Continue reading]]> I have recently had the opportunity to try out a few different baby carriers and/or slings.  See the following short video reviews below for my honest opinion.  I was not paid or given free items for these reviews.

Infantino Mei Tai

Bity Bean (love this one for short term wears and in the pool!)

7 Sling (ouch!)

I hope you found these baby carrier reviews helpful.  I still hold to the Boba being my very favorite carrier from birth all the way to 1 year +.  If you have any questions, please post a comment.

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Baby K’tan Review

As some of you know, I am really into babywearing. As a Mom of 4, I have to have a life while still being able to hold my baby and have my hands free.

I have tried a lot of different baby carriers and what I’ve come to realize is that there is really not ONE carrier that is the only one I would need.  I personally have 3 to fit all of my needs.  I know this seems a little like overkill, but 2 of them are really inexpensive and one is expensive, but is a lot more comfortable for long term wearing.

The expensive one I have that is great for long term wearing is the Boba 3G. I can wear this for hours and my baby feels as heavy as a feather. It’s great for newborns because it doesn’t have any inserts and it has a hood for when they fall asleep, which is a great feature and I use it all of the time!

The second one I have is a sling. I shied away from the ring slings because I was terrified I would put it on wrong and the baby would fall out. I feel much more comfortable with a clip in sling.  I use the sling for short term wears and times when I want to pop him in and out frequently.  It’s great for him to eat a bottle in and sleep in (in the laying down position).  He can also sit up in it facing sideways or forward.  It really is quite flexible in terms of what it offers as a carrier.  However, it’s not very comfortable to wear and puts a lot of weight on one shoulder.  I keep this carrier in the car because it’s easy to tote around and to bring for errands.  You can use the K’tan as a sling, so you may not need a separate sling if you have the k’tan.  I didn’t have the k’tan when I purchased the sling.

The third one I have is the Baby K’tan. Here are some pros and cons and my Baby K’tan Review.  If you are worried about sizing or are in-between, choose the smaller size.

Pros:

1. A variety of wearing positions (including facing out).

2. Easy to use once you learn the basic tying techniques.

3. Fold up into a small pouch and will easily fit into a diaper bag or large purse.

4. Works for newborns on up.

5. Soft fabric is comfortable for Mom and baby and the shoulder fabric spreads out for distribution of baby’s weight.

6. Comes in various sizes and colors.

7. Reasonably priced compared to other carriers

8.  Easier to use than a Moby wrap etc.

9.  Great for short term wearing.

10.  No buckles or snaps to fuss with or to break.

11. Adjustable back loop makes it more comfortable to wear.

Cons

1. Unless you and your spouse are the same size, it will not fit both of you.

2. I can never get the holds completely even so it puts uneven pressure on my back (even in the sales photos they have on Amazon, the baby is a little crooked).

3.  As your baby gets older and heavier, the carrier becomes less comfortable (because of the give /stretchiness of the fabric)

4.  I got the gray color because it was cheaper.  It’s a horrible color for babies as it shows every slobbery mess he makes.  Half the time the whole front looks “wet” from just wearing my teething child in it.  I would go with black if I could chose the color again.

5.  The hip carry does not feel secure to me.

6. There is quite a bit of fabric on you and the baby and it can get cozy warm and sweaty in the summer.

Overall, the K’tan is flexible in what it offers and is worth having on hand, but probably won’t be comfortable to wear all of the time (at least it isn’t for me).

Here are some videos I made about how to tie the Baby K’tan and how to do all of the holds if you are interested.

HUG POSITION

Continue reading]]> Today I met with a facebook friend of mine, her name is Shannon and she is the Utah County expert on baby wearing.  She offers classes as well as advice to many of us all the time. I asked her to help me review the most popular baby carriers and she was kind to oblige. She has the cutest 21 month old daughter who LOVES to go in Shannon’s various carriers.  Her daughter would dance around and giggle whenever she got one on, it was so adorable!

I personally wear my 4 month old baby almost every day and I learned a lot from her presentation.  Please see the videos below for more information on baby carriers.

Here’s links to the baby carriers mentioned:

Moby Stretchy Wrap (best for small babies up to 3 months, heavier babies make the fabric sag)
Pouch Sling (an essential purse or diaper bag item) but not very comfy for long term wear)
Ring Sling (also best for smaller babies, and then for mobile toddler… easy to adjust)
Ergo. She had a newer version of the Ergo, but I don’t see any differences in the one she had and this one, except the design.
Woven Wrap (does not stretch with wear.  Learning curve when it comes to tying it)
Mei Tai (a good combo of a wrap and a soft structured carrier)

I was able to try most of these carriers and I like the ring sling the best.  One thing I have learned, though, everyone is fiercely different and everyone is looking for different features in a baby carrier.  I personally feel like I need to have a few different kinds to fit my needs.  I have a boba, a peanut shell, and a k’tan (coming in the mail soon, so I haven’t used it exclusively yet).  I have also done reviews on other carriers here on my blog.

The following are videos of Shannon showing us how to use each specific carrier.  Wasn’t she nice to take time to do this?  If you would like to take her babywearing class, contact her here at the Baby Wearing Shop. She also sells baby carriers at these classes, so you can buy the one you like right there. Please thank her if you know her or post a comment.

