Holiday Gift Idea: Beco Baby Carrier Review And GIVEAWAY! ARV:$140.00 12/21

With two toddlers in the house, one thing that has always been a sanity-saver is having a good baby carrier. I happen to love baby-wearing, and feel that it makes for a happier, more emotionally secure child. It also definitely helps to strengthen the parent-child bond while allowing Mom or Dad to perform everyday functions, like washing dishes or even vacuuming! I have tried many different baby carriers in the past, and I have found that I much prefer a structured carrier to a sling or wrap style carrier. I just feel that structured carriers provide much more stability and support. Let's face it: Safety is the most important factor when considering baby-wearing.

A problem I have faced with many different carriers is lack of lumbar support. Baby carriers without added support can leave a parent with awful shoulder and back pain. Carrying around even a newborn for extended periods of time can put a lot of strain on the body. When my oldest child, who is now 11, was a baby, I used the Snugli. I was in constant pain, since this carrier offered absolutely no lumbar support. Luckily, baby carriers have come a long way, and there are some amazing options available now that are ergonomically designed to be safe, secure and comfortable for both baby and parent. (Hallelujia!)

Recently, I  was thrilled to get the opportunity to try the Beco Butterfly2 Baby Carrier in their absolutely stunning Tyler print. I absolutely LOVE this print, since it's perfect for my family. I have a 2 year old girl as well as an 11 month old boy, and the Tyler is beautifully gender neutral. I've always loved prints in baby carriers, but have found that many are too feminine to wear my son in. I thought I was doomed to have to use basic, solid colors until I discovered the fabulous prints that Beco has to offer. I mean, take a look! The Tyler print features a gorgeous leaf print in soothing shades of blue, gray, and white on a sleek black background. Not only is it very pretty and fashion-forward, it is also neutral enough for parents of little boys to wear. I think it has an almost tropical feel to it!

Take a look!

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The Butterfly2 comes in an attractive box, perfect for wrapping!

The gorgeous Tyler print. Are you drooling yet?

Good looks aside, another great feature of the Beco Baby Carrier is that it is made of 100% Organic Cotton, making this a wonderful choice for those eco-friendly families out there. I love a company that is environmentally friendly and uses organic materials in their products. Why is organic better? Well, other than the obvious benefits to the environment, using organic cotton also makes this safer for baby. Organic cotton has no harsh chemicals that can come into contact with baby's delicate skin.

But the great features don't stop there! The Beco Butterfly2 is a very versatile carrier, suitable for the smallest of babies and toddlers alike! Included with the Butterfly2 is a removable "hood" which is designed to provide extra head support for smaller babies. Another unique feature is that there is an extra panel of fabric (which is also removable) that goes between your body and the baby. This adds an extra layer of protection and keeps baby from slipping in the carrier. A lot of people prefer direct skin on skin contact, but I like this extra panel and feel it keeps baby safer. It is also great for passing baby to Daddy. If I have to take the carrier off when it's "Daddy's turn", I can safely remove the carrier and due to this panel, baby can stay in it. This makes handing over baby a whole lot easier, since you don't have to take the baby out, strap the carrier on the next person, and put a wiggling child back in. If you ask me, this is ingenious!

The Beco Butterfly2 can be worn on the front or on the back adding a ton of versatility. Other carriers also offer a hip-carry position, but I am not really a fan of that. Sure, it may work some many parents, but I have always found the hip-carry position to be awkward, and my babies don't like it either. Another great thing about the Beco is that the back-carry is situated higher up on the back than with my Ergo. I am short, so the lower back-carry position has been rather uncomfortable for me in the past. With the Beco, I can carry my babies on my back without feeling weighed down like I am about to topple over.

Oh, and remember the Lumbar support I mentioned before? Yep! The Beco Butterfly2 offers plenty of support to keep Mom and Dad from feeling the pain often associated with baby-wearing. The straps and buckles are incredibly secure and adjust to fit many different body types. I am 5'4" and weigh about 125-130lbs. The carrier fits me perfectly, but can also be easily adjusted to fit my husband who is 5'9" and weighs 175lbs, and there's plenty of room to spare! The Beco Butterfly2 is also very comfortable, allowing a parent to wear their baby for extended periods of time. I can wear my 27lb toddler for a few hours without feeling any pain or strain.

Overall, I am loving my Beco Butterfly2 Baby Carrier. First of all, the Tyler print is absolutely to die for, and even my manly husband is willing to wear it. Add to that all of the amazing safety features, comfort for baby and parent, and the fact that it's crafted from high-quality, organic cotton!? You have a winning product here! We have been using our Butterfly2 for a few weeks now, and honestly have no complaints whatsoever. This sleek, gorgeous carrier has become a fast favorite.

Not to mention, the fact that the removable head support and infant insert are included with the carrier is pretty awesome in itself. Many companies charge a lot extra for these baby-wearing add-ons! With Beco, they are included with your purchase. Now how's that for value?

Oh, I should also mention that the Beco Butterfly2 is also machine washable! When you have babies, messes are inevitable. Spit happens, right? Well we've washed our Beco Baby Carrier a few times and it looks and performs as good as new. I just use Rockin' Green detergent on it, and that works very well.

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I couldn't be any more impressed by the Beco Butterfly2 Baby Carrier. It's comfy, stylish, and most importantly, it's safe. My babies seem to like it, too! I never thought the day would come that I would retire my Ergo, but I find I am only using it when the Beco is being washed. While I love my Ergo, I love my Beco more! Now that says a lot!

HOW TO CONNECT:

You can check out this and other amazing Beco Baby Carriers on their website.
Check out their handy retail locator to find Beco Baby Carriers online and near you!

You can also follow Beco Baby Carrier on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!

WIN IT!

I am THRILLED to announce that one of my very lucky readers will be getting a Beco Butterfly2 Baby Carrier of their own! How cool is that?! Big thanks to the generous folks at Beco Baby Carrier for sponsoring such a great giveaway!

Please use this handy Rafflecopter form to enter!

This giveaway will be open to US residents 18+  until 12:01AM EST on 12/21/2011. Winners will be chosen at random and will be announced here, tweeted, shared on Facebook, and contacted via e-mail. The winners will have 48 hours to reply and claim their prize. If I receive no response, I will be forced to draw a new winner.

***Disclosure: I  received a complimentary product to facilitate my review.No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***