge shock as we hadn’t been trying and we were only in our second month of business. Pregnancy, 4 kids and a hotel/pub to run wasn’t easy. Then in May 2010, baby Tahnee was born at my sister in laws house and we came back to the pub when she was a few days old. I’ll admit it was tough, business doesn’t stop just because we have a new baby. We tried using our ERGObaby carrier with her but having an 18 month old who was (and still is) going through the ‘it’s mine’ phase, it was impossible to wear her in it without him tantruming over his precious ERGO. Matt and I had discussed whether we should get another, there was no way I would get a pram because a pram never really worked for us before – we end up carrying the baby and pushing an empty pram around the place – not to mention the fact that we had very little space for a pram in the car.

Then there was the callout for a Year in the Life of an ERGObaby and here we are and Tahnee now has a beautiful organic ERGObaby to call her own. I’ll tell you now that we love our original ERGO, both Matt and I wear it – it’s easy to adjust and we wear it for hours without getting uncomfortable. The only thing I can complain about wearing it is that my darling toddlers just love to play with my hair when they are in a back carry and I end up with huge knots!

So anyway, back to Tahnee’s organic ERGO. I slipped it on for the first time on an outing to the supermarket(which is a whole 88km away from home) and could not stop gushing about how it’s even more comfortable compared to the other one we had, much to Matt’s embarrassment. Yeah, I need to learn to gush quietly. Tahnee snuggled down into it and went to sleep as if she had always been a little ERGObaby.

It really does make life a little easier. Take for example, grocery shopping. Most of us dread shopping with young children, even worse with a 3 AND almost 2 year old. There really aren’t any shopping trolleys designed for 3 children. Either I let my 3 year old run up and down each aisle making as much noise as possible and picking all the sugary cereal off the shelves to dump into the trolley, or I put two toddlers into the trolley seats and carry my baby. Then I’m picking things off the shelves with one hand and also trying to break up the toddlers from scratching each others eyeballs out because the seats are too close together and they are invading each others personal space. I swear I’m getting grey hairs just THINKING about it. Pop Tahnee in the ERGO and I have two hands free to break up fights and do my shopping.

I can also wear her whilst I’m doing the washing, vacuuming, mopping, serving customers and picking the kids up from school. The only thing I don’t do is cook because she is a bit too close to the stove for comfort (but I use to cook with Jye snoozing on my back when he was big enough).

These early days are super important for bonding with a baby and having her close to me all day just seems right to me. She is now 14 weeks and a happy, content little baby. She does have a touch of reflux, where she will vomit quite a bit after having a feed and carrying her has really helped with the amount of vomit, in fact I would have to say that the projectile vomiting has stopped since keeping her upright most of the day. The ERGO is easy to pop into the wash too, which we’ve had to do a few times now! Her head control is fantastic and she loves to peek out at everything going on around her, it has really given her a sense of being a part of our busy family life. She even puts her two cents in now that she has perfected the art of blowing raspberries!

One of my favourite things about the ERGO is being able to breastfeed while I work. It does take a little getting use to but it really is worth trying. I have breastfed Tahnee on demand since she was born which means that she doesn’t feed at the same time everyday. I know with my first few babies I stressed about being caught out somewhere that would make it difficult to give them a bottle. I don’t stress now, I simply let out the shoulder straps and feed her on the go – anytime, anyplace. Just be warned that most people love to peek under the hood to get a glimpse of your cute squishy little baby and be surprised when they come face to face with your breast – really funny when they pull back the hood without asking, believe me it happens more often than you think!

Living in a pub means work for us, every single day of the week. We are literally in the middle of nowhere, our town is just farms, our pub, a general store and a school. So when we do have some time to spend as family time, we don’t get to venture very far. As a family we love to go for walks, especially with 4 boys who are right into bugs and dirt!  Have you ever tried bushwalking with a pram? I didn’t think so. Matt will wear Jye (20 months) and I now wear Tahnee and we can go exploring in the bush across the road from our house. The kids love it, we love seeing them enjoy themselves and we all get some great exercise(this is more important to us than it is to the kids, they just want to spot a kangaroo or an emu)!

