The Sling Lady

We’ve featured Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford wearing her baby in a Sea Green ERGO before, but this picture was just too cute not to post!  Plus, it just says everything we love about using a baby carrier!

**June 20, 2010: Update! We will be receiving the new blue Sport ERGOs on Wednesday June 23 and they’ll be ready to ship on Thursday, June 24.  New items often sell fast so if you’re dying for this,  order yours now!

The ERGO Sport Baby Carrier was released last summer and has been a mega seller ever since.  In fact, it’s our #1 seller here at Carry Me Away.  And why not?  The Sport has all the comfort of the original and organic ERGO carriers, but it’s made of a lighter, breathable, wicking fabric and has a vent to keep you and the baby cooler while wearing it.  Our customers in hot weather climates say it definitely makes a difference!  The Sport has longer straps to accommodate fluffier wearers, and that’s always a good thing.

I’m therefore excited to report that ERGO has announced a new color for the Sport, to debut this summer:blue!  I think this will be a great alternative for people who aren’t necessarily fond of black and also for those concerned about black being hot.  Lighter colors also show less lint and baby spit up, lol.

Anyways, here it is!

What do you think?

Spring is in full bloom here in Napa and what with the winter rains finally coming to an end, my thoughts are turning to spending serious time outdoors again.  My husband and I enjoy hiking and were determined to keep hiking a part of our life even after we had children.  We therefore found ways to make hiking both possible AND fun with an infant or young toddler.

So in the spirit of fun times ahead, here are a few tips for hiking with your baby.

1.  Only Hike In Good Weather

This may go without saying, but many adults have no problem hiking in the rain or the cold.  Babies, on the other hand, are not as able to regulate their body temperature like adults can and since they are not generating heat through activity, they can lose body heat quickly through their hands and feet.  What’s more, babies and young children  do not follow instructions even when it’s to their benefit to do so!  No matter what you do, sometimes your child will insist on hanging a foot, hand, or even head outside of the rain cover or poncho to get cold and wet. The end result?  Unhappy baby, unhappy parents.  Always check the weather forecast before leaving and bring inclement weather gear even if it’s not forecast.

2. Check Baby Frequently

Take frequent breaks to stop and check on your baby. Check arms and legs to make sure s/he is warm enough but not overheating. Check the diaper to make sure it’s dry and clean. Check to make sure the baby is not hungry. Also, plan to stop every so often just to give your baby a break from the carrier.  Let baby lay (or sit or crawl or stand) along the trail and explore. Babies usually enjoy gazing at trees, clouds, and other sights along the way.

3.  Plan ahead for diaper changes.

If you’re going to be hiking along a place that may not always be conducive to diaper changing, change diapers whenever the opprotunity strikes.  Take a long a thick pad or blanket for a changing pad, and enough diapers/wipes to last the trip.  Also consider bringing a wet bag to put dirty things in until you are able to dispose of them.  Many hiking trails do not have regularly placed trash cans and you may need to pack your dipes and wipes out (yes, even if they are bio-degradable).   Don’t forget an extra set of clothing in the event of a blowouts.  Cause you know they’ll happen if you are not prepared!

4. Make getting in the baby carrier fun! Even the most chill baby can get fussy when asked to ride in a carrier for a long time.  When we took Jack on a weeklong backpacking trip in the Sierras with my parents, he started to get fussy when I made to put him back on my back.  Our solution: all four of us stood around and cheered when I put Jack in the carrier.  We whooped and hollered until he started laughing and grinning.  We did this every time I loaded him up, and it made the whole trip a lot more fun for all of us.

5. Plan extra time for your hike. I always say that doing anything with kids takes twice as long, and this is certainly true for hiking!  The extra weight of carrying your baby will slow you down some, and you will need to take more frequent and longer breaks to attend to baby’s needs and give him/her a break from the carrier.  If you go into the hike planning for this extra time, you will have a much better time.  Try to be less goal-oriented and more experience oriented than you may have been when hiking with adults.

6. Bring the right supplies – a quick list:

• Basic hiking supplies, including emergency shelter, food, water, and first aid kit
• Enough diapers to last the entire hike.
• A wetbag or plastic Ziploc for wet clothes and/or dirty dipes
• Anti-bacterial hand wash
• A blanket to serve as a changing pad as well as an extra warmth layer if baby seems cold.
• Change of clothes for the baby in case of diaper messes.
• Warm clothing, including a hat, socks, mittens, if there is any chance of the weather turning chilly or rainy.
• Sun hat & baby sunscreen.  We love BabyLegs for covering up arms and legs from the sun and especially for that gap between the bottom of the pant leg and the top of the sock that always happens when we put our babies in carrier!
• Snacks for baby.  If your child is eating solids, snacks are a great way to keep a fussy baby entertained while on the go.
• A few toys that can be attached to your carrier with a toy clip.
• A babywearing mirror for checking out your baby while on the go. Babies also love mirrors as toys.

