For the past few months, I’ve been trying out the Standard Full Buckle Carrier from Soul Slings. I’ve done my fair share of baby wearing with Kara so I was excited to try out a new carrier! I started wearing Kara when she was 2 weeks old & have every intention of wearing Little Sister once she makes her debut.
My first impression of Soul Slings was a good one. First of all, their website features many diverse faces- something that is important to me as a special needs mom (even though I didn’t see any special needs faces so we need to work on that). They are based out of India so I honestly thought my package would take a little longer to arrive, but my neatly packaged Full Buckle Carrier showed up on my doorstep within two weeks of placing my order.
Features:
- 2 Carry Positions – front/back
- Adjustable Hood
- 3-Way Adjustable Shoulder Straps
- Thigh Padding
- Waist Buckle Safety Loop
- 100% Cotton or Linen
- Contoured Body Panel
- Lots of Color Options
My favorite part about the Full Buckle Carrier is its versatility. I was able to wear it with a pregnant belly, with my toddler & will also be able to use it with my newborn. The style was versatile as well. I chose the color Moonstone for a calm, neutral look so it would never clash with what I was wearing. This is a soft structured carrier so it feels like a wrap, but with clips and straps. The carrier is snug and comfortable on my back & shoulders while toting my toddler around so it’s easy to wear for as long as I need.
Kara likes it too. She loves the motions when we’re walking & she also enjoys the perfect balance of being snuggled close to mom while having some freedom to move her limbs (because of this, I recommend pulling your hair up high if trying out the back carry!) This carrier is ergonomic for mom as well as baby. This is something that is very important when choosing any carrier, but especially for a baby with Down syndrome.
Hypotonia (low muscle tone) is very common in someone with Down syndrome, making their joints and muscles very lax. Because of this, the risk for hip dysplasia increases if you aren’t careful with their positioning. This carrier supports Kara’s legs all the way out to the knee, making it safe for her to sit in. This scores big points in the Ds community!
Pros:
- Attractive, Lots of Color Options
- Versatile/Adjustable Positioning
- Comfortable, Snug, Compact
- Good for Baby’s Hips
- Price is on Point
I have loved wearing Kara since she was itty bitty so I have a little bit of experience in this area when it comes to putting the carrier on and knowing how to adjust. Otherwise, it would have been a little overwhelming learning to adjust the carrier to where it was needed. Just know that it takes some practice and once you have it set, you usually don’t have much readjusting to do again (unless you’re sporting a baby bump like I was).
As much as I enjoyed wearing Kara outside, I got the most use out of it while indoors. It just isn’t ventilated enough to wear comfortably in the sun for any long period of time. Although it isn’t a good idea to wear your child in any carrier in hot environments anyway. We did go for short walks and when we went places like the farmer’s market, I made sure we also had our little umbrella stroller so that we were able to take a break from time to time. Doing it this way, kept us from getting over-heated, but also kept Kara occupied with the changes in scenery.
Cons:
- Takes Practice To Put On
- Not Ventilated (Should Avoid Using In Hot Environments Anyway)
You might be surprised at how much use I got out of this carrier, despite being in my second and third trimesters. I used it while we were out & about running errands, strolling around at the local farmer’s market or going on a family walk around our neighborhood. I also utilized it during the times where I desperately needed my hands free, but was dealing with a very clingy toddler.
This carrier is right in line with some of the other carriers on the market as far as quality and value go. While there were aspects that I wasn’t completely in love with I feel that they are pretty unavoidable and are things that would accompany any baby carrier. Regardless, the pros of this carrier far outweigh the cons & I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a solid, soft-structured baby carrier.