I do want to extend a little bit of a warning.  Not to scare you, but for you to be aware.  There are some “user error” accidents with wrap type carriers.  If you want more details, please read the Consumer Reports review here. And make sure you read the instructions and safety procedures before wearing your child in any carrier.

For reviews on many different baby carriers and tips on baby wearing, take a look at our “Babies” playlist on Youtube.

Continue reading]]> Hands free baby carrying is a must at our house.  With 4 kids and a busy schedule, I need both hands free for cleaning up the house, preparing meals, and playing with my other kiddos.  My baby adores baby wearing and so do I because we can be close to each other while I get things done.

When I first had him, I tried out a bunch of different carriers and went to a babywearing class because I just couldn’t find one that was comfortable for me.  I am 5’3″ and about 120 pounds and many of the carriers were just too big for me.  I narrowed down my list to 6 that I liked best.  You will notice I left out the wrap carriers and ring slings.  I had one of those with a previous child and it was really hot to wear and I always felt like the baby was falling out (she wasn’t, I just felt that way).  There is too much “give” in the fabric and I personally prefer more structure.  There is a lot of user error with the wraps and Consumer Reports suggests not using them at all because it’s more likely your child will be injured because you might use it wrong or the fabric will stretch and give and make the carrier unsafe.  I know a lot of babywearing Moms will have my hide for saying this, but I think it’s a valid concern.

Here’s a list of my top 6in order from my favorite to least favorite.

Boba Organic

Pros:

• soft, organic fabric is gentle on baby’s skin
• distributes weight evenly so no one area gets sore
• has a detachable hood that is also size adjustable to protect baby from sun or over stimulation
• straps adjust easily while wearing
• shoulder strap adjusts up and down
• straps can be wrapped up and secured to be tidy
• machine washable
• 3 wearing positions (front facing in newborn, front facing in 12+ pounds – legs around belly, and back facing in)
• built in neck support for newborns (snaps), no infant insert needed.  Higher rise to support infant necks.
• accessories available (diaper bag that snaps on, carrying sack, etc)
• can be adjusted for different sizes and heights (i.e. men & women)
• the bottom of the carrier snaps up for infants who are shorter and keep their legs tucked up under their belly
• has foot straps for older babies (keeps hips in better alignment)
• storage pockets for phone/keys etc
• adjustable sides so baby can be pressed up against your chest or not, you control the distance

Cons:

• only 3 wearing positions (no hip carry)

• price ($160), non organic ($120)
• you can’t easily breastfeed in it
• it gets hot after wearing it for long periods of time, it is not made of mesh fabric

Baby K’tan Organic

Pros:

• lightweight and soft
• no straps to adjust
• you can breastfeed in it
• several different positions (facing in, facing out, on the hip,
• comes with waist strap for added support and a carrying bag (attached to waist strap)
• very compact and easy to carry around / fit in the diaper bag
• price ($60 organic, $50 non organic)
• gigantic warning label

Cons:

• learning curve: takes a while to learn how to wrap it correctly
• unsettling feeling that the baby might fall out (for me anyway) and that I wrapped it wrong
• fabric is stretchy so the shoulders tend to get sore
• not adjustable in terms of strap length: baby is pressed up against your chest (your baby may like this, but mine doesn’t)
• you may need a different size than your husband or other caregiver

Infantino Flip Front 2 Back

Pros:

• inexpensive ($30)
• comfortable for baby
• padded interior
• velcro bib inside is included
• shoulder strap adjusts up and down
• breathable mesh
• can be carried 3 ways (facing in, facing out, on your back facing in)
• machine Washable
• can be used with any size of person (adjustable)

Cons:

• straps are hard to adjust while wearing (but ok to adjust while not wearing)
• waist strap doesn’t give much support
• shoulders hurt after about an hour of carrying
• straps don’t have an elastic band to roll up and keep them tidy

Infantino Mei Tai
Pros:

• Cost ($32)
• Hybrid that falls between a wrap and a structured baby carrier
• Can by used with any size of person (adjustable)
• 3 ways to tie: facing in, hip hugging, backpack (baby facing in and on your back)
• comes with a hood to protect baby from sun and overstimulation
• machine washable

Cons:

• girly design that my husband wouldn’t be caught dead in
• it’s hard to get the straps tight enough to hold up the baby and not be digging into your shoulders
• It’s hard to untie things behind my back
• It has to be adjusted every time you put it on, you can’t just put the straps on a setting

Pros

• soft, organic material
• ample storage pouch for keys, wallet
• straps can be kept tidy and rolled up
• multiple position carry (front facing in, back facing in, hip)
• machine washable
• comes with a hood to protect baby from sun or overstimulation

Cons:

• price ($165)
• very hot to wear
• thick and bulky (feels like an overnight backpacking adventure when put on!)
• my baby hated the infant insert and I had a hard time getting him in the carrier with the insert on
• shoulder buckles that go on the top of your back are hard to move up and down

Note: Watch out for carriers that are considered “crotch danglers” (Baby B’jorn) and don’t have support or a strap around the parent’s waist.  These carriers are bad for babies leg and hip development and are not comfortable for Mom either.  Some people suggest never carrying baby facing out for this reason as well.

I have created a NEW POST with more baby carriers and new videos!  See the post here.

I hope these baby carrier reviews were helpful for you.  Please post a comment if you have any questions.