At a BWI Meeting

After attending a BWI (Babywearing International Meeting) and seeing a beautiful and comfortable Wrap Conversion (a wrap-long piece of woven fabric- cut and sewn together to make a Mei Tai) I knew I had to have one.  It seemed like it would solve some problems with comfort for longer time periods.  If you get a Wrap Conversion and keep the wrap straps then you have a wonderful hybrid- the ease of a Soft Structure Carrier (like the Ergo/Boba) and the comfortable and adjustability in the straps of a wrap.

One of the other reasons I wanted a Wrap Conversion Mei Tai (WCMT) was so that I could get a higher back carry.  I love back carries and they are more convenient for many occasions, but Everett hated being so low on my back and getting the view of the color shirt I was wearing.  I would attempt a high back carry in a woven wrap but I’ll admit that I’m not good enough!

I stalked The Baby Wearer’s FSOT for a WCMT.  Anytime one came up for sale it would either have a buckle, be a wrap I didn’t love, or I would love it and I would be too late.  In the meantime I posted my own beloved Beco Butterfly II in Scooters- a Hard to Find print that I stalked for over a year ago for my yet to be born baby Everett.  I love the print, it is still one of my favorites, but the carrier itself wasn’t comfortable enough and it never made it into my rotation.  I knew it was a sought after carrier so I posted it For Trade towards a WCMT and hoped for the best.

Honeycomb-esque Applique on the body

Stars aligned when a Scooters fan offered to trade my BBII towards a Wrap Conversion.  It gets confusing here but somehow this trade was for a brand new custom conversion.  I went for it, ordered the Dolcino Kreta wrap, paid another $100+ for the applique work (and upgraded to a hybrid waist and sweatshirt style hood) and waited.  My end goal was to have the carrier before I left for the ABC Kids Expo.  I needed a carrier I could wear Everett in for many hours at a time and I wanted him on my back.

The carrier made it just in time and I was able to practice with it before the show.  I did get him on my back and we walked around.  It was a very comfortable carrier.  I even carried an entire wooden glider from the basement around to the front of the house with him on my back- I am super woman!

When ABC Kids Came I packed her up and excitedly waited for my chance to wear Everett and show off the most beautiful carrier there.  It was handmade and totally custom to my design.

Instead- I gave myself “busted-arm syndrome” from carrying 20 pounds of baby around for 4 days straight and 6+ hours a day.

Long story short- Ev hated it.  He much preferred to be in a ring sling so I did get to wear him a little on my hip, or I put him in the new Boba 3G on my front.  I even wore him some in the Onya on my back and he enjoyed that the most.  But would he be caught dead in the $300 carrier I had made just for the conference?  Of course not!

That Expo was the hardest few days in recent memory.  There were other factors, not just the carrier.  Everett was overwhelmed and wanted to be held, not “worn.”  In all honesty he isn’t as into being worn as my first son was.  For Everett and I babywearing is a necessity for trips.  A convenience.  For Fletcher and I when he was younger I wore him because he loved it.  I would wear him just to get him to nap, or just for snuggles.  Everett is just not into that kind of babywearing.  I think I am still in denial…

Now I have the most beautiful carrier in the world just sitting in a giant Ikea bag in my coat closet along with my other carriers.  Unlike those other carriers, it never gets pulled out from hiding except every month or two when I decide to give it another chance.  Everett arches and squirms and I take him out.  It pretty much never sees the light of day like my Ring Slings and Soft Structure Carriers.

One day I’m going to ask my husband point blank- are we having another baby?  Because I need to know if I should let this carrier go to a loving home or if I should hoard it for baby #3.  I seriously hate to think that I have something this awesome that I will never get to use!  But after losing my son at Target last week (he ran off and dissapeared in .2 seconds…) it made my ovaries shrivel up so I may no longer be fertile.  For now I have to face facts: I am a Buckle Carrier (usually Boba) kinda girl.

Not me!

Because every other blog that has reviewed the new Onya Carrier has already come up with a clever way to incorporate the brand name into a funny title I decided to keep it simple.  Considering every time I hear the name I then say “All up on-ya” in a male, sexy, deep voice I know how tempting it can be!

I first encountered the Onya at the ABC Kids Expo this past year.  I’ve used a lot of soft structure carriers over the past 3+ years and the SSC is definitely my favorite carrier style.  When I attended the Expo I had my son Everett, who at the time he was 10 months old, so I was planning on babywearing him frequently.  The Onya was one of the carriers I wanted to test out while there.

Before I even go into details about the carrier itself I have to tell you all that the Onya inventor, Diane, is such a nice person.  She really brightened my day!  She explained the various features of the carrier to me and helped me get it on and sized.  We borrowed it for a the evening and returned it the next day.  Just from that time with the carrier I was impressed by it, but more importantly, Everett loved it for the back carry.

When Diane asked if I would like to give it a true review I was totally on board!  I just love trying out new carriers and playing with the buckles and settings!

Once it arrived I didn’t waste anytime.  I unboxed it and pre-adjusted the staps with some guesswork, then tossed Everett onto my back.  Since that day I’ve been using it around the house when he is a bit cranky and needs some mommy closeness and mommy needs to get housework accomplished.  My main use has been at home since the winter cold/snow has kept us from going out as much as we would like.  I have used it out of the house on shopping trips and I even used it outside for a romp in the snow!

Hands down the best thing about this carrier for me has been that the back carry is a bit higher than similar SSC’s.  Everett prefers being worn on the back in the Onya for this reason.  It is pretty obvious that he likes it.  When the baby is younger they are often stuck facing your back.  In the Onya he gets a higher view!

