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 Adjustment Tips and Advice
Helena asked:
What do I do if the Beco hurts under my arms and my neck?
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Hi Helena,
Very difficult to say without seeing you in person, but you can try the following...this is what I check when I do fittings in person:
1) Loosen your shoulder straps, they could be too tight and are cutting into your underarm.
2) Tighten the straps that adjust the baby's distance from your body (these have the two-handed buckles with the button on them), to bring your baby in closer. The closer your baby is to you, the less work your body has to do. If you feel that you need to lean forward or backward, then adjust these straps to bring your baby in closer.
Every single Butterfly wearer that I have fit has the two-handed buckle straps tightened up either *all the way*, or at most about an inch and half long. With my 18month-old, I wear those straps loosened up about an inch and a half. Even then, I could probably wear them tighter for comfort, but I like to slip him into the insert without unbuckling anything when I put him in, and it makes that process easier if they are a little bit looser.
Also, see #5 below. Until your core muscles adapt to babywearing, you might feel a bit wobbly. Luckily, they adapt quickly.
3) Is the chest strap right at the base of your neck (in front carry), or at your collarbone (in back carry)? If not, slide it up or down to be in the right place. Armpit rubbing can sometimes be relieved by wearing the chest strap *lower* than this, so experiment with positioning and see if that helps.
4) Are the shoulder straps resting just inside your shoulder cap? They should not be resting on your shoulder joint, nor too close to your neck, but right in between. If they are slipping out too far onto your shoulder cap, tighten up your chest strap.
5) If you are wearing your baby for the first time, and your baby is older, then your body will need to adjust to babywearing. Keep your babywearing sessions short until your back and shoulder muscles strengthen. Make sure your posture is good, and go for a walk with your baby instead of standing in one place.
6) Front carry is less comfortable than back carry. Humans are built to carry weight on their backs, not on their front. The Butterfly allows you to put even fairly small babies on your back easily, so if front carry doesn't feel good, then give back carrying a try. I personally GREATLY prefer back carrying, except with very small babies. I don't like having my shoulders pulled forward, and I don't like not being able to see my feet. I had my second baby on my back at 2.5 months and it was great! Much easier on the back, neck and shoulders overall. Pulls your shoulder back so you can stand up straight and tall with good posture.
However, see #5...when you switch from front carry to back carry you use an entirely different set of muscles, so there might be a new period of adjustment for you as your core muscles strengthen and adapt. I've been babywearing for years, and it still happened to me when I went from primarily front-carrying to primarily back-carrying my babies. Adjustment should not take longer than 3-4 days at most though.
7) If you have tried all the above and still experience discomfort, then hey, it just might not be the carrier for you. All bodies are unique, and no one carrier fits everyone equally well. Also, I have found that later releases of the Butterfly feel much better than earlier ones, the shoulder straps seem to fit much better to the shoulders and the straps are also longer and therefore more adjustable. Allison is a recent print though, so that might not apply to you.
Hope that helps! I will put up videos on this topic soon, I promise...
Warmly,
Laura Hamilton
The Portable Baby
http://www.theportablebaby.com
Take your baby around the corner, or around the world!
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