We originally owned a Bjorn and changed to the Ergo for exactly the same reason. I have a bad back problem and the comfort difference (in favor or Ergo) is absolutely worth the extra money. We too took a few tried to learn how to put the child in the back. A few weeks ago we had an expecting couple over for dinner and showed that how our 30lb three year old can still get in and ride around.

Thanks for the nice overview Brandon

I use a Bjorn and recommend it highly. My daughter is 20lbs and we still use it. I plan on using it for another month. I can use it for extended periods of time but I am sorry it does not work for you but you really have to adjust the straps (the key is getting the lower strap as a tight base).

I would never get the Ergo Baby because it is expensive and the infants I have been around would not like the riding the position (great view of your back). In fact, if you wanted to put a kid on your back why not just get a hiking carrier so then the kid would get a view they would likely be much happier then. Hiking carriers can be expensive but if you are recommending to use a $100+ unstructured carrier you obviously plenty of money to burn.

If you are doing a lot walking where the Bjorn might get tiresome you should be thinking about a stroller. Most infants would find that more pleasant as well.

As with other baby items, carriers can be obtained second-hand, often at significantly reduced prices. The more advanced Bjorn models are similarly priced. Framed hiking carriers can cost much more, but that is besides the point. The ErgoBaby carrier is the only carrier I've actually used, but many other types would only work in certain situations or for a short time. I've used the Ergo to carry my daughter (now 1 year old) since she was 1 week old (with the infant insert). My wife sometimes uses a jogging stroller (that we bought used for $10), but otherwise we never use anything else. My daughter reached 20 lbs at 6 months, about the time we started carrying her on our backs. Strollers are nice for traveling on sidewalks, but they don't maneuver well in crowds, are bulking to travel with, can't be used on hiking trails and similar terrain, and don't leave your hands free. My daughter really prefers hiking trails to sidewalks, and she particularly likes skiing. Last December my wife and I did a lot of cross-country skiing with my daughter on my back. A front carrier would be dangerous, as falls are nearly always forward. Framed carriers would also not be safe because of the added height, and internal frame packs are much preferred for skiing over external frame packs. You can think of the ergo as an internal frame pack (once a child is in it). Usually she's looking off to one side or the other to watch birds or the view or just looking up at the trees. However she was certainly capable of leaning around to see to the front, and now can probably see quite a bit over my shoulder. We've been on many hiking or skiing trips lasting several hours. The only time she was ever unhappy outside in the carrier, was hiking in hot weather when I wore a moisture wicking shirt and ended up soaking her cotton shirt. We even went to the San Diego zoo, and she was up high enough to see into all of the enclosures, and If I stand sideways she gets the same view that I get. I did see some people with special strollers that could be raised up and down at each exhibit. Another advantage of the ergo baby is that it can be used as a front carrier with older babies either for a short time or while wearing a backpack which acts as a counterbalance. I've heard about several people recommending backpacking with the Ergo on the front and a framed backpack on the back, and I'm looking forward to trying it now that the weather is warming up. Although I have used luggage with backpack straps on my back with my daughter on the front. We plan on using the carrier quite a bit longer

Babyslings (a large piece of cloth basically) work much better in my experience than these padded carriers. The whole reason for all the padding is to support the baby. A babysling cloth has much better support naturally (by being a piece of cloth), and therefore doesn't need any padding at all.

Also, they're more flexible, you can carry babies in dozens of positions (front, back, hip, ...).

Pictures and stories about using this here
http://poorbuthappy.com/ease/archives/category/travel

We've been the grateful recipients of 4 different baby carriers, plus a very nice pram, all second-hand from friends whose children have outgrown them. We have an Ergo, which we haven't really tried yet -- we prefer the New Native Baby Sling, previously reviewed on Cool Tools. We also have two Bjorns, one is the Active model. Although it does have lower back support, it doesn't make a huge difference -- it's certainly not worth the price difference between the Original and the Active.

For an absolutely complete and helpful round-up of all available baby carrying systems, have a look at .

Sorry, the comment system deleted the URL. The website is called The Baby Wearer, and it's at http://www.thebabywearer.com/. I've no affiliation with them, I've just been impressive by how absolutely comprehensive the site is -- it's the Board Game Geek of the baby wearing world.

My wife and I started off with the Bjorn Carrier Active but when our first outgrew it we got an Ergo. Quite like it. The Bjorn did have a lower back support thing, but even with that the design still results in most of the weight being borne on your shoulders. In contrast, as others have noted above, the Ergo places most of the weight on your hips, which I found more comfortable, particularly for longer outings. We've only used it so far with the kid in front. Only two minor complaints - one of the straps to attach the hood tore early on, and for very young babies that don't have much head support, I didn't find the Ergo to do as good a job as the Bjorn supporting the head.

Have used a variety of slings, etc, and even have a stroller, which goes nearly unused. Spawn is now about 18 lbs and we've just started using the Ergo. I like it better than the Bjorn, I liked the Bjorn fine. He really gets a kick out of forward-facing on front sometimes, but the Ergo gives him more ability to move around. Actually, this can be good and bad, but mostly good. (I know people who play basketball in the Bjorn--don't think I would do that with the Ergo.)

To be honest, I end up with my back hurting if I wear either for too long--thank goodness for Motrin (ahem). Lower back pain with the Bjorn, and shoulders with the Ergo. The latter, however, may be because I have a large and round belly, which makes fitting of these things a bit more difficult. In any case, I trade back and forth, but seem to spend more time with the Ergo. Don't understand why people prefer slings to packs, but to each their own.

Looking forward to loading him on my back at some point. Probably won't do a larger frame pack--great for my brother in Catalonia, but it was a bit unwieldy when he visited me in Manhattan.