Everything Plus the Kitchen Sink

This is the Famous Ergo Lady Tips and Tricks section. There is information here for everyone, whether you are considering buying your first Ergo or have been using an Ergo for years. Grab a cuppa tea, sit back, and enjoy a good surf session! Oh my! You totally overwhelmed by all the info here? Here is all ya really need to know!


If you still have questions, please feel free to request a custom Ergo Baby Carrier Instructional Video.

How to Use Your Ergo Baby Carrier

Official Ergo Baby Carrier Babywearing Instructions

Download the official Ergo Baby Carrier Instructions and read them over before you do anything else. Here, you will learn babywearing with your Ergo: how to do the front, back and hip positions with your Ergo Baby Carrier.

You can play around with these instructions. Some people start with the waist strap and then close the chest strap. You may find it easier to close the chest strap behind you without the weight of the child in your Ergo Baby Carrier. Even if you start out with this method, you may wind up doing it the regular way eventually.

This is also how you get your baby into the Ergo if you have the straps crossed, which some people find much more comfortable for a front carry.

Ergo Lady Tip: When I first got my Ergo Baby Carrier, it mocked me for over a week. I had no trouble putting on the waist strap, positioning baby, and putting on the shoulder straps, but there was no way I was going to figure out how to close that chest strap behind me. Near tears, I gave up and left the Ergo in a heap on the back of a chair, to mock me and taunt me. One day, I couldn't take it any more and I just did it. It was the same for me with back carries, actually. If I can get there, so can you!

Before you begin babywearing in your Ergo Baby Carrier, become familiar with the parts. Adjust the waist strap to your waist or hips (depending on where you are going to wear it) and put the shoulder straps on. Adjust each chest strap so that it is about chest height and then secure the chest straps to the shoulder trap by tightening the buckles. You will still be able to move the chest strap if the height isn't quite right but this will ensure that you don't lose the chest strap if you unbuckle the shoulder straps (which you must do for the hip carry).

Ergo Lady Babywearing Tip: Use mirrors and reflections in car or store windows to help see what you are doing. For beginners, kneel on the floor or on a bed for back carries. Have someone spot you until you are comfortable solo.

If your baby is fussy, tend to that first. Move, sway or walk if your baby doesn't seem happy in the Ergo. This tip applies to all baby carriers. Many families mistakenly give up on babywearing, assuming that their baby just doesn't like being worn. The earlier you start, the better, and it may take some work, but it pays off. Having your hands free is a huge payoff down the road that's worth working for now.
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How to Use Your Ergo Baby Carrier with a Newborn (Infant)

New! Learn all about the brand new Heart 2 Heart!

Download and review the official Infant Insert Instructions.

The Infant Insert is suitable for the first 3-5 months, depending on the size of your baby.

There are a few methods to putting the baby in the infant insert. The easiest one is to set up the Ergo Baby Carrier with the Infant Insert in place (as described in the downloaded instructions) first and then put the baby in. This method works well with younger newborns. In order to get baby in, you will have to loosen the shoulder straps quite a bit. As you gently ease baby in from the top, guide his tush into the deep pocket of the Ergo and his legs together and out one side. Take special care with his arm that is against you to position it well. Observe positioning in a mirror, adjust as needed, and tighten the shoulder straps to ensure a snug and safe fit. If your baby fusses, be sure to walk briskly and if possible, outdoors. If it is not possible to walk, rock, bounce, or sway vigorously to keep baby content.

Another method that is demonstrated in the photo above and on the new Ergo DVD is to lay the infant insert flat, put the baby on the insert, and pick up both sides of the infant insert. Effectively, you swaddle the baby right in there. Pick up the baby by grasping the sides of the infant insert and ease baby and insert together as a unit down into the top of the Ergo Baby Carrier which you're already put on, rather loosely, chest strap secured and ready to go. Guide the baby's legs out one side and gently place her head to the other side, just as in the picture. Slings are great, but this position is, in my opinion, superb! Baby is supported hands-free and on both of your shoulders so you experience no fatigue. And if you lean forward, your baby isn't bouncing around.

