Valco Snap Ultra~ Tailormade

I have been waiting for a long time to say this but there is now a stroller on the North American Market that has taken three strollers and melded them into one almost perfect stroller. I was able to test out the Valco Snap Ultra~ Tailormade recently by a company called Valco Baby.  They are an Australian company that has been in the business of making strollers for over 30 years.   This family run company is the #1 leading stroller company in Australia.  Let me tell you I fell in love with the Snap Ultra it is a lightweight, has a reversible seat, can be used from birth to toddlerhood, and goes from an everyday stroller to an all terrain stroller (with added sports pack) without needing to buy a whole new system.

Lets talk about all the features this baby has.  It weighs in at a mere 19 pounds with the regular wheels attached.  One of the best features of this stroller is that you don’t have to remove the seat or change the direction to fold it.  You simply click and fold.  Its stand alone compact fold feature is a true bonus.

The seat can be adjusted so baby can face you or out without any compromise to the seat function. You can opt to buy a bassinet (at this time available in the USA only) for this stroller however the seat itself lays flat enough for a new born and as well they include a foot muff that gives this stroller the appearance of having a bassinet without the added hardware.  For those with limited space this means no additional parts to store after your finished that stage.  

The stroller has a very high seat back so my very tall 3.5 year old fits as well as my tiny 1.5 year old.  It also has an adjustable foot rest which is a big bonus. The canopy is high enough that when my son is in it his head does not touch the canopy.  The canopy has 2 zippered panels so it goes from great shade protection to amazing shade protection simply by unzipping one or both of the panels.  The 5 point harness is adjustable for those that don’t want to be strapped in you can remove the shoulder harness and just use the three point harness for the older kids.  It also features a very generous basket that is easy to access from all sides.

The push is very smooth I felt that with the air tires on it gave it a much better gripped push but over all the push is pretty amazing as is  We even pushed it through the snow a day after snow fall and it pushed with ease though about 3” of snow with the sport pack.  This stroller truly is a gem it will replace three strollers if your looking for one stroller that can do multiple jobs this is the one you should seriously consider.  Valco is coming out with leatherette covers for the handlebars (they are BEAUTIFUL!) which is a big bonus as the foam gets dirty during the fold.

What I would love to see for the upgrades in 2017 is an adjustable handlebar for those under 5’ this stroller may seem too tall but with an adjustable bar that would fix this.  I am 5’4” and pushed it with no problems but I can see where others may want the option to lower the bar or raise it for those taller parents. The other thing that is upsetting is the fact that the weight limit is only 44pds. I tested this with a 40 pound toddler and then a 60 pound sand bag and the material handled well to both.  I was still able to push it with ease and the material seemed to handle the higher weight with no issues or compromise.  Mom to mom this stroller wouldn’t have any issues with a child on the higher end of the curve.  I would also like to see the words ethically made in China on the stroller.  As well maybe some suspensions but not sure how that would then affect the overall weight.

This stroller gets a full 9 out of 10 from me.  It retails now for $579 Canadian and comes in denim, grey and black. All tailormade.

Valco Snap Duo ~ Tailor made

When you have young children and do a lot of walking finding the perfect stroller becomes a necessity.  I have tested various side by sides and tandems and can honestly say that the Valco Snap Duo ~ Tailor made was one of the best pushes of them all.  Valco Baby is an Australian company that has been in the business of making strollers for over 30 years.   This family run company is the #1 leading stroller company in Australia. 

The stroller weighs less than 24 pounds and has some amazing features that makes it the top of its class.  The versatility of this stroller will replace at least three different strollers.  It is a compact stroller with truly full sized features that can be used from birth to toddlerhood. The stroller becomes the lightest side by side stroller on the market that can also tackle all terrain.  With the purchase of an added sports pack the new air tires gives you the ability to tackle snow, sand and light walking trails.   This makes Valco baby the only stroller on the North American market that is both light weight and can go off the beaten track.  

The seats of the duo lay flat so you can easily put a newborn in the seat without having to purchase a bassinet.  This is great for those of us that do not have the storage space to keep additional pieces once our little ones have out grown them.  The canopy of the duo is huge it features an additional zipper that can be undone to give you full coverage from wow to amazing.

I put on the sports pack and went out during a snow storm.  The ground was covered in 3” of new fallen snow and the stroller was so easy to push through.  Mind you with my 40 pound toddler in it,  the push was heavier than when my daughter rode in it alone weighing in at 24 pounds.  However because the stroller itself weighed in at under 24 pounds the push was a lot easier than had it been a heavier stroller. 

