Once upon a time, there was a duck. A rubber duck. He was small, and adorable, and a little boy’s favorite bath time companion. This little duck set sail many, many times in the sea of bath. One day, the little boy’s mom picked up the little duck and, while preparing him for another adventure, she noticed something awful. The little duck was full of mildew. Yuck! So, the little duck found his final destination.. the garbage can.
No more little ducks found their way into the little boy’s bath.. or toy box. Until today. Thanks to the wonderful people at Rubba Ducks for providing us a new ducky friend who is not only incredibly cute, but is also made without any holes so — you guessed it — NO MILDEW! They are also weighted at the bottom so not only do they float, but they float upright. Always. (Note: This post is sponsored by the fabulous people at Rubba Ducks. All opinions expressed are my own)
The adorable quacker’s at Rubba Ducks come in a wide variety of styles. Suitable for any grown up or child. One of my favorites include Duckaroo – The perfect gift for my babywearing friends. Have a ballerina at home? What about surprising them with the perfect Duckerina. These fun ducky friends have a fabulous announcement for all of the Disney World fans out there. They have recently joined their friend Donald, and can now be found at the Boathouse at Disney Springs in the Boathouse gift shop. The first non-Disney toy to be added to the gift shop. How awesome is that??
The only thing more awesome, is that the fabulous people at Rubba Ducks are so excited about their new Boathouse at Disney Springs adventure, that they want to give one of you the chance to win a Rubba Duck of your own!! Yay! And for more fun: Please visit Rubba Ducks on their social media outlets. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
This is it. I am about to send THREE kids off to school this year. One in 4th grade, one in 1st grade.. and then my little Pre-K munchkin. The older kids have done this school gig numerous times.. they know what they’re getting themselves into and have their routines down pretty well. Same school. Same friends. My 4 year old, though. This is all new to him. The anxiety is creeping in already and school hasn’t even started yet! He is our Sensory Processing munchkin. Severe Hyper Sensory Avoider. So with all the chaos and newness that is about to consume his life, I knew I needed to find something he can control.. FOOD.
While he is only going to school 1/2 days, his schedule lands him there during prime lunch time hours. They only get a snack time, so I need to insure that he is going to have a quality snack that gives him all the nutrition of a lunch.. but portioned to be consumed during a snack time versus a full lunch period. I also need them to be familiar to him, healthy but fun, and lets face it… easy for me to pack, as I am now packing lunches for 3 kids!
Enter Stonyfield Kids. A fabulous staple for lunches. It’s organic. It’s not full of food coloring and artificial flavors. It comes in fun forms (squeezers, pouches and cups.. each of my kids has a favorite!) and they love the flavor. It gives me a good place to start the lunch packing. Then I can build around it. Obviously the older boys have larger lunches for their growing appetites.. but for my little guy, I know I don’t have to build too much..
1/2 a bagel with cream cheese is his favorite “sandwich” – He doesn’t like sandwiches.. and everything has to be open-faced. One of his little quirks.. so this works wonderfully. The bagels also don’t crumb up as much as bread does, so his sensory issues aren’t in overdrive over crumbs.
Fruit is always an addition. His favorites are grapes, blueberries and strawberries.. so it is bound to be one of those.
Next, we give a special “treat” — an organic fruit snack of some sort. And perhaps some Annie’s animal cookies or bunny crackers to round it all out.
The meal is nothing big. It doesn’t take a whole lot of extra effort or time in our busy life, and its healthy and in line with his sensory demands (or pickiness.. pick your terminology! HAHA) We will switch things around frequently. I like to keep things balanced, and the multiple options from Stonyfield help allow that to be possible while still maintaining a familiar staple in his lunch box.
What did your child’s lunch box look like? Do you have picky kids are any special dietary needs that you must follow for your kids?
Note: I am a compensated StonyfieldFarm YoGetter Ambassador. This post was sponsored by Stonyfield. All opinions expressed are my own.
It is very rare for me to come across a product that is both entertaining and highly useful for my children. When I was presented by Stonyfield to review the Yay Labs Soft Shell Ice Cream Ball to combine fun with a healthy frozen snack, I was immediately intrigued. Could it really be as fun and simple as it sounded? Is this something my older boys would enjoy? Could they even manage to do it all themselves? After an evening of fun with our Stonyfield YoKids yogurt and our Yay Labs Soft Shell Ice Cream Ball… the answer to all of those questions is an astounding YES!
**I am a Stonyfield Ambassador. This Post is sponsored by Stonyfield, and the products herein were provided to us by Stonyfield and Yay Labs for the purpose of review. All Opinions expressed are my own.**
We started by gathering our ingredients. We wanted to keep it healthy, and keep it simple. The Yay Labs Ice Cream Ball, itself, doesn’t require much to use it.. and the frozen yogurt can be as simple as just using, well, yogurt. We opted to add organic frozen sliced strawberries to our frozen yogurt for a little extra flavor and texture. Plus: Why not? One more thing for the kids to help with, and one more fruit to add to their diet for the day.