The Ergo Baby Carrier with Infant Insert is wonderful for newborns because it puts them in a wonderful position to nurse, digest and sleep, three things newborns do a lot of!

If you've had a C-section, it is up to you whether or not to use the Ergo Baby Carrier. My friend Elizabeth did use the Ergo right away after her 2nd C-section. She said that it didn't hurt, but it certainly did give her a funny sensation in the scar. She preferred the Ergo to the sling that she'd used with her first, even though she did have the scar to deal with. She said that after a few weeks, the sensation was gone.

Here's another opinion on that:

Just thought I'd share.  I noticed on your infant tips that you weren't sure about wearing the Ergo carrier after a C-Section.  I had one and one week later took the carrier to my OB to ask if it was OK to wear it.  He told me that as long as I don't find it irritating the support it gave my stomach could actually help with healing. I started wearing it about a week or so later and never had a problem.  It didn't rub at all and was a great motivator to get on my feet again.

 

Ergo Baby Carrier Front Carry Babywearing Instructions

Who is the front carry for? It's funny; I thought there was some rule that front carries were outlawed or something once baby got to a certain age; say, one year. So I switched to exclusive back carries around that point. That was great. I loved that my little one wasn't always trying to nurse since the boobs weren't quite so immediately available. But somehow, at around 18 months or two years of age, my little one rebelled against back carries altogether. She simply refused to allow me to wear her that way anymore and only let me do front carries. I thought she was hugely too big. But nothing terrible happened! No babywearing police came and gave me tickets nor even warnings. So we went merrily along cheating and doing front carries right up past the three year mark and on. So there ya go! My back is fine. Her attitude is fine. All is good!

Ergo Babywearing Front Carry Video

Put the Ergo Baby Carrier on your waist and leave the body of the carrier dangling in front. Most people prefer to push the waist strap low onto the hips.

Ergo Lady Babywearing Front Carry Tip: Make sure that the shoulder straps are fairly loose. This ensures that you will be able to buckle the chest strap behind you and have it comfortably situated on your back, not digging into your neck or upper spine.

Pick up your baby with her legs open, wrapped around your tummy.

Kiss her head. While supporting your baby with one hand behind her, grasp the body of the carrier and lift it over your baby's back. Put one shoulder strap on yourself (not your baby as I once saw a customer do), then switch to the opposite hand to support your baby and put the other shoulder strap on. Reach back over your shoulder with one hand and find the chest strap. Kiss that sweet baby head one more time.

Ergo Lady Tip: Close your eyes. For some reason, when you are reaching behind you and trying to locate the strap and get it buckled, closing your eyes helps you get in touch with what your hands are doing. This tip is also useful for trying to find a quarter in the bottom of your purse or any other activity where you are relying on your sense of touch and vision only distracts.

Now do the same on the other side. Your baby can't fall because both shoulder straps are on you. Buckle the chest strap behind you. Tighten the shoulder straps one at a time by pulling down and forward, meanwhile supporting baby's bottom with the other hand.

Ergo Lady Babywearing Tip: If your baby isn't old enough to be worn with legs open, keep his legs together and to one side. He should be ready by 3 to 4 months of age.

Common Babywearing Concern: Many babywearers express concern that the baby is not comfortable with legs wide. Once your baby reaches around 3 months, you will find that when you pick her up, she will naturally open her legs. You will find yourself holding her on your hip or tummy to tummy. The Ergo Baby Carrier mimics how you would hold your baby naturally. This position is the most ergonomic for your baby and very comfortable for her. What is not ergonomic is being held by the crotch with legs dangling down, all her weight supported on a small area.

You can play around with these instructions. Some people start with the waist strap and then close the chest strap. You may find it easier to close the chest strap behind you without the weight of the child in your Ergo Baby Carrier. Even if you start out with this method, you may wind up doing it the regular way eventually.

This is also how you get your baby into the Ergo if you have the straps crossed, which some people find much more comfortable for a front carry.

