Babywearing 101: Find a Carrier you LOVE (Boba review)

Before Lucia was born, I knew I wanted to babywear.  I bought a wrap carrier a few months before she was born and she spent much of her waking hours in it until about six months.  I loved being able to take her anywhere without a bulky stroller (the jogging stroller they my husband had to have doesn't even fit into my trunk) and being able to keep her close to me while keeping my hand free to get things done.  After about six months though, the wrap just didn't work as well for us.

Looking back, I should have bought another carrier right away, but I stalled for a variety of reasons: there were a million carrier options and I couldn't decide on which would be best for us, we didn't have the money to invest in a good carrier, Lucia was crawling and I wasn't sure she would want to be in a carrier, etc., etc., etc.  There were good, easy solutions to each of those issues but at the time, it all seemed overwhelming.  I'm convinced that the main reason more women don't babywear is because they don't know where to start.  I've never heard of mom who, after finding a carrier that worked well for her, decided that she didn't like babywearing after all. 

Two months ago, Boba sent me a Boba Carrier 3G to review.  After about nine months of rarely using a carrier, I wasn't sure that Lucia would still like to be worn.  In fact, the first two or three times I put her in the Boba, she was not thrilled.  But after those initial "warm ups", she's been a happy camper with her Boba.  And so have I.  I cannot tell you how much a difference it makes to have a carrier that both mama and baby (toddler!) love.  Our wrap worked really well for us in the beginning, but as she got heavier, it just wasn't doing it for us.  I slowly stopped babywearing and didn't even realize that it was the discomfort of the carrier that was causing it.  I thought it had just become less useful as she got older and started moving and crawling.  Now I realize that I would have never stopped babywearing had I had the proper carrier at every stage.

What do I love most about my Boba?  

• size It's so small that is can easily be taken along anywhere, stuffed in the diaper bag, etc. 
• ease It's really easy to put on and adjust.  I've worn it, David's worn it, and my dad has worn it (how cute are baby wearing grandpas?) and it took very little time to adjust it for each of us.
• comfort My dad, husband, and I are three very different sizes, but we all we able to adjust it to be comfortable for us (and Lulu).  I know I'm 
• versatile Can be worn on the front or back! And is comfortable both ways.  It can also be used with newborns through toddlers, which is so nice.  I can't speak to the ease of using it with newborns/infants, but I look forward to trying it out myself in the future.
• cool This may not make sense to those of you who haven't used wraps but take my word for it, wrapping thick material around you several times gets hot.  Of course, where baby comes in contact with your front/back, it can get toasty, but the rest if you stays cool!  
• purse straps This is just a little thing but the Boba has clasps to keep your purse/diaper bag attached to the carrier and from slipping off your shoulder. 

Drawbacks?

• I got mine free of cost to review, but the price might have prevented me from buying one.  $120 looks like a steep price tag, but considering that I use it much more than I use our stroller which was around that price, it's definitely worth it.  If I had to do it over again, I probably would have gotten a cheaper stroller and Boba that could have been used from birth.  It's comparable to other big name baby carriers on the market. 
• It's a bit difficult to put Lucia on my back by myself.  I've been able to do it, but it's tricky.  It's super simple if I have someone to help me and putting her on the front is a piece of cake.  
• There are so many hanging straps.  Since the carrier is one size fits all (not all are, and it would be a waste of money if my hubby and other family couldn't use it!), the straps are very long to be able to adjust for larger people.  When I wear it, the straps are pulled pretty tight and there are long pieces hanging.  It's kind of annoying and not really attractive, but also not a big deal.  In the comments, a reader just informed me that Bobas have elastic on the ends of the straps to be able to roll them up.  Oops, how did I not realize that!  Feeling sheepish.

All in all, I adore my Boba and the advantages far outweigh the drawbacks.  Finding a carrier that works for me has made all the difference in babywearing and my ability to get out of the house with my toddler in general.  Lucia doesn't like sitting in strollers or shopping carts and, when held, whines to be put down so she can walk (and get into everything).  But she's a contented little girl in her Boba.  (I think she enjoys being up high enough to flirt with everyone in the store!) 

Where I've worn my Boba:

grocery store

mall

airport (absolute lifesaver here!)

on walks & hikes

around the house

Do you have a babywear?  Where is the strangest place you've worn your baby?  What do you love about baby wearing?  Have you tried a Boba?

I received a Boba Carrier 3G free of cost to facilitate this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  Opinions are 100% my own.  See disclosure policy.