I was provided a free product to facilitate this feature. All opinions are 100% my own.
I am a babywearing fanatic. I love everything about it, and now that winter is finally on the way out it is time to break out my baby carriers! With both a toddler and infant in tow I pretty much have to wear one whenever we go out, but even when Judah was my only child I loved it. I have tried many different carriers before, and while I truly love parts of each, I still hadn’t found that one perfect carrier that did it all until I tried on the Beco Gemini. I was completely in love from the first time I strapped it on and now it’s my go-to every single time. It offers four different carrying positions and is one of the only soft structured carriers of its kind that lets baby face outward! This carrier is made from 100% organic cotton with a 100% cotton front printed panel.
Comfort
One of the most important things that people look for in a carrier is comfort. Am I comfortable? Is baby comfortable? There’s nothing worse than putting on a carrier and having shoulder or back pain after ten minutes. If that is the case, you need to invest in a new one! The Beco Gemini feels amazing, the craftsmanship is fantastic and the padding is generous. It is structured so that the weight of the baby is distributed evenly on your hips rather than your shoulders (unlike some slings and other soft structured carriers). The wide base for baby to sit in keeps their legs wrapped around your body, knees even with their hips and allows for proper ergonomic positioning.
Besides the generous padding and hip support, it also offers a shoulder support strap/clip and a heavy duty hip clip for safety.
Versatility
The Beco Gemini fits babies from 7-35 pounds. Because it offers a generous strap and belt length even my husband likes to use it. (If he can pry it away from me!) There are four different carry options available, here they are.
Front Facing Out
This position is for babies ages 3 months and up who can hold their own head upright. It’s great for letting your baby see what is going on and I’m pretty sure it is Kaia’s favorite as well. When I wear her like this she usually spends the time kicking and cooing in excitement! When using this position, undo the base snaps and fold them inward so that they can sit comfortably. There is some debate on forward facing carriers, and the reason is that if the base is too narrow the baby basically hangs from their crotch – thus putting unnecessary strain on their hips and spine. (The “crotch dangle” is not ideal.) You can see from the photo above that the base on the Gemini is still wide enough to minimize hip strain if you choose this position.
Front Facing In
This position is great for the newborn stage all the way up to toddlerhood. Unsnap the buttons and use the narrow base for babies from 7-15 pounds, then snap them back to use the wide base for 15 pounds and up. This is my husband’s favorite way to use the carrier (even though he’s less than thrilled at being my model!).
Back Carry
Ideal for babies ages six months and over, this position is my favorite for going on hikes or anything that requires me to use it for longer periods of time. I tested this out for a month before I started writing this, and just about every time I did the back carry Kaia was out cold in ten minutes! Judah loves this one the most because he isn’t a fan of snuggling loves he loves piggyback riding.
You can pull the headrest up if your kiddo needs a little more support or if they want to nap, just undo the snaps and insert the straps into the buckles on the shoulder pads.
Hip Carry
Best for babies 4 months and older with full neck control, this is (in my opinion) a great position for breastfeeding. Getting into it is a little more complicated than the others so it isn’t my favorite, but it still works. This is also a great alternative for toddlers to the back carry.
With all of those options it is hard not to love this carrier, I know I sure do! The Beco Gemini comes in eight beautiful patterns and two solid colors. I chose the Austin pattern because I love how elegant and simple it is, not to mention cool! The colors on the website are spot on, so you don’t have to worry that you’ll get the wrong color.
To clean your Gemini just pop it in the wash on a gentle cycle and air dry. You can also spot clean as needed.
When choosing a baby carrier you want quality, durability and longevity and that is what Beco offers. I usually like to be very thrifty, I often buy non brand name products and shop second hand, but a baby carrier is one of those things that is worth buying new and buying the best. (Trust me, your shoulders and hips will thank you later.) I cannot say enough great things about Beco, they really set the standard for structured carriers! Even though the Gemini has a $130 price tag I truly believe it is worth every penny!
Want one of your own? Head to their website to see their entire line of carriers. You can also keep up with them (and any promotions) over on Facebook.
I was provided a free product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own, not influenced in any way and may differ from yours.
