As a vendor, and a very special person, hahaa, I tried on a prototype of the new carrier from Beco last September at the ABC Kids Show. I have been waiting patiently, OK, not so patiently, for more information! We now know that it will be called Gemini and is due to be released this spring!

The Gemini is a smaller bodied carrier than Beco’s previous models, and designed to carry babies on your front, back, hip, or, gasp!, front facing out! The facing out position is somewhat controversial, but some mamas swear that their babies will not tolerate facing towards them. So, a great rule of thumb for younger babies to avoid over-stimulation is to limit facing out time to 15-20 minutes and if you see baby’s head turning to the side, that usually means that they are trying to block out some of the action and should be turned back around to face mommy.

Although the Gemini can be used with young babies, I comfortably wore my then-10 month old on my front and back in this prototype Gemini!  In the tradition of the Beco 4th Generation, the shoulder straps could be unbuckled under the arms and re-fastened as crossed straps across your back.  The headrest can be folded down, and the edges of the body of the carrier can be folded inwards and fastened, making the body narrower and more comfortable for smaller babies. (All of these details were true for the version of the Gemini I tried in September 2009. We will, of course, give you the full scoop on the Gemini as soon as more information is released!)

Only time will tell if mainstream moms will adopt this new chic baby carrier for their front facing babies, or whether the blase Bjorn ( that’s bla-zay, ladies!) will continue to be the generic go to carrier.

The part I’m most excited about??? The luscious purple straps that may be available on the first round of Beco Geminis!  Stay tuned for more information, a pre-order special, and more Beco news!

Beco fan Felicia  wants to know: How do you know that you’ve become a hard core baby wearing mama??? She says she knows that she is a Beco fan because “I wear tube tops alot and noticed I have huge tanlines on my shoulders from the straps.”

Jen laughs that, “I tend to bounce even when DD isn’t attached to me - my DH has to remind me to stand still.”

Cindy admits “…when you pick which carrier to use that day based on what will match your outfit.”

“When the only reason you use the stroller is to carry the crockpot down the block with you, LO strapped to your back!” says Crystal.

I definitely agree with this Midwest Mama: “When you can’t see the floorboard of the backseat of your car because it’s covered in carriers, wraps, and slings.”

Mayghan has 2 great clues to prove that you are hooked! “You haven’t used a stroller in months” and “You look at your husband like he has 3 heads when he says ‘Just put him in the grocery cart’.”

Julianne cracked me up with her comment, ” …when you’d rather buy a carrier than pay your bills… (oops!!! that only happened once, I swear!)”

Kassi has a dead give away, “When your husband asks “why do you need ANOTHER carrier! We only have 1 kid!”"

Idaho mommy to 1 says “You grin and wave at other Baby Wearers at the farmers market in a secret society kind of way. Like when two guys on motorcycles pass each other. Or even more… your baby gives a secret society gummy grin to other worn babies!”

My own realization came when “You know you’re a true babywearer when you go to visit a friend in the hospital with her new baby, volunteer to wrap the baby to give mom a few minutes of peace, and seriously contemplate wearing the baby right out the door!!!”

Thanks to all our babywearing mamas for their help in creating this list!

Diana came to PAXbaby to choose a Beco Butterfly for her first baby.  It was a hard decision,

Diana hems & haws...

but once my children let her have some time to think about it, she chose….

Lenka!!!  1 of 2 NEW Beco Hues for June!!!

So what is a Beco Butterfly 2? The Beco Butterfly was introduced in 2008, and while fanatic babywearers were slow to let go of the 4th Generation Beco, new babywearers embraced it!

With the introduction of the Butterfly II, excitement over the carrier just continued to grow. Here’s what it’s got going for it.

newborn to toddler
With the integrated and removable infant insert, the Beco Butterfly II is truly the only carrier you will ever need.

front and back
Easily wear your little baby on your front, when they’re old enough, swing them around to your back! Back carries are comfortable for older children, and the Beco Butterfly can support up to 45 pounds! (Please use care and don’t overdo it yourself! Just because the carrier can go up to 45 pounds doesn’t always mean you should carry that much.)

easy ON and OFF features
With the integrated seat, the Beco Butterfly is a snap to get baby in and out of. Put the carrier on yourself first, then pop the baby in. Pass the baby to dad for some daddy babywearing time without taking baby out of the carrier!

high quality tested materials
Each component of the Butterfly 2 has been chosen for its durability and usefulness. From the Duraflex buckles which were specially developed for Police Departments to the top quality webbing and organic fabrics (on some models).

machine washable
A little spit up? Maybe a bit of yesterday’s lunch? No problem, just toss your Beco in the washer! A cold wash on the gentle cycle, then just hang to dry, and your Beco will look good as new.

DVD instructions included
There’s no better way to learn how to use your carrier than to watch someone else! As your baby grows, you’ll turn back to the DVD for new ways to use your carrier.

made in USA
The Beco Baby Carrier company strives for sustainability and minimal-impact in their production of the Beco Butterfly II. They are made right here in the USA by skilled seamstresses who are paid fairly for their work.

Love your baby, love your Beco!