Strocel.com | Trying out the Beco

Way back in early June I ordered a Beco Butterfly II with my birthday money. I knew it would take a while to arrive, which was really fine considering my erm, considerable baby carrier collection. It’s not as if I had nothing to use in the meantime.

Finally, a week and a half ago I got the call. My Beco was in! I dropped everything and headed to the store to get it. It was every bit as pretty as I’d hoped, and I was very excited. I’ve been wearing it almost non-stop since. I’ve also had my husband try it out, and my friend with a newborn so that I could check out the infant insert. I’ve even put Hannah in it and taken it for a spin. The point is, that it’s gotten quite a workout.

Jacob takes the first spin in the new Beco

So, what’s the verdict?

I have mixed feelings about the Beco. Here are the things I do really like about it:

It’s very well thought-out, with features like a hold-tight strap to easily fold it into a compact package and a sleeve to fit the sleeping hood.

All rolled up and secured with the strap

It can hold a child who weighs up to 45 lbs. It held my 35 lb 4 1/2 year old comfortably and securely.

I love the fabric choices, they have a good range and span very plain to very fancy. I also like the organic options in the Hues line.

I found it really easy to get my wiggly baby on to my back, thanks to the design that holds him securely in the carrier even when it’s unbuckled.

It doesn’t slip or give at all while you’re wearing it, so you can adjust it once and you’re set.

Unlike the Ergo it comes with a built-in infant insert. It’s easy to use and secure, so this carrier could really span your whole babywearing career from newborn to toddler.

There aren’t any dangling straps to drag on the ground or get caught in stuff.

I think most dads would be more willing to wear a carrier like this one than, say, a woven wrap.

Hannah trying it out, and Jacob going for a ride with Dad

Here are the things I don’t like so much:

I found it difficult to get a great fit. There are at least 5 adjustment points, rather than the single point I’m used to with less structured carriers. It took a week of wearing it and fiddling with it to get a great fit for me.

The straps and buckles are very secure, but the downside is that this also means they’re stiff and hard to adjust. This makes it difficult or impossible to adjust the carrier while you’re wearing it unless you have another adult helping you.

You need to re-adjust for different wearers. So just when you get things how you like them, you’re back to fiddling, although I have gotten better at re-adjusting.

The sleep hood is impossible to put on by yourself if the baby is on your back.

For some reason it feels like the baby rides really low on your back. Not so much on your front, though. Both my husband and I said the same thing, so it’s not just me.

My baby’s feet are constantly getting caught in the shoulder strap when he’s getting in and out of the carrier.

You couldn’t do skin-to-skin or breastfeed in this carrier, since there is fabric between you and your baby. Not that I’ve successfully managed breastfeeding and babywearing, but this would be a big drawback for some folks.

Jacob snoozing on Dad’s back with the sleeping hood in place

For me, the downsides generally outweigh the upsides. It’s really the difficulty with adjusting that clinched it for me. Although others would say the same thing about the less structured carriers I adore. In honesty, the Beco might never have had a fair shake. I love my mei tais, and the Beco is not a mei tai.

But if you’re looking for a widely available, secure carrier that will see you through I think the Beco is a great choice. I would certainly recommend it over a Baby Bjorn for comfort, especially with a baby 6 months or older. The built-in infant insert really does mean you can wear it from day one. And I am totally in love with the owl motif. So you know I’ll be wearing it from time to time, if only for that.

Yes, I am a slave to babywearing fashion.