Well Sharon, you are pretty close. The Ergo Baby Carrier D Ring is used to secure toys, pacifiers, or anything else for your little one to play with. I used to clip on my little girls favorite wooden teether. She was completely at ease on my back with her favorite soothing toy. I have also heard you can use it to hang your baby carrier on a hook or a coat rack while storing.

For those of you with the older Ergo Baby Carrier model with multiple d rings, they were previously used to secure the sleeping hood. FYI, this is the same Ergo model that did not have the chest straps permanently secured to the shoulder straps.

What do you use your Ergo Baby Carrier D Ring for? Let us know we would love to hear from you.

There are a couple of baby carriers that would probably work for Julie, but our first choice is a woven baby wrap, such as those by Ellaroo. Baby wraps are very versatile and can be worn on your front, back, or hip. Stretchy wraps are more affordable, but for back carrying or using past 6 months a woven wrap is more supportive. They are a great choice for bad backs, and will provide the most comfort while babywearing. You can even tie your wrap around the area where your back aches for extra support.

Our second choice is a soft structured baby carrier. They are easy to use and secure with buckles or clips. They generally have padded shoulder straps and a waist belt for lumbar support. All soft structured carriers fit slightly different, but our two favorite are the Ergo Baby Carrier or the Beco Baby Carrier.

Whatever baby carrier you use, it is important to remember to carry your baby high on your body. If you are carrying your baby too low it will hurt your back. It is also a good idea to start carrying your baby on your back as soon as they are developmentally ready. I started wearing my son on my back around 6 months, but you may be able to slightly earlier depending upon the baby carrier you choose and the options for securing your babies head while sleeping.

Do you need help choosing a baby carrier? Email us or leave a comment below. We would be glad to help you choose the perfect baby carrier

For somebody who is not yet committed to babywearing or interested in learning a baby wrap, my first choice would be a soft structured baby carriers. They are very easy to learn and somewhat similar in appearance to a Baby Bjorn. While soft structured baby carriers such as the Beco Baby Carrier or Ergo Baby Carrier look similar to the Bjorn, they keep baby in a seated position rather than hanging by their crotch. This is much better for babies developing spine and sacrum. Ergo Baby has a carrier made from a lighter weight fabric for better breathability. The Sport Ergo Baby Carrier also has a vented panel in the body of the baby carrier for extra air flow.

Pouches are another good choice for those not experienced with babywearing. They are a simple tube of fabric that you slip over your shoulder and place your baby in between the layers of fabric. They are small, compact, and easy to transport. The Hotslings Adjustable Pouch is a good choice for a gift because you do not have to know your sisters exact size. However, pouches do have some limitations. A pouch will not be as comfortable when wearing for longer periods of time or with heavier babies. It is also very important to get proper positioning when wearing a baby in the cradle position to prevent a baby

Parents that are interested in a forward facing carrier should consider why they want one. Is it because the parents assume a baby will want to see what is going on around them just as an adult does, or will a baby truly enjoy facing outward? Babies benefit from being able to make eye contact with their parent, watch their facial expressions, and social interactions. Babies that are forward facing cannot do these things.

Babies that are forward facing can also easily become overstimulated. A babies senses are raised and very aware. So much is new to them, and they still have a whole world to discover. What would seem to be a normal situation for us can actually become too much stimuli for them. Babies in forward facing carriers are unable to turn away from a busy environment and find the calming comfort of their parents face.

A baby can also sleep much easier by resting their head on your chest. A baby facing forward cannot find a stable position for their head, and their head will bob around limiting the quality of their sleep. So we cannot in good conscious recommend forward facing baby carriers. High quality baby carriers such as the Ergo Baby Carrier, Beco Baby Carrier, and BabyHawk do not support the forward facing position.

An alternative to wearing your baby facing out is using the hip carry which can be done with both the Ergo Baby Carrier, BabyHawk, and all baby slings. This is not as supportive as a two shouldered carry, but allows your baby a wider range of movement to observe the environment while still providing them the ability to turn away and find comfort from you.

“Now that my son is 7 months old I absolutely love my Ergo, especially now that I don’t have to use the insert, but I have just one problem. I still struggle clicking the chest buckle closed when wearing him on my front. Is there anything I can do to make it a little easier.”

Well I have to agree that sometimes I feel like a contortionist while trying to close the chest strap of the Ergo Baby Carrier. Here is what I do to make it easier. I loosen the chest strap almost entirely. Then I hold my son to my chest while I pull the shoulder straps on. When I reach over my shoulder to grab the chest strap, I use one hand to click it into place. Having extra slack on the chest strap is what does the trick. Once it is clicked in place, tighten as much as you need to keep your baby snug and secure to your chest.

As always we love to hear from you, so send us a question at info@lastellablu.com or leave a comment below. Happy babywearing!

Do you have back problems but still want to use a baby carrier?  This can be a problem for parents interested in babywearing.  Slings and other one shouldered baby carriers typically are not great for those who have back problems.

So what type of carrier should you use?  A two shouldered baby carrier such as a soft backpack, mei tai, or baby wrap will provide better weight distribution.  The type of carrier that you choose depends upon whether your back pain is in your lower back, hips, or shoulders.

The Ergo Baby Carrier is a soft backpack buckle carrier that is one of my favorite baby carriers for even weight distribution.  Weight is spread between your hips and shoulders.  This helps alleviate stress on your back.

Another option is a mei tai, such as the BabyHawk.  Mei tais can be tied higher on your waist to alleviate rubbing on your waist and hips. 

Wraps are really great at spreading the weight well across your entire back eliminating any pressure points.  They can also be tied higher on your waist to alleviate pressure on your lower back or hips.  For younger babies a stretchy wrap works perfectly, but for heavier babies and toddlers a woven wrap provides the best support.

In these ads Motrin makes fun of  the “supposed bonding experience”, describes babywearing as some sort of fad, claims that moms who wear their baby cry more than others.  They then go on to state that “these things” put a ton of strain on your back, neck, and shoulders.  The mom voice over says that it is ok to put up with the pain, because wearing your baby makes you look like a official mom.  According to the ads, that official mom look is “tired and crazy”.

It is hard  to know where to start with a response, but mothers everywhere should know that babywearing is not some type of fad, but rather one of the oldest traditions of parenting around the world.  Keeping your baby close simply feels right.  There are have been studies done that show wearing your baby helps reduce crying, is beneficial to premie babies (kangaroo care), and promotes bonding.  It is absolutely incomprehensible that Motrin would degrade the value of bonding between parents and their baby!

Babywearing should not be painful.  There are many high quality carriers available to parents today.  Unfortunately some of the mainstream carriers are not comfortable after ~15lbs.  With proper help a comfortable  carrier can be found for all body types and developmental stages of babies.

The statements regarding the crying babywearing moms who look tired and crazy is definitely the most offensive.  It is offbase and unfounded.  Mothers everywhere make choices based upon what they think is best for their little ones, not based upon what might be fashionable.  Wearing your baby is one of those choices.

 I know the next time I need a little pain relief, I’ll reach for an Aspirin.