The last entry in the Beco ‘E’ Series. See also Baby Carrier Economics and Baby Carrier Ergonomics.

Beco ‘E’ Series - Article 3 - Baby Carrier Ecology

Eco is a popular word. Everyone evaluates eco-friendliness with different factors. What’s the carbon footprint? Where is the product made? What materials are used and what impact do they have? Does the product eliminate the need for other, less earth conscious purchases?

One of my favorite things about the Beco is that it’s made in the USA. The Beco ‘factory’ employs six full-time seamstresses, in good working conditions! US-made carriers also cut down on shipping and fuel use.

Beco is also comitted to using sustainable fabrics and making them affordable for consumers. The Duo Series, including Sky Duo, Sand Duo, and Rust Duo are organic fabrics. Beco has also priced them at the same $139 as the other designs! There are also a few carriers with fashion fabric that sport organics! The Kassie Butterfly II has organic charcoal straps. And the brand new Isis Butterfly II has a completely organic shell, fashion fabric and straps!

The Beco Butterfly is also a product that will eliminate the need for other purchases. It can be used from newborn through toddlerhood. No need to go from carrier to carrier as your baby grows. You can also wait on buying a stroller, maybe not even need to buy one at all!

And finally, here’s a few ideas for reusing your Beco Butterfly packaging. First, consider the reusable bag option from PAXbaby.com. Your Beco will arrive in a vinyl bag that you can use for storage of your Butterfly when not in use, or for sorting items when packing a suitcase, or for carrying your wet items home from the pool. If you do go with the standard Beco box, you can reuse or recycle the cardboard box. If you cut off the top and one side at an angle, you can turn your Beco box into the perfect sized file box for organizing papers or magazines!

This is the second in our Beco ‘E’ Series, see our previous post on Baby Carrier Ergonomics.

Beco ‘E’ Series - Article 2 - Baby Carrier Economics

Economics is the current buzz word. What’s going on with the economy and how you can minimize the impact on your family is on every radio, TV and newspaper. So we bring you our own version, Beco Butterfly II Economics.

In this uncertain market many families feel that the Beco Butterfly is an extravagant purchase. Something unnecessary and not warranted. Why spend $139 on a baby carrier when you can get one for $39? Lets break it down and find out why making room in your budget for a Beco Butterfly is actually a wise choice.

The prime time for babywearing is the first two years of your child’s life. And to take it even further, you will probably log 90% of your carrying hours in the first 18 months. The two years after 18 months, up until your child is approximately 3 or 4 years old a baby carrier is usually used more seldom, on longer trips or in special situations. So we’ll say you will get 18 months of good use out of your Beco Butterfly if you purchase it when you are pregnant or shortly after your little one is born. That makes your cost per month approximately $7.75. We’ll say you only use the carrier every other day in those 18 months (although we know you’re going to love it so much you will use it every day!), so that works out to 52 cents per use.

I am sure there will be a hundred times in your child’s first 18 months when you would happily pay ten times 52 cents in order to calm a fussy newborn, keep a toddler’s hands off the breakables at Macy’s, or be able to keep your infant entertained and happy while you quickly vacuum the floors before your in-laws arrive!

So why the Beco Butterfly over another less expensive carrier? First, longevity. With the integrated and removable infant insert, the Butterfly is a carrier that you can begin using right away yet will still be comfortable when your child is 30 pounds. Second, flexibility. While a cheaper carrier will only work for a short period of time and usually only do positions that are good for infants, the Beco Butterfly can be used on your front or on your back. That back option being the key, as your child gets older and bigger back carries are the comfortable way to go. And finally, ease. The Beco is a carrier that is simple to use on both front and back, packs up small, and will make it easy for you to use regularly.

Lets throw out a few more numbers for those of you with math minds. The average family will purchase at least two strollers for their children. And some families purchase four or more before their baby days are over! The first stroller the average family will purchase is a combination stroller which accommodates infants in a semi-reclined position and will change into a seat style stroller for toddlers. The lower end of strollers in this category cost $250. The second stroller families purchase is either an umbrella style stroller that is smaller and lighter to use with their toddler, or if the family is growing it might be a more expensive double stroller.

