BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Original

Today I'm talking about a baby carrier that is priced in the low $80 range. Here we have the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Original. From first glance it looks a bit athletic, a streamlined look. It has an athletic appeal to it with various solid, vibrant colors (even has racing stripes). In fact their website emphasizes the stylish look and feel above all other features. babybjorn.com.

This carrier is for small babies only! If you are looking for a baby carrier specifically designed for infants up to about 15 pounds, this is your carrier. Just plan on buying a new one when your baby outgrows this one.

The best feature about this carrier is its agile, non-cumbersome design. It gives you the maneuverability to fast-walk or bend down without feeling like you are going to lose your passenger.

I only really had one complaint with this carrier. I didnt really like the straps, its a little bit of work to get into. They cross in the back and are a little hard to adjust.

After your baby grows more than twenty pounds or so, its time to upgrade. That may not sit well for those of us that wish to buy only one baby carrier during our child's first years. If you are not sure when its time to get a new carrier there are several "signals" that reviewers have given to help you. For one thing, the baby will start to get uncomfortable and will not want to get in. For little boys, the crouch will start to push up on his testicals (that isn't good). Finally your back may start hurting through pressure points from the carrier.

BabyHawk Baby Carrier Review

The Babyhawk baby carrier is one of the best reviewed baby carriers out there. Let's start with the basic features of this product. First, they are designed to hold the baby in the front or back. The upper straps go over the shoulder comfortably while the lower straps wrap around your waste. The bottom support where the baby sits does not make it feel as if your baby is being swallowed up by the carrier, like some baby slings tend to do. It has a cushioned neck for added support, and the straps and body of the design are very soft making it very comfortable for your baby. Of course the straps are adjustable so men can wear them as well.

Speaking of men, you get to choose the color of the straps and pattern of the body of the Babyhawk. Some of the Babyhawks I've seen had black straps with an evil skull design. Of course us women have pinks and pastels and other patterns to choose from. Actually there are several thousand different combinations to discover.

One thing worth mentioning is that these baby carriers can be machine washed, just pop them into a pillow case so the straps don't get tangled. With its sleek styling and the ability to choose any design you wish, its no wonder that the Babyhawk is used by celebrities.

Pictured left is wife of Sean "Diddy" Combs, Kim Porter, sporting one of her twins with the Babyhawk.

Check out Babyhawk.com to pick up one of these baby carriers.

Infantino Sling Rider Baby Carrier

In my latest series of blog entries, I will be reviewing various baby slings and baby carriers. First we will discuss some low-cost designs found at your local Target or Walmart. They say that one negative review outweigh 5 good reviews. I’m not so sure this is true, but after doing some research on the Infantino Sling Rider Baby Carrier there are some serious flaws that simply cannot be ignored. First off that the bottom is too wide which allows the baby to easily roll on its side and suffocate. Additionally the strap easily covered the top of the sling when carried over the shoulder which could also lead to suffocation. Finally, the pouch where the baby lays closes once the baby is inside. One reviewer concluded she could not tell the difference between putting the baby in one of these or her purse. Another equated the experience to putting her baby in the bottom of a plastic bag.

Stay away at all costs! Cost? Around $30.00.

Men Suffer From Postpartum Too

A new study released shows new fathers suffer some of the same symptoms women do after the birth of a baby. The study went one to say that one in four dads become depressed during this time. Some factors include; added stress due to added responsibility, sleep deprivation, financial strain, and seeing their spouse go through postpartum depression. Hormones also play a role as the estrogen in men actually rise after birth (yes, men have estrogen too ladies!), while testosterone levels drop. You can head over to CNN to see the full article. Men are better at hiding their depression better than woman. If your spouse is seemingly down lately he may be suffering from postpartum depression. Check out this website for help on this: http://www.postpartummen.com

Chinese Lunar Calendar Pregnancy

So how many of you have heard of this? The Chinese Lunar Calendar determines through a simple calculation whether your baby will be a boy or girl. Here are the steps:
1. Select your age at conception and add 9 months
2. Select the month of conception
3. See where the two intersect. Boy is blue and girl is pink.

This calender is said to be 99% accurate.

Here is the link where I found this in: Chinese Calendar

Today's Active Mother and the Baby Carrier

Today's mother is a term that's been thrown around a lot over the years but things really are different today. Today's mother is much more active and that's in part thanks to the baby carrier. Moms are seen everywhere with their infants doing all kinds of fun things. Yes there is the usual going to the grocery store, but now they are also socializing with friends at restaurants, standing in line at the DMV (saw that the other day), and going to the mall. All of these things are much more enjoyable then pushing a stroller. Sitting at home with your child is not all bad, but let's face it, we aren't getting any thinner. we have to get out there and get our exercise. There is also a certain feeling of bonding when our baby is so close to us. I know our baby likes this feeling too.

