This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Andrea Toman for winning an ERGObaby Carrier!
I am happy and proud to describe myself as a baby-wearing mom. A lot has been written about the benefits of wearing your baby (Benefits of Baby Wearing from LLL and 10 Reasons to Wear Your Baby) and my desire was to be a ‘baby-wearer’ from the time my first was born, so I dutifully asked for and received a baby carrier and tried to wear my sweet baby from the beginning.
While I did use the baby carrier a lot, but I would not have classified myself as a baby wearer because that first carrier and others that followed, (you know the ones that you find at the local baby stores) just weren’t comfortable enough to allow me to wear my baby for long periods of time day-in and day-out.
8 1/2 months pregnant wearing 2 year old Nick
That continued until I was expecting our 8th baby and my mom purchased me an ERGObaby carrier. I was 7 1/2 months pregnant when I first wore one of my children in the ERGO and Savannah (then 16 months old) spent 2 1/2 happy hours while we shopped. No tired shoulders or sore neck, just a completely content little girl who enjoyed being so close to her mommy and a mommy who had discovered that baby wearing could be comfortable.
What is an ERGObaby Carrier?
An ERGObaby carrier is a soft frame baby carrier designed for use with babies with good head control (4-5 months) up to children around 40 pounds. (ERGO does provide an infant insert that enables you to wear your baby from birth through 4-5 months. I will be trying that accessory and telling you about it after our little one is born in July.)
The carrier has been tested safe up to 90 pounds, so really it’s for as long as both you and your baby are happy using it. We still wear our 3 1/2 year old and our 2 year old and yes, I am still wearing them even though I’m 8 1/2 months pregnant. However, I might encourage them to ask one of their siblings or their daddy to “ERGO” them.
The ERGO is designed to enable you to carry your baby in three different positions front, back or hip carry.
The ERGO is also equipped with a sleeping hood that supports the baby’s head when they are sleeping. Trust me, this is a wonderful and important feature, because the ERGO is one of our boys favorite places to nap when we are on the go.
What makes an ERGO different?
The ERGO was different from the other carriers that I had used in that the weight of the baby is carried on your waist, not your shoulders, back or neck. This is amazingly comfortable and Mark and I have carried our babies on 6 mile hikes over rocky terrain quite comfortably.
In whatever position you are wearing your baby, the baby faces you and conforms to the shape of your body. This not only makes the ERGO more comfortable, it also allows you to interact with your baby. Even when I’m wearing one of our boys in the back carry position (and can’t see their face) the interaction is sweet, they will rub my back, ask me to rub their legs and point out different items of interest as we walk along. And of course, when they are tired they will lean their head up against my back and go to sleep.
“The ergonomic design supports a correct sitting position for the baby’s hip, pelvis and spine growth. It disperses most of the baby’s weight between the hips and thighs and helps prevent compression of the spine.” This is much better for the babies growth and development than other carriers that dangle babies by their crotch.
Why we love our ERGO.
Need I say anything more? Our two youngest children, whom we call our ‘ERGO babies’, have had this reaction nearly every time we pull out our ERGO. Until just before his third birthday Colby would bring me the ERGO or ask me to “ERGO” him during that” tough-for-little-kids-time-of-day” while mom is getting dinner ready.
After 7 children I was finally a baby-wearing mom and our family has been reaping the benefits ever since. We no longer use our stroller, or have to leave a store because the baby is screaming. Our babies have been much more portable and adaptable to going and doing in different places at different times. Because they are able to comfortably nap in the ERGO it’s much easier to have a more flexible schedule without having a miserable little one.
We even used the ERGO to train one of our boys to sit still during church. From the time he was just a few months old we would simply put him in the ERGO at the beginning of the service and our hyper active, overly stimulated little one would calm down and eventually take his morning nap in the ERGO.
Isn't it beautiful?
As a mom of soon-to-be 10, there are very few things that I consider “necessary”, a good, quality baby carrier is one of those things, don’t settle for less, baby wearing doesn’t have to be painful or uncomfortable. It really is worth it to find a baby wearing product that you love, for our family the ERGO is one of those products.
Buy an ERGObaby Carrier.
You may purchase an ERGObaby carrier from between $105 and $148 at ERGObaby carrier.com.
Don’t forget to check out their infant inserts if you want to use it with a baby younger than 4 or 5 months, their practical front pouch, perfect for camera, keys and cell phone and other accessories!
Win an ERGObaby Carrier.
I’m thrilled that ERGObaby has offered to give one of my readers their very own ERGObaby carrier. Our family LOVES this carrier, we recommend it all the time and we firmly believe that it’s completely worth the investment.
To enter:
- Leave a comment on this post telling me about your baby wearing experience (or lack thereof).
Additional entries: (Please leave a comment for each additional entry.)
- Share a link to this giveaway on your Facebook page.
- Tweet about this giveaway and leave your Twitter ID.
- Post about this giveaway. (3 entries, leave a separate comment for each entry)
- “Like” or become a fan of Raising Olives on Facebook (or let me know that you already do).
Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents and will end at midnight on Thursday, June 24th.
Related posts:
With a 14 month old and 6 month pregnant with another one I do not wear my baby girl like I would like to. I just can’t seem to find a sling that is comfortable over my growing belly. I have always wanted ot try an Ergo. Maybe it is the right one for us.
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I liked you in facebook.:)
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Ergun Meric Reply:
June 24th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
istiyorum.. (“I want it” in Turkish..)
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I also posted a link on my facebook page. Can you tell I would like ot win this carrier.
