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BABYBJORN
I wanted to take the time to post about this brand in our community as I feel its cops a bit of abuse and has a reputation with some people for being a baby carrier that is not very ergonomic. So I would like to set the record straight and make you guys informed. Below are my observations as a trained babywearing consultant on their range of carriers over the years and what you are likely to come across in Babywearing Libraries. My word is not gospel, but babywearing is something I know quite a bit about and I hope this will help you to make your own informed decision when it comes to borrowing or purchasing a carrier from their range.
Back in the days the Original Baby Carrier was BabyBjorn´s signature carrier. This carrier has been around for many years. I have seen it passed down from friends and family members, I was even gifted one of these carriers in a bag of Mummy & Baby goodies. However, over the years BabyBjorn have continued to develop their range and we have seen the introduction and farewell of The Original and We carriers, the introduction of The One, Mini and Move.
You can find their current selection of 4 carriers on the following link:
https://www.babybjorn.eu/baby-carriers/
However, since BabyBjorn carriers are built to last and be passed on, I have taken the time to observe and comment on the entire selection of carriers new families may come across in their babywearing journey:
One/ One Air
We
Mini
Original / Miracle
Move
Scroll through this post to see photos of their range and some of my observations and tips on wearing these carriers to make the most out of your babywearing experience with them.
Please feel free to share this blog post with someone you feel would benefit.
The One
Carrier: The One Carrier: Weight Range: 3.5kg to around 3 years. Positions: Front inward & outward facing and back carry from 12 months. Materials: Cotton and mesh (called One Air)
CLICK HERE to learn how to operate The One Carrier
I think this carrier is one of the most ergonomic and supportive of their range. You can adjust the width of the seat as the baby grows to maintain knee to knee support. There is a zip on the inside of the carrier that allows you to adjust the height of the baby on your torso as well. Things I have observed when helping parents with this carrier: It is quite a bulky carrier for newborns/smaller babies. It also does not give the best head support for newborns and sleeping babies, so be gentle with your movements. Also when baby is heavier and has longer legs, this applies pressure to the zips that alter the width of the seat making the seat narrow. This means you need to keep checking that the zips remain done up on the wider setting. If you are shopping for a BabyBjorn and find you are trying this carrier on, try The We carrier as well to help you compare and decide what it is you like or dislike about these carriers on YOUR body with YOUR baby.
Wearing Your Baby Outward Facing
Recommended from 4-5months when baby has good head control. As you can see in the image above, the baby's hips are not really supported from knee to knee in this position, but the seat is wide enough that they are not dangling from their crutch. This is not going to harm your baby if you wear them in this position for the recommended time of 15-20mins. If you would like your baby to be more ergonomic in this position, you could support their feet so that their knees are above or more in line with their bottom. Please turn your baby around immediately if they fall asleep facing outwards.
The We
Carrier: The We Carrier Weight range: 3.5kg to around 3 years. Positions: Front inward & outward facing and back carry from 12 months.
CLICK HERE to learn how to operate The We Carrier
This carrier is no longer stocked on the BabyBjorn website, however, you may see it still available on other sites selling ´baby gear´. This carrier seems to be quite a stiff and structured carrier which generally means that it is better for bigger babies. On a brand new baby I recommend a carrier that moulds its shape to the curvature of a newborn baby's spine. This carrier has good adjustable hip support. Its design is very similar to The One. If you are shopping for a BabyBjorn and find you are trying this carrier on, try The One as well to help you compare and decide what it is you like or dislike about these carriers on YOUR body with YOUR baby.
