What a gorgeous day, Midlands Babywearers!
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| Minde at Soda City |
But, say you're new to babywearing. Or maybe you are a veteran, but forgot all your carriers at home, and you are traveling to Columbia from Aiken or Sumter, and need to buy one, like, now. Or, perhaps, you are a little wary of buying something off the internet that you can't try on. This blog has got you covered.
Caveat: before I get started and you spend any of your hard earned money on something available in a store that you can only try a minute before buying . . . mention your dilemma on our Facebook group. We now have over 250 members, many either right here in Columbia and the surrounding area, many are scattered all over the state. One of them is bound to be near you, probably several. I am willing to bet big money that someone will let you borrow something if you only need it for a day. The parents in our group are some of the most amazing and generous people I've ever had the privilege to know. I really am amazed daily at the level of awesomeness in our group. And maybe you just want to try on something before you dive in and buy your own. That's just smart shopping. There is also our Lending Library - we have lots of great options there, including some of the better things available in local stores. Once you've been to a couple meetings, you are welcome to borrow from the Lending Library. Your first rental is free. Rentals thereafter are $5, and you get to try it for a month. It's a really great way to figure out what you like, and don't like, in a carrier before buying one of your own.
Ok, now to the nitty gritty. Melissa (our dedicated photographer and fellow babywearer) and I searched the Midlands (okay, just Harbison) to find out what was available in town to buy. We carted our collective four children from BuyBuyBaby to Target and made a final stop at Babies R Us, all in search of baby carriers. Let me tell you what you will not find. You will not find a woven wrap in baby store. You will not find the higher end buckle carriers like Tula or Kinderpack (though you will find some options that cost more than nearly any woven wrap or buckle carrier I've purchased). You can find a ring sling - but not at any of the stores we went to. Go check out KD's Treehouse. She carries Rockin' Baby Ring Slings. I've never tried this ring sling, so I can't review it personally. You can find a great review of it HERE - which boils down to: it's a great ring sling by a great company. Prices range from $70-$100. You WILL find a whole lot of options in forward facing carriers. As I've said before, this is an okay position for a short period, but generally not a great idea for baby or you, long term. You will find a surprising number of ergonomic options at a reasonable price point, including a Mei Tai. You will find any number of pouches, of various levels of usability. So, as DJ Lance says, "Let's break it down!" (Sorry, my youngest kid's favorite show is Yo Gabba Gabba)
For reference: the baby model is 13 months old, 22 lbs, and about 30" tall and the adult pictured (me) is a size 16 and 4'11". The gaping tummy flub and interesting facial expressions are just bonuses for your entertainment. This was much harder work than I thought it would be!
Stokke My Carrier
Price: $219.99
ages/weight limits: 33 lbs
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| Stokke: we were not stoked at the price |
Cons: This is the most complicated carrier I have ever tried on. My baby and I were sweating by the time it was done, and I did need Melissa's help to get it situated. This is not a carrier you can easily figure out on your own, and no, the salespeople don't know how to use it, either. The clips are not buckles but safety carabineers like you use for hiking, etc. The metal bar going down your back was not helpful and was really uncomfortable. While you can wear baby on your back, the way that this is styled makes me think that only on a man with a ripped chest and 6 pack abs would look good in it. (but such a man would rock anything, really). Other cons: did you see the price?
Overall Review: If you need a laugh, or a workout, go try this on. I want to be kind, but this is a really hard carrier to like, especially at the price. I am sure, honestly, that there is a demographic that would like this carrier - the metal bar might be a boon to someone with a really bad back that needs that support. But I also feel, in truly ergonomic options, that you will not need that metal back support.
Where to buy: BuyBuyBaby
BabyBjorn ONE
Price: $219.99
ages/weight limits: 8-33 lbs
Pros: Of all the things BabyBjorn makes, this carrier is the most ergonomic. The seat is wide, it includes a waist belt for better weight distribution. It can be worn facing in, facing out, or on the back. The material can be wiped down for easy clean up.
