Customer Reviews

Beco Butterfly II Baby Carrier - Paige

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Let me start this off by saying that I have tried just about every carrier out there. Snugli, Hotsling, Hip Hammock, mai-tais and various other slings and carriers. By the time my son was 1 and I still hadn't found one I liked I had almost given up on baby wearing. I'm a larger girl with a big bust and bad back. Nothing was comfortable for me. I borrowed a friends Ergo and for me it was still uncomfortable. I also didn't like that I had to use the waist extender. But as far as carriers go it worked out the best for me. Until I did some online searching. I found the butterfly and read about it. There were so many great features. One of my favorite is that I could take my son off of me and transfer him to my partner without taking him out. I also felt MUCH safer putting him on my back with the Beco instead of the Ergo. But that's just me. The biggest selling point for me was that it came with everything whereas with the Ergo you had to buy the extras.

Now I have a 6 week old and haven't used any carrier but this one. I love it so much!

Or, Where Were These 31 Years Ago...

After looking at the pro's and con's of the numerous baby carriers out there, I decided on purchasing a Beco Butterfly II for my daughter's first baby. I will admit there was an ulterior motive - my upper body strength isn't that great and I was going to help out with the newborn. I wanted to be able to carry the baby but wanted to have my arms and hands free since I like to multitask. We chose the Beco Butterfly II for many reasons.

The Beco was highly recommended by a number of maternity shops; these shops carried several brands, so it wasn't just to make the sale of a Beco. The similarity to a good backpack was egnomically important since two of the grandparents have back problems; the Beco distributed weight evenly and provided lower back support. The adjustability of the carrier was paramount since there are six users who range from 5'1" in height to 5' 10" and whose weights range from 110 to over 200 pounds. All of the four grandparents and both parents have been able to use the Beco with no problems. Further, the Beco is comfortable even when you are toting a 10 pound two week old baby for extended periods of time. I have worn the Beco when sitting and have had no problems typing while wearing it.

My grandson was having some trouble with spitting up after he ate. The doctor suggested keeping him upright for 30 minutes after feeding. We found this was very useful for that purpose; as an additional benefit, we found my grandson remained much more calm when carried in the Beco.

I would definitely recommend watching the DVD before using the Beco. It answered the questions we had about using the Beco which we did not feel were clearly addressed in the pamphlet that came with the carrier. Yes, this item is a bit pricey, but it is right in line with the better baby carriers out there.

If you do not like the patterns shown on Amazon, check the Beco web site. They show all the current options and provide information as to where specific patterns can be purchased.

If you're in the market for a baby carrier, please heed my advice: GET THIS ONE. You'll never regret it.

I've extensively used the bjorn and ergo while nannying, and I bought the Lillebaby when we had our own last September - used it for 8 months. I then tried my friend's Beco. Within a week I had sold my Lillebaby - and took a big hit. The Beco is worlds above those other carriers, and I can tell you exactly why:

The Ergo and the Lillebaby are basically the same setup. With both of them you have to snap the top snap behind your neck while the baby is already IN the carrier. This basically means that the top snap will always be too high on your shoulders and neck to be comfortable. Don't be fooled by the salespeople who adjust it for you and tell you you'll learn to adjust it yourself. It's not possible to get that top back snap any lower on your back with the baby in the carrier, unless your spouse is home to move it down after you have it on with the baby. I went BACK into the high-end store that sold it to me and they admitted as much.

The Beco avoids that problem entirely because you actually snap the top snap behind your neck BEFORE the baby is in the carrier. This means that you can lift the entire carrier as high over your shoulders as you need to, to snap that top back snap. Then you can pull the carrier back down around your waist, and the top snap falls in the middle of your back - an area completely unreachable with the baby in the carrier, but SO much more comfortable than having the weight on your upper back and neck. You THEN put the baby into the carrier. It's such a breeze. It's also much, MUCH easier to learn to use than the Lillebaby, which is simply not user-friendly at all. The Beco actually comes put together in the box, including the infant insert, so you don't even need to look at the directions to see how it works - it's obvious. With the Lillebaby I was on the web watching how-to videos - nobody has time for that with a new baby.

As to the bjorn, it's just not a good carrier, period. It's nice for newborns because it's very simple to use, but as soon as your baby gains a pound or two your shoulders and neck will be hurting. I was beyond relieved when the mother I nannyed for got an ergo. And the Beco is a MAJOR improvement over that.

Don't waist your money! I ignored the advice of two mom-friends, both of whom already had more than one baby - I thought the Lillebaby Sport was really cute and figured I was more familiar with the Ergo/Lillebaby setup so I'd stick with what I knew. Big mistake. Get the Beco.

