Ergo users...lower back pain?

[Ashley&Scott]

I got an Ergo Organic on Sunday. We tried it in the store before buying, it was comfortable.

Last night I used it for about 20-25 minutes. (DS is 4 mo & 17.5lb) I did the front carry & he was really wiggling & leaning back. This morning my lower back is killing me, right where the waist strap was.

Am I in for this pain every time I use the Ergo? Please tell me it will get better...

[drloretta]

It will get better. I don't think I ever had back pain with my Ergo. Maybe you just need to adjust things, or work up to a longer carry?

[jax373]

Did you have the waist strap on your lower back or lower on your waist? Try moving it down lower, where you would wear a belt or even a little lower than that. I've never had back pain from wearing either of my kids in the Ergo (and I've worn my 3 year old, 34 lbs, for at least 15 minutes and still no pain).

[satama]

I have never had any back pain from it and I carried my 25lb kid in there for hours at a time. It sounds like you might need to adjust it and make sure it is fitting you properly.

[Ashley&Scott]

Thanks ladies. I'll try adjusting the straps. (If I keep having problems I'll contact someone from my local board to see if they can help me make adjustments.)

I'm sure DS moving around wasn't helping. He can't quite sit with his legs out comfortably yet so I had him in the frog position. He kept straightening his legs & leaning back at the same time which really pulled on the ergo. Maybe I didn't have him in the best position. Any recommendations? I think he's too big for the newborn insert which is why we didn't buy it.

[cheese]

Some of the local baby stores in my area will help with the fit of your ergo....you might want to check and see if you have that option near where you live.

[Deleted]

I have a bad back and the ergo hurt me no matter what, so I had to sell it. But its not supposed to hurt those with a normal back. I agree with pps and get help to see if you can get the fit right. If it still hurts, stop using it and see a doctor.

[bunch]

Are you sure you can't put his legs out? We started putting dd's legs out at about 3 mos (and at 9 mos she's just a pound heavier than m).

I will say that I've just recently had some pain on occasion, but only after wearing dd in the front carry for 3+hrs at a time.

[Ashley&Scott]

Cosmos- did you find a carrier that does work for you?

I have Moby too, it hurt my upper back

[Deleted]

nope. My back went out on me twice after DD was born and my orthopedist told me not to lift her more than necessary. It sucked because I loved the ergo.

[jax373]

May 23, 2012 8:43:10 GMT -5 bunch said:

Are you sure you can't put his legs out? We started putting dd's legs out at about 3 mos (and at 9 mos she's just a pound heavier than m).

quote]

This. I think I had DD2's legs out around 4 months. Try that. He may still be small enough still where his legs won't be long enough to come out and bend at the knee but that should be ok.

[Ashley&Scott]

May 23, 2012 8:43:10 GMT -5 bunch said:

Are you sure you can't put his legs out? We started putting dd's legs out at about 3 mos (and at 9 mos she's just a pound heavier than m).

I will say that I've just recently had some pain on occasion, but only after wearing dd in the front carry for 3+hrs at a time.

Well I'm not 100% sure, but it seemed like they were stretching too far when we tried it. I'm going to BF support group tonight, I'm going to take the ergo along in case there are any experienced users in attendance.

Cheese also had a good idea, I know there's a local baby store that I can try going to for a fitting/adjustment. It might be a week or so before I can get there but I'll definitely give it a try.

[Deleted]

I would say you need to move the waist strap down so it's tight on your hips, put his legs out (babies are very flexible - he's going to have his feet in his mouth in no time, so something that looks uncomfortable to adult eyes generally isn't), and tighten it up a lot. He shouldn't really have room to squirm much. A carrier is much more comfortable tight than it is loose - it keeps the baby's weight closer to your center of gravity.

[ilikedonuts]

I bet you can put his legs out. I started putting DD's legs out when she was like 14 lbs (last month, but she's a tiny one).

Sometimes you just need to play around with it to see where it fits comfortably on you. I've never had an back issues with mine, but it took DH a while to get the hang of it.

[frlcb]

I think you need to adjust the straps but I also think he is old enough to have his legs out.

[MamaMaui24]

I bet it's from his position. I posted something to supergreen, but since our babies are the same age...

the infant insert is the soft burrito shell thing + a little pillow that they sit on. DS is too little to be in the ergo on his own but too big for the insert, so I put the pillow from the infant insert in the bottom of the ergo and he sits on top of it. Perfect height, perfect solution. So if you have a small like 4 x 6" (ish) pillow or roll up a receiving blanket and have him sit on it with his legs out to the sides.

I carried DS last night around Target then once we got home, around the house while I cooked dinner. Had to have been at least 2 hours total and no back pain.

[Ashley&Scott]

Thanks ladies! I'm glad there's hope, I'll keep trying

[MamaMaui24]

This is the little pillow:

[MamaMaui24]

also - get the teething pads. DS sucks the crap out of the straps and gets it nasty. It'll be easier to wash those than the ergo everytime.

[karinothing]

May 23, 2012 8:31:19 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Thanks ladies. I'll try adjusting the straps. (If I keep having problems I'll contact someone from my local board to see if they can help me make adjustments.)

I'm sure DS moving around wasn't helping. He can't quite sit with his legs out comfortably yet so I had him in the frog position. He kept straightening his legs & leaning back at the same time which really pulled on the ergo. Maybe I didn't have him in the best position. Any recommendations? I think he's too big for the newborn insert which is why we didn't buy it.

Remember the waist strap really should sit more on your hips than your waist. Also, DS is a super shorty and we couldn't really use the Ergo until close to 6 months becuase he couldn't spread his legs well enough.

ETA: I will say it was clear DS was uncomfortable with his legs out because he would immediately scream and scream (and it was WAY different than a normal scream, so I took it to mean he was in pain). He would also arch his back.

[madladybride]

My DD is short, so we ended up using the infant pillow sans insert. I've found that the tighter I have my ergo, the better it feels. Also, I agree that it should rest on your hips and not your waist. Hopefully someone can help you at your BF meeting or you have a chance to get to that local store.

ETA: He is probably a bit too young, but your DS may do better when you can carry him on your back. That way he can look around. However, I think they need to have pretty good head control for that.

(I didn't move my DD to my back until a few months ago because she was so short and tiny. In fact, at 16 months, she is probably about 18 lbs).

[Deleted]

May 23, 2012 9:21:54 GMT -5 MamaMaui24 said:

I bet it's from his position. I posted something to supergreen, but since our babies are the same age...

I'm sorry I missed your post to me, what did it say? I'm still learning how to use this board, so I haven't been able to find it. I sent you a PM :-)