Ergo Lady Tip: When I first got my Ergo Baby Carrier, it mocked me for over a week. I had no trouble putting on the waist strap, positioning baby, and putting on the shoulder straps, but there was no way I was going to figure out how to close that chest strap behind me. Near tears, I gave up and left the Ergo in a heap on the back of a chair, to mock me and taunt me. One day, I couldn't take it any more and I just did it. It was the same for me with back carries, actually. If I can get there, so can you!

Not everyone can put the Ergo Baby Carrier as described above. I have one friend who has arthritis and just can't buckle the chest strap behind her. I have seen men who lack the flexibility to reach behind them. Here is an alternate method that will work for most people.

1. Loosen the Ergo Baby Carrier shoulder straps and then buckle the chest strap.	2. Slip the Ergo Baby Carrier over your head and buckle the waist behind you.
3. Lift your wiggly child up high, then slide him into the Ergo Baby Carrier from the top.	4. Tighten the Ergo Baby Carrier shoulder straps by pulling towards your baby. Optional: Kiss baby on top of his yummy head.

How to Use Your Ergo Baby Carrier in the Hip (Side) Carry Position

There are written instructions for the hip carry position (side carry) in the Official Instructions and video is coming soon. Here are some tips to get you going. In the official instructions, one of the straps dangles uselessly around your waist. After carefully studying my ideas, you should be able to come up with a much more comfy fit.

Ergo Lady Babywearing Hip Tip: Remember to make sure that the chest strap is tightened to the shoulder straps. The chest strap is useless in the hip carry but if it is not tightened to the chest strap, it will fall off and get lost when you unbuckle the chest straps. This is bad. Don't lose your chest strap! I don't have any extras.

The first thing you want to do is lengthen the chest straps a lot. Next, unbuckle the shoulder straps. Now put the Ergo Baby Carrier waist strap on and position the body of the Ergo on one hip.

From this point, there are a few options on how to get the straps closed and your baby in.

Ergo Lady Reminder: I would like to remind you to always use the safety elastic on the buckles but I am not going to nag.

Try buckling the shoulder strap that buckles behind you first. You can either reach behind and buckle it, your buckle it and duck your head in. Or you can pick up your baby and then buckle and/or dive in. Or you can buckle it and then drop your baby in from the top. Got that?

Ergo Lady Babywearing Hip Tip: Create a shoulder cup with both shoulder straps.

Next, I recommend my own twist of buckling the second shoulder strap. Or you could buckle both straps and then slide baby in from the top. Or you could buckle both straps and leave them around your waist and then slide the straps up and over baby and your shoulder. Confused yet?

The goal is wearing the second Ergo shoulder strap on the upper part of your arm: the outer shoulder. Have one shoulder strap on top of your shoulder and nowhere near your neck. Have the other shoulder strap on the outside of your shoulder. This is my own special method and it makes the Ergo Baby Carrier actually very, very comfortable as a hip carrier. If you don't use this trick, you will have just one strap on your shoulder and it will ride up your shoulder to your neck. By using the second strap on the outside of your shoulder, you better distribute baby's weight and you stay comfortable for much longer!

How to use your Ergo Baby Carrier for Nursing

People can't believe how easy and discreet it is to nurse hands-free in the Ergo. I read about nursing while babywearing when I had my older but it seemed like a pipe dream. Now I help new moms nurse in baby carriers all the time. I can't emphasize enough how important a skill it is and freeing for moms. And how simple!

Loosen both shoulder straps so that your baby is lower and her mouth is at the right height for nursing. Then nurse. It's really that simple. Some moms may need to support their breast in order to nurse. When you're done, don't forget to raise your baby back up higher to where you can kiss her on top of her yummy head - that will be easier on your back than wearing your baby so low. It will also reposition the chest strap lower on your back which feels much better!

Ergo Lady Nursing Tip: Wear clothing that provides easy access for nursing. Nursing clothing is fine, or something with a V-neck or low cut so you can nurse from the top.

Ergo Lady Nursing Tip: Keep your arm down at the side you're nursing on so nothing shows.