My next favorite feature would be that the back straps unbuckle and allow for criss crossing when performing a front carry.  Rather than reaching around to clip the chest clip on your own back or having someone do it for you, with the Onya you can buckle each strap easily under each arm.  The comfort level is not compromised- in fact I know many mama’s who prefer a criss cross in the back to a clip.  I don’t think one is better than the other, or haven’t noticed a difference.

The straps are insanely easy to adjust.  They glide throughlike BUTTER.  This is mostly a good thing because no one likes having to tug at a strap when you have one hand on a baby and need to get things adjusted quickly.  The only downside I found was when loosening straps it went from tight to way too loose in a split second because they are so smooth.  I had to condition mysef to pull ever so slightly to prevent it.

The waist belt is padded well and nice and wide which in the world of SSC’s means maximum comfort.  The straps are also adequately padded.  They feel a bit stiff (the straps) however and don’t bend/give as much as some other brands.  This could be something that happens over time when they break in, I just won’t know yet.  I also really appreciate the extra step of having multiple stitch lines through the waist belt and straps since it gives it a quality look.

The buckles match well and just feel downright well made.  When it comes to babywearing you want a carrier that has been well made and is safe.  I felt this was very true of the Onya.  Plus it was under development for over 4 years!  That is mighty impressive.

There is a sleep hood that is hidden.  You will need to just unzip it and pull it out.  I like that it is always there when you need it but hidden away.

The chair/seat thing is pretty cool.  It isn’t something that would make me pick it over any other carrier but having it could be to your advantage.  I see the chair seat as a good option for families who frequent those hole in the wall places that don’t cater to families and don’t have high chairs.  Of course in my life we try to make sure our destinations (like a restaurant) are family friendly.  I personally think if something doesn’t have a high chair then they don’t want a family with kids to be there.  And I don’t like that…

I chose to review the The Cruiser which is the cotton version of the Onya.  It currently comes in two color combinations- Dove Chocolate Chip (White/brown) and Leaf Green/ Umber (Green/brown).  One of the reasons I like the Onya is that the White carrier is very different.  It is a neutral color set and won’t totally clash with anything you own.  It is white though so you might see minor dirt on it more than you would on a typical black/brown carrier.  But I love the risk taking nature of it!  If you are more outdoorsy you might prefer the Outback which is a waterproof version of the carrier.

The Seat Chair gives a “poofy” appearance to the carrier.  You can’t take it out at all so there is not way to reduce the poof.

My chosen method of getting my baby on my back (The Super-Man Toss) is a little more difficult to use with this carrier.  The only way I can explain it is that the seat is deeper than most and I can’t get him as deep in it as I need from this method.  I usually have to get my husband or someone else to push my son deeper into the seat.  I do actually like the deeper seat pocket but since I wear him on my back the most it has given me a hard time!

I am a very petite person.  In the Onya I felt I could have tightened my straps a little more.  Everett wasn’t as snug against my back as I wanted.  I am barely 100 pounds (sometimes not even) so for the vast majority of people this isn’t going to be an issue.

You need to be aware before putting the carrier on, how your straps are tightened.  If you leave the straps loose on the side that faces your back (when doing a back carry) you have to tighten them by pulling away from you, backwards.  It is practically impossible 9at least for me) so after having this happen a few times I finally got the memo and would check each time and tighten that strap all the way.

I have enjoyed, and am still enjoying using the Onya Baby Carrier.  It is so clear how much love and thought went into the design.  Often when a first version of a product is released you can nitpick and find little things that could use improving.  I just can’t complain too much about anything.  One day I’m sure they’ll be able to add more color choices and those things come with time.

You can buy the Onya Baby Carrier through their website or from select retailers.  I’d also love it of you could “Like” Onya Baby on Facebook.  They are always posting wonderful words of babywearing wisdom and sage parenting advice.  

The longer I nurse the more I start longing for the days of wearing beautiful, lacy, SEXY bras again.  I know part of this is tied to wanting to feel sexy again, and part is getting over the hump of the after pregnancy/birth lack of *ahem* desire for certain things.  Once that desire is back I would like to start looking more desirable and less “sweatpants.”

Usually nursing and sexy bras don’t go together.  There are many brands offering cozy and comfortable nursing bras.  I should know, I own many of them and wear them on a daily basis.  However, when I get all dressed up I would like to have a bra that matches that feeling.  Something sexy, lacy, feminine, and that still gives me access to nurse my baby.

Enter the Cake Lingerie line of nursing bras.  Out of the “sexy” brands now offered for nursing bras I feel this brand is the sexiest!  I was fortunate enough to get to see their line in person at ABC Kids Expo.  These bras are made better and designed better than the bras I wore before having kids.

Cake Lingerie does make the popular nursing bra option of the “smooth cup” for under T-Shirts, and more day to day wear bras.  For my review I was able to try one of the bras in their Fashion line.  I was sent Coconut Ice (Plunge).  This bra has a lot of details- lace all the way around, pretty pink and black striped fabric on the bust, decorative straps, a oretty black bow in the center, and a multitude of settings on the back for the ever changing pregnant and nursing figure.

After doing some playing around with the straps and adjusting it to my size, I was happy to find a different kind of silhouette than my every day nursing bras achieved.   It wasn’t something I would wear under my everyday tight T-Shirts, but would look pretty awesome under my nice dresses.  It was more of a “bombshell” shape.

It was a challenge for me to decide on a size.  The company uses a different sizing system and I was torn as to what would fit best.  After some translating from the European sizes and talking with Ashleigh from Cake Lingerie, I decided on a 32 D and it was a bit too big in the cup.  I used some padded inserts from a bikini I had laying around in order to test the shape better.  In most other brands from the US I am usually a 32 D- 32 DD.

