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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Baby Carrier and Swing
So everyone is telling me that a baby swing is a 'must have'. Is one as good as another, or should we be looking for a specific one? Did your baby love the swing, and can they go in it immediately or do they need to be a little older?
Also - two people promised their old baby carriers, but neither came through, so now I'm wondering which one to get - any recommendations? I'm not sure I can manage one of those long wrap ones, so I'm thinking one of the more structured types. I am busty and hippy if that makes a difference. I've heard good things about the baby bjorn - good one to try?
Thanks for any recommendations!
Re: Baby Carrier and Swing
1. Milo never had a swing.
2. Baby bjorn's are a very expensive carrier that aren't good for babies hips or parent's backs for a prolonged amount of time nor can the carrier be used for a very long time. I highly recommend looking at soft structured carriers like the ergo, beco or pikkolo. I have both the ergo and the pikkolo and both fit my busty bust just fine. The pikkolo can be used from birth without any extra inserts. Baby can be worn facing in or out, on the back or the hip. Around 20 pounds you will need ot buy the waist band support which isn't to pricey.
My SIL gave me the best advice regarding a swing, either babies love them or hate them, same goes for the bouncy seat. The bouncy seat was CHEAP so I registered and got that. Worst case scenario I would get him a swing. Plus swings take up so much space. When he was two weeks old I put him in a swing and he hated it. Picked up another bouncy chair for the 2nd floor. DONE!
Ditto what Lachute said. I wore Brooks in a Moby, (I only learned two wraps) when he was tee tiny, then I moved to a Bjorn for some things, but knew about the hip issue so I didn't use it all the time. When he was 3 months I got the Ergo performance, I wouldn't recommend that one in particular I like the original better, but I really like Lachutes pikkolo.
Swings are one of the most hit or miss baby items out there, IMO. We had one (a fisher price 3 in 1) and DD hated it (I tried to put her in it every couple weeks from birth until about 6 months when I finally gave up and packed it away). Im borrowing a friends Fisher Price Little Lamb swing this time around because the papasan style swings like that are the only ones that Ive heard a lot of babies liking so it seems like the best odds. Id suggest putting a papasan style swing on your registry or getting one on craigslist (as long as you can remove the cloth part and wash it) to save the money. Swings are pretty expensive and seem to have about a 50/50 success rate.
I would not get a bjorn carrier for all the reasons lachute suggested. we had a generic type bjorn (maybe a jeep or chicco brand, i forget) and dd hated it. We also had a moby wrap, which is much easier to use than it looks, but again, dd hated it. The carriers are another good craigslist item because they are washable and the nicer ones like lachute mentioned are kind of expensive (IMO).
1. Emma loved the swing and used it from day one. It seems to be something that varies from baby to baby, and you won't know until she's here. :-)
2. We used a baby bjorn, got it super cheap on clearance at BRU because it was grey instead of black. We never used it that much, mostly only like Phillies games or when it was just too crowded for a stroller. So was never worried about any back or hip issues. Dave mostly wore her when we did use her because I have a sucky back. Let me double check with Dave, but I'm sure you can use our Bjorn if you want it.
We got a second hand swing. It wasn't a must but it was a nice place to put Jack when we needed to put him down for a few minutes. We started using it when he a few weeks old and used it until about 4 1/2 months. Once he learned how to arch his back and also tried to sit up, he wasn't liking it.
We also got a secondhand Bjorn. I can't believe that thing has a 25 weight limit because I was dying when Jack was about 12-14 lbs. It's only really useful for when they are small. I think the minimum weight limit is 8lbs. It was good for short walks or wearing around the house. Towards the end of it's use, I could face him out. It puts all the baby weight on your neck, shoulders and back so it's uncomfortable when they hit a certain weight. It even bothered Mr.D.
I now have an Ergo and I really like it. It has a waist support and it balances the babies weight better. I think you can get an infant insert. You can wear the baby facing in, on the hip and on the back. My friend has the Beco Gemini and loves it. You can wear the baby facing out too. I just didn't like the buckle feature and felt the Ergo was easier to use by myself (I felt like I needed Mr.D's help with the Beco).
I am busty and also had no problems with the Bjorn or the Ergo.
#1 12.11.11
#2 10.23.13 EDD
YES! Their footprints are huge!
#1 12.11.11
#2 10.23.13 EDD
We didn't get a swing but ended up borrowing a friend's for a few months, after we realized we "needed" it. DS hated his bouncy seat so we needed somewhere to put him (when we couldn't hold him or put him in the boppy).
Every kid is different, though.
We loved the Ergo carrier. It doesn't put weight on your shoulders like the Bjorn does.
1. We got a mammaroo which is a swing from the future. Cat loved it, baby rarely used it.
2. Had the Moby and never got the hang of it. Love the ergo and use it often. When Max was young (under 3 months) I used a hotsling because it was so easy. I was always panicked about his airway being open, but it was so much easier for me to use than anything else.
Everyone's given you good advice. Our little guy liked the swing for a few months and slept like an angel in it. Now that he's nearly 7 months we are getting ready to pack it up.
The Moby wrap takes practice (maybe it took me 5 attempts?), but with a little patience and some help from youtube, that thing is one of my best investments. Ever.
Most carriers provoke baby narcolepsy in the beginning. I used the Ergo with the infant insert when he was about a month and still use the Ergo. I have 3 carriers (Moby, Ergo, and Peanut Shell, which is a sling/sash) but may get one in which he can face out because how that he's older, he wants to look around more.
So, our kid had a crack like addiction to the FP Little Lamb Swing - think multiple, multi hour naps a day straight through maybe five months. we packed it up for good at six months after we were away for a week. we had a bouncesr too, which he would tolerate, but the swing was really where it was at for him.
We used the evil Bjorn in the beginning, when he was too small for the Ergo, and still used the Ergo up until maybe 15 months. Once he started walking, it was like herding kittens to get him in it.
1.) I borrowed the FP Little Lamb Swing from DH's sister and I'm glad I borrowed it because Danica hated it (Hunter hated his swing when he was a baby, too). I'm so glad I didn't shell out the $ for that thing.
2.) I have the CatBird Baby Pikkolo that Lachute said. After doing a lot of research, I did not want the Bjorn because it's harmful to the baby's lower back and hips like the girls already said. The most important thing when looking at carriers is that you want the baby's knees up higher than its butt and that the baby is in a natural sitting position. Any carrier that forces the baby's legs pointed straight down (like the Bjorn) is bad for them.
I got the Pikkolo over the Ergo because you cannot face the baby outward with the Ergos. Danica loves to face outward. I was ::this close:: to getting an Ergo but the fact that the baby cannot face outward was a major deal breaker for me. With the pikkolo you can wear it forward facing, rear facing, on your hip or on your back. I love it and it was worth every penny. I use it a lot.