Babys First Year Blog
Baby Carrying Back Pain
flickr | thetejon
I love wearing Tate. My baby wrap is one of the more recent developments in Western baby care that I can really appreciate. The possibility of holding your baby while having the use of both of your hands is completely genius.
It took me a few months to get the hang of using the wrap. Tate loves being held, so the Moby wrap gets an insane amount of use around here.
I just have one major problem. At the end of the day my back is absolutely killing me. I constantly adjust the straps to ride over my whole shoulder, but they slide right back to my trapezius muscle as soon as I use my arms at all.
Am I the only one with this problem? I don’t know how my body can handle wearing Tate as he gets bigger. If you have any tips on minimizing the strain of baby wearing, please let me know.
image: flickr | thetejon
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11 Comments
tagi commented on Sep 06 11 at 1:27 pmI changed to Ergo Carrier. It moves the weight of the baby more to the hips instead of the shoulders!
Kelsey commented on Sep 06 11 at 1:54 pmI second the Ergo (or third, or whatever it is, by the time I post this!). It might be a little hot for Texas– the Ergo Sport is lighter weight fabric, and the hip carry rather than tummy to tummy allows for more air flow, in my opinion. But, yeah, WAY better on the back.
Heather commented on Sep 06 11 at 2:36 pmI own a sling (double ring style), a sling from http://www.sevenslings.com, an ergo, and a snugli. I use them all at varying stages, we hiked to the wind caves in Logan canyon with me carrying the newborn in a sling, and Adam having the 2 year old in the ergo. It’s all about distribution, and if the moby wrap isn’t working anymore, I’d say do something else. Also, putting him on your back may help.
janell commented on Sep 06 11 at 5:01 pmI found the Moby started sagging when H was around 15 or so pounds… no matter how tight I tied it, she sagged and it killed my back. So I switched over to a woven wrap (a used Didymos) and using the same carries I had used with the Moby, had no more sag or pain! I could wear her in a front carry for hours. Once she had good neck control, I learned a few carries so I could get her on my back, which was a lifesaver for sure. Two free hands!! Back carries are not recommended in the Moby due to the stretch, so a woven was the only option for me.
I also have an ergo and a couple other soft-structured carriers (SSCs), and they were OK at that age, but I didn’t LOVE them until H was closer to crawling and a little more “sturdy”. Now, at 17 months, we use wraps, SSCs, a Mei Tai (MT) and a linen ring sling in a fairly even rotation.
Check out thebabywearer.com – great forums that will help you find the best option! And pick up used carriers on the cheap, which is super helpful when you are trying to find what works for you. I’d be happy to help you navigate!
Swissy commented on Sep 06 11 at 5:29 pmLove the Ergo – still using it at over 26 lbs. Stop what you’re doing of it hurts!
Kel commented on Sep 06 11 at 6:50 pmThe Beco baby carriers and other soft carriers like the Ergo would be great. You could also switch to a woven (not stretchy) wrap, which would support the bigger baby better, and allow you to safely do back carries because they don’t loosen over time.
Karen A. commented on Sep 06 11 at 10:45 pmAnother recommendation for an Ergo or Beco-style carrier. You’ll be amazed how much less your back hurts.
Julie commented on Sep 07 11 at 1:35 amYup, definitely agree on the Ergo. If it hurts, something isn’t fitting right.
David McAllister commented on Sep 07 11 at 5:03 amAll the western devices are desinged wrong. For the perfect carrying position the baby should sit behind the person, on the back. Carrying in front makes you un-balanced. The carrying of babies on the back has been is still practiced in Africa and Africa has the lowest reported incidents of back pain in the world.
Lisa commented on Sep 07 11 at 6:55 amErgo! The soft wraps are ideal for newborns but the Ergo is best for the 4+ month crowd.
sheri commented on Sep 07 11 at 10:56 amDefinitely second that you need to get a carrier that is more supportive. For every person this means something different, it can be a mei tai, like a kozy carrier or a structured carrier like an ergo or nordic, or a ring sling like one from rockin baby slings. You should be able to carry your baby up to 45 lbs and should not feel back pain at all!
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