NEW! BobaAir Carrier

Boba Inc. launched a brand new carrier today - the BobaAir!

The BobaAir is simple to use, ultra lightweight and ergonomic. Perfect for travelers or any parent on the go. When you're done just fold, zip and stash!

• Suitable for children 15-45 lbs (7-20 kg)
• 100% Nylon - easy to store and keep clean
• Just 0.7 lbs (330 g.) - Compact light and self-storing
• Comes with a sleeping hood and handy zippered pocket
• Carry your child on either your front or back
• Available in: black

So if you're looking for a lightweight carrier that is super portable, this is just what you were waiting for!  Keep it with you for convenient access when ever you need a baby carrier.  When you're done, just stuff it back inside the pocket and zip it up for next time!  These carriers make the perfect "car carrier" for those unplanned babywearing moments.  Order one today at Continuum Family!

Black Friday/pre-Christmas Sale!

Please join us for our Black Friday/pre-Christmas sale running from Friday, November 26 to Friday, December 3!

Here are the details:

-- all in stock Beco Baby Carriers, both the Butterfly II and the Gemini, are 15% off from Nov 26-28 only!
-- all CF Pouch Slings on sale for 30% off!
-- get a fleece carrier cover for only $25 OR a FREE babywearing support belt with the purchase of a Pikkolo baby carrier (difference in price will be refunded)
-- FREE SHIPPING to US and Canada on orders over $59 USD (shipping charges will be refunded on qualifying orders)*
-- HALF PRICE SHIPPING to outside North America on orders over $59 USD (shipping charges will be refunded on qualifying orders)
-- lots of other items in our Clearance section on sale at 25% off!

We will also be having some Facebook Exclusive deals throughout the week, so please join us there to get in on those!

*Please note that Beco Baby Carriers do not qualify for free shipping or any other specials while they are 15% off (Nov 26-28) but will after that

Beco Gemini Release!

As of today, the long-awaited and much-anticipated Beco Gemini baby carrier has finally been released to the public!

If you haven't yet heard of it, the Beco Gemini is Beco's newest baby carrier design. It's a 4-in-1 baby carrier that will allow you to carry your baby comfortable in the front (facing in or out), back and hip.

The Gemini has a few key differences to the Beco Butterfly. Most notably, the Gemini does not have an internal harness, which is one of the key features of the Butterfly. This will appeal to fans of the Beco 4th Generation (retired in 2008) and more experienced babywearers and will also allow for easier nursing in the carrier. A unique design feature of the Gemini is that its base adjusts narrower through snaps to accommodate smaller babies or to allow for an ergonomic forward-facing front carry.

Mainstream babywearers unfortunately often turn to crotch dangling, front facing out carriers like the Baby Bjorn, mostly because they don't know there are better options out there. But now that the Gemini has arrived, there will be no excuse! To those that say the front facing out carry is overstimulating, ergonomically dangerous and/or uncomfortable for the baby, I agree that in general it is best to wear your baby facing in to your body. But some babies do seem to prefer facing outwards at least some of the time. So if you do it, please make sure you do it in a carrier that supports your baby properly (such as the Gemini or Pikkolo, but NOT the Baby Bjorn), pay attention to your baby's cues and turn him back inwards when he shows signs of overstimulation (neck turning, hands coming up to the face, fussing).

Other differences? The Gemini does not include a removeable hood like the Butterfly, but it has a padded headrest that can flip up if need be for support, and which will make the body of the carrier longer to accommodate toddlers. With the Gemini, there is also the option of crossing the shoulder straps in the front carry, to distribute baby's weight more comfortably than in backpack style. This option also facilitates using the Gemini to do a hip carry. The Gemini is a lighter-weight carrier, weight tested to 35 lbs as opposed to the 45 lbs of the Butterfly, but 35 lbs will still take you well into toddlerhood.

Sound good? Our shipment of Beco Geminis will be on its way to us very soon, and you can pre-order yours today! We also have a layaway option available.