Creating the Frozen Yogurt is easy.. Prep the yogurt in a bowl that will be easy to transfer into the ball when you’re ready. We were feeding 3 of our children, so I used 3 of the YoKids cups. (Strawberry Vanilla is a favorite around these parts.. so a natural choice for us!)In the bowl of yogurt, we added in the thawed, sliced organic strawberries.After you’ve added the desired amount of fruit to the yogurt, mix it together well.Add the yogurt and fruit mixture to the metal compartment in the Ice Cream Ball.After the lid is well secured to the capsule containing the yogurt mixture, tip it over and add ice to the bottom compartment.Fill it with ice as full as you can get it (But leave a little bit of room for the rock salt)Measure out your rock salt, approximately 1/2 a cup. Add the rock salt on top of the ice in the compartment and secure the lid well.Play with the ball. Your kids can roll it. Shake it. Toss it back and forth (Please not.. this is not the best method. It does specify not to drop it, and with all the ice and other ingredients.. this ball DOES get heavy!!) After about 20 minutes of playing, scraping themixture off the walls once or twice in the process, you have an amazing vat of frozen yogurt.Creamy and delicious. Organic strawberry frozen yogurt that my kids made by themselves, at home.. all while playing together.
What a fun and enjoyable activity!! The yogurt was delicious and my kids were begging to do it again not even 5 minutes after they finished their dish of frozen yogurt. This is a fun summer staple, for sure. Thank you, Stonyfield and Yay Labs!!
As most of you know (or should know from reading this blog..) I have a ridiculous love for baby gear. All gear. And clothes. And toys. Okay, I just have a crazy obsession for all things themed baby. More fun than just the gear, is finding gear that coordinates. If I pick a color or a theme and can find some fun gear to form a “look” for baby, its so exciting.
I was recently introduced to Polyvore. At first I took it up and started planning outfits. It was so much fun. I could lay out mommy and me styles and I would know how it all looked together. I can post it on Instagram or Pinterest and not have to worry about hunting down each piece again. Then I realized… I can use Polyvore to do style boards for baby gear, too. Oh man. Since then I have been on a crazy polyvore baby gear theme kick. And its SO much fun!!! (Please note: **This post does contain an affiliate link**)
I’m currently in a huge Navy kick. It’s such a fun color. Bright and playful, but basically a neutral. It works for both boys and girls and can be accented with numerous bright colors. Love. This particular board is gorgeous and modern. Featured here is a Nook Sleep Systems “Pacific Blue” Lilypad play mat. A comfortable and eco-friendly option for floor time.(Don’t you want baby to lay and breath on a chemical free mat??) An adorable Little Giraffe onesie boasting the phrase “Be Small & Love All” in navy print. The Ubbi diaper pail in navy is a fabulous solution for nurseries. Clean and colorful. The Timi and Leslie diaper bag is a great on the go bag, that doesn’t even look like a diaper bag. I’m pretty sure I saw someone who no longer had small children carrying this bag around.. and if I didn’t know the brand, I wouldn’t have known it was a diaper bag! Add in the colorful style of the Maxi Cosi Mico infant car seat, and you’re definitely boasting some beautiful navy style. Last but not least, the *ahhhhh* gorgeous Navy Embossed Lillebaby. It’s amazing and beautiful. It’s also comfortable and extremely light weight.
And then there is grey/silver. This has definitely been a long time favorite of mine for babies. Something soft and gentle, but not white. It can also be accented with a variety of colors.. both bright and pastel. Very versatile and clean. This board is so comfortable looking. It starts with an adorable Newborn Essentials one piece from Baby Gap. One of my favorite pieces for tiny babies. Below that is an Aden + Anais gift set in shades of grey and white. These blankets and the lovie are so soft, completely washable, and so sweet. Warm enough for cool nights, cool enough for warm days. Beneath the Aden + Anais is a fabulous JJ Cole diaper bag. I’m loving the simple style of this bag. The soft grey fabric makes it very neutral, not just for baby.. but for mom or dad, too. Next, again — a Nook Sleep Systems Lilypad in “Misty.” I can see this in a living room, and it wouldn’t even look like a baby product! Under that is the softest, most luxurious Little Giraffe blanket. The Lillebaby Charcoal with Silver All Seasons carrier is a great neutral piece, as well. A personal favorite. With a zip down panel revealing silver mesh material for breathability, you are sure to be comfortable and stylish regardless of the weather. Above the Lille is a brand new, completely amazing car seat. The Stokke Pipa. It’s a version of the Nuna Pipa that has been designed for Stokke and in Stokke fabrics. (This particular grey shade is “Black Milange” — I have a Black Milange Stokke and a Nuna Pipa in night and both are amazing. Combined?? A show stopper for sure!)