7.  Bring a baby carrier that is comfortable for both you and the baby I generally recommend carrying baby on your back for hiking.  This is both more comfortable for the wearer (our bodies are built to carry heavy loads on our backs) and safer in that you can watch your step and maneuver more easily.  My favorite carriers for day hiking are:

• ERGO Baby Carrier - this carrier is a favorite for both men and women.  The padded waist is great for putting baby’s weight on your hips instead of your shoulders.  The ERGO is also comfortable for almost everyone.  and lastly, the ERGO has a great line of accessories that are great for hiking, including a backpack and a front pack so that you won’t need to carry an extra bag.  The ERGO can be worn on the back or on the front if you prefer.   Best for babies with good head control.  Consider the ERGO Sport if you get sweaty easily – it’s much cooler than other versions!
• Beco Baby Carrier – this carrier is also super comfortable for most people.  I especially recommend the Beco for hiking if you are concerned about getting an older baby safely on your back or if you want to hand off the baby without taking him/her out of the carrier.  The Beco’s internal harness makes this a breeze.
• Pikkolo Baby Carrier - our most versatile carrier.  For hiking, definitely consider the support belt accessory for kids over 20 lbs. The Pikkolo is a great choice if you’d like a small baby to be able to look over your shoulder or if you would really prefer for your baby to be in the front facing forward position.
• Kozy Carrier Mei Tai – my recommendation for hiking with a very young baby.  The Kozy can be safely used in a high back carry even before baby has good head control.

For hikes of several days or more, I recommend a frame backpack.  My favorite was a Kelty carrier from REI.

Have you been hiking with your baby?  I’d love to hear about it!  Tell your story, in the comments.

I wonder if Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle talk baby carriers on the set?  Cause they’ve both been spotted wearing their little cuties in ERGO baby carriers.  Here is Kelly and daughter Helena Grace in the Sea Green Organic version.   I must say, it looks great on her.

I think I’m a little behind the times, I somehow missed Ethan Hawke even had a new baby.  I knew I should have kept up my People mag subscription!  Anyways, here he is, all business, and showing off his one-year old daughter Clementine in a cranberry ERGO baby carrier.  He’s wearing it just right, and they both look very comfy!  I love that he’s carrying a sippy cup, too (looks like a Playtex one, if my memory serves), which he could also put in the pocket of the ERGO – it’s perfect for that sort of thing!

ERGO just re-released the all-cranberry carrier, which is great because it’s a surprising hit with Dads.  More interesting than plain black, it’s still manly!  I think guys also tend to prefer the single color ERGO (vs. the ones with contrasting colored hoods).  Our first ERGO was cranberry colored, and my DH chose it.  So I’m happy to see them back!  And happy to see that yet another celebrity has found the babywearing love.

Okay, I hear you!  You are intrigued the new Heart2Heart infant insert from ERGOBaby, but you’re just not sure how it works, or how it’s better than the old one.  If you can put aside the fact that I rushed these pictures into print (I took them on my dining room table and didn’t iron the tablecloth), here are a few photos to illustrate. 

To the left is the old infant insert. It basically acted like a super-supportive blanket. You folded it around baby and positioned the baby sideways in the ERGO baby carrier, with legs hanging out the side. The insert provided some support for baby’s head and back and prevented the straps from digging into her face. While this was adequate, many parents found it difficult to get baby positioned just right, and also worried that the baby would wiggle out the side of the carrier (although I personally didn’t have that concern). The fact that the insert was open at the bottom just made it more difficult to figure out exactly how to tuck baby into it. Moreoever, the old infant insert only supported this reclined cradle carry whereas many infant prefer the upright tummy to tummy (or heart-to-heart) carry. Plus, the ERGO is designed to wear children in an upright position, so it made sense to have an insert that functioned that way, too.

Enter the Heart2Heart, the newly redesigned infant insert.

There is a cushion at the bottom of this carrier to provide extra support for baby’s hips and also to keep baby in the seated position. The insert is partially sewn shut and that, added to the cushion, make it virtually fool-proof to position baby in the carrier. Here is a picture of Molly, my demo doll, positioned in the insert (she’s meant to be sleeping although this picture looks rather, well, funereal). Her bum is resting on the cushion in the insert, and her legs are supported in a curved, seated position.

Then the strap holds the carrier close around baby before you put baby into your ERGO baby carrier. I like this because it leaves even less room for error and because you can focus on getting the carrier positioned, rather than having to worry about baby’s position.

After that, you just pick baby up, supporting the head, and put them in the carrier as you would an older child, only the legs remain curled against your chest instead of outside the carrier.  As baby gets older, you can also have the legs out while using the insert.

Okay, that’s not me, but trust me, you’d rather be looking at him than me today!

Bottom line on the new Heart2Heart infant insert: it’s definitely an improvement on the old one. I can recommend it if you are only wanting to own one carrier throughout your child’s lifetime. But having experience other buckle carriers that are designed especially for infants, I prefer the Pikkolo or the Beco baby carriers for the infant stage. Or better yet, a pouch or a ring sling for that cuddle newborn age. A pouch or ring sling make a great companion to the ERGO, as they are super easy on/off and can be used for years as hip carriers even when baby grows out of the cradle carry.