So that first stroller with a price tag in the $250 range might see 18 months of use with the first child. Perhaps it will get used again for another child, but often not, as the family grows and changes. Now I’m going to make it really inexpensive for you to purchase your first Beco Butterfly carrier. Skip the combination stroller. There, I’ve saved you $250– spend $139 on a Beco and it’s like I’ve actually paid you $111 to buy a Beco.

When your child is a toddler perhaps you’ll want an umbrella stroller (a good one might be just shy of $100), or if you’re expecting a second child you can go straight to a double. Or if you’re willing to be a bit unconventional, skip strollers altogether and get a nice wooden wagon that will hold 2 or more kids plus your cooler and supplies for a day at the zoo and won’t be shunned by your 6 year old as being too babyish.

Sure, a good quality baby carrier is an investment and one you shouldn’t take lightly. Make sure you’ll get your money’s worth with a carrier that is flexible, comfortable and one that you will love to wear! You’ll find that having a carrier that works from birth through toddlerhood, like the Beco Butterfly, may actually save you money by making some other baby gear unnecessary.

I’m working on a series of posts for the second half of May. First up, Beco Ergonomics. Watch for the next installments, including Beco Baby Carrier Economics and Beco Ecology in the next few days.

Beco ‘E’ Series - Article 1 - Baby Carrier Ergonomics

Every day I get to help parents, caregivers and sometimes grandparents, carry their babies comfortably and safely. Sprout Soup has the best baby carrier selection in our area, probably the best in our state (Ohio) and perhaps even the best in the Midwest! Sometimes I will overhear moms saying they wish they had a baby carrier when their child was younger or smaller, but what many of them don’t realize before they step into Sprout Soup is that children can be carried and worn in baby carriers for years! In fact it’s perfectly comfortable to carry your 34 pound three year old in a good carrier like the Beco. I know that firsthand! So it’s not too late to start using a carrier and give your arms a break, as long as you know a few things about baby carrier ergonomics.

First, positioning is very important, both how the baby carrier is positioned on you and where your child is positioned on your body. It’s easiest and most comfortable to carry weight on your back, and once your baby is in the 15-20 pound range you will notice a huge difference if you can shift the weight from your front to your back. The great thing about the Beco Butterfly II is that the safety seat makes back carries easy and safe. Between 4 and 5 months, which is when many babies are over 15 pounds, is the right time to try putting baby on your back in the Beco.

Whether baby is on your back or on your front, the higher they are the easier it will be to carry their weight. A baby who is riding low around your waist will pull on your shoulders and create sore muscles. Keeping your baby high and secure on your mid-section, where it is easy to kiss the top of their head, is the most comfortable. On the Beco Butterfly II, take care to adjust the front safety buckles so your baby is riding high. As your child grows you may need to let out these buckes to accomodate their height, but for the majority of wearers, keep the straps tight so you need to pull up on the top of the carrier to clip the buckle back together. This ensures that baby will be held securely against your body and not hang away from you causing strain.

The waist of the Beco Butterfly II is padded and structured to take weight to your hips. Where you position this strap and how tightly you fasten it will change the way it feels on you. If you find your back or shoulders are getting sore, you might try securing the waist belt a few inches higher or lower and see if that helps transfer the weight to your hips.

When you are walking or sitting with your baby in a carrier, whether they be on your front or on your back, keep posture in mind. If you feel you are hunching your shoulders, leaning forward or backward, or otherwise compensating for your child’s weight with your posture then something isn’t right. With many different ways to adjust your Beco Butterfly, you may find that a slight tightening or loosening of a buckle will completely change the way the carrier is on your body and you can stand straighter.

One final note on the ergonomics of baby carriers. The human body is not meant to carry weight on the shoulders near the neck, and doing so will cause sore muscles and pinched nerves. There is soft tissue at the base of your neck that extends down your shoulders. How far down your shoulders it extends varies for different people, but you should be able to feel where the soft and muscle part of your shoulder ends and the bones of your shoulder continue out to the shoulder cap. The Beco is ergonomically designed so that the straps should not sit on this part of your shoulder but rather further out on the bony part. Although since everyone’s body is different, you might find that you need to make minor adjustments to the length of the Beco should straps or the chest clip to make sure the straps stay off of this soft tissue on your shoulder.

I hope this has helped you get comfortable in your carrier!