Oh.. and then there is the fun playful brights. Always fun. Boys or girls can have bright and playful color schemes. The entire inspiration behind this particular board came from the amazing Lillebaby Tokidoki “Iconic” carrier. It’s bright and extremely colorful, but unbelievably gender neutral. The true “modern parent” style for babywearing. Also in this board is a Zutano newborn gown. If you want to add fun color to your baby’s wardrobe, Zutano is definitely the brand to go to. Fun and playful.. extremely soft fabrics. We also have some amazingly bright Aden + Anais pink star swaddle blankets. These blankets also come in other bright colors that would look amazing with this look as well.. but I find the pink stars that right pop of color, especially if you are planning for a spunky little girl. If you have been reading my blog for a while, you should have noticed the Nook Sleep Systems “Niche” feeding pillow. This is, no doubt, one of my favorite products for new parents. The best nursing pillow I have used. That same soft, chemical free, completely washable pebble fabric over a comfortable memory foam-type insert. Comfortable, tall, supportive. Another favorite of ours around here, is the Skip*Hop toys. This particular one is a bright teal hedgehog. Who doesn’t think this is the cutest toy? My son loves the beads on the top. Above that is the playfully colored 4Moms Rockaroo. An innovative solution to the baby swings of the past. Plush and comfortable. And then, we top it off with a vibrant pink Maxi Cosi convertible car seat.
Black is one you wouldn’t think was a baby color, but black can be very sleek and modern for babies. Another one that you can accent with a variety of colors and have success with. This style board starts out with some amazing Freshly Picked studded black moccasins. Sure to keep any boy or girl styling. Next to those is one of my favorite infant car seats. The Cybex Aton Q. Its sleek, stylish, safe, and one of the most compact infant seats on the market. Obviously, a “Little black dress” onesie is a must for any trendsetting baby girl. Don’t forget, diaper’s are extremely stylish now, too. This “Glam Black” gDiaper is a great example. To the left of the diaper is a beautiful Lily-Jade diaper bag. Another bag that is sure to fool people. It definitely doesn’t look like a traditional diaper bag. A Little Giraffe dark charcoal blanket is perhaps not black, per say, but still has that chic dark look to it. Here, we have a Black Lillebaby Airflow carrier. The panel is made of layered mesh for optimal breathability. Quite possibly one of the most breathable and coolest carriers on the market right now. You can be cool, and look cool. Finally, The brand new product not even released yet.. the 4moms Bounceroo. When I saw this, I knew it was a must have item for modern new parents.
Ohh.. and yellow. From bright sunshiny, to buttery soft.. yellow is a great palette for boys and girls. (Seriously.. most colors can be used for either gender easily.. even clearly without looking “neutral” dependent on how you accent them) While all of these products are definitely different shades of yellow, all of them are brilliantly bright and look fabulous together. Starting out is another of Lillebaby’s embossed line of carriers. This one is Citrus and its a beautiful shade of greenish yellow. Above the Lille is a fun playmat that can be pieced together to make as big or small as you need, the Playspot by Skip*Hop. Another colorful Maxi Cosi in a buttery yellow brings definite sunshine to your day. A Nook Sleep System knit blanket makes a fabulous, soft floor blanket. My older kids still love laying on this when playing on the floor or reading. A bright, colorful romper would make summer days perfect. Another fun, colorful gDiaper. These diapers are cute enough that you often don’t even feel the need to put pants on baby! A yellow giraffe teether toy from Aden + Anais is sure to capture the hearts of many littles. My PhiePhieMonster would have loved to have this when he was teething. A lovely yellow Petunia Pickle Bottom bag is a great place to store all of your wears as you’re on the go. I can’t forget about the adorable pineapple Freshly Picked Moccasins. They are so sweet, for boy or girl. And last, the lovely yellow and bamboo feeding bowl system from Avanchy.
Teal is another mainstay. I love teal. Pair teal with navy? Gorgeous. Teal with grey? Beautiful. Teal and yellow? Oooh mama. Love it. So many possibilities with teal. As you can see here, teal is a hot color in the baby world right now, too. The mama’s and papas seat is the perfect place for baby’s first taste of food or for interaction during family game night. The lovely and bright blooming bath cushion is cozy, practical and super fun. My babies have had many baths in the sink, and I’m only wishing these were around sooner. Playtime is always fun with Skip*Hop. This plush alphabet elephant is adorable and entertaining. Making an appearance once again is the Lillebaby embossed collection, this time in teal. Seriously, these are my favorite baby carriers… and the embossed collection? None like it. Also again, the soft and wonderful Aden + Anais muslin swaddle blankets. These are absolutely gorgeous in the bright teals hues. Next, what better to integrate baby’s furniture with your furniture, than the Pottery Barn My First Anywhere Chair. You can even customize it with your baby’s name, nickname, or initials. Love it! Your look is never complete with baby without a stylish bag to carry it in (We are the Diaper Bag Confessions.. what would our life be without diaper bags to obsess over??) This lovely Timi and Leslie teal Kate bag is sure to hit the mark for day or night. We can’t forget the adorable striped leggings and hoodie from Gymboree. Leggings are my favorite thing to put little ones in. Lastly, another fabulous regular in these boards.. a Boho chic Maxi Cosi Mico infant car seat. You’re sure to be stopped by people wanting to stare at your gorgeous car seat when using this one!
