This baby carrier that can be configured to carry a child in 6 different positions is the best one I've ever used
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- The LILLEbaby COMPLETE can be configured to carry a child in six different positions.
- Its soft and breathable materials assure comfort of the child and adult alike.
- The carrier's lumbar support panel prevents lower back pain and helps distribute child's weight across the torso.
- Multiple adjustment points assure your child is safely and securely supported.
My wife and I have a four-year-old son and a baby girl on the way. During my son's first few years here on earth, we tried out a handful of different baby carriers and were met with mixed results at best. The long fabric wrap was fine during the newborn months, but he quickly outgrew it and didn't seem to like having his arms and legs bound, either. One carrier was quite comfortable once secured onto an adult's body, but the process of attaching and adjusting the thing was complex and time-consuming. Another carrier was simple to strap on, but concentrated too much weight across the shoulders and not enough over the hips. And so on. We never did find the perfect baby carrier for our son; instead, he just eventually outgrew them, now being over 40 pounds and standing more than half my height.
When the next kid arrives, though, I think we'll be all set from the very start, at least in terms of baby-carrying hardware. Why? Because this time we'll be using a LILLEbaby COMPLETE six-position carrier.
Despite the fact that we still have a couple months before said child arrives, being the prepared type, we already have the carrier and I have already tested it out. That's partially due to the fact that, as a hiker/climber/camper, I'm predisposed to testing gear before I need to be counting on it in the field (or, in this case, at a museum, park, or grocery store), and partly because, as noted, so many other baby carriers came up short in myriad metrics.
Let's stick with the hiker/climber/camper angle for a second: Anyone who hike long distances on foot while carrying a pack will tell you that said pack's ability to evenly distribute maximum weight around your hips is of paramount importance. When you carry weight on your hips, you reduce strain on your lower back and shoulders and you keep a more natural center of gravity. The LILLEbaby COMPLETE carrier does every bit as good a job of spreading out baby weight as a fine hiking pack helps me carry a tent, rations, rain gear, and so forth. And as a bonus, on top of the wide hip belt there is also a large lumbar support pad that helps to further reduce strain put on the lower back by keeping the hip belt secure and increasing the area of contact between the carrier's straps and your body.
The LILLEbaby COMPLETE has wide, padded shoulder straps that are connected by an adjustable band; this design also helps concentrate the load on your core instead of on your shoulders. And of course, each shoulder strap is adjustable, so much so that they can even be worn crossed over one another in an X shape if the wearer prefers that arrangement. And speaking of arrangements, this six-position carrier allows you to carry your baby (or toddler) in half a dozen different ways.
You can tuck a newborn into the fetal position and carry her against your chest. You can carry an infant face in or face out. And you can strap a larger infant or a toddler to your chest, hip, or back. The carrier is rated safe for babies as small as seven pounds or for kids all the way up to 45 pounds. (Which means, in fact, that for at least another half a year or so, I can still carry my four year old son around in this thing!)
Now, all that stuff is great, the lumbar support and versatile shoulder straps and such, but what really counts here is the comfort and safety of the kid. Thankfully, that's no problem — multiple adjustment points and high-quality materials assure your little one a safe, secure, and comfortable ride at any age until they have finally outgrown the LILLEbaby COMPLETE.
The carrier features an easily adjusted neck support panel that keeps a newborn's head upright and protected. It is a hip-healthy carrier that keeps your baby's legs and hips in a safe, comfortable position as certified after an evaluation by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. A hood can help keep your baby warm and calm as needed, and can also be removed to let the child see the world. And as the carrier is fabricated primarily from a soft, breathable microcloth, it keeps both the child and parent cool and comfortable in warm weather.
A few other features parents will appreciate include a zippered pocket perfect for stashing a few select items, like keys and a phone. Also, the entire carrier is machine washable, so don't worry about those inevitable messes and mishaps that come with the territory of raising a young child.