We tend to go through phases of favourite carriers here. For ages I was hooked on my Jul et Bulle Mei Tai. But then Bug got big. At four months old he’s easily 22lbs. + I still sometimes use the Mei Tai to carry the even heavier Babe (30lbs) on my back but I find soft structured carriers more comfortable as kids pass the 20lb point.
So, the Ergo is what Papa started using once Bug outgrew the Mamakangaroo stretchy wrap, and I soon followed suit. Until my Boba arrived. The Boba 3G is, at the moment, my go-to carrier. Whether I’m taking Babe for a quick grocery run or Bug for a long stroll I reach for the Boba.
I bought Papa a black Ergo Sport for his birthday a few years ago and it’s got some mileage on it but we’ve been playing tug of war with the Boba since it arrived.
First off (okay, not the most important thing to look for in a carrier, but it bears mentioning–this carrier looks gorgeous). There are many different patterns out there, and receiving a sample in the mail I assumed I would get a boring bland colour, but nope, I got this absolutely gorgeous bird motif. It made my week.
Onto more practical points…
The Boba is super-adjustable. You can adjust in three different places. I’d argue it’s totally customizable. The “chest clip” slides easily for a perfect fit (thank you from nursing mothers everywhere). When front carrying, the two straps in the back are admittedly a little hard to reach, but they can be adjusted before putting baby in the carrier.
Because Papa and I have two very different body types and are always passing the kids and carrier back and forth, easy adjustment is crucial.
We often use the sleep hood which tucks away nicely in a zip pouch when not in use. (There are lots of pockets for storage in this thing.) The back comes up super high, offering lots of support for baby’s neck/head. The carrier also comes with stirrups. It’s a super cool feature that I haven’t yet gotten in the habit of using. I’ve been promised they help the child carry some of his own weight, so I should really get them snapped on!
I have no problem breastfeeding in this carrier. In fact, that’s pretty much the only way I put Bug to sleep these days.
I got the carrier when Bug was upwards of 20lbs. Although he’s still an infant, we didn’t need to use the feature which allows you to carry an infant without using a separate, expensive infant insert. Definitely a huge selling point.
The feature I just started to take advantage of is the two snap areas near the shoulders. They’re there to keep your purse in place, but I’m more of a backpack kinda mama so it’s not something I need. What I do use them for: securing an Aiden and Anais blanket to shield Bug from the sun or for hanging teething toys. Brilliant.
I love this carrier and recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a user-friendly unisex carrier that’s just as comfy for baby as it is for mom or dad.
In Canada, Boba products are distributed exclusively by Distribution Wallaby Inc. See the link for where to buy, by Province, including one of my favourite stores in Montreal, Melons & Clementines.