Ergo Lady Babywearing Nursing Tip: You can lift baby's bottom and slide her and the Ergo Baby Carrier a bit to one side or the other to better line her up with the boob you're nursing on.

How to Use Your Ergo Baby Carrier Sleep Hood - Ergo on Front

For front carries, and especially in hot weather, I tend to just use one strap of the sleep hood. I unsnap the sleep hood straps from what I like to call the "park" D-ring* and then run one strap through the D-ring on the chest strap behind me. This gently supports baby's head and leaves plenty of breathing room.

Ergo Lady Sleep Hood Tip: Don't forget to put the Ergo sleep hood straps neatly back into the "park" D-rings* when your baby is done napping.

Not too much head kissing in this position unless your baby is a very sound sleeper. Experiment and see what you can get away with. Sometimes it is difficult to stop.

*Note that the Ergo changed in the summer of 2007 and in the latest version, it is not necessary to "park" the sleep hood straps because they are now shorter. This is because the sleep hood now attaches to a fixed snap on the shoulder straps rather than looping to a ring on the chest strap and attaching to itself as it did before.

How to Use Your Ergo Baby Carrier Sleep Hood - Ergo on Back

Your baby is asleep! Finally! Lean forward. Unsnap the sleep hood straps from the "park" D-rings. Holding the straps by the tip, one in each hand, simultaneously lift them up and over your shoulders with your arms as straight as possible. It's awkward! Keep the tension on the left sleep hood strap while you thread the right strap through the D-ring on the chest strap. Snap it behind you. Now do the left. Gently reach back and make sure you have baby's head in the sleep hood or better, check your reflection or ask someone. My daughter has slept over two hours back there in my Ergo while I traipsed all over New York City! How freeing is that? (True confession. More than once, I thought I had forgotten her somewhere and had a momentary panic attack.)

Ergo Lady Hood Tip: When you know your baby is going to fall asleep, begin checking often so her head isn't dangling. If you can't see yourself in a reflection, an easy test is to lean forward. If you feel her head rest on your back, chances are she's asleep.

How to Use Your Ergo Baby Carrier for the Back Carry - Hip Scoot

Baby Up on Back in Ergo

I recommend this method for babies from around 6 months and up to around 18 months. After that, their legs are rather long for this but it can be done. It's easier to learn this method but it does require a bit of extra adjusting at the last step.

Put your Ergo Baby Carrier waist strap on and put the right shoulder strap on your right shoulder. Put your baby on your left hip with your arm on the outside. Lean forward a bit and slide your baby with your left hand as far onto your back as you can. You will now be leaning forward at the waist.

With your right hand, reach inside the body of the Ergo from right above the waist strap. Make sure you do not reach from inside the shoulder strap. Find your baby's right foot and guide it around your right hip. Using your right hand, find the upper part of the body of the Ergo Baby Carrier and lift it up and over your baby's tush and all the way up her back. Do not let go of your baby with your left hand.

Hand your left hand the left shoulder strap from behind. By handing yourself the strap, you ensure it is not twisted. Slide your left arm into the left shoulder strap. Stay bent over while you close the chest strap. Reach back and make sure the body of the Ergo is high on your baby's back before standing straight. Tighten the shoulder straps by pulling the dangling adjustment strap down and back if it is very loose.

Now reach back and feel your baby's knees. Chances are she is shifted slightly to the left so slide your hands under her thighs, inside the Ergo, and while jumping, bounce her to the right a few times until her knees feel even. She will enjoy this bouncing.

Reverse these directions if it is more natural to start with your baby on your right hip.

Baby Down from Back in Ergo

Unbuckle the chest strap. Reach behind with your left hand and support your baby with your hand on her bottom on the outside of the Ergo Baby Carrier. Bend forward at the waist. Slide the right shoulder strap off. Reach back with your right hand inside the Ergo and support your baby with your right hand on her bottom. Slide the left shoulder strap off and let the body of the Ergo Baby Carrier drop and dangle from your waist. Slide your baby around your waist onto your right hip. From there, you can slide him to the front by changing your grip or put her down if he is done being held.

