Customer Reviews

Scootababy Baby Carrier

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased the San Francisco style Scootababy carrier. I was frustrated with my Beco carrier. My daughter just didn't do well in it as I had hoped she would. I was scared to make another huge investment, but with my daughter nursing all the time and us leaving for vacation in a few days, I needed to do something. My daughter was just five months and I had an old Platex hip carrier around from years ago. She liked the position although the Playtex was not super comfortable for me. I decided to find something close in style and hopefully more comfortable for myself (small frame) 5'3 and my husband (large frame) 6'2. When I came across reviews here I was skeptical. However, on a whim I made the purchase. It is the best investment I have made for our baby. We just went to Disneyland for 7 days. I wore her almost the entire time. It was comfortable and the easiest nursing carrier I have ever used. I did need a break here and there from the product and or baby, but I literally was comfortable most of the time. My daughter loves it and I love it. My husband loves it too! I have never left a review of a baby product but I know how important and expensive these investments are. This one is sooo worth it!

I really wanted to love this hip carrier, but no matter how many times i tried to use it, it just didn't work for me.
Upon putting the carrier on it would immediately slid down, below my waist as soon as i placed my daughter in it. I tried to tighten the arm and waist straps, but no matter what i tried it always slid down causing back pain within minutes!

I eventually came to the conclusion that my hight, 5'3, was the reason why the carrier didn't fit me. This carrier is truly meant for taller mom's and dads as the part of the carrier that baby sits in is simply to long and causes baby to sag below the carriers waist band.
Consequently causing it to pulled down, from the weight of the baby, until it slips off your waist...
My husband could wear it successful all days long with no slippage or back pain. He is 5'11.
Such a shame, i really wanted to like this carrier.

My daughter (now 6 months old) has loved hip carries since she could hold her head up. It's the perfect balance of being able to look around at the world, but still being able to see me and bury her head in my chest if she is overstimulated (facing directly out is really not good for most babies.) Since I found she always wanted to be carried this way anyway, I've shelved my other carriers and use this one most of the time.

It can be scooted around and used on the front or back, but it's not ideal - get an Ergo or Beco if that's what you want to do! Those carriers can be used for hip carries as well although it's somewhat awkward.

I love that this centers the weight on my waist/hips and uses my shoulder just for balance. I have no back pain using the Scootababy! Even after several hours, my torso muscles get tired but never painful. If you've only used a Snugli or Baby Bjorn type carrier, forget it - this is a million times better! So is almost any carrier though :)

Like any front or hip carry, it does limit my movement somewhat - each arm has a lot of freedom but I can't necessarily get my hands together (i.e. washing your hands, opening a jar.) I've found that I need to be realistic about what housework I can really get done while babywearing. It beats the heck out of trying to get anything done while holding a baby in your arms though, or while letting the poor baby cry because she wants to be picked up.

I couldn't wait for my baby to be holding her head up on her own so that I could begin using my Scootababy. She was ready to start going in it at age five months, and now is very happy being carried this way. She can see me and also see out. Best of all, I can carry her in the Scootababy completely comfortably for far longer than for any other carrier I have yet tried.

The waist strap is easy to adjust, and has a padded part for the hip opposite of the one the baby is riding on. The shoulder strap is also easy to adjust, holds snugly, and cups my shoulder comfortably. There is no pulling on my shoulders or neck. I'm always surprised when, after a long grocery shopping run for example, I take her out of the Scootababy and find myself free of any aches or twinges (unlike prolonged use with the Baby Bjorn or a fleece pouch). For me, at least, the Scootababy is quicker to put on than the Ergo, and it's very easy to pop your child in and out of the Scootababy. Yes, it only does one position (though it can do either hip), but it does it so well, and that's the position I use most anyway, that it has quickly become my most-used carrier.

I have found that when my children are in the baby and toddler stage, they spend most of their "being-carried" time riding on my hip anyway -- now I have a hands-free and super-comfy way to carry them that way!

