I didn’t start using a Baby Bjorn Carrier until Anya was 3 months old and by that time she was fairly heavy so when I wore her in it for extended periods of time my shoulders really hurt. I was looking forward to trying it with Asher when he was newborn. The Synergy combines features from their other models: the Euro styling of the Original, the breathable mesh fabric of the Air and the lumbar support of the Active - to make an uber Bjorn: one that is stylish and comfortable in all seasons.
I started wearing Asher in the Synergy after he was about two weeks old. It has been my favorite carrier so far because it’s fast and easy to put on and he gets very cozy right away. I love how he nestles against my chest and often falls asleep. If he doesn’t, he’s very mellow and content to be with me and just rests his paws on my chest and hangs out.
Since he’s only 11 pounds, I am comfortable wearing him in it for two or three hours at a time but my shoulders do start to hurt a little from the straps digging in from supporting his weight. When I wore a 9+ month super chubby Anya in the Original, the shoulder pain would start right away. When someone reviewed the Synergy for me for Celebrity Baby Blog, she said her baby would probably be too heavy for it by 6 months.
The lumbar support is made of a plastic skeleton and an additional band that attaches to the front. I can’t say how effective this feature actually is though because the discomfort I feel is on my shoulders, not my back. The additional adjustable band is similar to a mei tai’s waist band but much higher so it doesn’t balance the weight. As such, the baby is still essentially hanging from your shoulders. I’d love for Baby Bjorn to introduce a version with a true waist belt in the future to facilitate the wearing of heavier/older babies.
N.B. Make sure you read the instructions when you first put the carrier on. I didn’t and the lumbar support did not fit the small of my back. I wrote it off as it not fitting short people but found an instructional slideshow on their website that shows how to get a good fit and it made a difference.
(I’m wearing the Synergy with a Papa Products 1Z cover.)
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