Should I Buy the Infantino Flip Baby Carrier?
I have been using the Infantino Flip carrier for just over a month now with my two-month-old son, and I love it! It is sturdy, it fits well, is super-easy to get on and off, and supports my baby beautifully (which is no mean feat, given that he is a whopper - 9lb 5oz at birth and now over 15lb already!)
In order to explain the significance of me loving this carrier, let me begin back when I had my first baby (now almost four). I had always dreamed of having a proper old-fashioned Silver Cross pram rather than the new modern designs, and because they are so expensive we got a lovely one second-hand from eBay. We loved using it, but of course, being large, there were those times when it was impractical to use, such as going around the shops. Plus I had read about the benefits of baby wearing and being a natural eco mama, wanted to give it a go. I tried a sling first, which I didn't get on with at all, and then I tried a carrier instead. I can't remember which brand I chose, but I didn't get on with that either. It was too complicated to put on, didn't feel like it was supporting my baby, and it made my back ache.
Not so with this carrier. As any parent will know, kids sap a small fortune out of you, so I wasn't looking for an expensive brand. Nor did I want the cheapest, either, as I figured the support and quality would not be up to scratch. So I opted for a medium-priced 3-in-1 carrier (for front carrying, facing in and out, and back carrying), which was affordable but well-rated. I chose this one, and I am so glad that I did. As I briefly summarised above, it is sturdy and supportive - my son is both weighty and long, but the carrier forms a seat that supports him, is not too tight despite his size, and the head rest still supports his head even though he is long for a baby of his age.
It is incredibly easy to put on, and to adjust, which is great because my partner likes to wear it too, and he is a lot taller and broader than I am, so the straps need adjusting whenever we swap. The great thing is that you can do it all yourself without assistance - both doing up all the straps, and adjusting them as well. It is also easy to put baby in yourself (for the front carrying - once you change to backpack mode you will of course need a second person to help get baby in and out). I keep one side of the carrier buckled up, and the other unbuckled. The carrier goes on, and you just lift baby up and put him into the seat of the carrier, carefully maneuvering his leg through the hole on one side, then clip up the straps on the other side.
So far I have only used it for front carrying, facing inwards, as my son is only small and doesn't have full head control yet. The carrier will then transform to front carrying, facing out, for when baby has head control - however, I personally will be skipping this stage as I have read so much about this carrying position causing hip displacement. As with prams, I prefer to have baby facing me. The third and final stage, when baby is too large to front carry, is the backpack position.
While I could live without a carrier with my daughter, this time around with a second child, it has been essential. It was all too easy to hibernate indoors and not do much with the first, but with the second, no such luck! There are places to take my daughter and meals to be made, and this carrier makes life so much easier, allowing me to take my son out to places more easily (and keeping him calm and sleeping), and also allowing me to be hands-free around the house when he is awake and wants to be carried. It has also been an absolute godsend because my son has silent reflux and needs to be kept upright to prevent the acid from coming up all the time - this carrier keeps him in an ideal position and because he sleeps best when lying on our chests, this allows us to carry him around during a long daytime sleep without having to be confined to a chair for hours!
So yes, I would highly recommend buying this baby carrier, and I hope you get as much enjoyment out of it as I am getting - read on for some of the adventures it has allowed us!
Photo Gallery
Why Baby Carrying is Essential for this Mama, Preschooler and Baba!
I home educate my preschool-aged daughter (and will do so for my son), and we have started going to several local HE groups so that we can mix with other home educating parents and children, and enjoy the various activities they offer. We also get out in nature a lot, and love to take walks up to the local pond or through the woods that are right by our house. Although the Silver Cross pram is wonderful off-road as well as on flat ground, it is not always practical to drag out a huge pram or push it through muddy, sodden paths and nature trails. So the Infantino has been invaluable in helping us keep our outdoor routine!
The carrier itself acts like magic - every time I take my son out in it, he falls asleep almost instantly, and it nestles him nicely against me. My one and only criticism is that the clasps on the upper straps are positioned right by his face, so if he leans to one side they press into him and would cause an imprint, but this might just be because I have a big bubba! And is easily rectified by placing a little piece of foam or material wedge over the clasp (or simply repositioning his head if I forget to take it). When he is awake in it, he is quite happy and is easy to rock and soothe in it.
So far, to name just a few instances of using it, we have:
* Gone on adventures in the woods and nature, the carrier allowing my daughter and I to trek uphill and down stream, unhindered
* Been to several groups, the carrier allowing me to have hands free to help my daughter with the activities - from crafting to practicing circus skills on cup stilts and roller wheels!
* Got lots more done at home than we would otherwise have been able to do, from craft projects to creative play, as the carrier allows me to be hands free (plus I get to do more housework too - although whether that is a good or bad thing is debatable!!)
* Had more spare time, as my other half sometimes wears our sleeping son in the carrier while he works on the computer or does paperwork for his business, allowing me to take a nap, catch up on "me" time or spend important one-on-one time with our little girl!
Even if I don't use the carrier for stages 2 and 3, it wouldn't matter, because the front facing wear I have gotten out of it (and will continue to get out of it until my son is too big) is more than worth the price of the carrier. So if you fancy baby wearing, and want something practical to carry your baby around in, then this is definitely worth purchasing!
Photo Credit: Me and "Bean" about to head out for a stroll in the woods with the Infantino Flip - photograph taken by my little girl!
Background photo: Image of the woods, taken by me