It features a great sized basket that can hold a lot of groceries and is accessible from 3 sids.   The adjust foot rest is also a huge bonus it can be set for a very small baby who and a very tall toddler avoiding any dangling feet. The material itself on the stroller is amazing, easy to clean and wicks away rain.  The colour options are gorgeous and hide the dirt well.   The folding design of this stroller makes it the only one in it’s class to fold in on itself protecting the seat material from dirt and grim.  It also features a compact stand alone fold which makes it easy to store.  Valco is coming out with leatherette covers for the handlebars (they are BEAUTIFUL!) which is a big bonus as the foam gets dirty during the fold. 

What I would love to see for the upgrades in 2017  is an adjustable handlebar for those under 5’ this stroller may seem too tall but with an adjustable bar that would fix this.  I am 5’4” and pushed it with no problems but I can see where others may want the option to lower the bar or raise it for those taller parents. The low weight limit of 44pounds seems too low. I tested this twice with a 24 and 40 pound toddler and then again with a 24 pound toddler and a 60 pound sand bag and the material handled well to both.  I was still able to push it with ease and the material seemed to handle the higher weight with no issues or compromise.  Mom to mom this stroller wouldn’t have any issues with a child on the higher end of the curve.  I’d also like to see the words ethically made in China since the stroller is made in China.   As well maybe some suspensions but that would then affect the overall weight.

This stroller gets a full 9 out of 10 from me.  It retails now for $720 Canadian and comes in Grey and Black.

Valco Snap Duo

Breaking the Silence

I know this doesn't have anything to do with carriers or baby products but .. it is an important topic to share.

Like a black cloud coming over you Postpartum/natal depression engulfs you until you can’t see clearly.  You lose track of yourself, the person you once were, the person you once loved ceases to exist.  I am a doula, I am trained to see PPD/PND in my clients.  The warning signs that signal a woman is on a slippery slope were so easy for me to see in my years as a Doula.  However when you are that person standing on the ledge its as if you are blinded by the fog.  Looking back I can see how it began.  Going to bed early, hiding in the bedroom, pulling away from friends and family.  All the signs I question my clients for in the months after the birth of a child and I had them all present yet not visible to me.  How could I a doula be so blind to the fact that I was losing myself?  How could I have allowed this to happen to me?   Shame sets in, you begin to feel as though your feelings are wrong.  How could I feel so down when I got exactly what I wanted.  A baby girl I longed for,  a rainbow baby after two early loses.  It wasn’t just my own thoughts people are so unaware of what a few simple words do to a mom.  The words “at least you have a healthy baby” or “how can you be depressed you have beautiful children”.  As if this state of mind was my choice and not my captor.  

People think PPD/PND is definable by one set of rules.  Like if you have PPD/PND you must be crying all the time, withdrawn from your baby, tired, but it’s not the same for every woman.  Where one women will feel those exact feelings others may experience it in the form of anxiety or anger.   Some women feel like their baby is in harms way not from themselves but from the world, others may feel themselves are unable to care for their child.  Neither one is more definable than the other each leads to the same fog ridden path.  When I finally figured out what was going on it was too late.  I was knee deep in the fog and my relationship was severely affected.  Where stood my once best friend a stranger now took their place.  We were so distant and so apart we could hardly see the others pain.  

Each day I lived for bedtime, I longed for the hours to go by so I could retreat to my bedroom and be alone with my kids.  I lay in my room feeding my youngest and waiting for my toddler to fall asleep.  Then I would watch endless hours of Netflix watching one series and moving on to the next.  Watching them became a way for me to be numb, to silence the thoughts in my head, to have moments of clear stillness.  These characters become my friends in a way, I longed to see them on the screen and felt safe when I was watching them.  I reached out to people on Facebook and talked to them about anything but how I was feeling.  I withdrew from my friends because I was worried that they would think I was crazy for feeling this way.  Shame made me go deeper and deeper into hiding until I was so lost I couldn’t find my way back even if I wanted to.

One night when I was sleeping it came to me, the reason my birth affected me so.  It was at that moment that I realized something was seriously wrong with me.  I wasn’t myself, I needed to find me again and maybe the way back to my life partner would once again become clear.  One simple act during birth, the breaking of my waters, triggered in me a moment in time that had taken place over 20 years prior.  A moment I had not thought about for several years had somehow consumed me in a way, and I had no idea it was happening.   Once that became clear and I was able to voice it to my partner, I thought it would be easy to return home.  It isn’t that simple though, you can’t just return to the moment in time before PPD and pick up where you left off.  In the wake of destruction so much has to happen before you an even hope to put the pieces of your old life back.  I began taking my placenta tincture, the one I had prepared for myself as I had done for many clients before this birth.  I finally started to feel like me again, if it was a placebo affect as some call it so be it, because it saved me.