Right now our life is even more hectic. In addition to everything else, we are in the process of selling our little pub. We’ve already found a house to move into at the end of September back in the city and now we’re madly packing all our belongings. Matt made a few phone calls and was lucky that a previous employer had a position available for when we move. His job means that he will be going back to shift work though, which means the ERGO will get just as much of a workout while I juggle 5 children on my own most of the time. I may even have to try tandem ERGObaby wearing (a toddler in an ERGO on my back and a baby in an ERGO on my front). Does anyone have any tips on tandem wearing with the ERGO for me?

September 3rd, 2010

Dad Review Panel- Easy Peasy Performance

Posted by Leah in Babes in Arms Review Panel, Dad Review Panel, Dad Review Panel, ERGObaby Carriers, ERGObaby Performance | 2 Comments »

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.

September 2nd, 2010

Dad Review Panel – The Performance!

Posted by Leah in Babes in Arms Review Panel, Dad Review Panel, Dad Review Panel, ERGObaby Carriers, ERGObaby Performance | 2 Comments »

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

September 1st, 2010

Dad Review Panel: Sporty Does It!

Posted by Leah in Babes in Arms Review Panel, Dad Review Panel, Dad Review Panel, ERGObaby Sport | No Comments » 
 

Alex, my 7 month old son, was very excited to help open the postal bag containing our review item; an ERGObaby Sport.

I am on crutches due to having surgery on my right lower leg to lengthen it with a metal cage around it. I have found this to be a hindrance when caring for Alex but in saying that hopefully it will have lengthened my leg and  be removed by the time he can run around!

On first looking at the ERGObaby Sport I thought “how am I going to figure this one out? So many straps and clips”. My wife suggested reading the instruction book but being a man I thought I would play around with it first and then check the instructions before putting Alex in and hey, I got it right!

The material is a manly black with no girly pictures or stitching making it ideal to encourage men to give it a go. It is lightweight so I didn’t overheat, which is one thing I was worried about. I get very hot and I didn’t want to cause Alex to become uncomfortable but he had no problems. If it was a hot summer then maybe a mesh like material would be good for dads to help keep cool. (ed note: check out the ERGObaby Performance or Breeze Baby Sling for further summer hot picks!)

It folds up to a reasonably small size that I can store in the seat pocket in the car ready for use. I also found it handy around the house as I can’t even carry Alex to go change him but with the ERGO I could get around easily & safely.

The hood is a good idea for bad weather and sleeping but I did find it difficult to get it clipped onto the straps and needed help from my wife. Maybe if you didn¹t have to reach back so far it would be easier. The pouch that it folds into is good and very accessible when on the go. I personally don’t need any pockets or hooks for things like keys etc but some people might.

I am a big guy, 185cm & 118kg, so couldn’t get slings to fit me but with the ERGObaby Sport I had space & actually didn’t have to have the shoulder straps as loose as they go. The waist extender gave me just that bit extra to be really comfortable. The waist and shoulder padding are well cushioned so that nothing cuts in. It was easy to put on while sitting down, then I put Alex in, stand up and we are off!

The only thing that I was concerned about was the position of Alex’s legs. They appear to be stretched so far apart that it looks uncomfortable for him. He didn¹t seem bothered but I still was worried. Maybe it’s just that I am quite wide! LOL (ed.note: please see our past blog posts here for full details on correct leg positioning).

I have had a great time trying the ERGObaby Sport. It has enabled me to get closer with my son and have some bonding time. You really take simple things like walking and carrying your children for granted until you can’t do those simple things anymore! It has also enabled me to help my wife out. She is a carer for myself as well as having a young baby. She looks after both of us extremely well. I intend to enjoy the ERGO for years to come. I look forward to getting rid of the crutches and taking Alex on many treks in his ERGO!

I would definitely recommend the ERGObaby Sport to other fathers to enhance that special connection that we feel maybe only mothers have with their children. The size and material makes it a winner for us big blokes!

My overall rankings:

Comfort for baby      3

Ease of use            4

Versatility              4

Overall Rating         4

Cheers, Peter.

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