Baby Bjorn has been designing baby carriers since 1973 and prides itself in offering mobility to parents while maintaining the essential close contact that a baby needs. The newest member of the award-winning Baby Bjorn family is the Synergy which combines the best features of its Air & Active models. The breathable mesh fabric construction of the AIR model together with the wide shoulder straps and full lumbar support of the ACTIVE model fuse into the ultimate Baby Bjorn carrier: the Synergy. We tested out this new product by wearing a two month old in the carrier everyday in the heat of summer to see if it would live up to our expectations.

BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Synergy
Manufacturer: Baby Bjorn
Model year: 2007/2008
MSRP: $159.95

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Specifications
Baby size & weight requirements: newborns 8-26 lbs; 21”-29” in length
Weight of carrier:
Construction: “Advanced 3D mesh”, 100% polyamid & polyester
Oeko-Tex certified: fabric is guaranteed to be toxic free.
Sliding buckle for baby height adjustment

Features
Allows parent to keep baby close while providing full mobility.
Constructed with mesh fabric that regulates both heat and moisture for parent and baby.
Mesh fabric construction is soft for baby while still providing sturdy support for baby’s head and neck.
Wide shoulder straps and full lumbar support distribute baby’s weight evenly.
Adjustable head and neck support: newborns face inward and older babies can face outward by folding head support piece down.
Sliding buckle allows for adjustment as your baby grows.
All attachments are located in the front of carrier for ease of use and for convenience when removing a sleeping baby.
Provides physiologically correct position for baby’s legs and arms.
Machine wash with cold water & mild detergent, and drip dry.
Can breastfeed baby discreetly by loosening the straps and sliding one strap off your shoulder.

Testing Conditions
We tested the Synergy with a two month old baby and her mom who used it daily to carry baby hands-free to the grocery store, park, the office, on walks, and at home performing everyday household tasks over a period of two weeks. Mom and baby also wore the Synergy during a week of hot, humid summer weather. 

Assembly
None to speak of. It’s mostly a matter of adjusting the straps to fit your particular body which is very easy.

Ease of use
Although the Synergy may seem complicated at first, especially if this is your first time wearing a front baby carrier, it’s actually a very simple and straight forward design. The carrier is in two pieces: one of which you put on like a back pack (this part has the lumbar pad) and the other piece attaches to it from the front. Loading baby into the Synergy is very simple and pretty quick once you get the hang of it (for first time parents it may take a few practice runs to get the coordination down). Once everything is adjusted and baby is on board you’ll be amazed how easy it is to move around and do any number of things with ease while wearing your baby! You’ll be so comfortable and efficient you’ll feel as though you’ve mastered a common parenting hurdle and become an expert baby wearer.

The one aspect of use we had some trouble with while wearing the Synergy was while breastfeeding. We could not determine how to breastfeed easily using the carrier as a “nursing cover”. The manufacturer has a short, written instruction about to how to achieve this, but it’s not clear how it’s supposed to work in real life.  

Comfort for Child/Parent
Once you have adjusted the latches and straps to fit both you and baby comfortably, you will both feel quite snug and secure. The unique mesh fabric construction follows the line of baby’s body, cradling him or her perfectly. The head support is also made out of this mesh fabric, but is a bit sturdier and can be adjusted so you’ll feel confident that baby is not just happy, but safe as well.  One of our favorite aspects of the Synergy is its breathability in hot conditions. While it does not prevent you from sweating altogether, you and baby will be MUCH cooler and dryer than in other carriers on the market. There is also a significant reduction of pain and strain in the back and neck area due to the wide straps and wonderful lumbar support that can be individually adjusted to fit your body.

Portability
The Synergy is designed to be folded up and stowed away into a “practical storage pocket” (a mesh bag which is found tucked inside the front part of the carrier). Both carrier pieces (front and back) can be folded down to fit inside this storage pocket which makes it slightly more convenient than having to carry two separate pieces around. However, once in the storage pocket, it still takes up a large amount of space and it is difficult to fit the carrier and much of anything else into an average sized diaper bag.

Storage
There are no additional storage pockets or compartments on the Synergy for carrying everyday items (cell phone, money, keys, etc). There is a storage pocket designed to hold the carrier itself when not in use.

Safety
Baby Bjorn recommends that your baby is at least eight pounds AND 21 inches tall to safely use the Synergy. Once your child has reached the recommended weight and length, be sure to adjust the sliding buckle so that it is in the proper location for your baby’s height. Although we did not use the optional leg straps (since our baby tester was more than eleven pounds), this feature helps keep little legs from slipping out too far through the leg openings. We used the carrier with baby facing inward but once she is able to support her head on her own, she could be turned around to an outward facing position. Overall, we felt the Synergy was very secure and safe even when we were moving around and leaning over.

Cleanability
The Synergy can be machine washed in cold water with a gentle, bleach free detergent and drip dries quickly.

Pros
The breathable fabric really does what it says, allowing for air and moisture to ventilate. The fabric is surprisingly soft and follows the curve of baby’s body making it a very natural position for baby to be in. The lumbar support gives you the feeling of being held tight and secure just as your baby will feel. The Synergy is very comfortable makes “baby carrying” easy and enjoyable.

Cons
Can be a bit bulky to carry around when not wearing the carrier because it does not fit easily into a regular sized diaper bag (especially if you have anything else in your bag like….diapers).

Comparable Models/Brands
Compared to other Baby Bjorn models, the Synergy has both the breathable fabric of the Air model as well as the wide shoulder straps and lumbar support of the Active model. For active, every day use, especially in hot climates, we would recommend the Synergy over the Original Baby Bjorn model. You will pay twice as much for the Synergy, but if you plan on using it everyday, on extended excursions, going for regular walks or if you have back problems, it would be worth every penny. 

Categories: Front Baby Carriers, Gear Reviews, Top Picks
Tags: baby bjorn, baby carrier, baby carrier review, front baby carrier