ALSO - I'm 5'3", and I've never had a problem height-wise. And my baby is currently 22 lbs, a big 8-monther. And I LOVE the Beco. I can carry him however long I need to and barely feel it.

I have been an Amazon user for years, and after hundreds of purchases this is the first product that I felt compelled to write a review for. I am the mother of a 4 week old, and the Beco Butterfly II is a lifesaver!

I looked at every type of available carrier before deciding that I wanted a soft structured carrier. I chose a soft structured carrier because it seemed to be a good fit for someone new to baby wearing. Slings need to be tied and configured, and as a first time mom I was afraid that I would never be able to use a sling with confidence. Soft structured carriers are much more ergonomically correct for both baby and wearer than the popular brand backpack style carriers that are sold in most stores.

After looking at the various types of soft structured carriers available, I decided that I wanted a carrier with buckles instead of ties. I knew my husband would not use a carrier that had to be tied, and the learning curve for buckles seemed to be easier all the way around. It had to be easy to adjust so that any caregiver could use it to wear the baby. Since carriers are expensive, I also wanted to make a choice that could be used for a long time, from infancy all the way through the toddler years. After comparing all of the soft structured carriers on the market, the Beco seemed to be the carrier that would meet my needs.

The Beco comes with the infant insert, unlike other carriers. I am wearing a sleeping 4 week old baby as I type this review, so I can say with certainty that the infant insert works very well. My daughter loves the carrier. Since she is still a newborn she often falls asleep in the carrier, and she will stay asleep as I go about daily household chores. When she is awake in the carrier she is very quiet and content. She loves to look around and observe as I go about my chores. She does most of her daytime napping in the Beco, which allows me to get so much more done. Rather than trying to rock her to sleep then lay her down, my regular movements rock her to sleep while my hands are free to wash dishes or eat a meal. I can sit and type comfortably while wearing the carrier as well. Any household chore that does not require a large amount of bending at the waist can be easily accomplished wearing the Beco.

My research really paid off. I was hoping that the Beco would be a carrier that was both easy to use and useful. It has exceeded my expectations in both of these areas. The very first time I put on the Beco my husband helped me secure the buckles and adjust the straps. After seeing exactly how it was supposed to work, I was able to put it on by myself the very next time I tried, . My husband has even worn it a couple of times, despite initially being nervous about baby wearing. He is still learning how to adjust everything without help, but once he has the carrier on he is confident that our daughter is comfortable and secure. We love this carrier and I would buy another one in an instant if something ever happened to mine!

I am a baby wearer though and through! I have 4 daughters, 9yrs. through 6 months and have used many carriers for all of them. The Bjorn, Sprout Pouch, Peanut Shell, Zolo Wear, Sling-Lings, and up until this one, may fave, the Baby Hawk... I think the Baby Hawk has been dethroned to a second place in my pole, (But I still LOVE my Baby Hawk and use it almost as much as the Beco)... I LOVE my beco-baby carrier! it is the BEST carrier I've EVER used for back-carrying, I love it so much!!! It looks cool, feels good, is secure, and well, I just love it! I HIGHLY reccomend this product to any mom or mom-to-be!!!

I bought the Beco a little over a week ago. I've pretty much used it everyday since! I love it and so does my 7.5-month-old. He's a wee one, about 14 lbs, but long. He's always loved being worn. We have an Ergo and love it too. Before I bought the Beco I researched several of the SSC's and here is how I compare the Beco to the Ergo-

The Beco is made out of a less stiff fabric than the Ergo. It has a removable hood, whereas the Ergo does not. The biggest difference is the inside flap on the Beco that allows you to put the baby in before putting the carrier on. It's a particularly great feature for back-carrying so that you don't have to lean over with a wiggly little person on you back. The Beco is also a little more narrow than the Ergo, making it a better fit for a smaller person like me (5'1"), than the Ergo which has become my husband's carrier (he's 6'2"). The Beco also comes with an infant insert that is basically another removable flap that fits inside the carrier, as opposed to having to buy an extra insert for the Ergo.

The thing I like least about the Beco (vs. the Ergo) is that I can nurse discretely, without a problem in the Ergo, but it's much more difficult in the Beco. The hood that snaps onto the front and fits over the baby's head is pretty narrow as compared to the one on the Ergo and provides no real cover for nursing. The greater issue is the inside flap- though awesome for putting babies on our back, it fits tight against your chest and is virtually impossible to move so as to allow you to nurse.