What about those achromatic fans? Anyone digging the black and white trend for baby? I think this look has a lot of potential. Especially if you integrated a random pop of color here or there. (Or not.. its kind of cool as it is. While similar to the all black look, throwing a lot of white into the mix really changes the feel of the look all together. It’s even sharing some of the same items, yet still feels different. Here we have a gorgeous Nook Sleep Systems Pebble Pure crib mattress. It’s like giving baby a cloud to sleep on, natural and chemical free! I promise, you’ll want to sleep on it too. (If your husband is missing on night, check the crib!) For the days of travel, or for an area of the house not equipped with a bed, the Nuna Sena in Night is an amazing place for baby to securely spend some time. For naps or playtime, its sleek, light weight, easy to set up and very appealing aesthetically. The Glam Black gDiaper makes its appearance once again, as hey, you can never have too much of a cute clothed baby bum. Looking for a floor blanket that your baby will love playing on? The black Little Giraffe adult throw blanket is the perfect accent to a living room, that you can throw down whenever you need it for baby, then lay over the back of the couch or chair and it will look lovely when not in use. Everyone mom of a teething baby needs ChewBeads. This lovely black teething jewelry necklace is wonderful. I loop mine on my carrier and let baby have something to play with that isn’t my hair… Endless possibilities. The beautiful Lily-Jade Elizabeth bag is definitely a hit with young, modern moms. Seriously, did you even know that was a diaper bag?? It looks like a designer purse. It will probably give you many years of use, even when your kids are out of diapers and sippy cups. Hey look! Another appearance from the sleek black studded Freshly Picked Moccasins. The Ubbi diaper pail also shows itself here, but this time in a bright white color. Sure to accent an achromatic nursery well. What do you think of these adorable black and white blocks by Studio BGD ? Regardless of your color scheme, I think these are adorable. Maxi Cosi in the house again, this time a sleek black Mico with a bright white shell. It’s stunning. Hello, to the lovely 4moms Bounceroo, again. Seriously.. I may need another baby so I can buy this. We can’t forget the adorable Newborn Essentials one piece outfits from babyGAP. The perfect outfit for any baby. Especially if you decided not to find out if you’re bringing home a boy or a girl! And last but certainly not least… The all black Lillebaby Complete Original. 100% cotton carrier. 6 carrying positions. Crazy amazing lumbar support.
Obviously, I can’t ignore the bright pink loving mamas. Expecting a little girl? Love Pink? This one may be the perfect board for you. Gymboree starts us off with a sweet pink dress. These outfits make me wish I had a girl. Paired with the brightly colored gDiaper? Seriously. I may need to make this girl thing happen. (Anyone know how to do this? We only know how to make them one way.. and its ALL boy.) The Nook Sleep Systems knit blanket is, as I said before, a favorite in our house and this lovely bright pop of pink is dreamy. A reappearance by the Aden + Anais pink star swaddles clearly needed to find itself here, as well as a bright pink version of the Blooming Bath. A Ju Ju Be diaper bag, perfect for the mama who has to carry ALL THE THINGS with her all the time accents this amazing Coral embossed Lillebaby carrier. Seriously, they are perfect together. Another Pottery Barn Anywhere chair, this time covered in hearts and perfect for a little princess. Let we not forget, style while traveling in completely chic safety. This Clek Fllo car seat is sure to turn heads. We have Clek car seats and people are constantly asking about them when they see them.
The last of my color obsessions (for the moment..) is orange. ORANGE. Baby’s and orange. Why don’t I see more babies and orange? Or orange nurseries?? It’s beautiful. It’s bright. I think its vibrant and inspiring. The Orange Stokke Steps high chair and bouncer is one of my favorite products we use for our baby. The Nook Niche in Poppy?? The exact Niche that I own and I love it. It’s so happy to look at. The Orange/Cream Lillebaby Complete is one of my favorite colors that they make.. and I don’t own it (… yet…) It’s a shade of orange perfect for summer and fall.. bright like the sun, but also reminiscent of crisp autumn leaves. The Poppy Nook Sleep Systems knit blanket is also the one that found its home here with my children. A fabulous playful spot. The Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair? Would look fabulous in a bright and colorful playroom. Naturally, Aden + Anais doesn’t disappoint with their bright and fashionable muslin swaddles with orange accents. So pretty. Think Baby has a wonderful line of stainless steel feeding products for baby. Bright orange and free of leaching chemicals? Always a plus for baby. The orange Comotomo silicon teether and the Skip*Hop Bandanna Lion are the perfect addition to every toy box for baby. (Seriously.. your kid will get so much entertainment from that Skip*Hop Lion!) Some cute, bright orange high tops and complete the look with another fabulously colorful Maxi Cosi Mico and your nursery will be so brilliantly colorful!
