Beco Butterfly II - Hip(pie) Mamas Can Get This Ergonomic Baby Carrier
Written: Jul 09 '09 (Updated Jul 10 '09)
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Pros: * Easy to use
* Versatile and long-lasting
* Made in USA
Cons: * Expensive
* Can trap heat
* No forward-facing position
The Bottom Line: This is one of the easiest to use baby carriers and lasts from infancy until about 45 pounds (or when your child refuses to be carried).
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In the U.S., "hippie mamas" were the first to espouse the benefits and joys of babywearing--the practice of wearing your infant as you go about your day. In the not so distant past, I recall it was something I'd only see in National Geographic as many other cultures traditionally wear their infants (i.e., many Asian and African cultures use cloth wraps to tie their infants and older children to carry on their backs/chests/hips). Yet as more and more celebrities are adopting this practice (i.e., Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Brooke Shields, and Gwen Stefani, among others), it's now become mainstream and trendy.
Babywearing fits in neatly with the breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and "make-your-own-baby-food" culture now more common in the U.S. (especially in my area of California). As these "non-traditional" practices become more mainstream, babywearing has also adapted. There are so many options now that it can be very overwhelming to figure out what works best for you. One site I found helpful is www.thebabywearer.com, which has helpful guides and forums for new parents seeking advice and feedback on the various models of baby carriers.
While pouches, ring slings, wraps, and Asian-inspired carriers look the most familiar to those who have seen those National Geographic photos, there are new "non-traditional" carriers known as "soft structured carriers" that look like outdoor hiking gear/backpacks and include buckles, padded straps, ergonomic updates and modern styles, like the Beco Butterfly II baby carrier.
About the Beco
Unlike some of the other baby carriers on the market like the Ultimate Baby Wrap, this one doesn't require wrapping yourself in a specific fashion. Instead, you can pop it on like a backpack. It also doesn't have multiple sizes. This is a "one-size-fits-most" carrier, and the website says it will fit most adults between 5 feet and 6 feet tall.
The following information is all copied from the manufacturer's website:
Product Features:
* newborn to toddler (7-45 lbs/3.5 - 20 kg)
* front and back carry
* easy On and OFF
* features high quality tested materials
* machine washable
* DVD instructions included
* made in USA
Product Measurements:
* body 13" wide x 16" tall
* shoulder straps 23" (can be adjusted up to 22" LONGER for a total of 45")
* waist belt 23" (can be adjusted up to 30" LONGER for a total of 53")
* weight capacity of the carrier: 7-45 lbs
* weight of the carrier: 1.8 lbs
Included with purchase:
* Baby Carrier
* Head Rest (Hood)
* Infant Insert
* DVD Instructions
* Owners Manual
It is somewhat difficult to describe, but imagine there is a harness where your baby sits, all buckled in, and then there is the "parent harness" which is basically 4 wide padded straps that attach the baby harness to you (2 shoulder straps and 2 waist straps). There are also some smaller straps (e.g., a strap connecting the 2 thick shoulder straps, looped straps on each shoulder strap that connect the back of the shoulder strap to the child harness).
Since there are two almost "separate" harness systems, Beco brags that you can easily hand the baby while she's still harnessed in the Beco to another user to wear. I am not sure how often I'd be in that situation on a regular basis (as I haven't yet). Upon reflection, I can imagine if I wore my baby at Disneyland or some other amusement park or day trip locale, I might hand her to my husband when I had to use the restroom for him to wear. In that circumstance, it would be convenient not having to unharness myself AND the baby.
The hardest part about using the Beco was adjusting the infant insert! I watched the instructional video clip on how to use the Beco Butterfly with an infant under 15 pounds twice and had to re-adjust the infant insert a couple times as it got stuck to the velcro strip. Note that the Beco Butterfly II has a removable insert for smaller babies that weigh 7-15 pounds, as opposed to earlier Beco models whose infant inserts are permanently attached. I'm not sure how I feel about this "upgrade" as the infant insert attaches via a very strong velcro strip. Yes, that sounds risky, but it's apparently rated for high weights and can be difficult to separate when you're adjusting the infant insert.
Using the infant insert is easy once it's adjusted. You lay the carrier flat, lay your infant in, snap the infant insert's 2 buckles, snap the child harness' 2 buckles, lift baby (and the entire carrier) and then put the shoulder straps up over each shoulder, buckle your waist belt, and then buckle the small strap between the shoulder blades. You might need to adjust your child's arms and legs so they are comfortable. I find my daughter sometimes gets her arms caught in the side straps that loop under the adult harness' shoulder straps, so I lift her arms up and over them. I also have to lift her bottom so her legs splay out correctly
The main two buckles that hold your child in the their harness require two hands to open, as they have a safety button along with the typical clasp. That extra bit of security is reassuring.