Happy Babywearing! <3

Giveaway Winner Announcements (Baby Buddha and Animalz set)

Hope everyone had a good weekend! Without further ado, let's see who the winners of our giveaways are:

For the Baby Buddha Stretchy Baby Carrier in Organic Bamboo, the winner is post #3:

Katherine says:

July 1, 2010 5:49 AM

Would LOVE to win the Buddha wrap in plum!! :)


 Congratulations Katherine!!

For the Animalz set, our winner was drawn from all orders placed on our site between July 1 and 4, and the winner is....Michelle A., of Seattle. Congratulations Michelle!!

Thanks to all who entered! We will likely have another giveaway yet this summer so stay tuned...

And don't forget to follow us on Facebook -- as of this writing we are at 183 followers and once we get to 200 we will be giving away a $25 gift certificate for Continuum Family to a random follower.

Canada Day Specials and Giveaways!

9:49 p.m. July 1, edited to add: We realize that many of you are away at family or other events today instead of at the computer (and so you should be!) so we have decided to extend our giveaway offers through the weekend to give more of you a chance to participate!

Help us celebrate Canada Day, no matter where you live! We are promoting our favourite Canadian-made products and want to spread the love by giving them away!

So on Thursday July 1st ONLY  between 12:00 a.m. PST Thursday, July 1st and 11:59 p.m. PST Sunday, July 4th:

• spend $40 or more and get a FREE Ringley natural teething toy!

• spend $75 or more and get a FREE Family Pastimes cooperative game of your choice!

• spend $100 or more and get a FREE Continuum Family Pouch Sling of your choice!

Just let us know in the notes at checkout which free item you would like and we will confirm your choice before shipping.

• plus, ALL orders (no minimum $) placed on July 1 (between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. PST)  between 12:00 a.m. PST July 1 and 11:59 p.m. PST July 4 will be entered into a draw for this adorable brand-new set of Animalz (valued at over $40):

Animalz are Australian-designed and made from sustainable maple wood and textile products that have the unique function to bend in different poses. They are hand painted using waterbased paint and the fabrics are azo dye and formaldehyde free. Recommended for ages 3 and up due to small parts.

Fine print: July 1 giveaways limited to 5 in each spending category, first come first serve, from available stock. Specials cannot be combined with any discount coupons.

And, Canada Day will also be the kick off for our next giveaway: a Baby Buddha Organic Bamboo Stretchy Baby Carrier!

I absolutely loved this carrier with my son when he was small. As a newborn he didn't like the cradle hold, wanted an upright tummy-to-tummy exclusively. Now, I've never been much of a wrap lover, I could never get them tied right and always hated the ends dragging on the ground while I was getting it on. The Baby Buddha solves those issues with its 3-piece system (2 pouches and a support sash). All the comfort of a wrap with the ease of a pouch sling. You can wear this carrier in several different ways (wearing instructions included). And their organic bamboo stretch fabric is so soft and supportive.
 
To enter for your chance to win this carrier, please leave a comment to this post, telling us which colour you would like to win (choices are plum, charcoal, forest green and warm sand). Please note that comments are moderated. Comments from "anonymous" will be deleted. You will not see your comment immediately after posting so please don't post again thinking your post didn't go through. I will be approving comments several times a day.

Contest is open to all until 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, July 4 and I'll close comments and announce the winner on Monday, July 5. Winner to be chosen by random number generator. To get extra entries (please leave an additional comment for each extra entry):

~ Come follow us on Twitter
~ Add our Facebook Page to pages you like
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment
~ Tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY ONLY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.

Happy Canada Day!

Soft Structured Baby Carrier Comparison Chart

I have been wanting to put this chart together for some time, as we get so many questions from people asking about the differences in features among the various soft structured carriers out there. Choosing the right carrier for your needs can be an overwhelming decision to make, and I'm hoping this chart helps make that decision a little easier.