Clearly, from all of these polyvore boards you get a sense of style for my favorite brands and products… but how amazing is it that you can find cute, quality baby gear from these brands in so many brilliant, sometimes vibrant, colors?
Regardless of you preference for baby, soft and subtle or bright and exciting, the baby gear industry is full of endless options for parents now. We aren’t in the land of teddy bear prints anymore. Chic is a now a defining word for baby gear and I love it.
2010 was not a major year as far as attractions go at Disneyland. The Captain EO Tribute opened, a revival of the once existing Captain EO attraction. A few much anticipated “Coming Soon!” construction areas teased, and a few new things were added in California Adventure (World of Color debuted this year!!) but overall, 2010 was a pretty stable year regarding attractions within Disneyland. It made 2010 the perfect year to make our children’s first Disneyland memories.
You see, first trips to Disneyland are honestly the most remembered. The most talked about. You look back on them and think about how, overtime, the park has evolved and changed. You have something to reminisce about. This particular first trip was also the start of a tradition. We have since gone every 18 months with our very close family friends. The magic of Disneyland as a family is amazing. The magic of Disneyland with your closest friends, especially for children… nothing beats it. It’s full of pixie dust. We opted to go in late September, so the park was all set up for Halloween, which added an even more magical element to the experience.
Looking back at these photos, I see so much about the park that has changed.. from the entrance area to both parks.. that in 2010 still boasted large letters spelling out CALIFORNIA in front of DCA (Disney’s California Adventure) to rides that have changed or are no longer there. It’s so fun to look back and have these memories.
You don’t realize just how much changes… even while staying the same. We all know they have parades.. the parades are a main stay — but looking back on the pictures and remember these parades.. They have since been replaced with new parades. Different parades. Just as magical.. new memories to be made.. but this will always be my favorite. The first glimpse of Disney parade magic that captured the heart of my children.
Pixie Hollow, while still there, has since received a makeover.. but I think I’ll always be partial to the Pixie Hollow of 2010. Where our littlest munchkins were crawling all over the flowers and mushrooms in front of the giant Fairy Journal.
2010 captured our families fondest memories… all of our families magical Disney firsts. From first ears:
First crushes: (Snow White.. she spent a good 35 minutes walking around with him… just him.. introducing him to her friends and showing him around the grounds, then she ended it with a kiss on the cheek. This is Disney Magic!!) First Trading Pins: (Including his first trade. A girl from our home state that he struck up a conversation with. He still remembers her and the pin she gave him.)
First Rides:
First Characters:
First Castles:
Disneyland in 2010 may not have held a lot of park milestones, but definitely held plenty of park magic and so many memories- for us and thousands of other families. Did your family make any Disney memories in 2010?? How about any firsts? Happy, Happy 60th, Disneyland!! We look forward to enjoying your Diamond celebration and creating more pixie dusted memories with you!!
Meal time with a toddler is anything but simple. In our house, it typically involves multiple meal options, yogurt in the hair, a bowl tossed on the floor and a missing spoon. (We’re bound to find them eventually.. right?) With that said, we find dinner to be important family time. Conversing and bonding over food. What could be better?
Thanks to Stonyfield and Tommee Tippee, our dinner time bonding was simplified quite a bit. Sure, we still have to have multiple dining options for our toddler and clearly there will still be yogurt in his hair.. but there were no more interrupted conversations due to a tossed spoon. No more bowls full of pasta dumped on the floor. (Much to our cat’s dismay)
Tommee Tippee’s line of dining products for toddlers is fabulous. My favorite, and meal time simplifier is definitely their Easi-Mat. A simple mat that fits nicely on our high chair tray… and it keeps the bowl stuck to it. Amazing. It’s even small enough to roll up, throw in the diaper bag and take with us. That’s right.. no more tossed food at restaurants, either! (It’s a mother’s dream!) Pair with that the Easy Scoop Feeding Bowls with Lid and spoon and you’re all set. It comes as a set of 2 bowls and the lid works on both with a compartment for the spoon. The bowls stick perfectly to the mat for home use.. and when on the go, the lid fit tightly and kept my diaper bag protected… and the spoon compartment kept the spoon nice and clean. This is especially convenient for us since our toddler is on a special diet, so we are often having to bring his own food and snacks with us. (You can fill these bowls with your favorite Stonyfield YoToddler Yogurt and throw it in your diaper bag to take with you and it will actually stay IN the bowl… not all over your bag! WIN!!)
