Customer Reviews

BABYBJÖRN Comfort Carrier - Gray, Organic

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

We started with the Ergo, and while we loved it, our little monkey decided around 4 months that she will absolutely not face in. So began our quest for a replacement carrier. The Bjorn Classic/Air was very uncomfortable, while the Active/Synergy was only uncomfortable. But since, unlike the Ergo, you can face your baby out, it was better than nothing. The problem was that, unlike the Ergo, the Bjorn carriers did not have a waist belt - which makes all the difference. So when Bjorn came out with the Comfort, which has a waist strap, we bought it right away. Ahhh... thank you Bjorn! Our search for an Ergo replacement (that allows our little one to face out) is finally over.

If your baby is one who prefers to face in (and most babies do), I recommend getting the Ergo. But if, like us, your little one has decided she's had enough of looking at your chest, neck and chin, the new Comfort is definitely the way to go.


Comparative Overview

Ergo: The most comfortable of the bunch! While it can get a little toasty for both you and baby on warm days, both wife and I felt that we could wear it just about forever. Unlike most backpack carriers, the Ergo has a waist belt on which most of the baby's weight rests. Those of you who've used a hiking backpack know exactly how much this helps. For those who don't, there's a padded band that sits just above your hips. When worn correctly most of the baby's weight is distributed across your hips greatly reducing the stress/load on your shoulders and back. Unfortunately for us, our little monkey recently decided that she must face out, and the Ergo only allows them to face in. So it's been sitting in unused in the closet for several weeks.

Bjorn Air/Classic: Smallest, lightest and easiest to use. We have the "Air" model, and the special fabric actually does work to keep you and your baby cool. It's my preferred carrier for quick jaunts and hot days. But the wife and nanny will wear it only if they have to. It is by far the least comfortable carrier we own. The shoulder straps are unpadded and relatively thin so they really dig into your shoulders. I find it merely a bit annoying, but the wife says she can't wear it for more than 5 or 10 minutes before it really starts to hurt.

Bjorn Synergy/Active: Basically the Air/Classic but with wider, padded shoulder straps and a lumbar support piece. While a little more comfortable than the Air/Classic, it is still a far cry from the comfort of the Ergo. While the lumbar support is okay, the fundamental problem remains: all the weight is still placed on the shoulders.

Bjorn Comfort: The newest Bjorn, and by far the most comfortable. It has very wide and nicely padded straps, and like the Ergo, the Comfort has a padded waist band! While it isn't quite as comfortable as the Ergo, it comes close. I have used it for multi-hour walks with no back or shoulder discomfort. And unlike the Ergo, baby can face in or out. A couple minor complaints. First it is quite bulky. Given the way its constructed, its actually much bulkier than even the Ergo, so it's not the easiest thing to stuff in a bag/under the stroller. Second is that as of yet you cannot buy additional bibs. One bib is included, but given how much we use the thing it's nice to have a second (note the Bjorn bibs currently sold are NOT COMPATIBLE with the Comfort). Plus while it doesn't seem quite as warm as the Ergo, you and baby will be plenty sweaty on hot days.

All these carriers seem very well made, and with the sole exception of the Air, I feel will last a long, long time (while so far so good, I have some reservations about the long run durability of the fabric shoulder straps of the Air). Currently we mostly use the Comfort, but I still bust out the Air on hot days or for short jaunts and all in all we are quite happy with the carrier situation. But we still have hope that one day our little one will deign to face in so we can bust out the Ergo again.


---ERGO---
Pros: Most comfortable
Cons: Baby can only face in. A little warm on hot days.

---Bjorn Air/Classic---
Pros: Easiest to get baby into/out of. Air is fabulous for hot days. Smallest and lightest (great for packing).
Cons: Least comfortable. Some concern about durability of Air fabric.

---Bjorn Synergy/Active---
Pros: More comfortable than Air/Classic
Cons: Still no waist strap!

---Bjorn Comfort---
Pros: Comfort (almost as good as the Ergo)
Cons: A little warm on hot days. Can't purchase replacement/extra bibs. Bulkiest of all four carriers.

