Lenny Lamb Checked Wild West Wrap Conversion Ergonomic Carrier - Toddler sized

I have never been a fan of buckle carriers, they never seem to fit me well and I always find pressure spots that I can never quite get comfortable. I had been hoping to try a wrap conversion buckle carrier for a long time, as I prefer the floppiness of wraps to canvas in general, but could not wrap my head around all of the options and price of those. I was so excited when I saw Lenny Lamb was coming out with a buckle carrier... at a great price too! There were many colours to choose from, and I decided on Checked Wild West diamond weave, as I love orange and blue together. I purchased a toddler size, as my youngest was a large 15 month old at the time.

It arrived within two weeks from Poland, which I thought was super speedy. I tried it out for a long walk with the little man on my back. It took me a little while to figure out how to adjust all of the straps, as there are PFAs and the buckles pull both to the front and the back. Plus, I was used to the Tula waistband which is more structured than t

his one, so I had to find a good spot on my waist to set it. Once I finally figured it out though, I was very comfortable. My son was able to sit up nice and high, and I had the shoulder straps on one of the tightest settings (I am 5'4 and size 6 or so, for reference).

The material was super floppy right out of the bag, and it didn't seem to get stuck on my son's back like the canvas of the Tulas did when I was pulling the panel up over him on my back. It was very soft, and the colours were so vibrant.

I had trouble figuring out how to put the carrier on for a front carry with the straps crossed, but when I figured it out I found it much more comfortable than other SSCs I had used without crossable straps. My son had some great naps in this carrier, and at no point did I feel digging from the straps on my back as I was accustomed to with other buckle carriers.

Even preschooler approved

I had some friends try this carrier out who were very petite and the straps did not adjust tight enough for them, so this would be something to keep in mind if you are tiny.

I sold this carrier after using it for most of the Summer. So far it is my favourite buckle carrier, but I am still a WCMT/wrap lover at heart, and found myself using those options over this lovely carrier.

The Verdict:
Pros: Affordable, beautiful, comfortable, crossable straps, folds up small
Cons: Does not cinch very small for super petite adult wearers
Recommendation: I recommend this carrier to almost anyone looking for a comfortable and beautiful SSC. As long as you aren't super petite, this carrier will likely work for you!

Toddler Tula - Stitch Pattern

Both of my children have been on the large size their whole lives (generally above 95% for both height and weight). When my youngest was passing the 25lb mark and still 98% for height, I started to think about options for toddler wearing. I read a lot of reviews and ended up looking for a Toddler Tula, based on the great feedback from our local group.

I found a Toddler Tula in a print I liked on the Canadian Babywearing Swap and received it quickly from another lovely mama. I've already reviewed a standard size Tula (http://wrappedupwithyou.blogspot.com/2015/01/tula-standard-size.html), and the attributes for wearing were pretty well the same for the Toddler size, with one notable exception... This carrier was gigantic.

My giant baby was swallowed in the material of this carrier. It was so wide that he didn't come close to fitting in it properly (I know he was too young for it now), and the slightly longer panel did not help with the issues I had previously in making a seat. My 95% two and a half year old fit very comfortably in this carrier, but had no interest in being worn a the time.

I have no action shots of this carrier, because although it was lovely, we did not use it enough to keep it around for long.

Adorable kissing babies in lieu of action shot

The Verdict:
Pros: Affordable, fits larger children, easily obtainable from Canadian shops
Cons: So large - definitely for larger toddlers and preschoolers rather than big babies.
Recommendation: I would recommend this as a SSC for people looking to carry children 15 months +. I now have another carrier with the same dimensions that comfortably fits a huge 19 month old, with room to grow.

Tula Standard Size

Many of the parents in our local babywearing group are fans of the Tula. I've always had my Ergo, so I wasn't sure if I needed to also try the Tula, but finally I broke down and bought one in The Wave pattern from a Canadian shop.

The pattern was a lovely repetition of waves that was a bit reminiscent of Oki on a smaller scale, with a navy blue canvas backing and border. I noticed right away that the waistband was wider and more structured than that of my Ergo.

When I first tried it on for a front carry, my first impression was that it was more comfortable than my Ergo on the shoulders, as the padding is more substantial in the Tula straps. I really appreciated how the fabric molded around my son's body more like a wrap, which made it seem a bit more comfortable and snuggly.

Helping decorate for Poppy's birthday celebrations - by sleeping :)

Where I found the true strength of this carrier was when I tried it for back carries. At first, I put the waist belt in the same spot I was used to using my Ergo, which I found very uncomfortable, as it pulled my pants down. I found by putting the waist belt up higher than I was used to it was much more comfortable, and baby was able to sit up higher and look around better than he had been able to in the Ergo.

