Gemini Beco Baby carrier review and #GIVEAWAY {US and Canada}

The moment you've all been waiting for. I know you all have been stalking my site waiting to read my review of the Gemini Beco Baby Carrier! Well, it's time! I was head over heels when Beco agreed to sponsor not only a review of their Gemini carrier, but also a giveaway to one of you! But wait, let's not get ahead of ourselves yet.

First, let me tell you why you are going to NEED one of these awesome baby carriers!
Here is some information on the Gemini taken from Beco Baby Carrier's website:
"Each baby carrier comes with:
•Foldable head rest
•Adjustable base for growing baby
•Instructional booklet
Shell: 100% organic cotton
Fill: 100% polyester
Packaging: 100% recycled content, printed with soy based inks
PRODUCT FEATURES
•4 in 1 baby carrier
•newborn to toddler (7-35 lbs/3.5 - 16 kg)
•Front carry (facing in and facing out), back carry, and hip carry
•Great for nursing
•Direct contact intuitive baby carrier
•high quality tested materials
•machine washable
•Instruction manual included
•Made in USA

PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS
•body 13" wide x 18.5" tall with head rest up, 14" tall with headrest folded
•shoulder straps 23" (can be adjusted up to 22" LONGER for a total of 45")
•waist belt 28"(size 0) can be adjusted up to 57"
•weight capacity of the carrier: 7-35 lbs (3.5-16kg)
•weight of the carrier: 1.5 lbs"

Here are some awesome pictures that detail the features of the Beco Gemini:

I was sent the Cars Espresso print Gemini carrier!

This is what I received:

Here are some pictures of the carrier as I took it out of the box!

It is pretty compact and is very lightweight (weighs only 1.5 lbs) which makes it so easy to stuff in your diaper bag to take along to the zoo, or the beach, or the mountains, or whatever adventure you are taking your littles on!

The back of the carrier:

The inside of the carrier (I so love the cars print, it is perfect for boys)!

Let me go ahead and point out some of my favorite features of the Gemini!
First and foremost I LOVE the fact that this carrier is designed for a baby from 7-35 lbs no extra insert or other accessory needed! As many of you know, I own an Ergo baby carrier. You can read my review of the Ergo here! While I love my Ergo, I don't love the idea of having to purchase an infant insert (for $38.00) to be able to use the carrier with a newborn baby! The Beco Gemini is ready to carry your infant 7 lbs + right from the start! I LOVE that!
I also love that the clasp that secures the carrier around your waist is a sort of safety clasp. You just can't pinch it and it comes off, but you have to also press the button down in the middle while pinching the clasp in order to open it! As seen here:

This may sound like a difficult task to do when you have your hands full and are just wanting to open the clasp, but I assure you it is not hard at all to open and I love the additional safety feature. I am all about products that have the safety of my babies integrated into the construction of their products!
I also love that you can carry your baby 4 different ways with this carrier!
1. Front carry, baby facing in (from 7-15 lbs). 2. Front carry, baby facing out (can be used when baby is able to hold his/her head upright *around 3-4 months)! 3. Hip carry position (can be used when baby has full control of head and neck *around 4+ months)! 4. Back carry position (for babies with complete head/neck control *6+ months)!
Please remember that all babies grow and develop at different rates and these carrying positions are just general guidelines. Please take your individual child's developmental stage, age and weight into consideration when determining which carrying position will best suit him/her!

I love the back carry because my boy is 2 years old, and 27 lbs and loves to be held and yet, see everything going on around him!
There is an awesome YouTube video that you can watch here that shows you how to use the Beco Gemini! It is very informative and a must see for every Beco Gemini owner!
I also really love that this carrier is MADE IN THE USA (supporting American workers and companies is always a plus in my book)! I also love that my Gemini shell is made from 100% Organic cotton. The fill is 100% polyester! Awesome! I am that mom that avoids all clothing and materials that are 'fire resistent' due to the fact that most those items have been prepped in some sort of toxic chemical that will resist and retard fire, but may cause cancer???!!! Ok, that is a completely different blog post!
Another really great feature about the Gemini is that it is totally adjustable to fit you and whichever one of the four carrying positions you would like to use.
For instance, if you are wanting to use the front carry (baby facing in, towards you) with a newborn or smaller baby (7-15 lbs) you would use the narrow base configuration. What is the narrow base configuration you ask? Well, there is a place at the base of the carrier where you can snap back the fabric to make the base of the carrier narrow.
This is a picture of the base of the carrier (in the wide base position):

This is a picture of the base of the Beco in the narrow position:

Another really awesome feature of the Gemini is that you can adjust the head rest position in order to fit the carry configuration you are using.

This is a picture of the head rest extended:

Here is a picture of the head rest snapped down:

Here is an image (taken from Beco's website) that better shows you the front carry (baby facing in) position utilizing the head rest snapped down:

I used this carrier on my 2 yo son in the back carry position! He LOVE it!

In fact when I put him in the Beco he kept on saying "piggy back ride, piggy back ride" that really tickled me!

 This baby carrier is sooooo comfortable for both mama and baby!

 View from the front:

I must say that this is one of the most comfortable baby carriers I have tried. There is no strain or pressure on your back or anywhere else for that matter! It is super easy to use and is so light-weight you can virtually take it with you any where you go!
This is a VERY versatile carrier! Like I mentioned before it can be used in 4 different carry positions!
I really love the Beco Gemini!
It comes in some really awesome prints too:

Are you drooling yet? You should be! This is by far one of the best carriers I've ever tried!
You can purchase a Beco Gemini baby carrier directly from Beco for $135.00!!
Or.... you can enter to win one here!
Beco has generously offered one of you the chance to win your very own Beco Gemini Baby Carrier in winner's choice of print (subject to what is in stock)!
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only!
To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter form below!
You may need to click on 'read more' to see the entry form!