Ergo Lady Babywearing Dire Warning: Never unbuckle the waist strap while wearing your baby in the Ergo Baby Carrier. I guess people who are used to frame backpacks do this because you take the baby carrier off and then take the baby out. With the Ergo Baby Carrier, the baby is not in any way strapped into the baby carrier. The Ergo Baby Carrier is what's holding the baby up against your body. If you unbuckle the waist, the baby will slip right out the bottom!

How to Use Your Ergo Back Carrier for the Toddler Back Carry - Method 1

Ergo Baby Carrier Back Carry Babywearing Video Warning - this video has poor quality sound!

This is the method I started using when my daughter was around 18 months old. Start with the Ergo Baby Carrier on your waist and dangling down behind you. Put your child piggy back with whatever method you are most comfortable with. You can slide them around your hip or pick them up and over your shoulders. It doesn't matter.

Ergo Lady Back Carry Tip: It's best your start with the shoulder straps as short as you are likely to need them. It doesn't feel secure to put the baby on your back and realize the straps are very loose.

Spread your child's legs wide and lean forward. If your child is used to back carries, he will rest on your back. Keeping one arm across his bottom for safety, lift the body of the Ergo Baby Carrier up and between his legs and put the shoulder straps on one at a time. After you do one shoulder strap, hold him with that hand and do the other shoulder strap. Stand and close the chest strap. Tighten the shoulder straps by pulling down and back.

Ergo Lady Back Carry Tip: It is easier to tighten the straps one at a time by lifting baby's bottom with one hand and tightening the other strap, then switching hands.

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Toss Back Carry - Super Duper Advanced and Not Recommended

Some people like to toss their baby over their shoulder to do a back carry. This may the the only method that works if you have limited flexibility and no couch/SUV available (see Couch Back Carry).  Briefly, you start with your baby in front of you, facing away. Cross your arms  and pick up the baby under the armpits. In one motion,  uncross your arms and lift baby up and over your back. Your baby will wind up on your back facing you. That's it. Reading that makes no sense whatsoever so go try it with air. Still don't get it? Try it with a stuffed animal. Cool, no?

Okay, so why don't I like this method? Well, if you're like me, you're wearing the waist strap of your Ergo low down on your hips, not up high like you would with a mei tai. So this method puts baby way up high on your back. Then the next thing that happens is you start going for the shoulder straps and you pin just the very bottom of the baby's tush in the Ergo and think you're done. I've seen this so many times at babywearing meetings. It's scary to watch! So listen, if you insist on doing fancy flying tosses to get your baby on your back, take the time to at least do it correctly.

Once your baby is on your back, reach back and support baby with one arm and drop baby lower, until the baby is at the height of your waist band. Then start putting on the shoulder straps, all the while still supporting the baby with at least one hand at all times. As with all back carries, try it in a mirror and with a spotter until you get the hang of it and even then, it's never cheating to use a mirror. After 8 years of babywearing, I still prefer to check my work in a mirror.

Alternate Method for Back Carries: The Bed/Couch/SUV Method

Too terrified to do a hip scoot? Okay, true confessions time. I was too when I first got my Ergo Baby Carrier. No, I am not just saying that to make you feel better. Oh - if you have no idea what I am talking about, ignore this. Most of you can just do it, but I was one of the ones that just couldn't. I needed practice, spotting, mirrors, and review before I could do back carries confidently. I would have loved the bed/couch/SUV method.

This method is suitable for toddlers and can be done on a couch, bed, or in your SUV. It's a great way to get a sleeping toddler on your back.

1. Position your Ergo Baby Carrier at the edge of a bed (or couch or SUV seat). Notice the waist is hanging over the end of the bed.	2. Place your toddler (kitty costume optional) on the Ergo as pictured and kneel down in front of the bed and buckle the Ergo Baby Carrier waist strap.
3. Snug her bum and legs against you.	4. Bring up the shoulders and body. Close the chest strap.

