The First Journey

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The First Journey (retail approx. $79) is a very comfortable alternative to the Baby Bjorn, with more support for parent and baby since it has a backpack style waistband, padded shoulder straps, and a slightly wider seating area than the Bjorn. The First Journey is easy to take on and off, and has straps for easy adjustment while you are wearing the carrier. It can be used with newborns, and even includes a built-in headrest that can be used to support a newborn’s head, or to support a slightly older baby’s head when napping. The headrest can be folded down and secured with a handy little clip when baby no longer needs head support, or when you are ready to turn the baby facing outward. It is possible to wear your baby in five positions: front facing in, front facing out, nursing, rear facing in, and rear facing out.

It is possible to nurse a newborn in the First Journey without removing them from the carrier. Since the baby is supported by the carrier’s bottom and the waistband, it is possible to loosen the shoulder straps slightly and swivel the carrier so that the baby is centered over your breast, and the baby can then latch on and nurse (see manufacturer’s instructions for full description). My son is large, so I found it easiest to sit down and loosen the shoulder straps slightly to nurse. The carrier also comes with special leg straps that you can add to provide extra security for newborns and a handy “bib” that Velcro’s to the front of the carrier to catch spit-up when you are carrying the baby facing out. As the Mom of a major “spit-up” baby, I can assure you that this is a very nice feature: if your child spits up, you only have to wash the bib, not the entire carrier. The carrier comes with one bib, but extras can be ordered from the manufacturer.

The First Journey can be used for babies 7 to 33 pounds, but I found that once my son was in the 20 pound range, the Baby Trekker, which is made by the same company, provided better comfort and weight distribution. The Baby Trekker, like the First Journey, offers excellent support and comfort for both parent and child, while allowing you to wear your baby securely in a variety of positions.

Both the Baby Trekker and the First Journey come with easy instructions to help you learn how to wear your baby in a variety of positions.