This is my fourth BabyBjorn carrier over the years with my child and grandchildren. I must admit this one is my favorite.

What do I like about this one? The materials are organic and the carrier is well made. It is also comfortable. So many carriers with thinner straps seem to cut into your back, shoulders or arms at some point. This one has wide, well padded straps that after an hour or so of walking were still comfortable. One of the best things about it, is the baby's weight rests on your hips rather than higher up. Wonderfully comfortable after a long walk.

Another thing I like about this carrier is the ease in which it assembles. I've had carriers where reassembling them after a walk to the park where my child was taken out and put back in was a frustrating experience getting the straps right again in order to put the thing on. This one is much easier than several I've experienced, but they have a handy "cheat sheet" sewn inside the carrier!

The Company does not recommend this for babies under 13 pounds, so I was a bit disappointed that my coming grandson won't be ready for it for most likely a couple of months. However, my toddler granddaughter had a great time being Nana's lab rat! In the last carrier we had, the leg openings were very tight no matter what we did to alleviate pressure on her legs--we had to abandon that one after her legs started turning bluish color. So I was very concerned that this one not do the same restrictive circulation grip that the other one did. She assured me that it was comfy and not tightly binding her legs.

The carrier is designed to have baby facing forward or out depending on your preference and the baby's weight, this makes it a double duty item in baby's repertoire of needed equipment for comfort, safety and fun.

I also own the Original Baby Bjorn, which is great, so I was very excited to give the Comfort Carrier a try. I have to say that I absolutely love it. The color is great. The material is nice and doesn't smell chemical-y, even right out of the box. As with the Original, I love that each strap stays in place and feels very secure. (I never worry about my baby being unsafe when he is strapped into a Baby Bjorn carrier.) I found the Comfort Carrier to be even easier to set-up, lock into place, and adjust than the Original.

It did take me a second to remember that the bottom, padded strap sits right above your hips, not by your waist. At first I worried that this strap would feel awkward and cumbersome, but it is actually very comfortable and, I believe, a great improvement on the Original. With the Original, I noticed that I started getting a sore back and sore shoulders when my son reached about 14 lbs. Nothing unbearable, but it wasn't pleasant. (I am 5'6" and pretty fit for having given birth a few months ago, so I don't think the soreness happened because I am completely out of shape--or at least that's what I tell myself.) With the Comfort Carrier, though, I don't feel any soreness when I walk around with my son. The extra padding on the shoulder straps helps, too.

The big question is, is the Comfort Carrier worth the price? From my experience, I think that the Comfort Carrier sets itself apart from the Original because it is more supportive and comfortable. Since I use a carrier ALL the time, that is an important feature for me, and the extra cost is worth it.

The BabyBjorn Comfort Carrier is the Cadillac of infant carriers. Ergonomic design, organic cotton and removable terry cloth bib are a few of the bells and whistles that make this carrier appealing to me.

The carrier's ergonomic design makes for maximum parental comfort, even with a larger child. Speaking of larger child - this carrier is designed to carrier infants/toddlers from 13 to 31 lbs (in contrast to the original which holds infants 8 to 25 lbs.) This feature was the main selling point for me. I was pretty disappointed when I wasn't able to carry my first son in our Original BabyBjorn because he outgrew it so quickly.

BabyBjorn Comfort Carrier offers two flexible carrying positions - inward or outward. You can also adjust the leg and arm positions to fit the carrying style and size of your child. On that note, be sure to use the wide leg, inward facing position for children between 26 and 31 lbs.

For your child's safety, please read all instructions before your first use. One quick safety tip - don't attempt to use as a back carrier. This carrier is designed for front carrying only, which is great for bonding and talking to your baby. And, if you're a busy working Mom like me, making every moment count is of the utmost importance.

I've summarized a few pros and cons below.