I am very impressed with the toddler line of Tommee Tippee products. We love them. Our toddler loves them. Even our 3 year old loves them. (He has claimed the spill proof cups as his own… even though he is capable of using normal cups. One less mess for me to clean up, so I shall not argue!) Do you even find yourself thinking that there must be a simpler way to feed a toddler? Especially while you’re hunting down carrots from under a table? Tommee Tippee definitely makes meals less messy. Except for the yogurt.. that will always end up in the hair, but you know what? That’s okay. There’s something really cute (and yummy smelling..) about a little one with a yogurt mohawk.
Thanks to Stonyfield and Tommee Tippee, you have the opportunity to win an amazing toddler feeding prize pack just like the one we received. A set of Tommee Tippee toddler feeding products, and coupons for delicious, healthy and organic Stonyfield YoToddler yogurt. You, too, could enjoy yogurt mohawks and less meal time bowl tossing.
To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
Note: This post is sponsored by Stonyfield and Tommee Tippee. I was provided products for review and giveaway. The opinions expressed are my own.
There is one very common question I get all of the time when people see me babywearing. “How does ____ carrier compare to ____ carrier.” While my default answer tends to be something close to “how do apples compare to chocolate?” — I do actually understand that people want to attempt to figure out which will work best for them and their baby by means of a carrier lineup. Since most people don’t own close to every major carrier on the market, I’ll be happy to give you an honest breakdown of how these 4 particular carriers stack up and how they work for us. My point of view is somewhat unique, as I have to accommodate a below average (okay… he’s below below average..) size baby who is obviously not a newborn. I also have to accommodate my toddler.
The 4 soft structured carriers (SSC’s) I get asked about most often are the LÍLLÉbaby Complete, Ergo 360, Beco Gemini and the Beco Soleil. 3 of the 4 will allow for ergonomic outward facing, which is a very popular feature right now.
We’ll start with the Lillebaby Complete: The name is very fitting for this carrier. I truly feel like it is a *complete* package. Boasting a weight limit of 7-45 pounds, this carrier will last a very long time, especially when you have smaller sized kids. A panel that narrows accommodates most newborns to be legs out from the beginning without ever needing an insert. You can also do a fetal carry with a wide seat and a rolled blanket if you or baby are uncomfortable in a legs out position. The narrow seat also accommodates outward facing carries up to the 45 pound weight limit, though I don’t know that I would recommend carrying a 45 pound child in an outward facing carry. Along with the nice weight limit comes a feature to help you bare that load comfortably. A feature I have yet to see on another carrier. The lumbar support. This pad sits nicely in the small of your back and helps to displace the weight that the carrier belt puts on your spine. (It also makes an amazing muffintop reducer when used with back carries! The #lillegirdle, if you will..) The Lillebaby Complete has 6 carry positions – A wide base fetal carry, narrow base outward facing carry, a narrow base inward facing carry, a wide base inward facing carry, a back carry, and a hip carry. (The Lillebaby also allows you to cross the straps in any front or back carry) It also comes in 4 fabric options and several colors for versatility. The Complete Original (a soft brushed cotton canvas), the Complete Organic (a buttery smooth organic cotton), The Airflow (a soft, layered mesh panel for optimal ventilation and breathability.. This carrier has a standard canvas belt and straps), and then the Complete All Seasons (Essentially the ideal combination of the Complete Original and Complete Airflow. Cotton canvas with a zip down center panel revealing the airflow mesh underneath for ventilation) For my small baby, the narrow seat option on this carrier is a sanity saver. At a year old but the size of a 4 month old, he has no interest in being stuck in an insert or on a rolled blanket. (Also, let’s be real, no parent wants to have to stick their kid in an oven mitt of an insert then strap that little heater to their chest!) He’s also a very curious little toddler who loves to see the world around him, so outward facing is a huge hit! The adjustable head/neck support is cushioned and very comfortable and attach with elastic to provide maneuverability. For my older son, this head support allows the panel of the carrier to become taller supporting more of his back. This carrier also has a removable hood and two-way adjustability on the arm straps.
