Pros: Durable. Keeps baby attached to you safely and with proper support.
Cons: Hot. Causes Back Aches. Short time to use it.
The Bottom Line: It's durable and offers great support when carrying your baby "hands-free". I find this one to be hot and my back aches. So - good for some, but not everyone.
speak2erin's Full Review: Babybjörn Original Baby Carrier
After I had my first son, my sister passed her gently loved Baby Bjorn to me. To use this item, a baby must be at least 8 pounds and 21" long. And no more than 25 pounds.
Let's Start with Personal Experience
My son was a hefty 8 pounds, 11 ounces at birth so I gave it a whirl. From the minute I put him in there, until the moment I took him out he screamed. There was NO WAY I could go out in public with him in the Baby Bjorn. Heck, I couldn't even use it in my own house. So I put aside. In fairness to the Baby Bjorn, my son did have an umbilical hernia so he was probably just uncomfortable.
19 months later, I give birth to another gorgeous boy. In the beginning he was too teeny to use in it - he was only 6 pounds 15 ounces. So I waited until he got a little larger. Once he hit 8 pounds I tried it out. Put my arms through the straps, attach the buckle clip to the front piece and place baby inside. Ahhhh....he was quiet. I decided to try it in public. We went to Lowe's - my oldest sat in the cart and I slipped my youngest in the Baby Bjorn. My little one fell asleep in seconds. From then on I would use it for quick errands, go on outings or to do certain chores, ones that don't require bending over, at the house. But most recently I noticed it's putting a strain on my back. I tried rearranging the straps, but no matter what they dig into my shoulders and the middle of my back aches. What is going on? What am I doing differently? Oh...maybe it has to do with the fact that my 5 month old is 20 pounds. Even though the weight limit is 25 pounds, it does not mean you can carry the weight comfortably. So, once again I am putting the Baby Bjorn aside.
Let's Talk Attributes and Ease-Of-Use
When you first put on the Swedish-designed, Georgia-distributed Baby Bjorn, you'll probably put it on backwards. Or upside down. Or inside out. Or all three. At that point, take a deep breath and take a good look at your Baby Bjorn. It is made up of a front piece and straps. The front of the front piece has an anchor on it. The inside has ... instructions at-a-glance! That thing has come in so handy for me. It leads you step by step on how to get the straps on your back, with the cross between your shoulders. And it's also color coded. The blue side latch and side latch groove will be on your right side. The red side latch and side latch groove will be on your left side. On the very bottom of the front piece is an adjustment label. It tells you where the buckle should be, depending on your child's height. The lowest setting is for 35.5". There are also little straps towards the top to adjust the support for your baby's head when he is facing into you. Because you can wear your baby facing your chest, or facing the outside world. Hello World! Here I Come!!! And, as if there are not enough latches, clips and grooves, there is one more strap - the leg strap, which offers a little more stability for your baby's bottom if he is between 8 and 11 pounds. Once he is over 11 pounds, you don't need to worry about that strap anymore.
Anyways, if you read all that and think "Complicated" - you're right. But like any other complicated baby product, the more you use it, the easier it will get. And all those straps and clips just keep the baby where he belongs - strapped to you.
The fabric of the Baby Bjorn is thick - 1/2" of fluff. It is dark blue. It is hot and stuffy in the summer. It is warm and cozy in the winter. The front piece is 100% polyethylene foam. The straps are 100% polyester fill pad. If you figure you will get 5 - 12 months of use out of this, just try to plan accordingly on whether you want this model or one of the cooler models. There are ones that let air circulate more freely if you want a Baby Bjorn product. You can throw the Baby Bjorn in the wash and let it air dry. I've done it quite a few times and it looks a little faded, but only I would notice.
I mentioned briefly before that you can have the baby facing towards your chest, or out towards the world with the Baby Bjorn. Having him face your chest is perfect for when they have little head and neck control and just want to cozy on up to you and nap. You just keep the very top of the Baby Bjorn unfolded and connect the head support buckle with the head support knob. When the baby is ready to face forward, you fold down the top of the Head Support portion and then connect the head support buckle with the head support knob. Super simple with some practice.
FINAL WORD
Out of two boys, I have gotten 5 months use out of the Baby Bjorn. I find it to be hot and stuffy. But, compared to a sling, I did think it was very stable and that my son would not fall out of it. So 5 stars for safety and durability. 3 stars for amount of use I got out of it and 2 stars for comfort. I would not pay for it.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 80
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
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