Overall, though, I really love my Beco!

I really am enjoying this carrier. I have 4 kids and have used a variety of carriers. I had my 2 month old in a Hotsling (LOVE it!!) for a few months but my shoulder started to get sore so I went looking for something better. I loved that this was designed to be ergonomically sound and that it is pretty. We never used the infant insert because my baby was to big but, it's nice that it comes with it. I got the Ryan print which I love, it's masculine enough for hubbie and pretty enough for me. When wearing my son in it, I swear it feels like a gentle hug! He nuzzles right up under my chin and I truely don't feel the weight of him on me. He feels so cozy! It did take him a few times to adjust from the sling to this but he loves it now! I'm just starting to try him out on my back (he's 3.5 months now). It's easy enough to get him there but we still use the front carry more due to age. I tried the back carry a few times with my 2 year old niece and she loved it! I could go on and on! It's easy to adjust. Easy to use. Pretty. And built to last! Highly recommend!!

My husband and I have been using our Beco since our 16 month old was born. Here's the breakdown between the Beco and Ergo

Beco Pros:

-Can accommodate a newborn without purchasing a separate insert. However, I found it awkward to carry a newborn in the Beco and opted for another carrier (Moby or a sling), anyway.

-With your child in the carrier, you can transfer him/her from one parent to another or from front to back carry.

-Head cover snaps off

Beco Cons:

-No pocket (Ergo has a zippered front pocket)

-More complicated. There are simply more straps to deal with on the Beco. But the more complicated design allows you to transfer the child while s/he's still in the carrier.

-No hip carry option

Another difference is that the beco has a higher back; might be better for taller children.

i ordered this carrier in the Ginger print and I am in love with it. I ordered the Baby Bjorn for my newborn against all of the reviews about it hurting people's backs- and what do you know- even though my little one was only around 9lbs- my back was killing me after a short time! I agonized between this and the Ergo and after researching baby wearing sites, you tube, and reading endless amounts of reviews- I chose the Beco since it is better for little ones, has the newborn insert in it already, and has the butterfly harness in it to make sliding a baby onto a back carry easier and safer. I am going to use this as long as my baby and I are comfortable with it, and then buy the Ergo when she is bigger- if need be (or the Gemini- decisions, decisions!!!). I wore my baby in the store for the first time today- and after practicing and setting up the insert on my couch before leaving the house, it was so simple to put on. Not like the Moby- which I also have and seldom use for the tediousness of putting it on. Putting on the beco was so simple that I was able to take her out of her carseat- she was sleeping- and put her in the carrier in the back seat of the car- mind you I drinve a VW Passat- not a large backseat- especially with a carseat in the middle! I was able to get her strapped in, then I picked her up, took a seat, and put her on in a front carry! She did wake up, but instantly fell back asleep once she was fully strapped in and on. the whole process took all of 5 minutes and it was my second time putting her in it- the first in the car. If that isn't a huge selling point, I don't know what is! For me it is a life saver since I hate lugging her carseat into stores and putting her in the grocery cart and then pushing her out in the cart across a parking lot so bumpy, it seems like it would jostle her teeth out of her head- if she had teeth! I usually use my travel system in the store- which is not ideal for a large shopping trip, so it would make outtings shopping for large or multiple items impossible. Now I have a carrier that I love, the baby loves, and is easy to put on- so shopping trips are much easier. I highly recommend this carrier!!! If you are in doubt- google Beco butterfly 2 vs Ergo and watch a very helpful youtube video from selfmademom- I think that is her name- it is very informative!

I bought a Beco Butterfly 2 after my son outgrew the Bjorn.

First off, I just have to say that the Bjorn killed my back and shoulders. From what I've researched, it's also terrible for baby's spine and joints.

The Beco, however, is so much better for the wearer and baby. For wearer, it places weight on your hips, rather than your back and shoulders. For baby, it supports the baby in a natural sitting position.

I have been using the Beco for 1-2 months now for my now 23-pound son. I love it. We use it when we run errands or do chores around the house. As long as I adjust the straps properly, I don't feel discomfort in my back or shoulders. My son loves riding in the back carry around the house. He kicks his feet in excitement every time.

I love that I can use the Beco for front or back carry. The back carry took some practice, but I can get my son on my back by myself.

My husband also likes using the Beco. He finds it to be comfortable and easy to use.

The instructional DVD that comes with the Beco is quite helpful. If you purchase this product, you should watch it for info on how to use the Beco safely.

The Beco is a little pricey, but the comfort and ease of use make it worth the price! Highly recommend!