I loved everything about the bra when it came to the shape, the appearance, the quality, and the attention to details.  The only thing was that my skin didn’t like the lace!  Insert sad face here.  I just couldn’t wear this bra all day.  By the late afternoon I was one of those women who walk in from a day out at work/ running errands, who immediately unclasp and throw off their bra. It was kind of funny because I have been wearing shapeless and plain cotton nursing bras for so long I forgot what wearing something “pretty” actually felt like before having babies.  The band with the lace trim caused some itching.  It wasn’t the FIT that made it uncomfortable.  I would like to try their Toffee bra in the future; with no lace I expect it would be much more comfortable for longer periods of time.  It is also the ONLY nursing bra with a convertible strap option!

One thing that is nice about the shape of this bra is the wide set straps.  Often, with nursing bras your straps are more centered to the cup.  Certain shirts require wider straps or else they will be visible.  I like to wear this bra with my Toni Top, and even though that top is so wide set they somtimes sneak out, this is a bra that works with it.  Plus the straps are pretty, black, and lacy, so it works.

I was so impressed with the company and I’m thrilled that I met them at ABC Kids.  They really understand what goes into making a maternity and nursing bra.  They offer a huge variety of sizes, including Plus Sizes, and styles.  I’ve never talked to a man who knows more about nursing bras than Keith, who was at the booth during ABC Kids.

I’m going to be stalking Zulily and hope that Cake Lingerie comes back so that I can try one of their other bras.  Admittedly, their price is high at around 59.00 per bra.  After you have tried a lot of cheaper bras and realize how quickly they wear out their welcome and lose shape you start thinking of more expensive bras as an investment.  It has been a gradual shift in my thinking.  But, I still prefer saving money when I can, which is why I try catching good brands like Cake Lingerie on sale.

You can also find Cake Lingerie at A Mother’s Boutique here in the US in select styles.  If you are unsure of your size I know Judy will answer your questions.

*some links are affiliate links.

{Email subscribers should click over to see the embedded video} I love spending time with my family during the Holidays.  This means there are get togethers and maybe even a party or two.  These events, at least in my family, are LOUD and packed with people you see only once or twice a year and some people you see often.

As much as I advocate for women to nurse in public I will admit that I am nervous about nursing in front of my own family.  I haven’t put my finger on the reason.  Part of it could be that I am not very comfortable around some of my family members to begin with, and part could be the fear of slipping and showing more of my breast than I would like to.

I do not use covers and don’t plan to start now.  Everett wouldn’t have it either.  He is also a very distracted nurser so I have to either find a quiet place to nurse him, or come armed with items that make it easier for him to nurse without popping off every 5 seconds and exposing my nipple.

When I went to the ABC Kids Expo I was fortunate enough to find a few things (and came home with them too!) that do just that.  I show them off on my video embedded above, but I’ve also written more about them.

The first is the Toni Top designed by the same woman who masterminded the (uh-ma-zing) Pumpease Handsfree Nursing Bra.  The Toni Top is meant to be worn by women who are pregnant, nursing, or not nursing.  It doesn’t look like a maternity or breastfeeding top.  In fact, it is one of the most stylish tops in my wardrobe right now.  The criss-crossed panels move up or down to allow you to nurse discreetly.  I demo-ed the top at ABC and was able to easily keep myself covered whenever Ev decided, on a whim, to pop off.  It makes nursing a distracted toddler easy.  I will say that you have to find just the right nursing bra to work with the top since it is cut in a diamond shape.  Your bra will need straps that are wider set.  I have found my HOTMilk and Cake Lingerie to be the best fit, however they still can show.  I do usually just  put a black tank top with 1 inch straps on under.  These will cover my straps.  I would also love for it to come in an XS and more colors, perhaps a goldenrod yellow or avocado green?! (I just saw that Smoke is the next color and they will have a pencil skirt to match.  I need them BOTH!)

My second “MUST HAVE” for nursing in public and keeping Everett happy and contained is my Mommy Necklace.  I’ve been a fan since I discovered them early in my first son’s life, so almost 3 years ago now.  I only have a couple but I could easily buy more if my wallet let me.  Mommy Necklaces are designed to be handled by babies but look stylish.  They have various styles, lengths, and pendant choices.  I prefer the dangling donut myself.

When you really need a baby to be entertained you will want to bring out the big guns…. the Nourish.  Nourish is the classier cousin of the Snazzy.  I used to use the Snazzy when I was flying and needed to keep the little hands occupied.  Nourish is a more toned down version of  Snazzy.  It still has a lot of color to it, but it keeps to a jewel tone family and not primary colors and rainbows.  The beads are more rounded in case you are babywearing (the Snazzy had a few square beads and Raelynn explained her reason for changing this was for babywearing in case the baby was laying on it) but it is still a fun necklace for the baby to explore.

Another option in the necklace department would be Teething Bling.  It is more simple than a Mommy Necklace but provides something for the babies to nibble on and the large donut is easily palmed.  They offer a variety of colors and some patterns.  I have a bronze and black and wear them both; they happen to match most of my wardrobe.

A Mother’s Boutique saw my post of me nursing my son in the Toni Top and said I was so pretty in it (Judy, I had to tell someone!) that she would love me to review it and would love to sponsor a giveaway.  I had planned on posting about the top at some point anyways since I love it so much, so a giveaway in conjunction is just icing on the cake!  In case you aren’t aware, Judy is the Boobie Whisperer and can help any of you find the perfect nursing bra.  She offers virtual fittings too.

Now for the Giveaway!!!  I will be giving a Toni Top away to one lucky DDL reader.  I also have a Nourish Necklace that I was given at ABC Kids to give to one of my readers!  Enter on the Rafflecopter below.  You will need Javascript enabled to enter.