I have chosen to include in this comparison chart the two that we sell (Beco and Pikkolo) and two that we don't (Ergo and Baby Bjorn). I include the Ergo and Baby Bjorn because they are probably the two most well-known carriers -- BUT they are not the most well-designed soft structured carriers out there (in fact the Baby Bjorn is probably one of the poorest designs out there in my opinion).

I used to use an Ergo and loved it at the time, but then discovered Beco and Pikkolo and you will see that both of these come out above the Ergo based on the chart features. I've never used a Baby Bjorn, so cannot speak from experience on this one. I include it because it's mass-marketed but in my opinion a it's a very poor option that I would like to prevent people from choosing if at all possible. I just cringe every time I see a baby dangling in one of those things! Baby Bjorn, you make a good potty but please, get out of the babywearing market!

So, without further ado, here's the chart. I welcome constructive feedback in the comments.

SOFT STRUCTURED BABY CARRIER COMPARISON CHART

	Beco Butterfly	Pikkolo	ERGOBaby	Baby Bjorn
Price	$139 USD $149 CAD	$129 USD plus $22 USD for Babywearing Support Belt	$105-135 USD plus $25-38 USD for infant insert accessory	$80-145 USD
Wearing Positions	Front carry (facing in only), back carry (made easier than with other carriers due to internal harness)	Front carry (facing in or out, ergonomically), back carry, hip carry (not recommended for long periods of time due to uneven distribution of weight)	Front carry (facing in only), back carry	Front carry only, facing in or out BUT does NOT allow baby to be carried in ergonomically correct seated position; instead baby hangs suspended by the crotch which concentrates pressure at base of baby's spine
Age/Weight	Newborn through toddler with removable infant insert (included in purchase price) 7 to 45 lbs	Newborn through toddler 8 to 40 lbs	Newborn through toddler but need infant insert for babies <4 months (purchased separately) Up to 40 lbs	Newborn to about 1 yr maximum but more likely 6 months 8 to 25 lbs stated but due to its design it is likely to be very uncomfortable by about 16 lbs
Carrier Fabric	Shoulder straps and carrier lining are 100% organic brushed cotton as of 2010 collection; select organic options in prior years' models;gorgeous printed panels (non-organic) on body of carrier as well as solid color options	No organic fabric options at this time; 100% brushed cotton straps with gorgeous printed panels on body of carrier as well as solid color options	Both organic and non-organic options; solid colors only, some with embroidery	Both organic and non-organic options; solid colors only
Carrier Height	16" from top of waistband	15" when worn folded at the bottom with apron-style waistband; 17" from top of waistband when Babywearing Support Belt is attached	13" from top of waistband; wearer may find it too short in the body for older babies	11.5"
Carrier Body Width at Seat	13"	8" when cinched to narrowest setting; 13" at widest setting	14"
Infant Insert	Yes, removable insert for babies 8-15 lbs (included in purchase price) that holds them higher in the carrier and allows for minimal leg spread	No, but carrier body cinches narrower at base to accommodate smaller baby	Yes, purchased separately, a bit awkward and bulky	No
Harness System	Yes, baby is buckled into carrier and carrier is then put on; baby can be passed from one person to another while in the carrier	No, parent buckles carrier on and then puts baby in; baby cannot be passed to another wearer while in the carrier	No, parent buckles carrier on and then puts baby in; baby cannot be passed to another wearer while in the carrier	No, parent buckles carrier on and then puts baby in; baby cannot be passed to another wearer while in the carrier
Sleeping Hood	Yes, elasticized and snaps to shoulder straps; detachable with snaps for storage in sleeve on carrier base	Yes, elasticized and attaches with snap hooks to D-rings on shoulder straps; detachable with velcro but no storage on carrier; height not adjustable	Yes, hood-shaped to hold baby's head; elasticized sides; non-detachable with snaps; height adjustable	No
Shoulder Straps	Always worn backpack style and held together with height-adjustable chest clip; single direction pull to adjust strap	Can be worn with straps crossed at the back for front carries or backpack style with a height adjustable chest clip for front and back carries; dual adjustable straps can be tightened from either direction and buckle can be relocated forward or back for customized comfort	Always worn backpack style and held together with height-adjustable chest clip; single direction pull to adjust strap
Ergonomics	Weight is distributed to wearer's lower body via padded hip belt and balanced on wearer's shoulders with nicely padded shoulder straps	Weight is distributed to wearer's lower body via unpadded hip belt (padded belt is an optional accessory) and balanced on wearer's shoulders with comfy memory foam shoulder straps	Weight is distributed to wearer's lower body via padded hip belt and balanced on wearer's shoulders with fairly bulky padded shoulder straps	Does not have a hip belt and therefore does not distribute the weight to the wearer's lower body; the baby's weight is almost entirely borne by the wearer's shoulders and upper back
Ease of Nursing	Possible for most moms: loosen shoulder straps and lower baby down to latch on then tighten straps to get baby back in proper carrying position; T-shaped harness might be in the way for some wearers; high carrier body and sleeping hood (if attached) provide good privacy	Easy for most moms: loosen shoulder straps (easy due to placement and dual-adjustment straps), lower baby down to latch on then tighten straps to get baby back in proper carrying position; sleeping hood provides good privacy if attached.	Fairly easy for most moms: loosen shoulder straps, lower baby down to latch on then tighten straps to get baby back to proper carrying position; sleeping hood provides decent privacy coverage but shorter carrier body means less privacy than with other carrier	Possible,but likely not very secure, comfortable or private (due to small carrier size and lack of sleep hood)
Where Manufactured	California	Chicago and Estonia	China	Sweden

