Checking out the Baby K’tan #Babywearing

Thank you to Baby K’tan for furnishing a carrier for me to review and enjoy with Scarlett.  All thoughts and opinions are my own! 

I love to wear my babies! I wore Red as a baby, as well as a toddler, until he was too heavy for my back to handle (at age 2, he was the size of a big four-year-old!).  Scarlett, on the other hand, is a short little girl, and I’ll be able to wear her for a few years.  Now to be honest, knit carriers scared me off a little bit.  The idea of one long piece of knit fabric wrapped around me in various ways to literally tie the baby onto me was daunting.  Would I tie it correctly? Tight enough? Maybe too tight?!  So, I opted for structured carriers instead.  I had two for Red, since he outgrew the first model by 6 months (ooops…..).  

I still have those carriers and use them for Scarlett, but there’s something about the softness of a wrap that still intrigued me.  It wasn’t until I was introduced to the Baby K’tan that I even entertained the idea of using one.  The Baby K’tan is a soft wrap that has a patented double loop design that’s easy to slip on and wear, without the hassle of wrapping and wrapping and wrapping.  It’s all done for you, and you still reap the benefits of a wrap!   

I chose to review the Baby K’tan Active in coral.  The Active model is “made of a 100% polyester hi-tech performance fabric (similar to a sports shirt). This material provides a unique temperature control, is breathable, quick-dry, wicks away sweat and moisture and blocks over 90% UVA and UVB rays. Excellent for summer or outdoor use.” (from the Baby K’Tan website)  My favorite part of the design is the soft wicking fabric that draws moisture away.  Though I don’t sweat much, Scarlett is related to her dear old Dad, who can sweat buckets in the summer.  That means the wrap benefits her, too!

The first time I opened the Baby K’tan, I’ll admit I was a bit perplexed.  This being my first knit carrier, I had no idea how to continue.  Fortunately, there are great pictoral instructions included in the box, with a few different ways to wear your baby (traditional, kangaroo style, facing outward, side carry, etc.).  I had to practice a few times putting it on and slipping Scarlett in.  But the fourth time I tried it, I thoroughly understood what I was doing and could slip her in, in a snap.  

The Baby K’tan’s physical makeup allows baby’s head to be supported with one of the “straps.”  With my other carriers, the head covering might do a little supporting, but the K’tan allowed Scarlett to nap as if my arms were holding her close, and with her little facing being sure to get lots of air by facing center, she slept soundly while I plodded around the house getting stuff done.  I was impressed by this portion of the design alone.  

The only thing I didn’t really like about the K’tan was that there was no weight distributed to my hips – though it makes a bathroom trip easier, my back would ache slightly if I didn’t pull the center knot down enough or had worn Scarlett too long during the day.  The K’tans are also sized to the individual wearer, so Chase couldn’t share a K’tan with me – he’s need his own if he wanted to wear Scarlett in this make of carrier.  That “downside” is also a perk, because the carrier is fitted to my body size always, making adjustments a thing of the past.  The support sash of the K’tan also serves as the carrier’s bag, so nothing is lost or “extra” to keep up with.  Overall, I’d recommend the wrap as a knit option for your family.  While I still love my structured carriers, this one has definitely proved useful around the house and about town.  I think you’ll like it, too!  

If you’re looking for a little video on exactly HOW to wear the Baby K’tan, check this one out below!