Review and Reader Discount!: Baby K'tan Baby Carrier

So, since Isaac arrived in our home a little over 6 months ago, I've been on the search for the perfect baby carrier. I've tried front carriers, mei tai carriers, wrap carriers and pouch slings. I've found that overall, each has something to offer, but there was no one carrier that met all my needs. I've finally found one that does. The Baby K'tan. It offers 8 different carry positions, folds up (OK, mostly stuffs) into my diaper bag easily, and most importantly has relieved virtually all the uncomfortable shoulder and back pain that I was experiencing when wearing other carriers. I truly would be lost at this point without it.

Let me start of by telling you a little about the design of the Baby K'tan, in my own words. Basically, the carrier consists of two long loops of fabric. These two loops are secured together by a small band of fabric which works not only to keep the two large loops secured together, but also serves as the back support. There are no buckles or straps, no rings to have to pull the fabric through, and no complicated wrapping is involved. All of these are improvements on almost every carrier I've used in the past. The carrier also comes with a long sash that you need to use for some of the carry positions to help secure your baby in the carrier. At first, I was a little worried about this extra step, but after just a few uses it became a non-issue. Even with tying the sash, I can get it on quicker than several of the other carriers I've tried.

One of the biggest reasons why the Baby K'tan is different is that it offers so many different carrying options. First, there's the traditional cradle position. The same that you would use if carrying your infant in a pouch or wrap sling. The "explore" position allows your baby to face forward in much the same way that a traditional pouch sling works as well. Next, there's the hug and adventure positions. I compare these to the way I used to carry Isaac in my traditional front carrier except that I'm so much more comfortable and I feel like he is, too. You can carry your child on your hip in two different ways. The first looks very similar to how I carry Isaac in my regular pouch sling, the other is a variation of the hug position and is a little bit more secure. There's a back carry position, and the icing on the cake is that the Baby K'tan gives you the ability to carry newborn twins around with only one carrier as well! Honestly, I hope I never need this last carrying option, but I wanted to throw it out there for those of you that might.

The position that we most often use is the "adventure" position. Isaac really loves to be facing out and looking at the world. I was using my traditional front carrier for trips to the park to give him the opportunity to take in all the action, but after just a few minutes, I was dying. The carrier just pulls way too much on my shoulders. With the Baby Ktan, I get none of this pull. I think it's because I'm able to spread the fabric out across my shoulders which distributes the weight a little bit more and reduces the strain. The support band in the back is also awesome because I can easily reach up and pull it to the correct position. I've carried Isaac around for nearly an hour at the park in the "adventure"position and never removed him because I was in pain. It's also an incredibly secure position for doing things like navigating playground equipment and going down slides. I never worry that he's going to flip out while I'm in the middle of climbing up the rope ladder. I also have the luxury of using both hands which is impossible with him in the hip carry of a regular pouch sling.

I can get the carrier on in just a matter of seconds. It did take a little getting used to, but once I got it figured out, it was very simple. Baby K'tan does have an online video explaining each of the different ways you can wear the carrier which is very helpful, and there is also a little instructional pamphlet included with the carrier as well.

I've mentioned before that life with two kids takes a lot more creative thinking when it comes to leaving the house. I can't just grab a kid and a diaper bag and go. Places like the grocery store and Target are impossible to tackle with a toddler and an infant. If Nadia sits in the basket of the cart, there's the constant battle to make sure she sits down and doesn't open boxes and eat laundry detergent, etc. If she's in the front of the cart, there's no way to transport Isaac around. And, frankly, I'm too small and weak to push around two separate carts. With the Baby K'tan, I just throw Isaac in the carrier that I put on myself before I left the house and strap Nadia in the cart. The ability to wear him in the "adventure" position means that he can see everything that's going on and interact with other shoppers, but I get to have two free hands for shopping and pushing the cart. The other day he fell asleep while I was shopping and I was able to very easily switch him around to the hug position and let him snooze away. It was awesome!

Yet another reason to love the Baby K'tan is that unlike some other carriers, I can easily stuff the Baby K'tan into my diaper bag if I'm not going to be wearing it. I don't have to worry about packing it separately. Isaac spit up on it the other day, but since the Baby K'tan is machine washable and dryable, I just threw it in the laundry. All of these are things that you don't necessarily think about when you're registering for your first baby, but become oh so important later on, especially when you are trying to manage two kids.

The one and only drawback that I've found is that again, this is a sized carrier which means that I'm the only person in our house who can wear it. If we are at the park, I'm always on Isaac duty. Fortunately, due to the fabulous design, I don't get tired and uncomfortable while wearing him and don't mind the responsibility. It gives him a chance to make goofy faces with his dad which is more fun for the two of them anyway.

Full review. Based on a four-star scale.

Functionality ***1/2 - If you watch the video and read the literature, the president of Baby K'tan explains that they looked at the features of the other baby carriers on the market and tried to create one that encompassed the best features of them all. I do believe that Baby K'tan has done this. You have so many carrying options and each is as comfortable as the next. The only flaw is that it is a sized carrier which means that in order for my husband to use the Baby K'tan, we'd need two.

Style *** - Very no frills. You have the basic black, white, brown, pink and navy. There's also a tie-dye version, a camouflage version and a pink octagon version. Baby K'tan offers embroidery personalization if you're interested as well.

Price ***1/2 - At around $60, this carrier is a steal for all the carrying options that it offers. We paid twice this much for our traditional front carrier, and it hangs unused on a hook in the hallway. In theory, you can carry your child around until they are 42 lbs. with the Baby K'tan which is more than any other carrier I've ever come across.

Overall Rating ***1/2 - I love the Baby K'tan. I really do. The more I wear it, the more I appreciate how comfortable both Isaac and I are when we're hanging out at the park or shopping at the store. I rely on it so many times throughout the day that I was completely lost yesterday when it was in the laundry. In my search for a great baby carrier, the Baby K'tan is now at the top of my list.

The good people at Baby K'tan are offering all Kid Buy Product readers a 10% discount on their purchase at Baby K'tan.com. This offer is good through October 1st, 2008. All you have to do is enter the code KTAN in the coupon/promotion box section below where you will enter your credit card information at checkout. Thank you Baby K'tan!