Baby Sitting Sideways in the Ergo Baby Carrier

This is a nifty little trick that I was actually taught by my daughter. One day, I took her out of the car while she was sleeping and she simply wouldn't do the regular tummy to tummy position. She wanted to site sideways. Well, the Ergo police weren't looking and I needed to get home, so I figured, what the heck! And hey, it was a great position! She really loves this way of being worn in the Ergo Baby Carrier. And it's just as comfy for me as a front carry. Just shhh, don't tell anyone about this because it really feels like cheating to me! What is so great about this position is you can use it for any size baby. In fact, a lot of my friends don't bother with the infant insert and simply put their newborn into the side sitting position in the Ergo Baby Carrier. And for those of you who are wondering if there is a way to face the baby out, while this is not out, you can see that baby can get a full view of the world in this side sitting position!

Ergo babywearing with Feet in the Ergo / Newborn facing out

NEWS! By popular demand! A video of how to do facing out with a little baby (or a doll). Sorry, the Ergo Facing Out VIdeo is not of the best quality. Keep in mind that you get to play with leg positioning; it depends upon your baby. And this is not a position for all the time. This is an occasional, for a few minutes. Facing in is the way to go!

My friend Elizabeth never bothered with the infant insert while babywearing her daughter in the Ergo. Now, at 5 months, Eva just prefers to keep her little feetsies in. I guess eventually, she'll start putting them out but for now, she's happy with her feet folded flat one on top of the other.

Tip: This position will work fine facing in or out for small babies.

Update: Eva still prefers this position at 7 months old!

Update 2!: Eva is finally done sitting on her feet at 8 months!



Here is a closeup of how babywearing looks with Eva's feet in the Ergo Baby Carrier.

Three to four or five months - that awkward stage

My friend Michelle modified Elizabeth's feet in technique a bit. She used the infant insert but when her boy got too big for it, he still wasn't long enough in the leg to do the splits and have both legs out. The Ergo is the widest of the structured baby carriers, so it can be tricky from three to four or five months. Hang in there. And try what Michelle did: put one foot in, one foot out! The foot that was out is positioned so that the knee is just at the edge of the carrier, foot hanging down. You don't want the edge of the carrier to hit the baby's leg mid-calf. The other foot can be however it seems comfy for both you and your baby. Baby can sit on his foot (my personal fav because it raises him up a bit and it's easier to kiss his head), or the foot can be out and to the side, right next to his tush. His tush can be a bit sideways and feet together. Whatever you do, make sure that the waist belt is flat against your belly and the body of the carrier forms a pocket where the baby's tush, and foot/feet, if necessary, can nestle deeply. And hang in there. You won't be doing this forever but you can use the Ergo baby carrier for as long as you can carry your baby.

A new tip from Tara (Thank you so much!!!):

a tip not mentioned in your tips and tricks, re. the awkward three four five
month stage of ergo baby wearing, when bubs legs not quite ready to splay
out across my back, or front as it was mostly,   i used to put a small
folded cushion, or rolled up blanket in bottom of ergo kind of in between her
crotch and my back or belly, with her legs kind of bent up and over the
blanket roll. it just kept her that small degree away from my body so her
legs could cope with the angle. 

Ergo Babywearing with Waist Belt High (High Back Carry)

Some prefer to use the Ergo Baby Carrier with the waist belt, well, on the waist! I mean, who'd'a thunk it? Especially for back carries, I tend to push it well down onto my hips because I don't like the feel of it on my belly. But it's cool to wear it higher too, as in this photo. And you know, the more I think about it, I bet that it is like a form of belly binding that would naturally help your tummy slim down. I am going to have to give this technique a try!

Ergo Lady Tip: What is so cool about this position is the baby is much higher than he'd normally be in the Ergo Baby Carrier. Some people don't like that their baby can't see over their shoulder. I have always found that standing sideways so baby could see was good enough but this is an alternate solution.

Babywearing Two

Straps Crossed

I bet you didn't know you could cross the straps on your Ergo! Yep! It's allowed. You can do this for both front and back carries.