We'd loved our Bjorn but after a while our backs hurt too much. We started using this carrier when our daughter was 10 months old (she is small from her age so my guess is most could start using this even earlier). We used it all over Italy. It folds up really small and the should piece really makes it comfortable. Our daughter loved riding in it as it holds her in the same position that we hold her in when we carry her. She is now 15 months old and still fits in it great. This is a great carrier and definitely worth the price!

Of all the carriers we own (Moby, Ergo, Close, Maya, Baby Bjorn, etc.) this is definitely my favorite now that our son is out of the infant stage. Most of his weight is on the hips and it's easy to transition from holding him without the carrier to putting the carrier on and getting him in it (I don't think I can do that solo with any other, but maybe that's just practice). To clarify that last statement, I am able to hold my son, pick up the Scootababy from off the couch, put it on and get him in it without ever putting him down. Without help. That is the single most awesome feature of the carrier. I am so happy with the Scootababy.

After disliking using ringslings and pouches for more than a short period of time -I was shocked at how comfortable it is. I just wished it has a hood! It is great for easy in and out. It is so comfortable (though of course a 2 shouldered soft structured carrier, mei tai, or wrap is more comfortable). For me this is great for up to 3 hours. It is so easy for bfing too. It is also wonderful esp if you have a belly or are pregnant since baby is on your hip. It truly does fit people of all sizes (I'm 5'1, under 100 and it fit her much bigger dad).

...around the house, in the yard...everybody, everywhere: perched to the side on your hip (facing you). Scootabay implements this position in a carrier that transfers the baby's weight from your aching arm to your hips and torso. Brilliant! We have used four different slings and three carriers (Baby Bjorn, Ergo, Kidcarry), with some success, prior to the Scootababy. They're all now on the shelf. Scootababy feels so natural to use. It is the simplest to use (for us and our son) while putting on and taking off of all that we've used. It is beautifully made. Our son loves it and so do Mom and Dad. This is one very, very smart product.

This was a great side/hip carrier until my toddler hit 30 pounds (around 18 months for us). After 18 months, the waist started sagging and it was far less comfortable. It is also quite a hot carrier for summer use - the side fleeceis H-O-T when it is over 75 outside and the microfiber is more hot than breathable. But for use with children from 7-16 months, it is really comfortable and well made (and made in the USA, too). The most comfortable hip carrier on the market, and easy for Dads to use as well.

We have an array of baby carriers- Ergo, slings, we even tried a snugli in our early days (that was a WASTE) and we added a scootababy when our littlest one was about 4 months old. The scootababy is now my husbands go-to carrier (over the ergo!) and is a nice second choice for me when I want to hip carry one of the kids (3yo and 8 months old)

Benefits-
Super easy on/off. Ideal for toddler hip carries and quick runs into stores. We have the essentials model-- a nice gray color that my husband likes too. I love the cross between sling feel and SSC support. Easily adjustable for sizing adaptations and fits me nicely (I'm only 5' tall). Both my baby and my toddler like to be in there too.

Drawbacks-
Shoulder fleece can get twisted when putting on and can sometimes slip up toward the neck during use. Not a big problem, just a little annoying. Very easy to fix.
Body of carrier is very tall. My infant's head doesn't really come over the top-- not really an issue he just chews on the side of the carrier near the scootababy label.
Also, there is no storage pocket to throw a diaper in or a set of keys.
There is nothing to keep a sleeping baby's head from flopping about.

If you are looking for hip carrier, then this is great- its more adjustable than many slings and has the benefit of shifting the weight off your shoulder and onto your hips which makes it more comfortable. While the company demonstrates front and back carries on their site, they are just awkward. The front carry is tolerable if needed, but the back carry is just not good. If you want a front/back carrier- go for an Ergo. Ergo makes a lousy hip carrier though so the Scootababy is the way to go if you like to have your kiddo there.