Select links included in this post are affiliate links.  I will receive a small percentage of any purchases made through them , so thank you!

My son at 6:00 am this morning

I didn’t choose to be a co-sleeping parent, it chose me.  If my children would have slept in a crib I probably would have let them.  I would get even less sleep than I do even if they slept all night because I am constantly afraid any sleep time away from me means they are dead.  If my youngest son sleeps longer than an hour in his bed I start checking his breathing.

Co-sleeping is the right choice for my family.  My husband would be fine without it, but most husbands would.  I like to remind him, and myself, that our babies are only babies for a blink of eye in the grand scheme of our lives.  I want to soak up every minute of their baby time.  I’d love to bottle their baby essence and keep it on my night stand for the future times when I will need it.

For now, I still have a baby.  He won’t be one much longer, but he is still my baby.  We have co-slept since day one this time.  I gave birth to him in my bedroom and laid down with him in my bed for our first co-nap.  He sleeps in his bed for naps, and even spends some time in his bed for a few hours at night when we are lucky.  I know he won’t sleep there forever because I’ve already been down this road.  I didn’t ruin my first son for life by sharing a bed with him.  He is now a champion sleeper in his own bedder, and sleeper through the nighter.  He is even better and napping.

I practice Co-Sleeping safely.  My children have never once fallen out of the bed, or been smothered with a pillow.  I’ve certainly never woken to find myself sleeping next to a baby holding a cleaver.  

I make choices for my family based on facts and based on instinct.  The bad publicity co-sleeping gets lead me to believe it was equal to killing babies when I first had my son.  But my instincts, and his, took us down another path.  I will always hold our co-sleeping days together fondly in my heart.  When it ends for Everett and I will be sad, but accepting as we move to a new chapter.

The dangers of Co-Sleeping lie in misinformation, and lack of information.  If parents choose to share a bed with their child they should be aware of the risks and the benefits.  Scaring parents with ads like these doesn’t do any favors foranyone.

*Bang*

That is the sound of me shooting my TV Screen at yet another show that has incorrectly, and dangerously, portrayed a baby being worn in a carrier.

You might be thinking, “Who Cares?  The actor is just wearing a creepy doll, no babies were harmed in the making of that film.”

Hollywood makes money because people, millions of them, watch TV, commercials, and movies.  And then they buy what the actor is wearing, or eat at the restaurant they talk about, or cut their hair the way that actress did, well, you get the picture.

I’m not underestimating the intelligence of every American, but when you see this on the silver screen, some people might actually think that is the proper way to wear a baby in a sling.

Not a purse, that is a baby in a sling

Notice how low and covered the baby is

My Idiot Brother: The fact that this movie (My Idiot Brother) was made very recently, after the CPSC issued a warning about the safety of slings and still chose to portray a baby being worn in such a clearly unsafe manner, is just baffling.

I try to put myself on the set during filming.  Do no mothers (or people with common sense) work on set?  Not a single soul spoke up to the director or actor?

Grey’s Anatomy: Another case of unsafe babywearing was during last season of Grey’s Anatomy.  Mark wore newborn Sophia in an Ergo.  Yes, this is really awesome because in general most shows depict babies facing out in crotch danglers.

Mark wearing the Ergo

Unfortunately he was wearing a newborn in the Ergo without an insert, the chest clip wasn’t fastened, and she was positioned far too low.  This show is seen by over 9 million viewers.  What if just one mother thought this was OK and wore her infant this way?  And what if that baby slid out from the side or suffocated?  That is one baby too many.  The previous week Callie wore Sophia in a ring sling but made it look like a full time job by clutching at the bottom for dear life.  And I wanted to spread the fabric over her shoulder so bad I couldn’t stand it.  {View a clip on Carry Me Away}

Sears: In the “close but no cigar” category is the recent Sears ad that has gotten so much airplay I have seen it at least 5 times, and I don’t get to watch a lot of TV.

A couple is seen shopping for appliances and the mother is seen wearing a small baby (doll) in a STRETCHY WRAP.

Good try, Sears

#Win for putting a lesser known baby carrier out for the world to see.

#Fail for having the poor baby (doll) incorrectly positioned so that it still seems to be hanging way too low, and the face is smushed into the mother’s chest.  Mom is also clutching the baby, likely to hide the fact that it is a doll, but it makes her look uncomfortable with wearing it, as if she thinks the baby will fall out at any moment.  {view commercial here}

Breathe.  

It is just TV.

I just don’t get why it is so hard to portray babywearing correctly.  Real moms do it every day.  We put our baby in our carrier the way they should be worn so that they are safe and comfortable.  Can’t someone behind the scenes take an extra minute to consult the INTERNET, or hell, even read the instruction manual that came with the carrier being filmed, to keep babies in the real world safe?

And my final thought: Hollywood, please stop glorifying the crotch dangler!!!  We babywearing moms love that you are starting to look past the Baby Bjorn to more comfortable carriers…. just do your research before you film the next movie, ok?

SNL almost had it right, I bet those babies are frog legged

Am I overthinking this? I’d also love to hear where else you have seen babywearing on TV or in movies, especially if the baby was worn correctly! I wrote this post for International Babywearing Week because this topic has been nagging me for a long time.

Trying to choose between the three most popular and well known brands of Soft Structure Carriers (also known as Buckle Carriers) on the market? As I see it, the ERGOBaby, the Beco Butterfly II, and the Boba are the most compared and inquired about SSC’s on the market today.  Since I have used all three with both of my children I have decided to film videos comparing each carrier in different aspects of useage.  The videos will be a visual reference for my written comparisons.

