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After an ill-fated experience with a Baby Bjorn front carrier (they are just not made to be worn for longer than a few months) when Sunshine was a baby, I researched other carrier options.
I found the Ergo carrier and was much happier with it than I was with the Baby Bjorn. It was just so much more comfortable and versatile. (the carrier I linked to is a newer, much cooler version)
We used it front facing when she was younger, and then switched to carrying her on my back. I frequently carried her on my back when she was young (till about 2 and a half, I think?) and then off and on for another year or two when the need arose.
I never did the baby carrier carseat thing (we had her in a massive convertible car seat from the time she was born)- so any time I took her with me, she was in the Ergo. I loved being able to keep her contained (no running off!), though as she got older I had to make sure I didn’t stand too close to shelves in stores or she’d grab stuff off them.
When I was pregnant with River I discovered the Boba carrier while at a local baby expo. It’s very similar to the Ergo, but with a couple differences that I thought made it worthwhile to purchase it.
The Boba can be adjusted to hold an infant- no special insert needed (which is the case with the Ergo). They both have pockets on the main portion, but the Boba also has pockets on the waist band. They both have hoods, though neither are easy to use when the kiddo is on your back.
There are three things I really like about the Boba that our 10.5-year-old Ergo doesn’t have (maybe they do now, I don’t know).
- The straps on both shoulders that you can snap around your purse strap to keep it on your shoulder are awesome. I could never keep my purse on my shoulder with the Ergo carrier on.
- I like that the Boba has little foot stirrups that attach to the carrier to support the child’s feet and legs once they start getting bigger. Funnily enough, despite that being a selling point, I have yet to actually use them. Ocean is big enough for them to be useful now, I just need to pull them out and attach them.
- I also like that the neck support area at the top of the carrier body is adjustable via a strap in the pocket, which is great for getting a snugger fit for smaller kiddos while still allowing for future use as the baby grows.
Both the Boba and the Ergo are adjustable. Jeremy, who’s over a foot taller than me, can carry a kiddo in either carrier just by loosening the straps. Tighten them back up, and I’m back on kiddo-carrying duty. I do think the Boba straps are easier to adjust since they adjust at both ends. The Ergo straps only adjust at one end.
I recently gave the Ergo carrier to a friend since I wasn’t using it, but the Boba is still being used on a regular basis.
When we go on our weekly hikes, Ocean is on my back in the Boba. And I wear him strapped to my front during church- it helps him stay calmer and keeps him from running around.
In my mind the Boba has a slim lead over the Ergo. However, there’s a much wider variety of baby carriers available than when Sunshine was little, so I know that comparing just two carriers is barely scratching the surface.
What carrier(s) have you used? Which is your favorite?