Winner of the Carnival Beco Butterfly II!

Wow! What a great response to this giveaway! So nice to see all the comments-- lots of bECO fans out there, but also many fairly new to babywearing and wanting to get into it. Love it! :)

Anyways, without further ado, we have a winner with post #174:

Laura Beth said... I like your page on fb.

Her original comment was:

Laura Beth said... I am in love with this carrier, it just looks so cute! Thanks for the chance!

So, Laura Beth, I'll contact you through Facebook and we'll get that bECO out to you right away! Please note that I need to hear back from you within 72 hours (so, by 8:00 am PST on Friday, June 4) or I will redraw.

Edited:  I almost forgot I have two organic bECO shoulder bags that I meant to give away as well.

So here are the draw results for those:

1) Post #50: Laci said...
following you on twitter
laciboudreauRMT from original post: Laci said...
I'm sure whoever the lucky winner is will be delighted!

and


2) Post #210: Stephanie said...
I am a Facebook fan of Continuum Family from original post: Stephanie said...
I just borrowed a bECO from a friend for a weekend trip and fell in love. I would so LOVE to win this! Great giveaway!!!

Thanks so much everyone, and stay tuned for more giveaways and summer specials!

bECO Baby Carrier Giveaway!

To kick off the summer, we are launching another giveaway and this is a big one... a bECO Butterfly II Baby Carrier!! This is the must-have soft structured carrier, featuring:

• an internal harness that makes it possible for baby to remain in the carrier while putting it on, moving it from person to person or changing from the front carry to the back carry. This feature is especially popular with less confident / brand new babywearers. It makes the back carry very easy and very safe, although we still firmly suggest baby be at least 5 months or older before doing any sort of back carry.
• a removable infant insert that is sold with the carrier, which allows the carrier to truly be used from newborn to 45lbs.
• tall and wide body that supports baby in the proper ergonomic position.

We are giving away one brand new in the box bECO Butterfly II carrier in the Carnival print shown below:

To enter for your chance to win this carrier, please leave a comment in today's post. Please note that comments are moderated. Comments from "anonymous" will be deleted. You will not see your comment immediately after posting so please don't post again thinking your post didn't go through. I will be approving comments several times a day.

