Can we talk? Here's where I discuss random topics, dish some dirt, and answer your questions. BTW, any products recommended are products that I bought myself, not freebies sent in exchange for a positive review.
Beco vs. Ergo - what's the difference?
Adi wrote:
hi laura-
i hope you're doing well. i've been wearing my 25+ lb 1 yo ds in a mei tei. i tried an ergo when he was ~7 mo, but because of my high waist and narrow shoulders, the straps cut in too intensely under my arms, and the shoulder straps were practically off the edges of my shoulders (and if i tightened the chest strap more to try to bring the straps in, it just felt really tight across where the chest strap was).
i just borrowed an ergo yesterday from a friend to try again, now that ds is bigger, because the crossed straps of the mei tei are really starting to take their toll on my shoulders, chest and collarbone (can't wear them back-pack style- they're too wide for my shoulders). i still didn't find the ergo to be so comfortable for me for the same aforementioned reasons, but at least my whole chest area wasn't squashed.
i went to your site today because i was reconsidering the ergo, even though it wasn't so comfortable, just to have an alternative and give different muscle groups a rest by alternating, and see that you've moved on from the ergo. so my question is - is the body of the beco (and hence the strap positioning) narrower, or will their straps also sit practically half off my shoulder?
from your online description it sounds like the beco straps are less likely to be so uncomfortable under my arms -is that so? also - i've had lower back issues in the past, and the mei tei doesn't bother that area of my body at all, but i want to make sure that any new carrier i'd get also would be okay for my lower back. i'd love to hear what you have to say about whether you think the beco can work for me, and if not, what your (unbiased?) opinion is about me getting an ergo even though it's not really the best fit. thanks,
-adi
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I've been alternating between an Ergo and a Beco for the past two weeks just to be able to answer this type of question.
What I have noticed is this:
The Ergo comes up much lower on DS2's back (he's a big 7mo as I write this, and 23 pounds). The Ergo is much wider and shorter in the body, and the straps are much more padded. The Ergo basically comes up only to under my baby's arms, whereas the Beco comes up all the way behind his neck.
There is no way that DS2 can sleep in the Ergo without the sleeping hood to support him, as his upper body and head flop all around and he gets mad and can't relax. By contrast, he can and does take naps without the sleeping hood in the Beco...the added height gives lots of support for his upper body and neck without restricting his vision or movement while awake.
As for *my* comfort, the Golden Rule of babywearing is to get your baby's body as close to your own as possible. A baby that hangs away from your body throws off your center of gravity and makes your back muscles work harder to stay upright. Even an inch or two can make a big difference.
What I have noticed in the past few weeks of careful observation is that I get the distinct feeling of DS2 "hanging" off my back when I have him in the Ergo. I feel like I need to tighten up the carrier to the point that it starts to chafe under my arms and cause shoulder tension. Yesterday I kept tightening the shoulder straps and chest strap and I still couldn't get the comfy close feeling that I get with the Beco. It still felt like DS2 was hanging off away from my back.
I put DS2 back in the Beco once I realized this, and felt much better. I was able to leave the shoulder straps fairly loose, but the Beco height kept DS2 pulled in towards my body.
I have been wearing DS2 for at least 5-6 hours a day, so I am getting very particular about fit and comfort. I'm kind of shocked about the Ergo discomfort. I guess I never noticed it before, since I never had another soft-structured carrier to compare it to. I was comparing the Ergo to my mei tei, Baby Trekker, wraps, ring slings, pouches, etc.
My mei tei definitely hurt me in exactly the way you described...shoulder straps in backpack style were too wide and hurt my shoulder joints, or were too narrow (crossed) and hurt my collarbones.
Compared to the other carriers my Ergo was a dream of comfort, but now that I am carefully comparing it to a Beco, the Beco seems much more comfortable. That longer and narrower carrier body really makes a big difference, as do the trimmer shoulder straps. Less bulk under my arms is a good thing. The straps are just as comfortable without it, even more so. They are still padded, but the padding is less fluffy and bulky.
The body of the Beco is much narrower as well, so baby has more viewing area to each side, and more airflow.
I just measured and the straps on the Beco are actually farther apart than on the Ergo. BUT, since the back of the carrier comes up so much higher, the straps *begin* much closer to your shoulders and so there is not nearly as much room for them to splay out to the sides.
Also, since the baby is better supported and held closer to your body, there is not nearly as much pressure to pull the shoulder pads out and away from your midline.
One last thing is the padding. Since the straps on the Beco are not as padded, they are more like an extension of the carrier body, rather than poofy separate pieces.
I hope that answers your question! Let me know if I can elucidate further.
Laura
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2 Comments:
I am glad to read this discussion because I am trying to choose a babycarrier to use with my 27lb toddler. I am curious to know if there's a difference in comfort between the two styles of Beco, 4th gen vs. butterfly?
thanks!
I would select a Butterfly, simply because the waistband on the 4th Generation is very, very soft and has been known to actually fold over rather than help support a heavy baby. The Butterfly's waistband is much firmer.
It is more of a hassle to get your child in and out of a Butterfly. But if you are not accustomed to back carries, or too intimidated to try one, then the Butterfly might make a big difference.
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