The Mini
Carrier: The Mini Weight Range: 3.2kg to 11kg or 12 months. Positions: Front inward & outward facing Materials: Cotton, jersey & mesh
CLICK HERE to learn how to operate The Mini
BabyBjorn liken this carrier to the stretchy wrap and say it is good for short carries (why not long I wonder). This carrier is soft and flexible and is designed more for babywearing in the 4th trimester. It shapes itself beautifully to the curvature of the baby's C-shaped spine. But do note that its head support is not that great so you need to move gently or support the back of baby's head with your hand as you move. The shape of the carrier also supports the newborn baby's hips in a lovely M position. The things to watch on this carrier: The Mini does not have a waist belt which means the baby's weight is distributed across the wearer's shoulders. This may especially be even more uncomfortable when baby is facing outwards with their weight pulling forward on the wearer's back. If you have back issues, then I would consider a carrier with a waist belt. Another thing to note in this carrier is the seat width. The width of the seat does not go very wide so I doubt it will be giving knee to knee support by the time baby is 12 months. If you are shopping for a BabyBjorn and find you are trying this carrier on, try The Original carrier as well to help you compare and decide what it is you like or dislike about these carriers on YOUR body with YOUR baby.
The Original
Carrier: The Original / The Miracle Weight range: 3.5kg to 11kg or 12 months. Positions: Front inward & outward facing (from 5 months) Materials: Cotton, cotton/jersey & mesh
CLICK HERE to learn how to operate The Original
This is the carrier that gets the most flack from BabyBjorn critics. BabyBjorn say on their website that this carrier is perfect for newborns, I would tend to disagree. Despite it having some good points, I find this to be the least ergonomic carrier of their range and would say the Mini has better sine and hip support for a newborn than the Original. Positives about this carrier: *Fairly basic to use. *Keeps baby close to parent with their head close enough to kiss. *Allows the parent and baby to access the benefits of Babywearing. *This carrier was responsible for keeping babywearing in fashion when the stroller was becoming more popular. Negatives about this carrier: *Head support is not that great. *The fabric is quite stiff and does not shape gently to the curvature of a newborn's spine. *The width of the seat does not go very wide. It would only give knee to knee support from newborn to 4-5months. *Does not have a waist belt which means the baby's weight is distributed across the wearer's shoulders. If you have back issues, then I would consider a carrier with a waist belt.
The Miracle
CLICK HERE to learn how to operate The Miracle
The Miracle Carrier carrier by BabyBijorn is similar at the front panel where the baby sits and in the shoulder straps as the Original carrier. The main difference between the two carriers is that the Miracle has a triangular panel in the back that aims to give back support to the wearer. This is a feature that I found many owners of this carrier liked. In conclusion, whilst I believe there are better carriers for newborns than these two baby carriers, if it is the only one you have access to and you have a baby that absolutely must be worn then this carrier is totally fine. It may not be 100% comfortable for the wearer and there are ways to get around the knee to knee support--please see this link: https://youtu.be/hH122bHejhQ If you are shopping for a BabyBjorn and find you are trying one of these carriers on, also try The Mini and The Move to help you compare and decide what it is you like or dislike about these carriers on YOUR body with YOUR baby.
The Move
Carrier: The Move Weight Range: 3.2kg to approximately 15 months (max 12 kg) Positions: Front inward & outward facing (from 5 months) Materials: Cotton, cotton/jersey & mesh
CLICK HERE to learn how to operate The Move
A recent addition to their line of carriers, the Move seems to be reminiscent of the Miracle carrier but with better hip and neck support for baby. It is like BabyBjorn has taken the harness from the Miracle baby carrier, added more padding to the straps and changed the panel at the front so that the baby´s hips are more cupped and supported in the ergonomic M shape position.
The top of the carrier panel is more adjustable than the Miracle and seems to support a newborn or sleeping baby´s head firmly and comfortably. At the back of the harness, The Move has an adjustable triangular panel that provides back support to the wearer. I have not had the opportunity to work with this carrier yet, so my observations are based on online observation, research and customer feedback reviews.
A Final Word...
I am grateful to BabyBjorn for keeping babywearing in mainstream fashion during a time where strollers /prams /push chairs were all the rage. However, I feel that some people still consider this brand of carrier not ergonomic. Babywearing is about creating love and connection not about instilling fear and anxiety. It is important that we be informed on the decisions we make when we strap, wrap or sling our babies on to our bodies.
3 top tips when looking for an ergonomic carrier: 1) Sits snug and close enough to kiss on the wearer's torso 2) Must support the natural C-shape curve of baby's spine 3) Must support baby from knee to knee so that baby's hips are held in an M-shape.
Please feel free to ask any questions if you have them.
Happy Babywearing Everyone!!