The fog doesn’t leave right away, it slowly gets clearer but I can’t say you ever feel whole again.   Once it touches you it’s almost like it makes a dent in your soul and will remain part of you forever.  People need to stop shaming women for feeling this way after birth.  They need to realize that it has nothing to do with them or with the children that are born.  Of course we are delighted to be mothers, of course we are beyond the moon that we have had these precious babies, it isn’t about that.  For those that have PPD/PND due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder brought on by the birth it’s ok to feel this way.  It isn’t OK for people to say things like at least you have a healthy baby, at least your baby is here alive and well.   I wish for once the medical world would see how important birth is not just for baby but for mother as well.  More than 50% of the women I spoke to ended a relationship after a bout with PPD/PND.  How can we then say that the only thing that matters in birth is a healthy baby?  When in the end PPD strips from you months, years of memories you could have had.  When it beats your relationship to the point where you may not ever be able to return things to the way they were before?  Birth matters of course the health of the baby matters but so does the health of the women, of the mothers of the families. 

I lost months, years of my life to PPD/PND.  I am not sure how things will play out in my life, I’m not sure if things will ever go back to the way they once were.  I’m forced to watch videos of my kids and try to remember how I was feeling when I captured those moments.  I am forced to remember a time when the love of my life was also my best friend.  I can’t change my past I can only hope that in my pain, in my sorrow you can understand your not alone.  I feel your pain and I hope you can see there is no shame in asking for help.  The shame lies in the medical staff that ignored our health, it lies in the people who instead of holding us shamed us into feeling like we don’t matter like we needed to hide.  Enough is enough we need to stand together and let others know that we aren’t going to hide from it any longer.  That were are going to fight for the rights of women everywhere to have their feelings understood, their voices heard and their mental health treated equally as important as their newborn baby.  No more silence.  To the women who took their own lives because they felt so alone I am so sorry that the system failed you.  To the children without a mother now, it was never about you and I am so sorry the system didn’t protect your family.  PPD/PND is a horrible road to be on but your not on it alone.

Yesterday we had the great opportunity to spend the day with The Bloom Doula Collective at The Baby show.  During a walk through I noticed a couple who had a stunned look on their face.  A man was talking to them about the great carrier he was selling at an amazing show price.  The carrier was the Baby Bjorn.  I stood there listening to him do his sales pitch.... wanting to jump up and flag the couple down saying NO Don't do it!!!!! I knew doing so would not be Ok at least not directly at the moment of sale but I was jumping out of my skin to save this couple.

As the couple finally decided to walk away to "think about it" I approached them.  I just couldn't let this sweet innocent couple be bamboozled into a purchase I knew they would later regret.  Also in the end would probably end their baby wearing relationship prematurely.  Now don't get me wrong the Bjorn has done wonders for Baby wearing.  It brought it into the mainstream.  For 100's of years our mothers have been carrying us... The Bjorn made it hip to do so.

The problem is the Bjorn is horrible to wear for extended periods of time.  If your child is prone to hip dysplasia it will aggravate it.  Carrying a baby in one of these isn't something you can do comfortably for any extended period of time.  For me after about an hour my back ached and I longed to take baby off of me.  There are so many things wrong with this carrier it just isn't one I would ever recommend.  

The couple admitted they were overwhelmed by the choices.   They asked for my advice I handed them my business card and they walked away 249.00 still in hand.  I was received to see the weren't upset for my butting in and felt a sense of relief that I had saved this couple the pain of having to try to re-sell this carrier later at most for 50.00.  Even a "Like New" Bjorn will only get you around 50.00 of the 200 plus you spent on it to begin with.  It is a horrible investment with a very low re-sale value.  Important if you want to sell it for a toddler carrier down the road.

Later that day the woman found me at the booth and showed me a picture of the Ergo 360 which I went on to talk to her about.  I loved my 360 it was far better than others out there and could give you a great option for front facing if you wanted.  I didn't know it at the time but there was another great carrier being sold at the show which I would have gladly talked to them about, the Chimparoo Multi. I will be reviewing them later so I won't get into it now.  

Carriers are one of the most important purchases you will make.  They are life savers for many of us and for others are the only mode of transportation.  Having owned several carriers and strollers I can honestly say I do prefer my carrier over my stroller.

