Is it necessary to purchase the Ergobaby infant insert for your Ergobaby carrier to wear your newborn? Or, is there an Ergobaby infant insert alternative you can use instead???
Look, I’m not saying that you should do this, all right? But I’ll tell you what I did so I could use Ergobaby with my newborn without the infant insert.
If you’re planning to wear your newborn regularly and often, this Ergobaby infant insert alternative may NOT be the right solution for you and you and your baby might benefit from purchasing the actual infant insert from Ergobaby.
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What is the Ergobaby infant insert?
The Ergobaby infant insert (Ergobaby Easy Snug Infant Insert) is compatible with Ergobaby Original and Ergobaby 360 All Positions baby carriers and is recommended for:
- babies that weigh 7-12 lbs (3.2-5.5 kg)
- babies weighing more than 12 lbs but younger than 4 months
- babies 4 months and older without strong head and neck control
The reason Ergobaby makes strong recommendation for the use of the infant insert is that Ergobaby Original and Ergobaby 360 All Positions baby carriers are simply too bulky and potentially unsafe for newborns and very young infants.
The infant insert provides adequate head and neck support in the early months, and by raising the baby up a bit in the carrier it also keeps your baby in a comfortable ergonomic position that Ergobaby is known for.
Is the Ergobaby infant insert necessary?
If you’re planning to use either Ergobaby Original or Ergobaby 360 All Positions baby carrier with your newborn, you’ll need *something* to prop your baby up in the carrier to keep your baby safe. But, it doesn’t necessarily need to be the infant insert sold by Ergobaby.
Ergobaby infant insert alternative
A strategically placed adequately sized blanket or a towel can work well in a very similar fashion the infant insert would.
How to use this Ergobaby infant insert alternative:
Your baby should weigh at least 7 lbs (3.2 kg) when using either the actual insert or an alternative. Either method is intended to be used in the front inward carry position ONLY(!) – in other words, baby in the front, facing your chest.
- Put the Ergobaby carrier on (front carry, inward-facing position – baby facing your chest).
- Roll up/fold a thick or oversized blanket OR a medium-sized towel and place it inside your Ergobaby carrier. You’ll want to play with different sizes to pick the one that is just right. The goal is to raise the seating area of the baby carrier by a few inches. (My favorite method was rolling up a towel that was sized oddly between a standard bath towel and a hand towel.)
- Put your baby in the carrier, froggy-legs style (legs tucked to tummy – essentially the exact same way you would hold your baby on your chest), and tighten the shoulder straps of the carrier to keep baby comfy but also as close to your body as possible. (NOTE: Your baby’s legs will be tucked in the carrier against your body, NOT in the carrier’s leg openings.)
- If necessary, you can use another blanket (smaller this time) that’s fully breathable (such as 100% cotton) to fill out the space around the bottom of the carrier if there is still too much room behind your baby and on the sides. You’ll want your baby to be snug (but comfortable) in the baby carrier, not wobbling around too much.
- Keep the carrier’s hood on a short setting (twist and/or cross the straps if necessary) to support baby’s neck and/or hold your arm gently around the back of your baby’s head/neck while wearing. Always keep your baby visible (and in the ‘kissable height’) and monitor your baby closely.
Just so we’re clear, I’m in no way advocating that this is what you should do instead of using the infant insert as suggested by Ergobaby. But, if you don’t own the actual insert, this alternative can be safely used in place of the Ergobaby infant insert in the early stages of babywearing AS LONG AS you’re following basic safety precautions and are keeping an eye on your baby at all times.
Related:
When to stop using the Ergobaby infant insert or an alternative?
You can stop padding your Ergobaby carrier and start using the carrier on its own when your baby:
- weighs at least 12 pounds
- demonstrates strong neck control
- can sit comfortably in the baby carrier with legs splayed (as opposed to the froggy-legs position)
Ergobaby recommends that the infant insert should be used until a baby weighs at least 12 pounds AND is at least 4 months old.
We were able to stop padding the Ergobaby and use the carrier as intended earlier than the recommended 4 months of age. Our daughter was well over the minimum weight limit at that point and had very good neck control. She seemed more comfortable in the carrier without any extra layers of fabric around her from that point onward.
Related: Best Natural Baby’s 1st Toys (0-12 months)
