www.babybisou.com

The next on my list of soft structured carriers (SSC) is the Baby Bisou. Like the other SSCs in my collection, the body is basically the wide rectangle of the Mei Tai with updated straps and buckles. This is the only carrier that I have seen that is fully reversible meaning that one side has a beautiful fabric panel and the other is plain twill. What a great option this is as it opens the carrier up for being worn by both the color loving parent and the one desiring more neutral tones! As you can see in the pictures, the Baby Bisou went camping with us and fared extraordinarily well. It is a functional, sturdy carrier without any of the extras that I so rarely need. It is easy to put on as a back carry (a big plus for me at this point) and the Little Miss was very content in it. As well as being a great carrier, the Baby Bisou stands out from the crowd in that a percentage of all their proceeds goes to an organization called Half the Sky that supports orphaned children living in institutions in China. So, not only do you get a great carrier, you also receive the benefit of knowing that you are helping support children on the other side of the world.

Pros:

• fully reversible!
• includes lots of great safety info
• full panel zippered pocket – great for a set of key and a wallet 
• 100% cotton
• fully adjustable sternum strap
• easy on/ easy off
• functional and easy

Cons:

• did not find it particularly flattening to a post-partum belly when worn on the front – the wide waist accentuates an area that most  moms would rather hide
• when wearing the carrier on the front, the sternum strap was very difficult to clip independently
• no sleeping hood – not a big deal for me but might be for some

www.hosausa.com

Now that you have seen the podeagi, let me tell you about the updated version, known as the Chunei. This is the same principal as the traditional Korean baby carrier, with some modern updates. According to one of our favorite blogs, they are all the rage in South Korea. The Chunai has the same benefits of the podeagi without the hassle of a long sash and cumbersome blanket. It is basically a vest with a large piece of Velcro and a couple of super easy buckles. It is as comfortable as any of the soft structured carriers I have worn without the thick padded waist that can be unsightly with a post-partum tummy bulge. I wore the Little Miss for several hours without a hitch. The chunai, like the pod, is a torso carrier so the weight of your child is distributed throughout your entire upper body. Although there are shoulder straps, they are not designed to carry the weight. They just secure the baby to you more tightly.

Here is a YouTube video showing how to put it on.

Pros:

• Comfortable!
• Great for people with back / shoulder problems as the weight of the baby is evenly distributed through out the entire torso
• Baby feels safe and secure
• Can be worn from infancy though four years old
• Comes with a great denim bag
• VERY sturdy construction!
• Definitely hands-free

Cons:

• The denim feels industrial
• The style takes some getting used to
• Not particularly flattering for Mom
• Although advertised as both a back and front carrier, I found the front carry awkward

The podaegi is a traditional baby carrier from Korea. It is essentially a wide piece of cloth that is secured to the Mother by two long sashes holding the baby in place either on the mother’s front or back. Traditionally, the podaegi is worn on the carrier’s back.  Ellaroo makes the particular one I am wearing. Unfortunately, they have decided to discontinue making the podaegi. From time to time, they do come up for sale on e-bay.com, diaperswappers.com and thebabywearer.com. However, I am on the lookout for another manufacturer so that I have at least one good example to demonstrate in class. More will be coming on that at a later date. As much as I love this beautiful fabric and the theory behind it, this is not my favorite kind of carrier. I am not crazy about all the bulk and find it a bit cumbersome. I prefer my carriers a bit more streamlined. Perhaps I need to spend some time with a Mama who really gets how to wear it. That said, it is great for cool weather as it keeps both Mom and baby warm. And the big selling point for many is that this is a torso carrier meaning that the weight is evenly distributed throughout the upper body of the wearer. There are four different ways of wearing the podaegi and at least one of those does not use the shoulders at all.

Pros:

• great for people with neck or shoulder difficulties who find other carriers uncomfortable
• weight distributed throughout the torso
• warm and cozy in the winter
• four different carries
• can be worn on front or back
• completely reversible
• no buckles or rings

Cons:

• bulky
• not particularly streamlined
• steeper learning curve that other carriers
• torso carry cannot be used by Dads or women with particularly small chests

www.easycare.at

The EasyCare is the first of several wraps that I will be reviewing over the course of the next few weeks. There is no particular rhyme or reason to my choosing this particular brand first. It just happened to match my chosen outfit for the day. J

Wraps are seen as the most versatile baby carrier on the market. The ways of wearing them are truly endless and they can be used from the tiniest of infants up through toddlers, which makes them an excellent choice if one is looking to invest in only one carrier that can carry them through their babywearing years. The downside is that the learning curve is much steeper. The EasyCare woven wraps are made entirely in Austria under the care of a woman named Ulrike Kern and her two eldest daughters. While you can order the wrap directly from Austria, there are on-line stores in the US that carry them so you don’t need to pay international shipping. We took the family to the Maine Discovery Museum today and I wrapped Little Miss in the EasyCare.  I recieved several compliments on it and felt great, even after several hours of wearing her!

Pros:

• beautiful color options
• quick-fix tying option
• thinner than other European wraps so great for warm weather
• great weave with a bit of “give”
• extraordinarily comfortable – wore the Little Miss for several hours today
• has many uses beyond “baby carrier”
• can be easily worn under a coat
• comes with a great, matching drawstring bag and instruction booklet
• good for breastfeeding

Cons:

• wraps have the steepest learning curve of all the carriers
• can be challenging to keep dry while putting on in wet / snowy weather
• length of the cloth can be intimidating

www.tettitett.com

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted and have a lot to catch up on!! I attended the birth of a darling little man (photos coming soon!) and have been spending some time helping him and his mom discover their new rhythm together. However, during my absence, a delightful surprise landed on my front step!

As you are well aware, the Mei Tai is truly my favorite way to wear the Little Miss. I love the versatility of it, love having my baby right up against me, and love the fact that I can tighten and loosen without buckles. I also find it incredibly versatile as it can be used as a front, hip and back carry. That said, I have learned that there is a lot of discrepancy between various Mei Tai companies. Everyone has an idea of what is necessary to make a Mei Tai a good one.

Mauren has gotten it right with this carrier. The fabrics are delicious. To the best I can understand, all of her carriers are fully reversible with one side silk and the other cotton. The straps are perfectly padded, silky corduroy. And every carrier comes with an attached hood. I could not have been more pleased!

I wore Little Miss and took the Little Misters for a walk into town and the playground last night. We were gone for over three hours and I did not feel a bit of discomfort!

Pros:

• Reversible
• Elegant silk is a beautiful accessory to the most casual outfit
• Beautiful fabric choices that perfectly compliment one another
• Lightly padded straps – comfortable without being bulky
• Waist strap is one continuous piece of fabric, adding to the stability
• Attached sleeping hood with lovely long straps - the Little Miss is sound asleep in these pictures

Cons:

• I have yet to find a distributor in the US so, if new, it must be purchased from Norway (and the shipping alone was $29) If you find one, please let me know!!

That said, they do occationally come up on the FSOT forum at thebabywearer.com or diaperswappers.com