Contest is open to Canada and the US only until 11:59 p.m. PST on Monday, May 31 and I'll close comments and announce the winner on Tuesday, June 1. Winner to be chosen by random number generator. To get extra entries (please leave an additional comment for each extra entry):

~ Follow us on Twitter
~ Add our Facebook Page to pages you like
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment
~ Tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY ONLY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.

Earth Day Sale at Continuum Family!

Our third annual Earth Day sale is on for today only!! Get 15% of many, many items storewide, including all organic and eco-friendly products. I've only got a few slots open for many of my CF custom items so shop early for your chance to get these at a great price!

Organic Pouch Sling Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the Organic Pouch Sling Giveaway is...

Robin said...
I like the looks of the Feeleez, myself. :)

(winner was drawn using a random integer generator)

Robin, please get in touch with me here to give me your full name and address so I can send you your sling! I need to hear from you by October 5 or I will redraw for the sling. ETA: I did not hear from Robin by the deadline so the redraw has resulted in Kyre being the new winner. Kyre, please get in touch with me ASAP to arrange to receive your sling.

Thanks to all who entered - it was fun seeing all your comments about what products you think are unique or interesting at our store.

Please stay tuned tomorrow for an announcement of our next giveaway which will be in honour of International Day of Non-Violence on October 2.

Organic Pouch Sling Giveaway for International Babywearing Week!

I'm a really avid babywearer and would love to see more babies being worn. So, in honor of International Babywearing Week this week (September 21-28), I'm doing our first ever giveaway -- a CF Organic Pouch Sling. This sling is a (now sold out) Sage Smoke 100% organic colorgrown cotton in size medium (25"). It features both light leg padding and a handy outside pocket (good for your phone, wallet, spare diaper, or toy).

If you'd like to be entered to win this sling, all you have to do is visit Continuum Family and make a comment back here about what you think our most unique/interesting product is.

You can get bonus entries for:

• posting about this giveaway on Facebook with a link to this post and Continuum Family
• blogging about this giveaway with a link to this post and Continuum Family

Giveaway closes September 28 at 11:59 PM PST.

New Beco Butterfly II Model Released!

We are excited to announce the release of the Beco Baby Carrier Butterfly II! This new model has the same great features as the current Butterfly carrier, plus several brand new features resulting from Beco design efforts and customer feedback.

Main new features:

• Removeable infant insert is adjustable in size (recommended for infants 7-15 lbs)
• Removeable head rest (hood) -- design changed from a square to a more complex shape with flexible sides which attaches to the body with resin snaps in a faux pocket. Hood/shoulder straps also attach with snaps.
• Webbing part of the shoulder strap is the same length as the current Butterfly; fabric part is 2" longer
• New retail packaging, DVD and printed instructions
• Butterfly 2 is proudly produced exclusively in the USA

Fabrics available for the Fall 08 season are:

• Avery
• Carnival
• Espresso
• Jacob
• Metro Black
• River
• Sara
• Trinity

We will have our first shipment in mid-October - they are available for pre-order now!

Beco Butterfly: June 2008 Prints

Here's a preview of the two gorgeous new Beco Butterfly prints for June 2008.

On espresso straps, Jacob:



and, on black straps, Avery:



Pre-orders are available now in our store, for shipping in first week in July for these prints as well as more Abby, Allison, Carnival, Natalie, and Sara. Currently in stock in limited quantity are Emma, Espresso, Isabella, Martini, and Metro Black.

Beco Butterfly or Pikkolo?