This post will focus on the ERGObaby and Beco Butterfly II only because I am comparing their newborn babywearing capabilities.  The Boba is intended for babies 15 pounds or more.  You can find the other videos and posts on comparing all three carriers by following the ERGObaby/BBII/Boba Series.

ERGObaby

The ♥2♥ (Heart2Heart) is an accessory that is sold seperately from the ERGObaby.  It retails for $25.00 or $38.00 (Organic).  If you intend to wear your baby from birth in your Ergo you will have to have this insert to safely wear your them.  (There are ways to roll up blankets and place them under the baby but please be safe whichever method you choose.)

Pros:

Snug and Cozy. This insert is padded, soft, and a cocoon like shape that wraps your baby.

Adjustable. The Heart2Heart can simulate being swaddled for the baby; you can adjust it to completely wrap the baby.  Not shown in the video, you can also leave it open face if you prefer.

Research: The Heart2Heart has been carefully designed to support your baby’s spine in the best way possible.  As long as you are following their directions closely you will have a very safe and developmentally appropriate newborn carrier.

Cons:

Price. The added expense of 25-38 dollars on top of a high dollar carrier is hard to swallow.  You might be able to find a gently used one on a number of sites, or check your local Craigslist.

Warmth. The Heart2Heart is padded so it might make you, and your baby, a little warm.  Babywearing is already a sweaty practice.  In cold weather this is a bonus, but indoors and outdoors in warmer weather it might get toasty.  The most important thing to to make sure you baby isn’t overheated.

Beco Butterfly II

Not me- but a good photo of a baby in the insert in the Beco

The infant harness is always included with the purchase of your brand new Beco Butterfly II.

Pros:

It does the job. The infant harness raises your newborn to a safe height and also keeps them in the carrier.  The crotch is also narrower than if they were in the seat of the carrier.

Price. FREE with purchase.  This saves mamas the conundrum of deciding whether to buy an accessory.  If they want to try their Beco with a newborn they can.  If not, they aren’t out any money.  Beco’s do cost more than Ergo’s when purchased brand new, but the Ergo tips the scale if you buy the carrier and insert brand new.

Slim. Because the insert is not padded in any way it is slimmer in appearance and less bulky to wear than the Heart2Heart.  It would also be less warm for you and the baby.

Cons:

Placement. I really (probably unnecessarily) had trouble getting the insert placed just right.  The velcro is very strong (good thing since it IS holding a baby) but I may have cursed at having to un-stick/re-stick the thing over and over until it was flat and level.  I also always wanted to attach it the opposite way it was meant to go.  Visually, it looked that it should go that way, but then it wouldn’t buckle so I knew it was wrong.  I wish there was a Front/Back designation for dummies like me.

Intimidating. The Beco itself just looks-scary.  There are straps and buckles everywhere.  Brand new moms who are also brand new babywearers have to learn how to use the carrier, and also have to figure out the infant harness.  They might just throw up their hands and give up.  Coming from using an Ergo I even had trouble getting things together.

Commonalities:

Both inserts are meant to be used from birth up to about 4-6 months.  This is completely dependent on your baby and your own comfort.  Once baby has good head control, is large enough that falling out of the carrier through the side is not possible, is tall enough that they are not in danger of suffocation inside of  the carrier, and you feel that they are ready to move up then you can discontinue using the inserts and put them in the carrier directly.  There is no hard and fast number for this.

The only photo of Ev in the newborn insert of the BBII

The ERGObaby and the Beco Butterfly II both instruct you to in some way, shape or form, put the baby somewhere, then place them in the carrier, then put it on.  I always used the couch when I was at home, my lap when out of the house.  When I was out I would often sit in my front passenger seat, take the baby out of the carseat, then so as shown in the video for the Beco.  I didn’t have a Heart2Heart for the Ergo for my newborn so I never used it.  I was able to put the Beco on and place the baby inside while standing (such as in a parking lot) but it never felt as well done as when I did it the long way.  I’m not sure how you could do that with the Heart2Heart.

Since I never used the Heart2Heart it I don’t want to give my judgement on the actual wear of it compared to the infant harness for the Beco. From playing with them both, and as a user of both carriers, I see the positives and negatives of each.

As always it comes down to your preference, your budget, and your baby. I hope the visual side by side comparison helps those on the fence make a decision when not able to visit a store or borrow one.

You can find all of the products mentioned linked below on Amazon.com*

ERGObaby Heart2Heart Infant Insert

ERGObaby Carrier

Beco Butterfly II Carrier

I was sent a Heart2Heart by ERGObaby to faciliate filming this video at my request.  The ERGObaby carrier was purchased by me, as was the Beco Butterfly II.  *I am am affiliate of Amazon.com.  If you order using my links I receive a small percentage, so thank you!

Trying to choose between the three most popular and well known brands of Soft Structure Carriers (also known as Buckle Carriers) on the market? As I see it, the ERGOBaby, the Beco Butterfly II, and the Boba are the most compared and inquired about SSC’s on the market today.  Since I have used all three with both of my children I have decided to film videos comparing each carrier in different aspects of useage.  The videos will be a visual reference for my written comparisons.

This post will focus on each carrier’s version of a Back Carry.  Wearing your baby or toddler on your back is easily the best way to keep them close and safe while accomplishing tasks around the house, tending to your other children, or while enjoying outdoor activities.

