Customer Reviews

Prenatal Cradle Mini Cradle

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(58)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I started wearing the Mini Cradle two weeks ago and have noticed a significant improvement in stomach and back pain. It's the smartest $15 I've ever spent!

The only reason I give it four stars (rather than five) is because I think the sizing recommendations are off. I'm currently 35 weeks pregnant, weigh 135 pounds at 5'6", and am wearing the size small belt. It fits, but I'm wearing it on the largest setting and still have indentations on my stomach when I take it off. I can't imagine that it would comfortably fit someone at the high end of the recommended weight range (136 - 180 lbs). I definitely recommend the product, but would suggest sizing up if you're not at the low end of a weight range.

Based on previous reviews, I purchased this item because my Modela support belt was too wimpy to handle all the weight I have put on. Now, it's smaller width is deceiving, but don't be fooled. This belt is mighty strong.

Things I really like about this product:

- The belt seems small in width, but it does an excellent job of supporting a giant belly. I feel relief immediately in my back, round ligaments and legs. The Modela helped when I was lighter, but almost 40 lbs later, I needed hefty strength.

- The belt helps alleviate itchy belly. Keep lubing up and use this to help keep your skin from stretching and itching more. Nothing like itchy belly to drive you nuts.

- Because of the smaller width, it does not interfere with your underwear or other clothing. The Modela bunched up or rolled downward and I was constantly readjusting it. That was frustrating considering how much I paid for it.

- The belt is secured with hooks, like on a bra, and stays right where you want it to. Just move it up, down or at the desired angle - it will stay in place. I almost want to sleep with it on.

- You cannot beat the affordable price. Much less effective belts cost more. I wish I had tried this one sooner.

A couple tips:

- I agree with others regarding the incorrect sizing. I fall in their "small" category, but ladies, I'm using the very last row of hooks on my belt. If I get any bigger, I will either have to buy a medium or wear a super tight small. Good idea to size up if you fall in the middle-end range of their sizing chart. Keep in mind you are going to get humongous toward the second half of your pregnancy.

- Lastly, once you get your belt and fasten it, try moving the hooks so they are on your back. Sometimes that part of the belt gets itchy on your skin. The tag is also sewn in right there.

I was having lots of lower back and ligament pain as my bump grew from 30 weeks onwards. I bought this at 34 weeks and now I don't go anywhere without it. Not very comfortable when sitting down, but I didn't buy it for that. I used be in lots of pain after walking for maybe half a mile, it reduced considerably with the belt. Highly recommend it. You might want to buy one size up as mentioned in other reviews. The chart recommended small for me but I bought the medium and its perfect.

I ordered a size small, and it's too small (even on the largest setting). The other reviews indicating that the belt runs small are correct. Except that I *just* hit 130 pounds, and their "small" size says it goes from "136 - 180 lbs". It is ridiculous that their sizes should be *that* inaccurate. I'm returning it, and going to buy one in a store that I can try on.

My husband bought this for me when I was 35 weeks pregnant and experiencing some pretty severe pain from pubic symphysis dysfunction. I am 38 1/2 weeks pregnant now, and I am continuing to wear the belt every day for support and to relieve the deep pelvic pain. This product worked immediately, and I wish I had purchased it sooner. It provides a lifting action, which takes the pressure of the baby off the deep pelvic structures (providing pain relief), and it compresses the pelvic bones together (also providing pain relief by preventing the painful symphysis separation). It also helps to alleviate lower back pain. I will be keeping it for subsequent pregnancies.

The only complaint I have about the Mini Prenatal Cradle is that I wish there were more of the hook and eye closures... there are only three sets, and they are spaced about three inches apart. So, there aren't many options for sizing. I was a size 3-4 pre-pregnancy and now weigh 134 lbs, so I was right on the border between ordering the petite or small. We went with the small because I didn't want to risk cutting off circulation with the petite, and it does fit perfectly with the tightest hook and eye slot. I love this belt, and I would recommend trying the Mini before purchasing the larger Prenatal Cradle that wraps around the shoulders, but order a size up if you are right on the border between sizes!

I was having alot of pelvic pressure and my belly was feeling very heavy, was even having trouble walking because the pain was so bad. I purchased this belt and it arrived very quickly and I started using it immediatley. It was a great help for me. It lifted my belly and took alot of pressure not only off my pelvic region but my bladder as well. I wear it when I know I will be standing or walking for a longer period of time or when I feel that pressure pain.
As the other reviews stated, the size chart is off. I ordered a medium rather a small and im 5'2 and petite and at the time I was 25 weeks pregnant, 142 pounds. The fit was and is perfect for me. The belt is still very comfy at its smallest setting and I am now 29 weeks pregnant.

Just got my belt in, and even after considering the sizing on the reviews, I still probably should have ordered a smaller size. My current weight is at 180, so I ordered the Medium, thinking there's no way I'm a small, and I still have 10 weeks to grow. I'm wearing it on the tightest setting, and it feels pretty good, but I think I should have gone with a Small. The hook/eye closure is great for not sticking to clothing, but there's only 3 levels of tightness on the belt, and they are like 2-3 inches apart, so I don't think I can "inch" my way looser as my belly grows or I will lose support, which you could do if it were velcro. Still, I'm happy with my purchase, feels like an extra set of hands holding up my belly, and glad I'm not having all those criss-crossing straps on my shoulders, back, and over my belly to deal with like the original Prenatal Cradle I had, especially going into the spring and lighter clothing. Anyway, on the packaging, there's a sizing chart I thought others might find helpful:

Mini-Cradle Size Pant Size (before pregnant) Current Weight
Petite 0-5 90-135 lbs.
Small 6-12 136-180 lbs.
Medium 13-18 181-225 lbs.
Large 20-28 226-270 lbs.

This belt was absolutely useless for my wife. her size fell between the 2 settings. it was either too tight or too loose.
Though the idea of having the hooks seems like a good idea, it's not as easy as velcro.

I tried the Medela support belt, but found the velcro front closure to be very bulky and uncomfortable when sitting, and the band was too wide for my small frame (the extra fabric bunched up and didn't feel supportive on my back). I wanted something with a narrower profile and a different closure, and this belt fit all my needs. It's a lot more comfortable and I feel more supported than with my previous belt. There's a lot of talk on the reviews about the size. I think a lot prob depends on body shape and how you're carrying. I'm currently 32 weeks, 5'2" and 148lbs. I went by the manufacturere recs and got the small, concerned that the medium would have too much extra band, and my comfort spot was between the middle and outer hook-and-eye closures--a problem, which perhaps may not have been an issue with a medium if the clip placement fell in a different spot on me. However, the way this band's constructed made it very easy for me and my novice sewing skills to detach the middle set of eye-closures and re-sew them on in a different spot, allowing me to "grow into" the outer set of closures from the new middle closure spot. An idea for those concerned about what size to order.

I read other reviews on the size and decided to go for the petite anyway, since it says 90-135 pounds. I am only 24 weeks pregnant and weigh 108 pounds. Surprise! it's way too small for me. I am not returning it because of the hassle. But I am giving one star for such misleading information.