Julie writes:

"Hi There! Just looking for a little advice... I have been trying to decide between the Beco and Pikkolo for some time now. A friend of mine has the Beco 4th generation and LOVES it. I have tried it a couple of times with my 21 lb. 6 month old son and found it pretty comfy- it didn't hurt my back at all which was awesome! However it did push the top of my pants down and I kept feeling like I should scoot my son's behind up so it stopped pulling down on my waistband. My son loved it- both times he fell asleep within about 10 minutes- and was totally content while I walked, talked, played with my niece. I am buying it for this summer as a convenient way to keep him close and get things done around the house and as we run errands, take day hikes, etc. As for the pikkolo- the reviews are fabulous. I was just unsure about the unpadded waistband- and I know you are supposed to wear it on your natural waist- which I would think dug in- and may not distribute the weight as well as your hips would?? Cool thing is it looks like the baby can see out better- but can they sleep or feel as secure because they aren't as supported? We are planning on having another baby in the not too distant future- so I'd like something that can last me for a couple years if possible. If you had to but only one- what would it be?... Thanks for your advice in advance!" Julie

Hi Julie,

Hmmm, a Beco or a Pikkolo? Really good question! :)

I loved the Beco 4th Generation too. As I'm sure you are aware, Beco has discontinued making it in favor of the Butterfly model, which is quite a bit different than the 4th Generation.

I know what you mean about the padded waistbelt pushing the top of your pants down. I also find this a minor annoyance of that feature, despite it making the carrier very comfy to wear for long periods. I too was skeptical about the unpadded waistbelt of the Pikkolo... until I tried it! I found it surprisingly comfortable. It didn't cut into me at all and the top of my pants stayed put! You do wear it a bit higher but I find that once my toddler is in it ends up settling right on top of my hipbones anyways, so it still distributes her weight evenly and properly. The body of the Beco and Pikkolo are about the same length, so baby will be equally supported in either.

The Butterfly takes a bit of getting used to, especially if you're not used to putting baby in the internal sling of the carrier first, then putting the carrier on. A nice thing about the internal sling though, is that baby is perfectly positioned in the carrier every time. The Butterfly is a great carrier for those new to doing a back carry, and makes it easy to do a back carry with a very young infant using the built-in infant insert. The internal sling also allows you to adjust the distance of baby from your body, totally separate from the shoulder strap adjustment. Wearing baby very close with the sling buckles tightened up, but keeping the shoulder straps fairly loose, makes it so that baby's weight sinks down and is supported by your hips, not your shoulders.

I really like the unique cinching mechanism in the body of the Pikkolo. Not only does that enable you to do ergonomic forward facing front carries (only with babies under 20 lbs though, otherwise it kills your back!), but smaller babies don't have to spread their legs as wide while riding. The Beco Butterfly achieves the same thing with their infant insert, which is narrower than the main body of the carrier. Oh, and you can do hip carries with the Pikkolo, but not with the Butterfly.

The Pikkolo has great memory foam shoulder straps which I found really conformed nicely to my body. The Butterfly has narrower, ergonomically curved shoulder straps which makes for a very nice fit and is especially great for narrow-shouldered wearers. The fabrics used in the Butterfly are softer quilter cottons and twills. They are gorgeous, unique and colorful designer prints. The Pikkolo fabrics are more neutral, subtle, heavier canvas-like fabrics that soften up great with washing and are ultimately probably more durable.

Also, you will be able to get a padded waistband sleeve for the Pikkolo as an accessory option that will attach to current models -- should be available in the next couple of months and will make that carrier even more versatile.

As for which one I'd personally choose? Hard to say - they're both great! I do reach for the Pikkolo more often at this point because my youngest is 2.5 and I find it too awkward to get her into the internal sling of the Butterfly. I'm also an experienced babywearer so don't like having to put her in the carrier first, I like to just quickly hoist her onto my back. But, if we were to have another baby, I think I'd lean towards the Butterfly as the fabric is softer and I like the idea of the built in infant insert to do early back carries.

Another important consideration for many when choosing a carrier is -- which one has the fabric/pattern you like best?

Hope this helps you some!

