Ergo question

APendola · July 2012

We bought an ergo sport. We have not bought an infant insert yet. I was just wondering how much use everyone got out of this. The lady at the store said that we would only need it for about a month. So we were thinking that maybe we'd just stick to a stroller for the first month. But I've heard other people say that you need the infant insert for a few months. Any suggestions?

celiabwatson · July 2012

We didn't get the insert, but we bought ours when he was about 4 months. I've heard that some people just use a rolled up blanket in the bottom. I've also heard of people swaddling and then putting baby in there in the swaddle. Neither of these are condoned practices by the Ergo people so keep that in mind. Really the determining factor is twofold. First, baby's head needs to be up under your chin for breathing purposes, and newborns aren't that tall yet. Second, baby's legs can't wrap around your body (spread) until they are older (6 months or so). The infant insert raises the baby up and provides a spot for the legs to "froggy" inside. You can accomplish the same thing with a blanket. Either way, you'll probably need to do some modification until at least 4 months, possibly 6. Or you could get a Moby wrap ($30) for the first 4-6 months.

tokenhoser · July 2012

You can spread a baby's legs way before 6 months! Closer to 3.

I used another carrier (a mei tai) before he grew into the Ergo. The infant insert is really warm for summer use. I would just improve one with a receiving blanket in the bottom or use another carrier/stroller for the first bit.

I mostly used a carrier in the house, though, not as a stroller sub.

celiabwatson · July 2012

I guess it might depend on the size of the parent... I'm pretty big and my kids didn't want their legs spread at 4 and 5 months. My daughter is just now starting to be ok with spread legs, but as I said, they have a long way to spread.

00jennifer00 · July 2012

We got our Ergo when my fourth was 4mo. There is no way she would have fit without an infant insert before then. Her little head was just barely up enough out of the body of the Ergo. If I didn't have two Baby Ktans, I'd be getting an insert this time for sure.

StefandTodd · July 2012

We used just the pillow part of the insert (I had a late-August baby and the whole thing was HOT) until about 5 months. If I was going somewhere we'd need a blanket, I'd just use a rolled up blanket. Once, I justified bringing both my Ergo and my Moby with me somewhere (when I couldn't quite decide which to bring) by using the Moby as the insert. You don't really *need* the insert, no. But I disagree that you'll be fine without ANYthing at 1 month. I think it's more typical to need something to boost them up for 4-6 months.

laf10 · July 2012

I think it depends on baby. My LO is 3 months and 15 pounds and we just bought an ergo and definitely don't need the insert. He's a pretty big boy though.