Next we’ll discuss the Beco Soleil. A well made cotton canvas structure with a nice wide panel with a high back. This carrier is very nice for bigger babies. The Soleil has a weight limit of 7-45 pounds and offers a PFA (perfect fit adjuster) strap adjustment on the shoulder straps. This carrier has a nice cushioned neck support and cushioned leg openings for a comfortable ride. The Soleil provides 3 carry positions – front, back and hip – as well as the ability to cross the straps on back. As my baby got older but not bigger, this carrier is not as ideal for us, as it does require an insert for babies that don’t fit in the wide seat yet.. And at over a year old, he does NOT want to be in an insert, but is still much too small for the wide panel. It is very comfortable for our toddler, however and the PFA’s make adjusting the panel between kids of varying sizes quite convenient. The lap belt is very comfortable for front carries, but I find it a little narrow for back carrying, especially because we mostly use this carrier for our 27 pound toddler. The lap belt does adjust from both directions which is nice for the multi-tasking mama who only has one hand available! The only feature I wish the buckles for the belt had is a safety elastic enclosure to secure to buckle clip through. The Beco Soleil also has a removable hood and comes in a wide variety of colorful prints to choose from, but only one fabric option. It’s very clean looking and easy to use.
Now on to the Ergo 360. Truth be told, I was very hopeful to have success with this carrier. My very first carrier was an Ergo and I loved it’s low maintenance wearability. With my small baby/insert issue, I was thrilled to hear Ergo had made a narrow based carrier with the ability to outward face, as well. With a weight limit of 7-33 pounds, I anticipated a carrier capable of nicely accommodating a smaller child — but still able to accommodate my toddler. I quickly realized that my baby was still not big enough and would still require the infant insert in the 360 to get a good fit for his legs. (A narrow base carrier that still requires an insert?!) Oddly enough, Even though his legs didn’t fit quite right, I found the structured seat aspect a little snug on his bum – pretty sure if he gained 5 pounds, his little booty would be suction-cupped into it. (Though, I guess he would be secure!) Our toddler is well within the weight limits of this carrier, but I am unable to get a proper seat for him in it. It may be partially because the seat often collapsed back somewhere between wide and narrow while wearing it, and the fact that the structured seat just wasn’t quite a good fit for his bum. The Ergo 360 has 4 carry positions (inward facing front carry, outward facing front carry, hip carry, and back carry). The fabric is a very nice quality, true to Ergo’s traditional carrier material. Quite sturdy, work-horse material! It comes in limited colors, but they are nice color options. The adjustable neck support was nice and padded, attaching to the structure with buttons.. and the straps were quite cushioned. It also has a stowable hood, which stows really well. The waist belt was definitely lacking, though. You secure it with Velcro first, which I had a hard time attaching tight enough. I even asked my husband to help and we, together, still couldn’t get it to give a good, sturdy feel to the belt. Then, once the velcro is attached, you hook a thin webbing buckle strap around it. The webbing is clearly there for extra security, but seemed like an after thought. The velcro was incredibly loud to remove and startled my baby. Thankfully he wasn’t sleeping. The waist panel is over all very flexible and floppy and not structured.. it bent easily while wearing. Though, this may be due to the fact that with the velcro, I was unable to get it as tight and fitted as I need to create a good stable carry.
Finally, the Beco Gemini joins the party! A close sibling to its Soleil counterpart, the Gemini gives the fun prints and comfortable fabrics of Beco a more versatile structure. This carrier has a weight limit of 7-35 pounds and does not require an infant insert. An adjustable width base allows for smaller babies to fit comfortably before the widest seat fits, as well as allowing for ergonomic outward facing carries. The Gemini has 4 carry positions, inward facing, outward facing, hip and back carries. It also allows you to cross the straps on your back and has the dual side waist belt adjusters, just like those on the Soleil. The bulk of the shoulder strap is padded and very comfortable, but the part closest to the panel had no padding at all and feels, well, odd. The panel is a soft cotton canvas and very plush/padded. Moreso than any of the other carriers. I felt like baby was sitting inside a plush pillow.. So nice! (It definitely restricted ventilation, though. Baby gets quite sweaty in this one) This carrier is very comfortable to use for front carriers, but was awkward feeling when I attempted a back carry with my toddler. The waist belt not only accentuated my muffin top, but split me in half and gave me two! (Less is more.. especially when we’re talking about muffin tops! Haha) Speaking of the belt — The 3-point “safety” buckle makes the carrier quite interesting to get off of yourself when front carrying. Also, take caution. I didn’t press the safety release hard enough and the side prongs snapped back and pinched/cut my finger. (While this was probably a user error issue, I’m super paranoid – maybe even scared – of the buckle now.. hahaha. The Soleil has the same buckle enclosure.) The back panel on the Gemini is a bit narrow for a toddler, it does support his legs, but not as well. It is very accommodating of small babies, though. In both the wide and the narrow positions. It’s narrower panel width allows my small baby to fit the wide seat well, long before the wider panel’d carriers. The neck support was substantial and very cushioned. Attaching to the carrier with a buckle clasp. Unfortunately, however, the streamlined simplicity of this carrier means there is no hood. With no hood and the thick fabric, this is definitely not a good hot weather carrier.