ERGOBaby-

ERGO in action

There are various ways to put a baby on your back using the ERGO.  The safest and easiest would be to have another person that yout trust place your baby on your back and help you secure the carrier buckles.  We all know that most of the time this isn’t an option.  Here are a few other ways:

The Superman Toss- After placing the ERGO around your waist and fastening the buckle, keep the ERGO facing backwards and let the back panel hang down.  I like to check my straps to make sure I have them untwisted and get a feel for which way I will be sticking my arms in since it is easy to do it the wrong way.  Have a happy baby either laying down, sitting, or standing nearby.  (This is only for babies with great head control and strength).  Cross your arms in front on you and grab the baby under their arm pits, then swing them over your head and onto your back while you are bent over.  ALWAYS keep a hand on the baby, preferably under their rear ends or behind their back.  Place one arm at a time in the straps and double check that the back panel is high enough on their backs.  Buckle chest strap and make appropraite adjustments.

Couch Corner placement- This method is best for non mobile (with head control) babies.  Using a couch or chair lay your ERGO down into the corner with the front facing the couch.  Lay your baby into the carrier in such a way that their legs are in the appropriate position when you are wearing them.  Back onto the couch and on top of them (without smothering them of course) then buckle the waist belt around yourself.  Next reach behind you and grab your straps and put them on.  As long as your baby holds relatively still this can be done but it is harder than the Superman Toss in my opinion.

Hip Scoot- This is my least favorite way to put a baby on my back in the ERGO but I know others who prefer it.  Buckle your ERGO around your waist and have the panel in front of you.  Place your baby in the carrier just as you would for a Front Carry but don’t buckle the strap on your back.  Scooch the baby around to your side, then move your arms and bend forward to scoot the baby to your back, all the while keeping one hand on them at all times.  (This move is far easier in the Beco due to the internal harness)

Beco on Daddy

Beco Butterfly II:

Laying down/ Couch Corner- Thanks to the internal harness of the Beco almost anyone can do a back carry.  One way would be laying the Beco down on a bed or soft floor and placing the baby into the internal harness.  Clip the buckles of the panel to the internal structure, then lean backwards and very close to the baby and carrier.  Buckle the waist belt first, then put your arms in the straps.  Lift from the surface slowly being aware of your baby’s position and well being.  Clip your chest strap and tighten as needed.  Can be done similary to the Couch Corner method as well.

Hip Scoot- The Hip Scoot maneuver is easier since the baby is attached to the carrier while you are moving it around your body.  Put your baby inside the Beco making sure to utilize the internal harness properly (see video).  Take your arms back out of the straps (if you put them in) and then slowly scoot the baby around your body, under your arms, and to your back being sure to bend over once the baby is on your back.  Put your arms back through the straps and secure your chest clip, then make any tightening or adjustments as needed.

Fletcher in the 1g Boba

Boba:

Superman Toss- I use this pretty much exclusively when I am wearing my son in the Boba.  The Boba is designed for babies 1 year and older so you may find that the child you intend to wear in the Boba will be cooperative and assist by holding onto you.  This doesn’t mean you should trust them, but it will make things easier.  Have your toddler stand up or sit facing you and cross your arms in front of you.  Put your hands under their arm pits and lift them over your head then twist them around and place them onto your back.  Keeping a hand on their bottom, reach behind you and pull each side of the strap up onto your arms and the back panel high over their backs.  I have mistakenly not checked the back panel and then noticed that it wasn’t as high as it should be (and thus not as safe since the child could lean backwards).  Once they are secure and straps are on, buckle the chest clip.  You can also then place the child’s feet into the straps on your waist belt if their legs are hanging down low.

If you aren’t comfortable with this toss you can kneel down and ask your (older) toddler to clib onto your back, or have them sit on a safe place like your sofa then allow them to climb on.  If the child is too young for this try the couch corner idea as described for the ERGO.

Hip Scoot- Boba recommends a modifed Hip Scoot where you place 1 set of straps on yourself (left shoulder for most people) and place the baby on your hip, the reach in between the carrier and your body to grab the baby’s foot and hold from one side while scooting them into the carrier.  I am not very good at this particulat method however it is perfectly safe and many will find it easier than tossing.  Boba has a great video demo.

Which is best for Back Carries?

Each carrier has strengths (and weaknesses) in different areas.  To say one carrier is superior to others wouldn’t be true; they are all good carriers.  It will truly depend on more variables than can be written but I am going to tell you how I prefer to use these carriers and when.

ERGO- For back carries I like the ERGO for babies from about 6-8 months and up.  I use the Superman Toss pretty much exclusively unless my husband is around to put the baby in the carrier.  The Sleep Hood stays attached to the ERGO so I don’t run into the issue of forgetting to bring it or attach; if my son falls asleep it is always within reach.

Beco- I used the Beco for back carries more when I first started back carries and wasn’t comfortable tossing.  It gave me a way to wear him on my back that was easy and safe for a newbie.  It still takes practice but it is fairly straight forward.  I don’t like it for front carries to it only gets used on my back.

Boba- When my second son gets big enough the Boba will be my go-to carrier for my back.  It is my go-to for my 2.5 year old since the back is higher and the seat is wider.  As with the ERGO, it gets used with the Superman Toss.  The foot straps are very handy once the child is taller; it keeps their legs from dangling and keeps them in a comfortable seated position.

I’m sure there are numerous other methods of putting a baby on your back but there are the ones I have personally tried.  If you have a favorite method leave it in the comments!

Don’t forget to view the How to Breastfeed in the ERGObaby, Beco Butterfly II, and Boba video/post and the other installments in the ERGObaby/BBII/Boba Series.

If you are looking for an ERGObaby, Beco Butterfly II, or Boba they can all be found at my affiliate- Granola Babies! Shop at Granola Babies & use code NEW4147 for $7 off $75 first time order.

Wasting breast milk should be a crime punishable by the Iron Maiden.  Breast Milk is the most amazing liquid on the planet.  It hydrates, it nourishes, it heals, it comforts, it is pure awesomesauce.

