When I was pregnant with my first child, I had all the “must-haves” my friends raved about: Travel high chairs, silky-soft onesie-style bodysuits — and, of course, a baby carrier that would let me hold my little one close and move about with ease.
Only it wasn’t easy. I could never get the carrier on correctly, and my infant either seemed squished or in danger of falling out if I didn’t hold on to him tightly. I waited until he was a little bigger and tried it again in a new position and had the same issues. Not only did it take me forever to get the carrier on (I had to watch the instructional video every time), but my baby still didn’t seem comfortable, and I definitely wasn’t comfortable. I tried a second carrier and had similar results. Finally, I just gave up.
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I wanted to give baby carriers another shot with my second baby, but pulling out and trying those old carriers still frustrated me, and I figured they just weren’t for me. So much for those long walks and zoo trips I had envisioned taking with my child held snugly against me as he got to see the world from somewhere other than a stroller.
When BabyCenter asked if I wanted to try out a new carrier from BabyBjörnOpens a new window, I thought I’d give it a shot. I mean, if I could get it to work, then anyone could! 🙂 Honestly, I had pretty high expectations for this carrier. I knew about the BabyBjörn brand long before I had kids of my own because it’s known for making excellent products. I’ll walk you through my experience of trying the carrier out, but I’m just going to go ahead and spoil the ending for you: This baby carrier gets two thumbs up, 5 stars, and an A+. (Are there any more awards I could give out?)
Quality material
My first impression was that the quality was already beyond anything I’d experienced with my past carriers. The material seemed so nice, and there were ways to adjust everything to make this a great fit for us both! It’s Oeko-Tex-certified, so it has been tested for all the harmful substances — you can feel good about your baby snuggling in it. This single-layer 3D mesh is both soft and sturdy, hugging your baby close to you while still being super breathable and comfy.
Easy to use
The included instructions walked me through my first use of this baby carrier, and I was able to get my little one into it for our first try within just a couple of minutes. After using it once and getting it adjusted for myself, it’s even quicker to use now. Not only is getting your baby into the carrier a breeze; getting them out of it is too. The entire thing opens up, so no tugging is required — just unsnap the latches and you’re good to go!
In fact, I took it on an outing recently and decided to attempt moving my baby from his stroller to the carrier, and it was kind of ridiculous how proud I was of myself for having made the move so seamlessly and in public (!) without looking like I had no idea what I was doing. I’m officially a baby-wearer! Another nice feature? BabyBjörn offers a virtual “Baby Carrier Fit CallOpens a new window” where customers can meet with a product specialist to have their carrier properly fitted. You can sign up online and have all your questions answered. Isn’t that amazing? No second-guessing yourself if you did it right, an expert can help you!
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Easy to clean
Can you tell my little guy is teething? Good thing this carrier is machine washable! I also just learned they make a bibOpens a new window for the Baby Carrier Harmony and I think it’s so smart. My little guy is drooling up a storm and the bib will help keep the carrier nice and clean for longer. Not only do I love the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier HarmonyOpens a new window; my baby loves it too. I turned him to face outward and good grief − was he excited about it! I could hear him chattering away and squealing with joy.
Designed for baby and for comfort
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With my old carrier, I worried about correctly positioning it and whether I was putting pressure on or causing discomfort to his hips, but the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Harmony is IHDI certified as hip-healthy and carries your baby in a nice, natural position. The flexible head support can be made to fit your baby — just adjust the snaps to secure it.
The seat is also adjustable, it can easily be unzipped at the bottom to provide more leg room as the baby grows. The seat itself is ergonomically designed to support your baby’s whole body and as they grow you can adjust the length, leg position, and the seat so baby always stays comfortable.
Also comfortable for the wearer
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I was impressed with the support this carrier offered. The straps are nice and wide to distribute the baby’s weight, and the back has padded support for your lower back. It’s so easy to adjust that I know whoever wears it — be it myself, my husband, or even a grandparent — will be comfortable and feel that the baby is secure. When I wear the Baby Carrier Harmony, I actually feel relaxed, and not like I’m worried that I put it on incorrectly or that the baby might slip out at any second. It feels safe, and I’m confident that it actually is safe too. I know that BabyBjörn works directly with health experts, including pediatricians, to create products that are safe and ergonomically sound for both the baby and me. (Tested & Safe: Baby Carrier Harmony complies with the European EN 13209-2:2015 and American ASTM F2236 safety standards for baby carriers.)
Grows with your baby
And — get this — you can use it for a newborn who is 7 pounds and up (with no additional insert needed) and keep using it until your kid is around 3 years old or 40 lbs. Whoa!
There are four ergonomic carrying positions all built-in, including newborn, facing in, facing out (once they are 5 months old or able to hold their head up on their own), and on your back. It’s nice to know that buying this one carrier can take you quite a ways!
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I’m not sure how to even start to compare the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier HarmonyOpens a new window with carriers I’ve used in the past. Like upgrading to a luxury car? Or maybe like going from flying economy on one of those pay-for-everything cheap flights to relaxing in first class? I mean, I’m just guessing; I’m still flying economy.
If you’re in the market for a baby carrier, whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to replace one with a not-so-great fit, I’d take a look at the Baby Carrier Harmony for sure. I only wish I had had it sooner!
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