Cons: Mostly the price. Nearly $220 is a hefty price tag for a carrier that has nothing to offer that other lower priced carriers don't already cover, and better. This was also an insanely complicated carrier to put on. I found learning to back wrap was far easier than figuring out this carrier, and the Stokke listed above.
Overall Review: If you like the brand, or your baby loves your current Bjorn, but is getting too big for it, and you want to stick with what you know, this is a good option - but make sure you fiddle with it at the store first, to make sure you can work all the various clips and connectors.
Where to buy: BuyBuyBaby and BabiesRUs (it's only $179.99 here)
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| Bjorn Comfort - not bad |
Price: $199.99
ages/weight limits: 13-31 lbs
Pros: in the wide leg position, this carrier is actually fairly ergonomic. It's a little cheaper than the ONE. All the other pros of the ONE apply to the Comfort Carrier.
Cons: The buckles/clips on this and the other Bjorns I tried are unique to the line. they aren't the standard buckle clip so it takes getting used to so there is more of a learning curve.
Overall: a better price for a fairly ergonomic carrier. Not my favorite, but it was by far not the worst thing I tried.
Where to buy: BuyBuyBaby and Babies R Us
Ergobaby 360
Price: $159.99
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| Ergobaby 360: my baby has never ridden facing out before |
Pros: Ergonomically supports baby in a multitude of positions, including facing out. When facing out, the hips are actually pretty well supported in the 360, baby is not left dangling. It's fairly comfortable for the wearer, too. The shoulders have adequate padding. Wearing baby on your back in this would be comfortable, like most things made by Ergobaby. The width and height of the back would work for even a growing toddler.
Cons: With a young baby and the infant insert, this will get hot. Really, really hot. The all cotton is nice and breathes okay, but it is not the coolest carrier out there. And the waistband! it is VELCRO. Yes, VELCRO. It is insanely loud to remove. I am not a fan. On the plus side (literally) this expands nicely and fit m with plenty of overlap to spare, so it's plus-size and big-daddy friendly. But, seriously, Velcro? it makes it hard to wash because everything will stick to it, and Velcro always, always, eventually wears out. (that, among other reasons, is why many cloth diapers are made with Aplix instead, or better yet, snaps).
Overall Review: If you, or your baby, needs an ergonomic outward facing position, this is the carrier I would choose. Otherwise, there are other options available at a better price point.
Where to buy: BuyBuyBaby and Babies R Us
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| Ergobaby Performance we liked how it performed |
Price: $139.99
ages/weight limits: 7-33 lbs
Pros: Of all the carriers in Ergobaby's line, this is my favorite. It breathes (thanks to mesh in the straps and body of the carrier), it's taller and wider than the original, and the waist band is the longest. You could easily use this carrier as long as you need one for you child, in most cases. It is a really great carrier for the price.
Cons: The waist band support has a deeper curve, which I didn't mind, but depending on the wearer, and whether you buckle at waist, at hip level, or somewhere in between, you might find that awkward and uncomfortable. Only other thing (but it really applies to anything on this list) is the color is kind of boring. But you can jazz it up with custom drool pads :)
Overall Review: A great carrier, especially for the South Carolina heat. If you have the money to spend, I'd get this.
Where to Buy: BuyBuyBaby and Target
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| Ergobaby Original |
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| Lillebaby Complete: almost Completely perfect |
Price: $109.99
ages/weight limits: 7-45 lbs
Pros: The Price! first of all. Secondly, no insert is needed for a young baby, you can snap it in for a better fit for a younger baby. The back was nice and tall and fit my 13 month old well. You can wear this facing in, facing out, on your hip, and on your back. It has a higher weight rating than the Ergobaby, so you can use it for an older or heavier toddler. For the money, this is a great carrier. Plus, if you have a store coupon (BuyBuyBaby often has 20% off coupons) you can get this for well under $100.00. WIN.