Good Luck and have fun!
~Mama of the Littles~

Disclosure: I received the item(s) mentioned above in exchange for my honest review! My opinions are my own and may differ from yours!

"Birthday Blessings Bash" $25 GC #GIVEAWAY {Cherished Style} Baby carriers, nursing covers, household essentials!

Today's giveaway comes to you via my friend Tara over at Crunchier By The Day!
Tara has been one of my blog followers, and bloggy friends for quite some time! She recently began her own blog "Crunchier By The Day."
Tara owns a Mei Tai style carrier that was made by Cherished Style! She loves it! This is Tara, her baby girl "fuss" and the carrier made by Cherished Style:

What a cute carrier, and even cuter little girl! <3
As a sponsor of the "Birthday Blessings Bash" event, Tara, from Crunchier By The Day has graciously offered one LWML follower a $25 GC to be used towards anything at Cherished Style!

This giveaway is open to US residents only!

To enter, simply use the rafflecopter form below, you may have to click on "read more" to see the rafflecopter entry form!

Good Luck and have fun!
~Mama of the Littles~

Baby Carrier {Ergo} Sucking Pads review and Etsy #GIVEAWAY!!

I've been browsing Etsy for some time now. I simply love that you can find such intricate and unusual items on Etsy that are home made by stay at home moms (SAHM)! One day awhile back I came across RedCharlotte! The shop caught my eye because she had listed a pair of 'sucking pads' for baby carriers. You see, ever since I started wearing my second baby in my Ergo Carrier, he has been chewing and sucking on the straps! Great for him, to relieve his teething, but not so great for my poor Ergo!! So what the sucking pads do, is protect your baby carrier from the infamous teething baby! They simply wrap around your baby carrier straps and your carrier is protected. Not only do they work to protect your carrier's straps, but they also (upon request) can come with cute taggies attached on each end for baby to play with (as seen below). Charlotte graciously sent me a pair of organic sucking pads for review... this is what I received:

I really love these sucking pads. First of all, they are so stinkin' cute. You can view the current fabric selections for sucking pads on RedCharlottes Etsy page.
Here is a bit more information about the sucking pads:
Red Charlotte Sucking Pads (as described by Charlotte herself)
- My taggie sucking pads are my original design.
- I started making them because I couldn’t find any cute, functional options on the market.
- I’m a work-from-home-mom to a 12 month old girl who LOVES her own pair of sucking pads.
- Each pad includes three layers of fabric; the top layer is designer fabric, with two additional layers of super absorbent, white flannel.
- A wide range of designer fabric selections, including organic options, available in the shop.
- The pads are reversible! (Designer fabric on one side, white flannel on the other.)
- You can buy them with taggies on one side or both sides. My daughter occupies herself for hours playing with the top taggies now that she can reach them.
- They fit all the major baby carriers including the Ergo, the Mei Tai, the BabyHawk, the Beco, the Boba, the Kinderpack, the Bamberoo, the Baby Bjorn, the Pikkolo, and the Patapum.
- I have a YouTube video that also explains how awesome they are.

Here are the sucking pads on my beloved Ergo carrier:

This is my 19 month old in the Ergo. I usually wear him on my back, but this was a quick photo shoot.... just for the purpose of this review! *as you can see, he does not mind being worn on my front :)

RedCharlotte not only makes sucking pads for baby carriers (Ergo, Mei Tai, Beco, Boba, BabyHawk and More - Songbird) but she also makes and sells burp cloths, bibs, taggie blankets, and Baby Carrier Stuff Sacks!

What is a baby carrier stuff sack you ask? I am glad you did. Here is a brief description of the stuff sack: (as described by Charlotte herself)
Red Charlotte Stuff Sacks
- My baby carrier Stuff Sacks are my original design.
- I was inspired to make them when I couldn’t find a neat way to store my Ergo on our sailboat.
- The Stuff Sack fits all the major baby carriers including the Ergo, the Mei Tai, the BabyHawk, the Beco, the Boba, the Kinderpack, the Baby Bjorn, the Pikkolo, and the Patapum.
- It’s also a great way to store slings and wraps that are long and cumbersome.
- You can use the Stuff Sack as a bolster for babies who are learning how to sit or as a pillow when your little one needs a place to lay their head at the park or the beach.
- My Stuff Sacks are made with designer fabric and come with a coordinating carry-handle on the bottom, a high-quality barrel clasp, and heavy duty shock cord to handle frequent, daily use.
- I have a YouTube video that also explains how awesome they are.

To see which stuff sacks are currently available, please click here
Pricing:
Baby Carrier Stuff Sacks: $32.95
Sucking Pads (single-side taggies): $19.95
Sucking Pads (double-side taggies) $22.95
ORGANIC Sucking Pads (single-side taggies): $24.95
ORGANIC Sucking Pads (double-side taggies) $26.95

Win it! RedCharlotte has generously offered one LWML follower the chance to win their choice of a pair of sucking pads (maximum value $22.95) or a stuff sack (maximum value $32.95)!
This giveaway is open world-wide!

To enter, simply use the rafflecopter form below, you may have to click on "read more" to see the rafflecopter entry form!

Good Luck and have fun!
~Mama of the Littles~

Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above in exchange for this review, thanks to RedCharlotte! No monetary compensation was received by me. This is my completely honest opinion above and may differ from yours.