Beco Butterfly: May 2008 prints

Here's a preview of the start of the long-awaited Butterfly summer collection. They are due to ship from Beco soon and I hope to have my first shipment the week of June 9.

On espresso straps there's:

Allison:



Martini:



Natalie:



As well, the ever-popular Carnival print will be available again:



On black straps there's:

Abby:



Isabella (which first came out in March and is available again now):



Morgan (which came out in April, and is still available):



and Sara:



I think this is a beautiful collection with something that's sure to please everyone.

I believe there will be two more prints released in June and possibly a couple more in July/August. These will be previewed here as soon as I am able to release them.

I will be offering presales on my site once I get the shipping notice from Beco around May 21. It's always a bit sketchy as to what's actually coming in a given shipment so I don't want to presell until I know what's actually coming. Please be sure to contact me if you are interested in a specific pattern so I can make sure I order enough.

Happy Babywearing!

Beco Butterfly: April 2008 Prints

Here's a preview of the new prints Beco will be releasing later this month. They will be shipping from Beco at the end of April, so I hope to have my shipment by May 9 or so. I will not have all prints available -- see details below.

On espresso straps there's:

Emma:



and Chloe:



and Olivia, which was first released in March but now due to fabric supplier problems will not be available again in the foreseeable future:



There's also still Ethan, which was released in February.

On black straps there's:

Morgan:



And Aubrey, which was released in March:



and Isabella, which was released in March but again due to fabric supplier problems will not be available again until end of May:



I will also have some more Metro Black and Espresso for those who prefer an unpatterned carrier. Oh, and for those that have been asking, the Carnival print will be available again in late May so I should have some by early June.

I will be offering presales on my site once I get the shipping notice from Beco around April 28. It's always a bit sketchy as to what's actually coming in a given shipment so I don't want to presell until I know what's actually coming. Please contact me if you are looking for a pattern that I don't have coming (Ethan and Aubrey are currently not on order) and I will check to see if it's still available from Beco and can be added to my shipment.

Happy Babywearing!

pikkolo™ Coming Soon!

I received my sample pikkolo™ soft structured carrier from Catbird Baby the other day and finally had a chance to test drive it on a hike yesterday. Here's my review:

Overall... what a great carrier! I was really skeptical that the unpadded waistbelt would be comfortable but in fact I think I might prefer it to a padded waistbelt now. The downside of a padded waistbelt (and maybe this is just me) is that it pushes the top of my pants down. I didn't have this issue at all with the unpadded waistbelt, and I really liked how un-bulky it is. And it didn't dig in to my middle at all, even though it seems like it should.

Another thing I LOVE is the memory foam shoulder straps - what a dream! The straps are designed to cross in the back when used for a front carrier but when using as a back carrier it comes with a removeable chest beltto cinch the straps together in front. The chest belt is a bit awkward and doesn't attach to the shoulder straps so would be easily lost, but I believe this is a feature that will be improved in future releases.

I personally don't find the pikkolo™ as pretty as the Beco, but the patterns are neutral and muted enough to appeal to those who don't want a solid color carrier but don't want something that clashes with their outfit or won't be worn by Dad. The pikkolo™ fabric is much stiffer and canvas-like, although I have read that with washing it softens up nicely and it's probably a more durable carrier fabric overall.

Another very cool feature of the pikkolo™ (which I don't get to test as my youngest is 2.5 years old) is a cinching mechanism on the carrier body to make it narrower. This allows for carrying very young babies without an separate insert. It also allows for a comfortable forward facing front carry, which is very handy and not do-able with any other soft structured carrier I don't think (but I wouldn't recommend it once your baby is over 20 pounds as it will throw off your center of gravity and kill your back).

So, I will be carrying the pikkolo™ in addition to the Beco and should be getting my first shipment in mid-April. Please feel free to contact me to get added to an interest list.

Beco Butterfly Voluntary Recall

If you haven't already heard, Beco has voluntarily recalled their Beco Butterfly model carriers produced and sold in January and February 2008. If you bought a Beco Butterfly during this period please read up on the issue and how to resolve it.