Pros:
Comfy! Comfy! Comfy!
Adjustable waist belt and shoulder strap allow you to distribute the weight of your child evenly and makes for a comfortable ride
Flexible sizing, fitting men and women (small to extra large)
100% organically grown cotton, so more environmentally friendly - this is a plus in my book!
Oeko-Tex approved and guaranteed free from health-hazardous substances, which is great peace of mind when baby starts to gnaw when teething
Removable/washable terry bib to keep the slobber under control
Sturdy construction and classic look

Cons:
Expensive, but worth it if you will use regularly/for long distances and you're prone to any kind of lower back pain
Bulkier than the other models


With so many great features, the BabyBjorn Comfort Carrier raises the standard for infant carriers, making it well worth the price.

I wear my 8 month old all the time in the original Bjorn and she loves it but I definitely feel it in my lower back after a while. I put her in this after I opened it and WOW. I could wear her in this all day!

I have my daughter in a carrier a few times a day. She loves to watch me clean and do other chores around the house or go for a walk. We've been using the original baby bjorn since she was a newborn. Now that she is almost 20lbs I've been having terrible back pain. I found the Comfort Carrier and ordered it immediately. The grey is much more blue in person. The photos in the middle of the page are much closer to the real color than the main photo is.

This carrier is much harder to get on. Instead of putting it on like a jacket like the original you put it over your head like a shirt. Then clip the waist belt behind you and tighten all the straps. Its also tougher to get the baby in and out. The original baby born comes fully apart so the baby is easily strapped in but the comfort carrier you have to slip the baby in from the top and get her legs through while doing so. Its definitely tougher but I still love it because I have absolutely NO back pain. Its also a lot lower than the original baby bjorn. When I wear the original my daughters head is at my lips whereas with the comfort carrier my daughters head is well below my chin.

5 stars for comfort!!

My wife and I have several carriers, including the Ergo Baby. The Ergo baby is good for the first few months, but then our baby wanted to face forward to see the world. The BabyBjorn allows you to do this. Your baby will sit forward and be able to view all the "action". The BabyBjorn also has a helpful hip belt which really relieves pressure off the shoulders. Not all carriers have a hip belt which is really mandatory if you carry your baby for any length of time. One word of caution for smaller women. The hip belt is adjustable for varying waist sizes. My wife had to adjust hers to the very tightest setting (she is a size 2). If your wife is very small (maybe size 2 or for sure size 0) then it might not fit.

This carrier is far more comfortable than the classic Bjorn, which I could only ever wear for ten - fifteen minutes at a time. My son weighs almost 18 lbs and I can wear this comfortably for as long as I like. The weight rests mostly on your hips, which is great.

My complaint:
My son is four months old and in the 95 percentile for weight and length (18 lbs/ 26 inches) - far bigger/ longer than the 13 lb/ 22 inch minimum required size for the carrier. Nevertheless, the front piece that folded down so easily on the classic Bjorn is much higher up on this one and blocks half his face when he's facing out. He really prefers to face out and look around, and while he doesn't seem to mind it too much, I can't imagine putting a smaller baby in this facing out - their face would be blocked and it wouldn't be safe. Also, even when folded down, it doesn't always stay down. It has adjustable tabs to keep it down, but they seem to loosen on their own, so the front piece flips up. It's great for facing in, and I think it will be just as good for facing out once he's a bit bigger.

I first bought the original BABYBJORN after talking to a women about it in Target. She was carrying her son in it & said it was the only way she could get anything done so i bought one right then & there. I got it home & it was good but my back would hurt so i looked online & found this new one that straps onto the hips & ordered it right away. I had a 90 day return policy on the other so i returned it & only had to poke out an extra $80 for it & well worth it when i do use it.

I had been lent the original Baby Bjorn and my son was good with it--not great, but better than other carriers I had tried (slings). He was getting bigger and I needed something to help my back. This product is great! I barely notice his weight. It really does distribute the weight onto the hips. The shoulder straps are wide and comfortable. It is easy to get him in and out of it. My son is only 3 months old and sucks on everything near his mouth. The terry cloth cover for the straps is a nice and useful touch. I would highly reccommend this if you are looking for a carrier for the long term.