Walking Rock Farm's Hip Baby Carrier - We ARE Hip ... And Loving It!
Written: Oct 13 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, attractive, enjoyable
Cons: Maybe initial adjustments
The Bottom Line: A nice, durable, attractive child carrier.
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| KMINER's Full Review: Hip Baby |
I have 2 children, a 6 year old son and an almost 11 months old daughter. They are like day and night in many ways. Where my son was more sedentary and more independent in his play, my daughter rarely holds still and is into everything. Coupled with this is her need to touch her Mommy all of the time. She's be perfectly content to have me cart her around on my hip everywhere, including in our own house!
I have never really used many baby/child carriers. With our son we were given a Bjorn front carrier and he hated it every time we put him in one - so I didn't even purchase one with the second child. Plus I hated, hated, hated wearing it - I swear I started panicking that I was going to suffocate him (he was so close to our bodies!) and I had the worst time getting him in and out of the thing! When the opportunity came to try the Walking Rock Farm's Hip Baby Carrier I was hesitant, and yet part of me was excited to have a chance to see how this carrier idea would work with a different child.
I do have to say first off that, speaking for my daughter, she loves it. Loves it.
She appears comfortable and happy in the Walking Rock Farm's Hip Baby Carrier and complains whenever I take her out. She is so giddy to be that close to me and be my "little monkey" as my son and husband refer to her that she just beams. My whole family has commented on how content it makes her.
She hangs in it really really well and seems thrilled with it. She is around 11 months as mentioned and has really good neck control. She is able to look around and has some movement to lean or grab at things. She loves holding on to my shirt or whatever top I am wearing. She does not act scared that I am not holding her, and there are no marks or anything on her that indicate we are using this incorrectly or that it is bothering her skin, legs, etc. For a baby who loves to crawl around, she loves being in the Walking Rock Farm's Hip Baby Carrier almost as much!
So I'm happy that she's happy.
I got this in the size "Large", after debating on sizes. Since I planned to use this for both my husband and I, I wanted the widest variety of size options, and the Large size indicated Large: 34 inches to 58 inches. As a note, this is the "wearer"'s size, not the baby's.
And overall I like the Walking Rock Farm's Hip Baby Carrier. I really really love the look of it. Ours is the Air Flow Iris Blue model. The lining is a breathable lighter blue "demin" color. It retails for $84.00. It's pretty unisex, and really looks sharp. I've seen a lot of slings and other "baby carriers" that looked, well, baby-ish. This looks cool - like the LL Bean backpacks that were all the rage back when I was growing up!
Features from the site:
"Ultimate Child Carrier Shoulder Pad
- extra long and thick with a no-slip pad
- simple backslide adjustment
- adjusts from small to large in seconds
Best Child Carrier Materials
- abrasion and water resistant shell
- soft padded lining next to baby
- durable fabrics, webbing and buckles
Child Carrier With a Safe Seat
- wrap around sides
- extended for better leg support
- high adjustable back
Trim, Adjustable Waist Belt
- allows for better weight distribution
- wear on hips or waist
- adjusts from small to large in seconds"
And overall, with the directions I was given with the product and a few peeks at the website, I have been able to use the carrier easily and very quickly. I just snap it around my waist and let the rest of the carrier hang on my leg, sit the baby on my lap, pull the shoulder strap up and around both of us, and tighten and adjust as needed after we stand up. I noticed the adjustments happened really only the first day or two I was wearing this. Once this carrier is "set" to you and your baby, it really is "set" - unless you grow, your baby grows, or another user goes to carry the baby. I didn't notice a lot of adjustments were needed over time, so I think looking at how this product fairs with families over time is key.
The biggest adjustments I had to make were getting the strap to a comfortable part of my shoulder, and not my neck as I was incorrectly wearing it at first. By talking to another parent who had this same carrier, and looking at the on-line pictures, it was then an easy adjustment to make!
My daughter is a little over 20 pounds, and it can get real tiring carrying her around. Having the Walking Rock Farm's Hip Baby Carrier gives my arms a much needed break. She feels totally comfortable sitting on my hip. I have been able to adjust this carrier to my front (which is actually an area between my hip and belly button) and it's worked just as well.
I really love the increased freedom of movement it has given us. The Walking Rock Farm's Hip Baby Carrier has allowed me to get some chores done that I couldn't before - especially mopping the floors - our daughter was forever trying to crawl on them while I'd mop! We also just tonight took her outside at dusktime in our carrier and she got to walk with me and play "hide and seek" with her Daddy, brother and brother's best friend. I could keep her close to me, she wasn't trying to wriggle out of my hands, and I could keep a good hold of her with no adjustments or tired arms, I have found her and I are actually going outside a lot more and just talking short walks and enjoying nature. I love having her close and it really is a joy to see her connecting to me so well with the aid of a product.
I really love the Walking Rock Farm's Hip Baby Carrier - I think it's just perfect for the size, age, and needs of my child. I find it really easy to use and adjust, and we get a lot of use out of it.
Not only do I recommend this carrier, but I do think it would make an excellent gift, and I am keeping it in mind for future baby showers - I have 2 co-workers who just found out this week they are pregnant!
I received my Hip Baby Carrier free of charge from the manufacturer, in exchange for posting an honest review on Epinions.com.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 87.00
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
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