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Our oldest daughter is due with our first grandchild this July! I would love an ERGO to carry him around. We had a backpack for our children because we hike alot but mostly we carried them. I did have a sling for our youngest, who is now 11. I love having babies close by me. I am enjoying your blog and recommend it to other home schooling Moms.
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I liked you on Facebook.
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I shared a link on Facebook. My daughter just set me up on Facebook a few days ago and it’s fun with so many of my friends and my kids friends asking to “be my friend”.
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I have tried so many carriers & they all hurt my shoulders! I tried the M. Wrap & it just didn’t fit right. I have really been wanting to try an ERGO!
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Posted on FB
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I “Like” you on FB!
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I have never found a baby carrier I could wear comfortably for more than an hour or two! I would LOVE to win an ERGO and try it out!
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I also liked you on FB!
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LOL- I also shared the post on FB!
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I ‘liked’ you on FB
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I posted a link on my facebook page
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We have an ergo that we use right now with our 10month old baby girl. But we are adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia in 5 months so we will need another one. My husband and I both like to wear our babies when we go out! =)
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tweet
http://twitter.com/mommyericae/status/16923828231
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I haven’t done much baby wearing, just when I went to the store when my twins were babies. One in the carrier one in the cart and my oldest in the cart as well. Now we have baby number 4 on the way and it sounds like it would be great to have her on me and still have my hands free!
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I just found out I am expecting our 5th child after 9 years of not having children because my husband had a vasectomy. After being convicted that the Lord should be in control of this area of our lives we chose to have a reversal last December. We are welcoming our first reversal miracle baby next February! I never have used a carrier but seeing several mom’s in my church use them and it looks like a great tool! I would love to win one!
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I am also a baby-wearing mom, but get achey and tired from sore shoulders! Also, when baby falls asleep, his head always flops around and I haven’t found a carrier yet that prevents this (have tried the sling which smooshed baby, the Bjorn which hurt by back, and a mei tai which flops heads!)…so ERGO might be next on our list!
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After Baby #4, I got a Maya and a Moby. Both were great while the baby was small, but my husband won’t touch them. Now Baby #5 is on the way and I’d love for him to have a way to carry our 11-month old so I can carry our littlest more comfortably!
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I will be FTM in Septemmber and would love to have one of those!!
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tweet.. http://twitter.com/RITAGIRL/status/16948926963
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Shared a link on FB!
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Like you on FB
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I would love to win an Ergo baby carrier, I have been drooling over these since my daughter outgrew the moby wrap, my arms are tired and my wallet small.
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Tweeted it
http://twitter.com/cebmom97
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daily tweet-http://bit.ly/9RqDk8
madtownspriteatgmaildotcom
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I’m pregnant with our third and and would love to try an Ergo this time around!
With my first, I hadn’t really heard about baby-wearing at all. But by my second, some friends bought me a Moby Wrap, which I’ve loved. Something a little less complicated to get on and off would be nice, though….
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My shoulders have hurt after a couple of hours of wearing a number of different wraps.
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“Like” Raising Olives on Facebook
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I used a Moby wrap with my youngest when he was a infant. I get too hot wearing the Moby wrap now that it’s summer. I would love to try the Ergo!
I follow your blog!
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I love your blog…just had my 7th baby and for the first time am wearing a sling…loving having my baby on me without hurting my back….but would love to try out the Ergo carrier.
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I never even considered myself as a “baby-wearer” with my first two little ones. I had the Baby Bjorn and used it when they were teeny tiny, but after about 2 months they seemed so uncomfortable (and so was I!). Then a friend of mine had a newborn and she used a sling with him. I thought they looked so precious cuddling together and so I was sure that I’d borrow it from her when I had my third. After thinking about it though, I realized you can’t really “baby-wear” a one year old in a sling either! So, another friend loaned me her baby wrap when I had my fourth. Unfortunately in that I felt like a mummy not a mommy! Now my third child is three and my fourth child is one and I still long to “wear my babies”. Maybe the Ergo is what I’m looking for?
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I loved wearing my third child! She loved it too! I wish that I had known about baby wearing when my other two were little! They would have been much happier! I am expecting my 4th and would love to try one of these!! Thanks
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I also liked you on facebook
Thanks again!
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I also posted the giveaway on facebook!
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I have a maya wrap that I have used with my last two out of four children, and while its been great for that newborn stage, its ROUGH with an older, heavier baby. I tried on a friends ergo a couple of years ago and have been wanting one ever since!! My newest edition is 6 months old and I would LOVE to win this!!
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I am now a fan on FB! Love your blog…will be a regular follower now
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I have three boys. With my first and second, I used a Snugli. *gasp* It was not until my third, that I discovered ERGOs and Becos and Pikkolos! I would love to try one with this guy! Thanks!
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I tweeted your giveaway!
http://twitter.com/basketgal123/status/16985954897
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I have five children five and under, and I wish I could “wear” my baby like that! It sure would help my schedule!
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I have worn my twins in a homemade moby style wrap and my dh and I each have a Beco to wear them in now.
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I “like” you on fb
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With my last 3 children I started “wearing them more” I have 8 and know I have married children. I would love to encourage them to wear their babies and an ergo baby carrier is just the thing.
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I have always wanted one of these. I have used an assortment of wraps and slings with my kiddos.
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I have used several different carriers found the traditional snugglie to be horrid and tried a sling and a pouch, I have always wanted an ergo. We have a new baby due in several weeks and I haven’t purchased one yet still hoping to have the funds! My pouch is going to be too warm and the sling is okay but not as comfortable as I would like. Thanks for the opportunity.
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