The Importance of the Infant Insert

The Ergobaby Carrier is designed to carry most children from birth. The way this is possible is through the Ergobaby Infant Insert providing cushion and support. Infants are soft and floppy and lack the ability to hold their head and trunk up on their own. The insert provides this need support that is not present in the carrier without it. Think of a taco holding everything up and in. This keeps the airway open and provides a swaddling effect that both soothes and protects the infant.

The wonderful people at Ergobaby have done extensive research on their products and discovered in order to have one carrier that extends through the growth of a child, it will need a couple parts to custom fit, hence infant insert and pillow option. Whenever you use a baby carrier, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

The infant insert can be used in two main ways based on size, weight, and development of the child. The whole insert can be used to support a newborn, while just the pillow portion can be removed and used as a booster for slightly older infants with more head control. Below are check lists to help you determine what stage you are at.

Here is a checklist to see if the whole insert is what your child needs:

0-3 months old
Lacks significant head and truck control
Cannot see over the top of the carrier
Unable to sit in a spread squat position without the body panel bunching (see pictures below)

Here is a check list for using just the pillow part of the infant insert:

4-6 months old
Has significant head and trunk control
Cannot see over the top of the carrier
Unable to sit in a spread squat position without the body panel bunching (see pictures below)

Here is a check list for using the Ergobaby Carrier without an insert:

4-6 months old or older
Has significant head and trunk control
Can see over the top of the body of the carrier
Can sit in a spread squat position without the body panel bunching

Below are some pictures that show two infants in the Ergobaby Original Baby Carrier. In the picture on the left the child is able to use the Ergobaby Original without an infant insert. However, the baby on the right cannot. The carrier is bunched between the legs and they do not have enough head control to be in the carrier without the insert to cushion and support.

A question I hear quite often is “Do I have to wear the insert my child is already 12 pounds?”. The answer is, maybe.

Why maybe? Let’s look at those pictures again.

What if I told you both children were 12lbs? They are!

They are within ounces of each other’s weight. The use of an insert does not solely depend on one factor from the list. The insert and carrier are designed so that the legs and hips are supported in an ergonomic position. If you graduate an infant too soon out of the insert, there will be outward traction on the hip joints. A traction that is not desirable for development. It can stretch ligaments and create instability as a child grows.

Make sure they have met all the milestones before graduating to an insert free carry.

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Dr. Dara DaCunha

Dr. Dara Lynne DaCunha is a chiropractor, doula, and mother of two who practices in Arizona. She focuses on pregnancy, post-pregnancy, and infant care. She is known for her treatment protocol that solidifies nursing relationships. Her blog is focused on the 4th trimester and a mother’s healing body.

Dr. Dara DaCunha

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View Comments

Emma Norberg says:

October 25, 2017 at 9:13 am

Hello. My little boy is almost 3 months old. I have the insert and I want him to get the neck support that it offers, however because he is tall the pillow hoists him up to a point where his head is above the edge and flopping around freely. His neck is quite strong but still he's too young to hold it up for the duration of a long walk. Plus he ends up too close to my face I'd say. Is it a good idea to use the insert without the pillow? What are my options?
- Leigh Cormier says:
  
  November 10, 2017 at 9:39 am
  
  I have the same problem!!
  - Emma Norberg says:
    
    November 10, 2017 at 12:26 pm
    
    Hey Leigh, not really/kind of...
    
    This is from the au website,
    • Use the back support cushion without the pillow for larger or taller babies who still need head and neck support.
    
    It's just that I read that the pillow is important to newborns since their little legs mightn't be ready for the spread squat position without it... So would prefer Ergobaby to answer my question specifically... Anyway, I also asked a sling group on FB about this, got these replies;
    
    "The insert is fine to use without the pillow. It’s even advertised that way for tall babies who need a narrow bum space"
    and
    "The
    top edge of the insert has padding, that needs to be pulled out. Most
    babies are boosted up by the wedge that the back of neck is above the
    top of the panel"
    
    Not sure what that 1/2 of that means, I still don't feel entirely happy/clear with this info but am carrying him around in it :-/ his little head falls towards me when he falls asleep so it's ok now at 13 weeks as his neck is strong - but I understand it is an issue for the first months - should be clearer in instruction videos etc!!
    - Tabitha Thanasouk says:
      
      December 4, 2017 at 9:39 pm
      
      If using insert without the pillow do you put their legs where the pillow would be or their bum there with legs hanging out? I had my girl in the insert without the pillow because she has always been too tall but hers feet always end up tangled in the holes so I ditched the insert. But she is only 5 weeks so maybe I shouldnt have yet. She seems to do ok though.
      - Emma Norberg says:
        
        December 4, 2017 at 10:13 pm
        
        Hi Tabitha, you're question is probably directed to the writer of this article so please don't think I am playing the expert here (but they do not seem to be answering, I posted my Q over a month ago)... I just want to say that in my best knowledge the legs are supposed to hang out through designated holes, however, your baby might be too young for this as, as the post above clearly states that "If you graduate an infant too soon out of the insert, THERE WILL BE OUTWARD TRACTION ON THE HIP JOINTS. A traction that is not desirable for
        development. It can stretch ligaments and create instability as a child
        grows" (this was what worried me and prompted my original question) so please be careful and maybe contact Ergobaby through Facebook or a retailer specialising in carriers? I think babies legs go on the inside only in slings.