Cons: The only major con that came up was size. I'm a size 16 right now and I barely got this to buckle. That made me sad, seriously. This is such an otherwise great carrier, that I hate that I can not recommend it to all my plus size friends.
Overall review: for right around a $100 (or less, with a coupon) - this is a truly fantastic carrier for the average sized wearer.
Where to buy: BuyBuyBaby
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| Chico Coda: Could've been better |
Price: $89.99
ages/weight limits: 8-25 lbs
Pros: You can use this facing you or facing out. It is not the narrowest carrier I've seen.
Cons: It's only a front carrier. You can not use this on your back. It only goes to 25 lbs, which means many babies will size out of it before a year old. I find I wear my babies most often between the ages of 8 months and 2 years - when the either are not walking yet, or not strong enough to walk far, yet want to be held all. the. time. It's also not very comfortable, for me or for my baby, since he's kind of held away from me.
Overall review: If you really want this sort of carrier, there are plenty at Once Upon a Child (in the same shopping center as Babies R Us) - for much less money. I know people are happy with this carrier for a while, and I'm glad there is an option for them. It's just not for us.
Where to Buy: Babies R Us
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| Balboa Sling - I don't know if he didn't like the pink, or the carrier, or both |
Price: $59.99
ages/weight limits: 8-25 lbs
Pros: this makes a decent hip carrier for an older baby, I would say the same for any pouch-type sling, of which this is one.
Cons: this is a sized carrier. Getting the right size for you is essential to making it work. The padded rails are supposed to add comfort but make it kind of difficult to adjust. It IS adjustable with some sewn in rings, however this is NOT a ring sling. Since the weight is borne entirely on one of your shoulders, it is not as ergonomic for the wearer as a two-shouldered carrier.
Overall Review: for the price, go to KD's Treehouse mentioned above and try a Rockin' Ring Sling. Ring Slings are a great carrier for newborn through toddler, that you can read more about HERE
Where to buy: BuyBuyBaby and Babies R Us
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| Infantino Sash: We were smiling on t he inside, promise! |
Price: $34.99
Ages/weight limits - 8-36 lbs
Pros: The price! It's ergonomic. It has a wide enough seat to cover most babies and toddlers knee-to-knee. The fact that it uses ties instead of buckles means that some families will find it easier for both parents to use, even if they are very different sizes (no adjusting buckles, etc). It can be worn on the front, back, or hip. You can even wear a younger baby on your back in a high back carry, unlike most buckle carriers which recommend starting around age 6 months or sitting unassisted for back carries. It comes in a couple cute patterns. Did I mention the price?
Cons: Some wearers find learning to tie a Mei Tai has a slightly longer learning curve than using a carrier with buckles.
Overall Review: for well under $50.00, you can get a great carrier that will fit most body types and most babies and toddlers comfortably. If you need something now, for today only, it's definitely worth owning.
Where to buy: Babies R Us, Target, and Wal-mart
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| Baby K'tan - clearly she was a fan |
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| Moby - the cat approved - |
If you need a carrier, today, you can find something great locally, at a good price in nearly any budget. BuyBuyBaby and Babies R Us do carry more brands including Beco and Boba online, and both of those buckle carriers come highly recommended.
If you purchased a carrier in Columbia, come tell us about it in our Facebook group, especially if you loved it.
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
Saturday, May 10th - 10 a.m. - Warm Weather Babywearing. We'll be at our usual weekend location, the LDS building on Assembly Street.
Saturday, May 17th - 11 a.m. - Ice Cream Social at Heathwood Park - we'll provide the ice cream, ya'll bring the toppings, kids, families and fun.
Thursday, May 22nd - 10 a.m. - Nursing/Feeding while Babywearing. This is a joint even with La Leche League of Columbia, held at the LDS Church on Broad River Rd.
We hope to see everyone during at least one of these events!
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