When you carry your baby, which do you prefer? One thing that I noticed about some baby slings is that the baby almost disappears in some versions. I saw one baby in a sling, and I think she may have had the baby in there wrong...but you couldn't tell a baby was in there. The sling entirely engulfed the poor infant. That's one reason why I like the baby carrier. It provides a way for the baby to comfortably view the outside world. They are able to sit upright and use the back flap as a head rest. Infants actually need that to keep their heads up! It just seems more natural.

Forward Facing Strollers Learning and Bonding

An article appeared in the New York Times last Monday about forward-facing strollers. The study of over 2700 mothers showed that parents speak to their children more often with strollers that face the baby toward the parent. As discussed in the article, studies have shown that the best time for babies to pick up language is up to age three, but forward-facing strollers seem to hinder this. You can read the full article here: New York Times

This brings up the other good point that's often mentioned with baby carriers; that there is a an increase in the level of bonding when baby faces toward you. I think most would agree that when your baby can see you look at them and talk to them, not only are they learning, they are bonding. :)

Kids and Cell Phones

Just like us adults who drive while texting and talking on the phone, kids are finding new distractions as well. According to this study (as if we need one) on MSNBC.com, kids become distracted while walking. It becomes a hazard when they are crossing the streets or walking along the sidewalk.

I saw a good example of this when I picked up a friend's child from school a few months back. The child had a gameboy instead of a phone. He was so immersed in his game, he walked right out in front of a car. It seems we are being taught to juggle multiple distractions at a young age these days. Common sense tells us this is not a good thing, yet some parents don't seem to notice. Let's take time to protect our children in this regard. Teach your child to answer the phone in a safe area, not in the middle of the street. Whenever they are on the phone have them stop walking or engaging in other activities. I'm not sure I'll let my children have a cell phone when they are in grade school, or even junior high school. If I do, I'll explain to my child that the phone is for emergencies only.

Pre-Pregnancy Preparation

Say that title ten times fast! But seriously, before a woman gets pregnant, it is a good idea to visit their doctor for testing. That way she can get her body ready in case she has any nutritional deficiencies. It’s also a good time to cease some unhealthy habits (drinking and smoking). I was reading today that there is an alarming number of women who don’t heed their doctor’s warnings about possible defects they can bestow upon their baby by not following those instructions: MSNBC Pre-Pregnancy Advice. They did a study in the U.K. and found that only 2.9% of pregnant women followed their doctor’s orders, specifically, “Just 5.5 percent of the women who got pregnant were taking the recommended 400 micrograms of folic acid daily…” I thought it would be good for me and others who plan on getting pregnant should have, at the very least, some sort of guideline. I found a pretty good segment on WebMd, called Your Pre-Pregnancy To Do List. It includes a great checklist along with some links to prenatal vitamins and exercises.

WebMD Pre-Pregnancy To Do List.

I hope you find it as useful as I have.

Motrin Mom Commercial. Is this a big deal?

Mothers around the nation had something to say about the Motrin mom commercial that aired a short time ago. By now you may have seen the commerical about mothers and the "pains" associated with carrying their babies. If not, here it is:



This ad has drawn national attention from mothers with most of them saying that Motrin does not understand the demographic. Many state that carrying a baby does not hurt their backs and shoulders, nor is it an inconvenience as the commercial seems to convey. Several mothers are, in fact, offended by this commercial, demanding the commercial be pulled, and asking for apologies for targeting baby-wearers.

I see that the commercial was meant to be kind of silly, and by some, could be construed as non-offensive. The commercial is playfully narrated by a "mother" who states that the theory of baby carriers seems to make sense, but there is a flaw, the pain attributed with this practice.

On the other hand, I can see where it is offensive. She states that there is "supposedly" a bonding element with the child who held close to the mother. At the end of the commercial there is a tired and crazy graphic of a mother (well just the eyes) with the background noise of a coo coo.

How do you carry your baby?

I saw this girl the other day with a baby in a sling and it kinda looked like her arm was in the sling. After seeing that I'm not sure if baby slings are right for my friends. It just seems that baby carriers are more sturdy and safe....plus those mai tei carriers let you carrier your baby on your back. I'm looking to have some answers as I start going through more sites. If you have links that I can look at, or have suggestions, just post me :)