Buy wisely my friends and never be afraid to ask a million questions from mom's who carry.  Carry Me Close is a great way to seek advice.

Stay tuned upcoming reviews for Onya Baby Outback Ergo 360 , Chimparoo Multi, LILLEbaby also comming soon we are adding strollers to our line up City Select, City Mini, Valco Snap 4, Bob Duallie and Thule Urban Glide 2 just to name a few

Emei baby Carrier

eMEIbaby- Hybrid Carrier 169.99 - 189.99

Price Point: eMEIbaby169.99 - 189.99 
TYPE: Hybrid
STAR RATING: ***

RECOMMENDATION: Maybe (please read why)

What they are saying about it!

Product Description

• Hybrid sling carrier- The emeibaby carrier is a combination of a sling and a backpack. It combines the benefits of slings with the benefits of a backpack.

• mum invented-  emeibaby founder Daniela designed the first emeibaby carrier for her daughter. She wanted a baby carrier with all the benefits of a wrap but easy as a backpack. 

• eMEIbaby is adjustable to YOUR and to BABY´S size- Buckles and straps are for adjustment to your size. With the rings you adjust the sling fabric to baby´s size. emeibaby grows with your baby, it always reaches from knee to knee. 

• Made in Europe

Product Features ·What makes the emeibaby carrier special? The emeibaby carrier is a combination of a sling and a carrier. Babies are carried like in a sling but the emeibaby carrier is easier to use. Thanks to its ring system it can be precisely adjusted to the baby's size from birth and is continuously adjustable to grow with the child. It can be used from birth up to 15 kg / 33 lbs. Do I have to adjust the emeibaby carrier before every use? No. Once the carrier has been adjusted to the baby's size the aluminium rings on the shoulder straps firmly clamp the fabric in place to maintain the desired position. See this video how to use the adjusted emeibaby carrier: Video. Using the emeibaby carrier with size XXL. The shoulder straps of the emeibaby carrier are double adjustable and the emeibaby carrier fits from XXS to XXL.

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What we say about it...

The eMEIbaby

This carrier had me stumped.  I usually can tell right away how to rate it, but because this one is a bit more complicated to use it was hard to give it a rating right away.  I didn't want to do it a disservice by rating it before truly giving it a shot.

Let me explain what I mean by more complicated... the eMEIbaby is a hybrid carrier a cross between a sling and a buckle carrier.  When I say it is complicated to use I mean it isn't as easy as putting on a buckle style carrier and going.  They say on the website that once you have it set you don't need to re-adjust but I do.  When I am feeding my son I need my carrier lower it's just the way my body lines up, which means every time I feed him I am finding myself adjusting the carrier to suit my needs and then trying to re-adjust when baby is satisfied and sleeping.  If your baby is at the stage my son is at now it also makes it very annoying for those on and off, stop and start feeding sessions.    

The way that the carrier adjusts makes it a much more difficult to use.  I can't reach the straps under the arms to adjust quickly so I need to loosen the fabric (the section of the carrier which makes it like a sling) and then reach behind to adjust the straps under my arm.  With a fussy baby or a cranky one it takes a while and by the end of it we are both frustrated.

Let me tell you though, once the carrier is in place if you do not have to adjust it, it is wonderful.  I love how close the sling portion brings baby, how well constructed it is and how comfortable the carrier feels for extended carries.  It is a great carrier if you want a sling but the comfort of a buckle.  However if you are looking for a buckle carrier I would not recommend this one, as like most of us the reason you are looking for a buckle carrier is to be able to pick it up and go no fuss no muss.

For this reason I have said maybe as the recommendation - due to the comfort of the carrier I cannot just say no.  It truly is a comfortable and well made carrier.  However I can't say yes because if you are looking for the comfort and ease of say and Ergo or Beco then this one won't do you justice.

Try it out join a baby wearing group in your area.  For mine it is the Toronto Baby wearing group called Carry Me Close.  You can join for a yearly fee and borrow the slings, carriers and wraps they have in the library.  It's a great way to test it before you commit to buying it.   