Front Carry Straps Crossed

Put the waist strap on (using the safety elastic, as always). Unbuckle the shoulder straps. Ensure that the chest strap is secured tightly to the shoulder straps so you don't lose it, or remove it and put it in the zippered pocket for safe-keeping. Buckle the shoulder straps loosely around your waist, taking the time to run each one through the safety elastic. Pull the shoulder straps up and over your arms and shoulders. Put the baby in from the top. Tighten the shoulder straps as needed. Nice!

Ergo Lady Note: I don't think you can nurse in this position.

Back Carry Straps Crossed

Put the waist strap on (using the safety elastic, as always). Unbuckle the shoulder straps. Ensure that the chest strap is secured tightly to the shoulder straps so you don't lose it, or remove it and put it in the zippered pocket for safe-keeping. Buckle the shoulder straps loosely around your waist, taking the time to run each one through the safety elastic. Pull the shoulder straps up and over your arms and shoulders. Have someone else put the baby in from the top. Tighten the shoulder straps as needed. Nice!

Ergo Lady Note: When you put the straps back, make sure you run them through the safety elastic.

Now you know how to use your Ergo Baby Carrier! Get out there and practice fun and safe babywearing!

Ergo Pet Carrier - Great Pet Carrier for Cats and Small Dogs!

Many people have discovered how wonderful baby carriers are for their pets. The Ergo Baby Carrier is much better than a sling. It is much more secure for the animal than a one shouldered carrier and safer than some of the pet carriers out there that leave the animal's legs sticking out. When you use the Ergo as a pet carrier, your cat or small dog is safely snuggled up right next to you. Both of our cats enjoy it as a cat carrier very much indeed.

Baby Facing Out in the Ergo

Okay, let me preface this by saying that it is not in any way a requirement that babies should face out in baby carriers. Everyone asks about facing out because they are used to seeing babies in the Baby Bjorn baby carrier. Think about it. Before the Baby Bjorn became common, which really was quite recent, babies were not worn facing out for very long. And when you hold your baby, it is natural to hold your baby facing towards you. Babywearing is about using a baby carrier to support a baby hands-free in a position you'd naturally carry them. Yes, sometimes you hold them facing out, but not generally for very long.

But my baby wants to see!

Newborns can't see much at all, just things that are very close to them. And older babies can turn their heads. A baby that is facing out can not turn away from stimulation and can not see the face of mom or dad. Babies are designed to continually check in with mom or dad, see their reactions, and learn about the world around them. And when a baby is ready to sleep, they can more easily close their eyes and drift off if facing in. When facing out, they can't turn off the stimulation and they can get over stimulated and stay awake too long, getting a second wind and getting fussy. The saddest babywearing thing I have ever seen was a baby hanging off dad's back, facing out. I don't get that! Babies want to be included in what you are doing! That is the joy of babywearing!

I am including some information on babies facing out not because I think it is something you should do very often. It is a party trick. The manufacturer does not recommend you ever wear the baby facing out.

I am going to tell you how to do it safely.

It is important that a baby's spine curve naturally. So if you put the baby in the Ergo facing out, you want to tuck her hips under her; roll them out, so her lower back is against your belly. Her knees will be up in the air. It looks a little funny this way. So, if you won't want her feet strangely sticking out, you can go ahead and put them inside the Ergo. Another variation is to put your baby in the Ergo with her legs crossed or knees up. Play around with it facing a mirror and your baby will have a grand time. The point is, you don't try to make the Ergo something it's not. The idea is not to have your baby's legs together and straight down. There is a reason that the Ergo is wide. It is designed to support the baby's entire bottom, not just the crotch. This is so your baby will be comfortable and ergonomically supported.

So, if you do try playing around with facing out, don't keep baby in there for hours. Babies certainly can take being scrunched up longer than we can; they were inside mom fo 9 months, some folded in half for the end of those months. They are super flexible and can take scrunching, but be mindful of your baby's need to stretch out and move.

NEWS! By popular demand! A video of how to do facing out with a little baby (or a doll). Sorry, the Ergo Facing Out VIdeo is not of the best quality. Keep in mind that you get to play with leg positioning; it depends upon your baby. And this is not a position for all the time. This is an occasional, for a few minutes. Facing in is the way to go!