I should note that if you’re looking for a great deal on the old infant inserts, they are on sale!

Was this helpful? Let me know in the comments, or ask other questions and I’ll try to answer them!

Just a quick update to let you know that we now have the new ERGO baby carriers in stock, they just arrived today.  You can read my earlier post about the new offerings here including Sienna Sunset (pictured above).  Unbelievably, we’ve had a crazy run on the Galaxy Grey carriers even before they arrived, so that we’ve only got one in stock.  We’ve placed another order and hope to have more in next week, but if you’ve been dying to get your hands on this one, you need to act fast!

Check out all the new carriers here.

Ok, so Matthew’s not actually wearing the ERGO, at least not in this picture.  In this case, it’s his wife, Naama Nativ, carrying 6-month-old baby daughter, Aven Angelica, in an organic blue/green ERGO baby carrier.  She’s wearing it just right, too.  Nice and high on her chest – both she and baby look so comfy!  One of the (many) great things about the ERGO is that it’s hard to do wrong.

The Home Safety Council, a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing home-related injuries, recently released research results showing that many parents are unaware of basic steps they can take to keep their babies safe from injury in the home.  Among their recommendations: having a hands-free baby carrier on hand for use in case of a fire or other emergency.  If you have to crawl under smoke or use a safety ladder to get outside, a secure hands-free baby carrier can literally be a life-saver.  Read the full article.

I should have thought of this!  Honestly, even though I’ve been a babywearing educator for close to 7 years, it never even occurred to me that a baby carrier would be the essential item in your disaster toolkit.  I don’t generally dwell on this sort of thing too much, and before reading this article, if you’d asked me about an emergency situation, I probably would have answered that I’d grab my kids and run.  And certainly, there are some emergencies in which you wouldn’t have time (or the presence of mind) to find your carrier, but in many situations, you might have a few minutes for that extra protection.

For this kind of situation, the SlingLady recommends a secure, two-shouldered carrier that you can get on and off in a jiffy and which will allow you to move quickly as well as being truly hands free.  For this purpose, we like a front or back buckle carrier: the Beco Baby Carrier, the Pikkolo, and the ERGO baby carrier are all great options.

This article was a great reminder that it makes sense to take some time now to identify a carrier in your stash for this purpose and to always keep in a spot you’ll remember, even when it’s hard to think clearly.  And now, please excuse me while I grab my ERGO carrier and put it under my nightstand.

Whew!  Karin Frost (owner of ERGO) and her team have been busy this year!  Their booth at ABC debuted a whopping number of new color combinations, a completely re-thought infant insert, and organic sucking pads. Plus, they’re bringing back an old favorite – solid cranberry.The ERGO booth was hopping, too! I got to meet Judie Anderson, who has always been helpful and responsive when dealing with my customer service questions.

ERGO has been teasing us about the new Heart-to-Heart product: turns out, it’s their new infant insert, completely re-designed. My favorite part of the redesign is that it allows for newborns to be held in a heart-to-heart (hence the name) upright position. This is more natural for both parent and baby and will definitely be less cumbersome than using the old infant insert, which was used with baby positioned sideways in the carrier. The new insert has a small bolster at the bottom to provide support for baby’s spine and pelvis and also to mitigate the wideness of the ERGO’s base until baby is big enough to be comfortable with legs spread that widely. I also think parents are going to find the strap handy – this allows you to get baby positioned into the insert, strapped in, and then placed into the carrier. For what it’s worth, mei tai owners who are having trouble positioning newborns may also find this helpful. The infant insert will be available in Natural and Galaxy print (swirly grey and cream) as well as Organic Beige and Organic Silver.

As for the new color combos, where do I begin? What caught my eye first was the Sienna Sunset organic carrier- it is absolutely brilliant. It’s a lovely embroidered burnt sienna with a the lining and hood in a muted rainbow of color. This is one carrier that looks even better in person than in pictures! There’s a matching front pouch as well.

I’m in love with grey at the moment, so was so happy to see that ERGO has caught the craze with the new Galaxy Grey carrier. A pretty shade of grey that’s neither too light nor too dark, this carrier has a swirly “galaxy” lining and star embroidery on it. The new Heart-to-Heart comes in a Galaxy Grey pattern to match the lining on this carrier and the Organic Silver insert will look beautiful with it as well.   A matching front pouch is available, too.

Although ERGO retired the Organic Green carrier, they are bringing green back this Fall, in a lighter shade of Sea Green, paired with a silver hood and lining. In organic cotton twill, this is a refined and pretty combination. Matching front pouch. This would also pair nicely with the old green front pouches, if you can find them!

The Navy/Midnight is another option I loved. Made with organic cotton twill, this has a very polished finish (vs. the old brushed canvas). It’s lined with cotton sateen in midnight blue. This is a great neutral that Dads will love, but it’s definitely prettier than basic black.  Of course, this also has a navy front pouch.

Last but not least, ERGO finally has organic sucking pads! Available in natural only, these have snaps instead of velcro, which seems much easier to deal with.

All of these options will be available for shipping at CMA no later than mid-October (and hopefully sooner). Pre-order yours now!