New Beco Butterfly Prints for Feb 08

Wow! Interest in the Beco Butterfly has been amazing! My initial order was obviously too small, as it is now 90% sold as of this writing and I've only had them in stock for 5 days! I've just put in another order for more, which I'm hoping will arrive in early March.

Beco is introducing 5 more prints this month. I've only ordered 4 of them because, well, I think the 5th one is kind of ugly and I don't want to sell something that I wouldn't wear or use myself.

Here's a preview of the new prints:

1) Ava - on black straps:



2) Ethan - on espresso straps:



3) Sophia (pink version of the now-sold-out Addison) - on espresso straps:



4) Joshua - on black straps:



Also still available is the ever-popular Carnival print, and I will be getting a few more of those.

I'll be offering these for pre-sale once I get notice that they've shipped from Beco, so check back with us often or contact me to get put on my interest list.

Beco Butterfly vs. 4th Generation Carrier

Tasha writes:

"Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me what the difference between the Beco 4th Generation and the Beco Butterfly Carrier is?"

Good question! And one that many people have been asking me...

Now, keep in mind that I haven't actually seen or tried the Butterfly yet, as I'm still waiting for my first shipment to arrive. Once I get them in I'll be able to write more of a review.

In the meantime, here's what I've been able to glean from the information out there as to how the Butterfly is different from the 4th Generation:

Shoulder Straps:

• The Butterfly features ergonomically curved shoulder straps that are adjustable at both the top of the carrier and at the sides of the body. This is supposedly to enable easy nursing access. The 4th Gen straps only adjust at the sides. Both carriers feature dual adjusting buckles though, a huge plus over other carrier brands.
• Another feature of the Butterfly shoulder strap is that the base of the strap is not attached directly to the body of the carrier (as with the 4th Gen) but to an inside panel (see next point) that attaches to the waist belt. The other end of the shoulder strap attaches to the body of the carrier.

Body:

• The most innovative and unique feature of the Butterfly is that it has an inside panel of fabric which keeps baby securely inside the carrier even when the waist belt is open. The baby can be put in the carrier first and then the carrier put on the wearer (although you can still put the carrier on first and then the baby if you prefer this order, but it seems like this would be a bit more awkward). The panel of fabric is in a "Y" shape so your breasts are apparently not covered up. This would make nursing possible but probably not as easy as with the 4th Gen.
• Another feature of the Butterfly is a built-in infant insert. With the 4th Gen carrier you had to purchase a separate infant insert. With the Butterfly, it's built in but it lays flat against the back of the carrier if it's not used. The insert is narrower than the actual carrier base so small infants can comfortably spread their legs while retaining the recommended position of knees higher than their bottom.

Other Features:

• The Butterfly also has an attached chest strap that's not independent from the shoulder straps as on the 4th Gen (a minor annoyance!). Instead, it's connected to the shoulder straps and slides along their length.
• Although both the 4th Gen and the Butterfly have sleeping hoods, the 4th Gen carrier has a storage pocket for it on the body of the carrier. The Butterfly has a storage sleeve at the back of the waist belt.
• The Butterfly comes with an instructional DVD included in the price.

In summary, I would say that you should probably choose the Butterfly if:

• you are new to babywearing in general
  
• a bit nervous about putting your baby on your back by yourself
• want to be able to do back carries with a very young baby
• like the idea of being able to pass the baby from one wearer to another or to switch easily from front to back carry
• you prefer the prints the Butterfly is offered in
  

and you should probably choose a 4th Gen carrier if:

• you have an older baby and thereby no need for the infant insert
• you are a fairly experienced babywearer who is used to simply hoisting your baby onto your back and strapping a carrier on and would find the inside panel bothersome
• you like being able to easily nurse your baby while in the carrier
  
• you prefer the prints the 4th Gen is offered in