So there you have it. A nice break down on these 4 carriers. We use the LÍLLÉbaby most often because of its versatility to be used well for both of our wearable kids. We also keep both Beco’s in rotation – one for each child as each accommodates one of them well – but neither works for both kids. The Ergo 360 is not in rotation. It is simply not practical for us to use for either of our kids.
My biggest suggestion to you is, if you are able, find a local retailer and go try on multiple carriers. See how they fit your kids and your body. Baby carriers really are like jeans.. Some fit well, others won’t work for you, and one is bound to be your perfect match. Also, just like jeans — sometimes you need (okay.. want is a better word..) more than one.
As I’ve mentioned before, we are avid baby and toddler wearers. Especially with the PhiePhieMonster’s muscle fatigue, we do a lot of wearing. Our carriers tend to come around with us most places we go. I was recently asked how I carry them around, while still juggling all of my kids. When I explained that I roll them into a neatly contained ball and then throw them in my diaper bag, or just set them in the seat of the car.. they were surprised. So, I have made a nice little tutorial with photos showing how I do it.
The carriers I use the most are my Líllébaby Soft Structured Carriers (SSC), so that is what I have used to demonstrate this process. It also works with all of my other SSC’s, the only difference being that the Líllébaby carriers have a lumbar support that I leave on the waist belt, with other carriers, you will not have this piece. I hope this helps!
There is one question that constantly swirls when people learn of my love for LÍLLÉbaby carriers. “How does it fit on petite people?”
While I can speak for the petite height aspect (I am 5’4.. and it fits me really well!), I am definitely not in the exceptionally thin realm.. So I decided to test how small the carrier could go. What better way to test this than on a 49″, 56lb, 9-year-old boy?!
That’s right. I adjusted my LÍLLÉbaby All Seasons carrier and attempted to get a good fit on our 9 year old to see if he could wear our 11 month old, 24″, 12.5lb baby. It ended in adorable success! I will show you all just how small this carrier can go!
First: I tightened the waistband as far as it would go, but left a small amount of laxity just in case I needed to adjust a little once it was on him. (I then rolled the rest of the webbed belt up. I can’t stand when its all flopping around!)
Next: I tightened the double adjuster on the straps all the way (note the overlap of the strap padding) and then rolled the extra webbing up as well for a cleaned up look.
Once that was done, I took the carrier to him and strapped it around his waist. Notice the tight fit? I did have to let the belt out a tiny bit, but not much. Note the rolled webbing. (Also: please take noticed that I did not use the lumbar support for him.. the thicker section of the waist panel covered enough of his back that it added the support itself.)
Once I had the waist fitted nicely to him, I set the baby in the seat and attached the straps across his back one at a time. I did not need to loosen them any.
This is what the buckled straps look like. The rolled extra webbing isn’t overly obvious and he said he couldn’t even feel it.
The completed back straps and buckle.
Fully straight with baby in. High and knee to knee.
Lots of snuggles (and brotherly nose picking..) resulted from this. It is possible and if my overly dramatic 9 year old says its comfortable.. I’m going to guess it must be fairly comfortable!
So.. there you have it! Littles wearing littles!! Let me know if you have questions. Myself, or any of my LILLEwearing friends, can attempt to answer them and troubleshoot fitting issues!
(I have also made a helpful diagram. Feel free to save it or pin it!)
I am a huge fan of baby wearing. It’s a part of my daily life and quite honestly — keeps me sane. So when I hear that a carrier that I love is going through a “rebellious” stage… to say I’m a bit excited it an understatement.
Ladies and Gentleman: Meet Rebel!! The epic collaboration between tokidoki and LILLEbaby!!!
This very limited edition Tokidoki “Rebel” LILLEBABY carrier is available now from a limited number of independent retailers (yay! We love shopping small!!) and online at LILLEbaby.com
These fun ducky friends have a fabulous announcement for all of the Disney World fans out there. They have recently joined their friend Donald, and can now be found at the Boathouse at Disney Springs in the Boathouse gift shop. The first non-Disney toy to be added to the gift shop. How awesome is that??
You see, first trips to Disneyland are honestly the most remembered. The most talked about. You look back on them and think about how, overtime, the park has evolved and changed. You have something to reminisce about. This particular first trip was also the start of a tradition. We have since gone every 18 months with our very close family friends. The magic of Disneyland as a family is amazing. The magic of Disneyland with your closest friends, especially for children… nothing beats it. It’s full of pixie dust. We opted to go in late September, so the park was all set up for Halloween, which added an even more magical element to the experience.
First Trading Pins: (Including his first trade. A girl from our home state that he struck up a conversation with. He still remembers her and the pin she gave him.) 
First: I tightened the waistband as far as it would go, but left a small amount of laxity just in case I needed to adjust a little once it was on him. (I then rolled the rest of the webbed belt up. I can’t stand when its all flopping around!)