I really enjoyed this carrier for outings where it was impractical to wrap and through the Winter under and over our Kindercoat.

I started to find it difficult to use over a coat though, as I had to pull the panel up and over my son after getting him on my back rather than hip scooting him with the carrier (otherwise my coat was a tangled mess). The canvas is a bit grippy, and would often not let him slide easily into the pocket of the seat when used in this manner. It was fine if my husband or someone else was around to help me bounce him down further, but this was inevitably what made me sell this carrier.

Overall, this was a great carrier, but I am not much of a buckles gal to begin with.

A lower back carry and the pattern

The verdict:
Pros: Readily available, easy to use, beautiful patterns, great for back carries, great structured padding
Cons: Straps not crossable, hood detaches (easy to lose for me), canvas is grippy and can make getting a seat difficult
Recommendation: This is a great SSC, and I would recommend it to anyone who was looking for a main carrier for back wearing. For front wearing, I might recommend something with crossable straps, but this is still fairly comfortable.

Boba Air

With my oldest son we mostly used buckles. I loved our Ergo SSC, but found it a bit bulky for travel or the diaper bag. When I saw the announcements for the Boba Air SSC that could fold up so small, I ordered one from a local retailer immediately.

I selected the black colour, which I think was the only one available at the time. I believe there are now more options available.

My first impression was that the carrier material felt just like a windbreaker. I tried it on with my 25lb toddler, and was very impressed with how comfortable it was for having no padding at all. I tried it for a quick walk around the block, and was satisfied that I had chosen a great car carrier.

This carrier was mostly used as a backup for the car, short grocery trips, and thrown in the bottom of the stroller as a just in case carrier. I never wore it for longer than 30 minutes at a time with my toddler. I did, however, wear my 15lb younger son in it for an impromtu hike for about an hour with no discomfort.

This was a lifesaver on a cross-country trip we took where we had a stopover for an hour in an airport, so had to get on and off the plane with as little luggage as possible.

The verdict:
Pros: Small, lightweight
Cons: No padding
Recommendation: I would recommend this as a backup carrier to anyone who enjoys buckle carriers. It comfortably fit my son until just over 25lbs, when I churned it.

Ergo Baby Carrier - Galaxy Grey

The carrier that has been used more than any other in my collection is our trusty Galaxy Grey Ergo. I purchased this new in 2011 and began using it nearly daily when my son was around 4 months old. At the time, I did not have much to compare it to.

I loved the versatility of this carrier. The front and back options were so handy. My son and I would snuggle with him cozy on my front while running errands or enjoying nature walks. I would put him on my back to make supper or do my chores around the house.

I also loved the pocket and the hood on this carrier. The pocket zips, keeping a diaper, keys and cellphone safe. The hood snaps in place easily, and is not removable from the carrier, but rolls easily in place.

I purchased the rain and weather covers for the Ergo and loved them through our cold, Canadian winters. I would strap the covers on the carrier, and strap the carrier on myself and my bundled up baby, and we walked all over on our first winter together. I mostly wore him on my front during the winter, as I found it difficult to get the Ergo on over my coat on my back.

I used this carrier until my first son was around 16 months old. At that time, he was 28lbs and I found front wearing to be uncomfortable, as the sternum strap often dug in to my back or neck. I still wore him for outings, just not for the hours at a time I had previously.

When my second baby was small I purchased the infant insert. I strongly disliked the insert, as it felt bulky and cumbersome. I found it difficult to adjust him comfortably in the carrier until around four months old due to this.

This carrier was a true favourite of ours, and it is still in my collection today.

The verdict:

Pros: Readily available at many stores, and can often be found on sale. Versatile, and can fit both small and large babies.

Cons: Though it says it can last until 35lbs, I did not find it comfortable for long-term wearing of babies heavier than 25lbs.

Recommendation: I would recommend this carrier for families who are new to babywearing, and are looking for a simple and affordable soft structured carrier.

NOTE: There are fake versions of this carrier, and you should always buy from a reputable retailer to be sure your carrier is authentic.

Gateway to Wrapping

I am hoping to start a blog to review all of the carriers I have tried, and to share some geekery with like-minded mamas. Below, please see a guest post I wrote for the Ottawa Babywearing Group, the lovely local group where I am privileged to be an admin. This post explains my journey down the rabbit hole to woven wraps. I hope to help people out with my honest reviews, and hope you enjoy reading them!

My babywearing journey (ok, obsession) began when I was pregnant with my oldest son, Walker, in 2011. A friend of mine passed along several carriers for me to try with my new baby, and I had no idea what they were or how to use them. These first three carriers were a Maman Kangarou stretchy wrap, a flower patterned pouch carrier, and a very old Snugli. 

