After carrying our babies for eleven consecutive years, I suppose I fall into the "baby wearing" category. I honestly couldn't imagine mothering any other way. Babies are calmer, more peaceful, and in a mind-developing state of "quiet alertness" when close to a loving care-giver. A recent article in TODAY was published about the importance of holding your baby. As I write this, I am currently carrying a clingy, teething baby on my back, bouncing him up and down. I would literally get nothing done without a baby carrier.
I am so very pleased to partner with Lorene from Frog Mama. Her beautiful family is saving up for an adoption. 100% of the proceeds made from Frog Mama goes to funding their adoption! This is a perfect opportunity to bless a mama with an amazing carrier for Mother's Day and help bring a child into a loving family. To read more about their journey to adoption, visit her blog. If you aren't in need of a baby carrier but would like to help support their adoption, they are also selling rice neck warmers/cold packs infused with soothing herbs to raise money for their adoption. If you would simply like to give, a PayPal option can be found to the right on her blog.
Lorene has also generously offered to give a $100 certificate to Frog Mama to go towards your carrier of choice! I had the opportunity of trying out several of the carriers offered on Frog Mama for a few weeks to provide you with a review. Before I begin, I would like to say that each of them were amazing in their own way. The most important part about baby wearing is learning how to properly wear your baby with each specific carrier. Lorene has a YouTube channel where she teaches how to do this. If you are in the Shasta County area, you have the added privilege of being able to set up an appointment with her where you can try on any carrier you're interested in and she will show you how to properly put it on. Now on to the review:
What I liked most: This was the coziest carrier I tried. I could feel Joseph and myself immediately relax and snuggle when we wrapped it on. Also? It's gorgeous.
Comfort level: Highest!
Ease of wear: Once I learned to properly wrap, it goes on like clockwork. You can adjust it to fit perfectly for you and your baby's body shape and size. It can be warn from infancy to toddlerhood.
Versatility: There is no end to the ways you can carry your baby with it: side, back, front, rucksack, hip-cross, kangaroo... It's a fun one to play around with.
I wore this one while putting together the garden. I loved the flexibility it lent me and how secure it felt.
Tying it on is quite simple and very quick.
What I liked most: The freedom of movement and how light it is.
Comfort level: Very high!
Ease of wear: Very Easy! It is a wonderful hybrid of an Ergo-like carrier and a wrap/tie carrier.
Versatility: Can be worn on the front and back.
What can't this carrier do?! First of all, it carries high which I really like. My baby's head is closer to mine and that is quite cozy and happy.
The carrier goes up high and supports baby's back really well, so when they decide to arch, they don't throw you off balance.
Are you out and about and grabbing a bite to eat at a restaurant or are at a friend's house and you need a place or baby to eat or just sit? This carrier doubles as a high chair!
Lorene shows us how easy it is to use as a high chair in this video:
What I liked most: The shoulder straps and belt is very padded and comfortable. It's easy to put on and adjust, and I love the high chair feature!
Comfort level: Very high!
Ease of wear: Easiest for me who is used to wearing an Ergo Baby Carrier.
Versatility: Can be worn in the front or back from six months old into toddlerhood.
I wore this one to our local nursery and into the garden for the day. This is a very comfortable, new carrier specifically for toddlers!
Here is another video, showing us how to wear this carrier:
What I liked most: Comfort and ease to put on, and how well it fit my toddler.
Comfort level: High
Ease of wear: Very high!
Versatility: Carries babies 18-48 pounds, adjustable and removable chest strap, ability to shorten the height of the panel, and can be worn in the front or back.
Please consider blessing this family as they save up for their adoption! And please enter to win a $100 gift certificate towards a carrier of choice below!
I'd love either
ReplyDeleteSimple Linen by Sakura Bloom or Ellevil's Paisley Tango!
I'm interested in the c&c wraps and the Ellevill Zaras, fresh is pretty.
ReplyDeleteLove the Ellevill Zaras!
ReplyDeleteyay! comments are working. i would love a becco, boba, or any other toddler carrier for the back.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this chance to win! I love the
ReplyDeleteOnya Baby Carrier style from looking around and would love to use that one with my toddler!
Excited! Crossing my fingers! I'd love to learn how to wrap!
ReplyDeleteMy 'baby' is two and I've been looking for one to put her in while we go hiking as a family. The boba 3G would be awesome to have!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they had a toddler specific carrier! Thanks for the great review.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI have been a babywearer since my first (who is almost 6 now) and while I love SSC, MT, and RS... I have really been wanting to try wrapping and a Zara is at the top of my wishlist!
ReplyDeleteim not sure either a woven wrap or a buckle carrier
ReplyDeleteBoth the Zara and the Mei Tie look like exactly what I'm looking for. So glad you reviewed all of these.
ReplyDeleteI love almost all she carries....I think I would keep having more kids (well I want to anyways) to use all the amazing wraps. The Wrapsody Stretch Hybrid wraps looks beautiful and light (summer wearing)......
ReplyDeleteI love the Onya carrier. Perfect hiking, walking, absolutely everything.
ReplyDeleteLove Love Love frogmama! I'd love to get an angelpack hybrid
ReplyDeleteI'd love to get the Onya! Love the idea of a carrier and high chair. But right now the biggest thing I want in a carrier is to put them on my back since I'm getting into photogrophy and my little guy is starting to grab the camera when he's in the front.
ReplyDeleteWould love a Beco Soleil carrier!
ReplyDeleteI bought my Boba 3G Carrier from Lorene and both my husband and I love it! Really appreciated the option to try one out and send it back if it didn't work, as my first choice was not working for us.
ReplyDeleteA woven wrap for my new baby girl!
ReplyDeleteThe Onya carrier! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the Sakura Bloom PURE ring sling or I would love to try a woven wrap, which is just about the only "carrier" I've never tried before. They're all so gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI really want the Angelpack Max. It seems just perfect for my toddler and looks so comfy. I have some lower back trouble and carrying my toddler can be a strain, carriers help so much but the one I have now just isn't cutting it now that he is bigger. :)
ReplyDeletethe onya to carry my josiah looks like a treat. looove the carrier modelling for the post!
ReplyDeleteI would love to try the Boba carrier!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try the wrapsody gauze wrap!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try a mei tei.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in the Boba 3G for my growing baby. I want to baby wear as long as I can if it makes her happy :)
ReplyDeleteIn the market for a mei tai. Looking at frog mama now.
ReplyDeleteLove the new becco!
ReplyDeleteI would love a new Beco Soleil.
ReplyDeleteOh yes pick me, please! We had one WAHM made backpack carrier with our first and we used it until it fell apart (and that speaks for how much we used it, because it was very well made), so we'll need another for our next!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try an Onya! Love the highchair option.
ReplyDeleteOops, I forgot to mention the kind of carrier I'd like. I've had my eye on a Beco Butterfly for a while, but your review of the Onya makes me want to try it! It would be a difficult decision, for sure!
ReplyDeleteKozy Mei Tie Carrier for sure
ReplyDeletewraps hands down!
ReplyDeleteI like the Boba Air.
ReplyDeleteI loved my wrap with my son, so I love the boba or moby wraps...but would also like to try something a little different like perhaps the boba air or boba 3g
ReplyDeleteI would definitely love a carrier that is toddler specific for my 1st born. BUT I would also love to replace my current carrier with one my husband would actually wear in public (it's too girly apparently) haha.
ReplyDeleteBabyhawk oh snap
ReplyDeleteI would love the Beco soleil for use with baby number 6, who was born three weeks ago. Any carrier from the Frog mama site looks great!
ReplyDelete