Beco Butterfly
Right before we went on vacation (more about that in a bit) I took the plunge on a fairly new baby carrier: The Beco Butterfly. It’s sort of like the regular beco baby carriers, but it has a nice insert where Munchkin sits so that it makes it a LOT easier to get her up and down safely! I have tried a variety of other carriers, but I lack the dexterity in my upper body to do back carriers with other soft structure carriers (ergo, traditional becos, etc.), mei tais, and wraps. I tried so hard to make them work, but to no avail. So I decided to take the plunge and buy a Butterfly. Munchkin and I have not been disappointed. Following is an edited review I wrote for the babywearing forum on Diaper Swappers.
Where I bought: I went to a local B&M (brick and mortar which is cyber speak for a real life store front instead of online) because I wanted to touch and feel. (There are now quite a few on the FSOT board at Diaper Swappers for a very good price, but you do not have the warranty you have if you spend $20 more and buy from a retailer.)
The Print I chose and why: The store I went to had six prints to choose from. (You can see them on the beco site.)
Isabella — I almost bought this one because it was feminine enough for my little girl, but not so feminine that I couldn’t see myself wearing it if the little Bean is a boy. I decided against it because it was basically an all-black carrier which seemed like it would get dirty/faded more quickly. I have nothing to base this on as I have not actually used it, but this was my impression standing in the store looking at it.
Carnival — This is the print I bought. It was definitely on the edge of girly, but I see a lot of Mamas who have boys wearing it so I figured it would be okay. It has brown straps which seemed like it would hide dirt at least a little better.
Chloe: Definitely a girly carrier but a bit boring compared to the other choices.
Ethan: Good GN color, but I thought the print was boring. Maybe that particular carrier was the exception, but there was only one bug!
Morgan: Cute colors and would hide more dirt than Isabella but we don’t do skulls and cross-bones here.
Sophia: Another girly carrier. I think I like it better than chloe becauase it has a bit more interesting of a print.
Safety and Ease of Use
Learning:I totally recommend watching these youtube videos that one of the Mamas on DS did. They are sooo much better than the DVD and “instruction manual” that came with the carrier! They are what sold me on this carrier! You can search Beco Butterfly on youtube and you’ll find them. They were so helpful to me in choosing and learning the butterfly. I was able to get Munchkin up on my back with no trouble on the first try which is quite the contrary to the other carriers I’ve tried. It has only gotten easier the more I use it and I do use it all the time!
Buckles:I frankly love the retrofitted buckles (was never wild about the safety loop idea) and it’s easy to use. It is also set up so Munchkin can’t undo them without my consent.
Fit and Comfort
I am 5′ 1″ and almost 4 months pregnant. Munchkin is 17 months, about 21-22 pounds and 33ish inches long. We are both comfortable. This is totally a petite mama’s carrier. (I have never seen it on regular or fluffy size mamas’ so I can only speak for petite.) Like I said, i’ve tried an ergo NG (straps were huge and body was waay too short for DD) and a DIY MT. The MT was one I’d made myself so it fit well, but the straps were a pain to deal with.
Speaking of straps that reminds me, one of the biggest reasons I went with the butterfly is I have a fused spine and a rod on it to correct scoliosis. I don’t have the flexibility to load on my back without help and active spotting with the conventional carriers (wraps, SSCs, etc.). I never used them in public because I could not be guarenteed of my flexibility and ability to safely handle my DD. (I am one of those people that gives “helpers” reason to always try to help.) The Butterfly allows me to safely load DD on my back without worrying about dropping her or hurting my back.
I have worn this carrier in a variety of situations for as long as an hour at a time. I can feel that there is weight on my back and given my history it’s a bit uncomfortable, but nothing like the other things i’ve tried. Munchkin loves to be up there and she peeks at the world from her little cocoonish throne. When she’s up there, she looks around, puts her hands in and out, sucks her thumb, etc. etc.
Price: This carrier is definitely on the pricier side ($150ish new or about $100-120 used) but it’s been totally worth it for Munchkin and me. It will also work well for the new baby because it fits infants well too! If you’re not sure it’s the carrier for you, I’d recommend trying to see it in real life first because most mail order places charge a re-stocking fee if you return it, hence the barely used ones on Diaper Swappers.