My son is 6mos and a BIG baby. Chances are, my days of wearing him are limited, yet, when I saw this, though skeptical, I had to buy it. And here’s why:
I’m a huge advocate for baby wearing and have been wearing my son since day 1... EVERYWHERE and to do just about everything. Literally. I’ve tried nearly every product out there from wraps (Moby, Boba), wrap shirts (NuRoo, baby Ktan), assorted ring slings (Nalakai + generics), and structured carriers (Tula, Evenflo, Ergobaby +). I’ve literally spent hundreds trying to find the perfect item. I prefer the looks and styles of wraps/slings. I love their gentle softness and natural feel but could never get the wraps tight enough to prevent slipping and found myself constantly adjusting baby, fidgeting with the tails, or repositioning the rings which were digging into me... plus, SO MUCH FABRIC! Too much. I also love and wanted the security and weight distribution of a structured carrier. I’ve found the most versatile ones, (long time carry ability and multiple positions), are always bulky, don’t fit well under sweaters/coats or just have too much going on. I’ve settled for two, (the Nalakai & Tula), which we literally live in and alternate constantly depending on need/temperature/and the speed at which I need to get him in and/or out. I adore them both for very different reasons and wish I could combine the two into one. I lug them around everywhere we go and honestly it’s a pain. Now, that my sons bigger he can kick or wriggle out of the Nalakai and the Tula, although it’s super versatile, just has too much bulk to wear around the house, under a sweater/coat, while working or taking walks. My husband doesn’t like any of the wearing options we have and we’re always taking about inventing the perfect combination; structured like a carrier, but with the lightweight, natural, minimalist feel of a wrap.... enter the Lalabu. Dreams literally answered, and thus, my need to have it, regardless of how much baby wearing time we have left.
First things first, no doubt this is luxurious. Super luxe actually. The fabric is supple and delicious. Feels amazing, has decent stretch and NO ODOR!!! Also, there’s not too much of it, which is nice. The tails don’t get caught on objects around the house, or in drawers and doors. It’s ultra lightweight and the wide shoulders feel simply lovely. It’s breathable hood hugs babes head to my chest ever so gently and is one of the things I love the most about it. Babe fell asleep about 8 minutes after tucking him in and slept soundly for 2 hours, during which I did not have to adjust or retighten straps, nor did I experience any sag or discomfort/pressure in my shoulders from the straps. Also, key point to note, my babe is a genuine hot box. He is always hot and sweaty, especially during naps and usually when I pull him out of a wrap/sling or carrier post nap, he, the item and I, are a sticky, wet, sweaty mess. This fabric is so breathable and lightweight, no one overheated and we all remained dry. Huge bonus points! Plus this fits comfortably under a coat/sweater. Another awesome feature for BF Mummas; if you let out the straps a bit your babe can slide down to breastfeed while you remain slightly covered. I BF openly without much care, but for a more modest Mum, you can fan out the shoulder strap just enough to provide some coverage. Not having to take your baby out of carrier to nurse is an absolute win.
I only have two dislikes, if you can even really call them that, and hence the reason, I gave the kerrier 4 stars rather than 5. I suppose too, they are really just personal and may not apply to others, but here they are.
1). I wish the weight limit was higher, 40lb or even 35lb. I understand I have a giant baby, but a lot of Mums have larger kids and we still want to wear them for the first two years of their life. 2). I don’t love the waist band as it’s not exactly comfortable or forgiving, for a girl my size. (Size 10). Additionally, I had a csection so although fully healed at 6mo’s pp, the waistband doesn’t have any padding, so whether sitting above my hips or below, it does dig into/irritate that sensitive area. Same for the hips and back area. Would like to see this have a reinforced or padded, possibly slightly wider waistband, so it’s not digging into hips, back or belly. I will likely make some kind of padding to slide over the waist straps so it isn’t cutting into me so much. I suppose, we’re I svelte like the woman who created this and did not have a csection, it wouldn’t even be an issue. My husband, (who is very svelte), absolutely loves this thing. Loves it.
Overall, it’s an outstanding purchase and I’m SUPER pleased. It really absolutely has the best of both worlds. I highly recommend purchasing one for any minimalist, earthy Mum that believes baby wearing is Life. ♥️