So when I decided to leave my son with his father while I attended BlogHer ’11 in San Diego I was immediately hit with the prospect of pumping milk for 4 days.  My first thought would be to bring it home with me because simply dumping it was out of the question!  Then I realized what an ordeal that would be.  Even if I somehow procured Dry Ice to pack it into a cooler for the 8+ hour trip home I would face the TSA.  Would I get an educated agent who understood how to handle breastmilk?  Or an agent who demanded I taste my milk or scan it in an X Ray machine?

Then it hit me: Donate it!  Yes! I would find a mother local to San Diego who had a baby in need of breast milk.  Even if I only had 50 ounces isn’t that something?  Of course it is!  And lightning struck again when I decided to blog about my donation plans to enlist other lactating mothers!  It was brilliant (in my humble opinion.)

For any of you unaware, there are various ways a person can donate breast milk.

One would be donating to a Milk Bank. A Milk Bank would screen the donor through blood tests and the milk is then pasterurized or otherwise turned into other forms of milk for babies.  Even though donors are not getting paid for the milk the banks do charge a (hefty) price for human milk.  A great read regarding Milk Banks and the human milk business is on JWOC {Swindled: The Ugly Side of Milk Donation} I would recommend reading this if you are considering donating to a Milk Bank in order to be informed about what happens to your milk in many cases.

Peer Milk Sharing involves direct person to person donations.  Utilizing online or in person connections women can donate milk to one another for various reasons.  It is really up to the donor and recipient to be honest and up front regarding health concerns or medications being taken. Reasons for peer milk donations range from intolerance to formula, adoptive parents, and help for cancer patients.

BlogHer Milk Recipient. CUTE!

I knew a Peer to Peer Milk Share would be the best in my situation. I was staying at a hotel so I would need to the recipient to pick up the milk.  I chose Eats on Feets and after a quick search, found their Facebook Page for Southern California.  After posting my plans on the page I quickly got an email from a mother who needed the milk.  Her son had been tongue tied and he was clipped but she pumped and was having supply issues.  The baby wasn’t doing well on formula and tolerated breast milk much better.

I responded that I would at least have my own milk but potentially the milk from a few other moms.

Word spread through the internet about my plan. I had comments on my blog post, tweets from other attendees, and emails asking to be involved.  Another mom created a Facebook Group for moms pumping at BlogHer (regardless of donating) and we kept in touch in this way.

At BlogHer I found even more moms!  Purely by coincidence I chatted with a mother at a party who was pumping and boy am I glad I did!  Molly of Milwaukee Mamas.com turned out to be our biggest “producer” and needs an award for her amazing supply!  Her milk was a large percentage of the total we donated!  Other attendees also spread the word in person.

I want to send a HUGE THANK YOU to all of the moms who donated. We had 1 time pumpers who were away from older nurslings and others like myself who had babies under a year old and lots of milk was still flowing!  1 oz or 100 ounces, these women took time to save their milk instead of the easy path of dumping it down the drain.  They have my gratitude!

In no particular order here are the moms I know who donated:

That is a grand total of 14 (including myself)

All I can say is Wow. I have tears in my eyes just typing out the list of Moms involved.  I am so amazed at the hugeness of this donation, the willingness of so many women to donate, and the overall positive outcome.  Most people don’t even know that breast milk donation is an option, so to have so many involved is truly amazing and such a testament to the caliber of women who attend BlogHer!

Just 1 of 2 Bags

In order to collect every possible drop of breastmilk I was able to wrangle Jill (Baby Rabies) to meet up with our milk recipient on Sunday morning.  I had to leave our hotel at 4:15 am so having anyone meet that early would have been crazy.  Instead, I collected as much milk as possible the night before (and ran back and forth from the North and South Towers of the hotel about 5 times!) then dropped it off to Jill at 12:30 am (after I pumped for the last time) where her fridge was already stocked with milk.  I have a feeling our baby recipient is going to gain a few pounds- let’s just say that Jill and Suzanne both make milk with extra cream!  It resembled yogurt- no lie!  And in case you are curious, we all wrote our names on our own bags of milk.  If Sam shows any sort of negative reaction to the milk hopefully it will be possible to trace to one mother and they can discontinue using those bags.

Jill met with Jen (Life with Levi) in the morning for her milk and the milk we pumped at the party.  They delivered the milk to our mom (I hate that I couldn’t be there myself but getting more milk was more important!) on Sunday morning and it all went smoothly.  I am so relieved!

In total we had 70 bags of milk.  Most had 4 ounces (or more) in each bag.  My guess is we had 350 ounces at least but to be safe let’s say 300 ounces were donated.

300 Ounces.

Suddenly, the inconvenience of pumping was replaced with a warm fuzzy feeling.  Sam, our little donor baby, has been drinking the breastmilk and Mom says his tummy is already acting better compared to the formula.  Luckily they had lots of room in the freezer!

Blissed out and in a Breastmilk Coma.

So next year, New York City, if you are going to be pumping at BlogHer ’12, just let me know!  We’ll be doing the same through Eats on Feets in August 2012.  I may not be breastfeeding by then (who knows) but I will be happy to coordinate another BlogHer Breast Milk Donation.

Anyone can donate breastmilk at any time!  If you have a freezer overflowing with milk, or have an oversupply, or just want to donate, locate an Eats on Feets or Human Milk for Human Babies Chapter in your area!

I returned home Sunday evening from attending BlogHer ’11, the largest female blogging conference around.  My goal was to learn new things at the numerous sessions that were held by leading bloggers and to network with/ get fan-girly over the many bloggers I follow or converse with.

I was able to do all of those things (and more) but this post has nothing to do with that and everything to do with the thing that hung over my trip like a {leaking} black cloud: My Lactating Boobs.