Finally, I should highlight the fact that part of the appeal of Beco carriers, at least according to the many message board posts from current owners, is the array of gorgeous fabrics on the exterior of the child harness. Given the fact that I wanted my husband to also help carry our baby, I opted for the plain Metro Black version. See the Beco website (www.becobabycarrier.com) for an array of bolder and funkier patterns. The more fashionable fabric choices seem to be one of the most noticeable differences between the Beco and the similar Ergo carrier.
I ended up opting for the Beco because it is more attractive and it's made in the USA. While the Beco is more expensive than the Ergo, I managed to buy it used so price was not a factor in deciding between the two.
About Our Experience
With my first daughter, we tried the Hotsling pouch (she hated it, as it doesn't hold infants upright), the Ultimate Baby Wrap (a little too hippie for my husband and also required wrapping), a Maya wrap (same criticism we had with the UBW) and the Baby Bjorn Active carrier (which we liked in concept but it hurt to wear longer than 20 minutes). Like the Baby Bjorn, the Beco offers a simple buckle system, as opposed to those that require wrapping, tying, and adjusting. It also can be gender-neutral, so my husband has the option of using it, too. But that's where the similarities end.
With the Bjorn, the weight of your child falls on your shoulders primarily, causing pain after fairly short intervals. The Beco distributes your child's weight evenly across your shoulders, back, and hips. For example, I comfortably wore my 8 pound baby in the front carry position in the Beco for over an hour at my 3 year old's preschool. I sat on the floor, crouched/squatted, walked, and bounced without any issues. The two teachers didn't even realize I had a newborn in the carrier at first! When I'm out and about, I often surprise people as a younger infant's legs and arms aren't as visible while wearing this carrier. Plus, this carrier isn't as common in my area yet.
I find the Beco most useful when running long errands in one store. For instance, going to Costco means bringing a baby in a stroller or in the infant car seat doesn't make sense because you either don't have the hands to push a cart or your car seat take up valuable space. Instead, I wear my daughter in the Beco while pushing a Costco shopping cart. I went to Costco earlier today and my 10.5 pound baby slept the entire hour or so. I was so comfortable I even went down aisle by aisle in several sections of the store to see if there was anything I might want, rather than just picking up the essential items as I normally do.
If I'm going to pick up just a couple items at a store or run a quick errand, I don't bother putting her in the Beco because I find it's not worth the 10 minutes it takes to remove her from her car seat, put her in the Beco, and then later put her back in the car seat. Instead, the beauty of the infant car seat is that I can just take the whole thing in with me.
Since I always use this indoors, I tucked the hood attachment into the tiny pocket on the waistband. We're not big hikers/outdoor enthusiasts, so I doubt we'll ever use it. Note that the pocket is more of a "sleeve" as it's open on both sides and isn't suitable for keys or money.
You can also do a back carry, but my second daughter isn't old enough for that yet so I'll have to update this review later as my older daughter isn't a willing participant. While the manufacturer states the carrier holds children up to 45 pounds, I know my 35 pound 3 year old is not about to let me carry her when she can walk herself. I can't imagine an older toddler wanting to be carried unless it's at the end of a long day at an amusement park.
In terms of cons, I think any extensive wearing leads to heat build-up, especially if it's already warm. During my first pre-school visit, I made the mistake of wearing a long sleeved knit sweater and quickly overheated in the warm un-air conditioned room. I thought I learned my lesson when I wore a cotton shirt during my second extended use of the Beco, but I cut that trip shorter than I otherwise would have because I was so hot and uncomfortable. My daughter is also a hot baby so that may not be entirely the Beco's fault. Thus, I now make sure to wear layers and remove all but one layer before putting on the Beco and then add layers if I'm cold.
Another minor criticism involves the removable infant insert, which requires that you lay the carrier flat, slip your child in, and then lift the whole thing up to put it on. Therefore, it's less convenient than a Hotsling or other pouch where you can pop your infant in while you're standing with the pouch already on you. If you watch the helpful YouTube video of how to use the carrier with an infant/newborn, you'll see that you have to lay the carrier down and place your baby in it. Thus, it's hard to put her in if you're driving somewhere and don't have a flat surface (e.g., two carseats in the back seat of a sedan means the bench doesn't have room to lay down an infant). I've managed to do it by lying her in the front passenger seat, but it's an awkward space/angle.
Needless to say, this is also an expensive carrier in the same range as the Baby Bjorn Active (retailing about $120). Thankfully, it is much more useful and has a longer useability period. I bought mine as a gently used carrier for $99 plus tax. The carrier looked brand new to me, so durability seems to be very high.
The one design issue I wish could be addressed, but may not be reasonable, is that the Beco only allows your child to ride facing you (whether you have her on your front or your back, she will always be facing you). I wish it had the option of facing your baby forward in the front carry rather than only with the baby always facing the parent. I think it's related to the seated position, as facing forward (as the Baby Bjorn allows) puts pressure on your child's hips and might lead to increased risk of hip dysplasia. Thus, this may be an unfair criticism.
Final Thoughts
I have no regrets that I invested in this carrier and look forward to using it until my daughter reaches the weight limits or starts to refuse to be carried.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99 + tax
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
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