The Babybjorn Air
. In this review of the Bjorn, I’ll let you in on why it’s the best-selling baby carrier on the market and whether one of its versions might be a good fit for you and your baby.
Company’s History
The Swedish makers of this ever-popular carrier have been in business for almost fifty years, but the Bjorn didn’t hit the market until 1973. Wow, I’m as old as the Bjorn. Thirty-six. If only I was as durable, machine washable, and wrinkle-free.
Since the debut of the Original BabyBjorn, the company has rolled out several slightly modified versions. The modifications are so slight, however, that differences are hardly noticeable. This can be a plus or a minus, depending on your perspective. If you are sold on the Bjorn’s solid construction, lumbar support, padded pouch for baby, and snap-and-go efficiency, you will find these trademark features on every model they offer.
Making Sense of The Bjorn Models
Here’s a short-hand version of the differences in the models now available:
- Original
- Original Spirit
– All cotton, black straps with a rainbow of color choices for the baby pouch. ($79)
- Air
– Made of two layers of breathable moisture wicking mesh with a barrier between them to keep ventilation maximized, this version is probably the biggest departure for the company to date. As a runner, this model appealed to me because of it’s high-tech fabric and lightweight construction. (Not that I’m about to run with my daughter in the Bjorn Air) But it’s a great option if you live somewhere hot and/or humid. It will do everything the Original promises, plus keep your baby cooler. ($99)
- Active
– This model, as the name suggests, is for someone who wants to be more active, perhaps in carrying your baby for longer periods of time (best for older babies). The design differs in that the shoulder padding is bulked up and the pouch fabric is slightly more rigid and supportive. ($129)
- Synergy
– The most recent addition and an obvious next step, this model is a hybrid of the Active and the Air: more padding on the straps, more breathability in the pouch. ($159)
Surely the whopping $80 price difference between the first and the latest models has not escaped your attention. Is more expensive really better? Maybe with caviar or artisan cheese, but not with baby carriers.
I’ve tried on each of these and can tell you that the Active model’s additional padding did not seem worth the padded price.
But I do wish the Air model had been available when my three year old was born. In our sunny sometimes humid clime, a breathable carrier would have been a revelation, especially when postpartum hormones downshift, causing intense heat flashes and sweating. At $99, only twenty more than the original, it seems worth it.
As for the Original versus its next generation, the Spirit, apparently ’spirit’ means color and you can pick yours as vibrant as they come. But the endurance of this carrier means that you’ll probably have it for more than one child, if that’s your game plan, making a gender neutral color a consideration. In this case, why not go with the original, at $79?
Care and Accessories
Although my Bjorn has ruggedly endured hundreds of washing machine cycles, I have recently invested in three Bjorn Bib covers
Final Considerations
A final word on the Active. Although the company says this model is meant for “carrying much heavier children for longer periods of time”, read the fine print. The weight max on an Original Bjorn is 25 pounds. The max on the Active is 26 pounds. Hmmmm. But if your 25-pound baby – toddler is more like it – is still docile enough to tolerate an hour or so of being in any carrier, you’re probably among only a handful of parents.
Bottom Line: I highly recommend the BabyBjorn Air. Machine washable. Fast and idiot-proof to put on (snapping and sliding buckles feel super sturdy). And buy or register for several of the bibs so that you don’t have to wash the carrier as often.