I chose to leave both of my children, including the nursing one, at home with their dad.  I pumped every day for a month and saved 140 ounces of breastmilk for him (my original goal was 100).  Then I had to leave him.  Unfortunately there is no such thing as a temporary “Shut Off”  valve for boobs.  They are on until the baby is finished.

I have said it before: I despise pumping. There is never a convenient time to pump.  At home it required the attendance of my husband to watch the kids so they didn’t get into trouble or the voo-doo magic of television.  Without kids, pumping is quite a bit easier in many ways but at a hectic and overbooked conference who wants to run to a hotel room and sit stationary while being milked?

I didn’t want to but that is what I did.

The journey began on Thursday.  I left for the airport at 3:30 am for a 5:40 am flight.  I made sure to nurse my son on both sides when he woke up at about 2:40 am.  I packed my Hygeia Enjoye in a purse along with clear plastic bags for parts, bags for milk, and the bottles and flanges in another bag.

Luckily the Hygeia Enjoye, when charged, can be used without being plugged in!

My first flight was only 45 minutes and by the time it was over I was so ready to pump!  The problem was that I only had half an hour between flights.  My next flight was in another terminal and required being shuttled over.  I rushed to the gate and it had just started boarding.  I had an important decision to make: Skip pumping and risk exploding all over the plane and/or trying to either hand express or pump in an airplane bathroom, or, pump in a small window of 20 minutes and risk missing my flight!

I made a rash decision and bumped my way to the gate attendants.

A quick glance of the airport let me know that it was too busy to attempt pumping in a secluded corner so I went to the bathroom.  I have only nursed in a bathroom once in my life but pumping is not as discreet.

I packed myself, a rolling suitcase, and a giant purse into the stall and set about trying to screw in bottles, insert tubing, put on my Hands Free Nursing Bra from Pumpease, and keep the pump balanced on my suitcase.  I turned the dial to ON and relied on the quiet pump coupled with the busting bathroom to disguise what was going on.

That experience turned me into a permanent believer in, and cheerleader of, the Pumpease.  I actually stood there and was pumped while Tweeting and taking photos of myself since I wanted to share the hilarity.

Right as I began squeezing Lefty to get the rest out since he is a bad pumper I heard the intercom announce that everyone on flight blah blah needed to be on board bound for San Diego.  Shit.

I put my parts back in the bags, threw myself back together, washed my hands and ran!  The male attendant and I smiled at one another and the next leg of travel began.

I strongly considered trying to pump on the plane since my seatmate was snoozing and I had a pleasant position in the bulkhead but I held off until landing.

Once on the ground I booked it to the nearest bathroom to relieve myself.  This time I saved my milk since freshly expressed breastmilk can stay out before being refrigerated/frozen for 4 hours.

The rest of the weekend and conference I had the luxury of pumping in my hotel room.  I even took my pump to another attendee’s room (Jenn of Life With Levi) who held a Pumping Party in her room.  many of the participants also donated their breast milk along with me (more on this tomorrow, but read more about my initial plans here).  I will admit to missing out on quite a few things due to the pumping.  I don’t regret it but it is part of the package.

Admittedly, I was a bad pumper.  On my busiest days I only pumped 4 times when I should have gotten to it at least 5 times.  The first full day and night in San Diego I woke at 5 am totally engorged since my son nurses at night.  I hand expressed in the bathroom enough to let me go back to sleep until a more reasonable hour to pump!

The biggest lessons I learned from being an EP (Exclusively Pumping) Mom for 4 days:

• Breastfeeding is Way Easier.
• Pumping takes more Prep Time and Clean-up time.
• Working Moms who Pump have a ton of logistical challenges, especially when faced with nowhere to pump.
• Traveling and Flying Moms who pump have it even harder.  There is no telling where your layover will be and what facilities you will have to pump in.
• To avoid washing parts all of the time store them in a freezer bag in your fridge between sessions (reader tip)
• Hand compressing your breast while pumping is helpful if you have a stubborn boob that doesn’t want to drain.
• A great Double Electric Pump is needed and a battery powered one is worth every penny.
• A hands free nursing bra will save your life.
• Keep a dribble cloth handy.

Pumping is HARD work when you consider the alternative of either breastfeeding a baby directly, or bottle feeding a baby formula.  In the earliest days of my first son’s life a pediatrician told me that it was OK to give up, some babies just don’t ever latch properly.  I could do as his wife did and just pump and bottle feed.  (Yes, a Pediatrician actually told me this!)

I thought hard about his statement.  My baby would still be geting breastmilk afterall, and I could skip the torturous nursing sessions that were leaving me shaking and crying from the pain.  Instead, I decided I would work with the Lactation Consultant and use a Nipple Shield until we had this thing figured out.

Even though I was about to breastfeed successfully there are certainly warranted cases of mothers who need to pump full time, and those who pump while working or away.  I already knew how admirable that was (seriously, pumpin’ mamas get my respect) but after experiencing EP first hand for 4 days I admire them even more!  Pumping gives the baby the benefit of breastmilk but requires so much more work.  It also made me understand a little more why some mothers end up switching to formula after they return to work.  I am so lucky to get to stay home with my boys and that makes breastfeeding so easy.  I honestly don’t know what would happen if I had to work for it.

Tomorrow’s Post will be about the 300+ Ounces of Breastmilk collected from over 10 moms at BlogHer to be donated.  Rock on.

Even though I’m being sponsored by these companies in some way I am telling the truth when I say that I love them!  Thanks again to Swaddlebees and Boba for their generous sponsorship that got me to BlogHer and to the other companies that made my boobies weigh less, look perkier, and be more productive!