PROS

• Use from birth to toddler without insert
• Comfortable
• Strong Construction
• Lightweight
• Stylish
• Breastfeeding friendly
• Hybrid for those that want the comfort of a sling but ease of buckle carrier
• Suckling pads available

CONS

• for fussy babies re-adjusting sometimes takes a while
• No foot Straps
• isn't simple to put on and off when adjustments required
• not as easy as a buckle style carrier

BEST USES

• Out & about 
• Daily use
• Infants 
• Travel
• long walks 
• hikes

Written by Viviana Marinacci

Blog-Great Carrier Search

Boba 3G

Price Point: Boba 3G Carrier- 140.00-170.00

TYPE: Buckle Style Carrier

STAR RATING: ****

RECOMMENDATION: YES

Boba Baby Carrier

The Boba Baby Carrier is a Soft Structured Carrier (SSC) that is made for babies and toddlers between 7-45lbs.This new 3G design is made to fit parents of all shapes and sizes without purchasing extra accessories. The Boba Baby Carrier offers several innovative features not seen on other carriers.

Why you'll love the Boba Baby Carrier:

• 100% cotton fabric with polyester webbing and buckles.
• Front and back carry options
• Fits babies and toddlers 7-45lbs
• Removable sleeping hood that is adjustable - adjusting in length to grow with your baby
• Zipper pouch may be used to store your hood when not in use
• Comfortably fits heights 5’0” – 6’3”
• Waistband range: 25” – 58”
• Additional adjustments for easier fit & breastfeeding
• Patent-pending removable foot straps
• Elastic bands neatly roll up straps
• Shoulder strap holders keep purses and diaper bags in place
• Easily adjustable chest strap
• Uniquely designed to “hug” your child
• Converts to an infant carrier without an insert
• Extra head support adjustments for infants
• Body of carrier rises 2-3” higher than other brands
• Multiple pockets for on-the-go storage
• High quality military grade buckles

The innovative foot straps that are attached to the waist belt keep older children comfortable in the Boba Baby Carrier. They enable a healthy sitting position by supporting the legs in a flexed abducted position which naturally tilts the pelvis, fills out the hip sockets and aligns the spine.

The infant conversion option allows you to use the Boba Baby Carrier with babies over 7lbs. No insert or accessory needed! An instruction booklet is included to show you how to use the Boba Baby Carrier with your newborn.

The Boba Baby Carrier is approximately 2-3" higher than other soft structured carriers. It has a few extra inches in height to support your little one's back by keeping your center of gravity closer to your body. All straps are fully adjustable, and elastic bands are provided so you can comfortably tuck the straps away once you have the carrier adjusted for you and your child. 

Made responsibly in China.

Size: Fits babies & toddlers 7-45lbs.

What we say about it...

The Boba 3G is a fantastic carrier. It has so many great features I don't know where to start.  

I love the foot straps and the system they are on.  The hook the straps attach to is on a covered wire (for lack of better explanation) system.  It slides along depending on where your child needs the straps placed.  It is such a great system I LOVE IT... This system is used on the carrier in various places which makes adjusting the hight of different buckles super easy to do.

The material is strong and well made.  It is thick and durable what you would expect in a carrier of this price point.  The hood is so well made it is too thick in my opinion for when you want to store it away or those babies that run hot.

I love the straps and the ease of use.  I am able to adjust them without having to take the carrier shoulder straps off.  Even the back strap is easy to use. Again on that hidden wire system that they have utilized.  

I tested the carrier out on a 3 hour straight hike with no stops and found my back was perfectly fine in the end.  I could have gone longer which was great.  I love how my son feels in the carrier, very secure and wrapped around me as opposed to some I have tried on which leave me feeling like his legs are fighting for space with mine. 

The pocket on its waist strap is small and quite useless other than for maybe a coffee card or small wallet.  The Hood is detachable which I don't like because I tend to lose things.

The padded straps are well done.  They are thick enough without being too overwhelming.  I can't attest to the feel of this in weather above 10 degrees at present and will adjust the blog if I get a chance to test it in the heat.

Overall we would recommend this carrier to new parents.  It isn't perfect so it won't get a 5 star rating but it came pretty close.  Because of the low back and not so ease of use for the sun cover It gets a 4 but close to a 4 1/2.... I'd love to find the 5 star carrier if you think you have it send it my way.

Boba 3G CARRIER IS ONE OF OUR TOP 5 PICKS

PROS

• Comfortable
• Strong Construction
• Lightweight
• Stylish
• Easy to use
• Breastfeeding friendly
• Foot Straps
• Hood
• New Born compatible
• Adjustment straps easy to use (pulls down from pits and up from base)
• Adjustment system (slides along a wired strap)
• small pocket well placed

CONS

• Hood is bulky when packed away
• pocket is very small
• low neck support for baby when carried on back and sleeping
• hood not as easy to get at from back carry
• hood very thick for hot months

BEST USES

• Out & about 
• Daily use
• Infants and toddlers
• Travel
• long walks 
• hikes