Luckily, the Bringing Home Baby class that my husband and I attended included a babywearing demonstration by one of the lovely women from Milkface, who was so tactful when explaining to me why that old Snugli was not her carrier of preference. I cringe now and wonder what she was actually thinking when she saw it. Trying all of those carriers with the life-like baby dolls in the classroom made me so excited to have a baby of my own to carry. Her demonstration also convinced me to order my first new carrier - an olive green Maya ring sling. 

The old Snugli survived half a trip to the hardware store before it was donated, and the ill-fitting pouch carrier didn't last much longer. The Maman Kangarou wrap was worn around the house until we outgrew it, and the ringsling went everywhere else with us those first few months. I loved holding my little guy snuggled with me in the tummy-to-tummy position. 

A long hike with my sister-in-law where she comfortably carried my niece in an Ergo while my son and I were sweating in the ringsling made me decide to also purchase a Galaxy Grey Ergo. I have no action shots of my firstborn in that carrier, though we used it nearly every day for over a year! The Ergo, and the Boba Air that we later bought as a car carrier, allowed us to bring our little man to graduation ceremonies, forests, farms, and markets where our stroller never would have allowed us to explore. 

When we discovered I was pregnant with our second son, I treated myself to a light blue Boba Wrap from Chiquita Baby. This wrap was a lifesaver as I learned to parent two children. All through our first summer as a family of four, little Freddie slept happily in the Boba on our daily adventures to the park and on our trip to Newfoundland for a family reunion. The combination of that carrier and the waves crashing on the shore lulled him to sleep several days in a row on that vacation. 

 

The heat of the summer convinced me to try my first 'real' wrap, and I purchased a Calin Bleu gauze wrap from Belly Laughs. This little blue wrap made me fall head-over-heels down the rabbit hole into the land of wrapping, though it has now gone to be used by a new family. The only carry I mastered for the longest time was the FWCC, but that didn't stop me from adding several new wraps to our collection - Kokadi Blue Birds (5), Natibaby Colorado (6), and Natibaby Nature of America (5). I rotated through these wraps on our daily outings with the boys, where they were also used as blankets when needed. When my husband asked me what I would like for our anniversary, a Didymos Orient (6) was also added to our collection. The Nature of America turned out to be too beastly   for me to tame and went to live with another family. 

Around this time, I found the OBG page on Facebook, after hearing about it from a friend. I attended a meet up and enjoyed chatting with the women and seeing other mothers who also carried their babies. This led me to begin hosting an informal OBG meet-up in Barrhaven, which was held outdoors in the Summer, and has since moved to my basement in the colder months. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting the women in this group, and love that our shared passion for mothering and holding our babies close has allowed us to become friends. 

A Carry of the Week post on the OBG Facebook page led me to try my first mei tai from the Canadian Swap. I enjoyed it and I felt more comfortable using a MT for back carries rather than my wraps at the time. That first MT led me to add a Silver Waves Didytai and a semi-custom Topatop WCMT to the stash. Since then, I have also added three more wraps - a Heartiness Ethno (7), wool-blend Natibaby Sweetplace (6), and Oscha Sea Breeze (3) in 100% linen. After my first foray into linen, I swore I wouldn't go back, but the bounce and smoosh of this Oscha makes me glad I returned! I finally have mastered a ruck and a passable BWCC, though I still prefer the WCMTs or our Tula for longer back carries. 

I have been very excited to be working with a lovely weaver, Alison Addicks of Weave and Lace, to design and create my first handwoven wrap. It should be arriving this Spring, and I cannot wait to try it. I truly do not know how I would parent my two boys (and stay sane!) without babywearing as a tool, and am thankful I have had the opportunity to try so many beautiful carriers along the way.

 

A list of carriers we have had in our stash:

Snugli (Gone)
Maman Kangarou (Gone)
Pouch Sling (Gone)
Maya Ring Sling
Babywearing Shirt (Gone)
Galaxy Grey Ergo
Black Boba Air (Gone)
Calin Bleu gauze wrap (Gone)
Blue Boba wrap
Didymos Orient (6)
Natibaby Colorado (6)
Natibaby Nature of America (5) (Gone)
Kindercarry Mei Tai (Gone)
DidyTai Silver Waves
Kokadi Blue Birds (5) (Gone)
Topatop WCMT
Heartiness Ethno (7)
Natibaby Sweetplace (6)
Oscha Sea Breeze (3)
Tula The Wave
Weave and Lace Custom Handwoven 4.5m (Winter Sunset) - (OTW)