dads rating 9/10
baby bees rating Zzzzzzz.
With our daughter Aaliyah, we only had a Moby Wrap Carrier. Now according to my wife, this was a very good carrier. I didn’t use it because it wasn’t something I felt comfortable wearing. Baby wraps are not really my style nor is it something you usually see men wear. I was more worried that if I tied it wrong it would come undone and I’d drop my baby. According to the cpsc.gov website, between Jan. 2003 & Sept. 2016, 17 deaths and 67 reports of injuries to infants during the use of sling carriers were reported.
So, what I did before getting the Lille Baby? I carried my daughter in my arms leaving me with no way to do anything else with my hands. Not only was it inconvenient but after a while, my arms got tired. I know babies only weigh around 10-15lbs but holding that weight for over an hour gets tiresome. The plus side is I got in better shape by doing so many baby curls. I also learned a unique way to pick up stuff, usually with my feet.
So, after looking at a few different carriers we went and tried on the Lille Baby 6-in-1 All Seasons Carrier. Comfort and ease of use are important and with everyone having different body types. I’ve read both pros and cons of all the carriers I’ve looked at and most are personal preference related.
My review of the Lillie Baby Complete 6-in-1 will be all aspects I find important when purchasing a baby carrier from safety, value, versatility, comfort, ease of use (including instructions), and other tips or tricks I found out along the way.
Safety
Pros
My favorite safety feature is that all buckles have safety elastic loops. If for some reason the buckle fails, the safety elastic will catch the buckle and keep the carrier strapped to me. In addition to that all straps have a “strap roll” to keep straps rolled up keeping me free from snagging on anything, I trip over my own feet enough.
Another great feature is there is a inside harness that holds my baby secure to the carrier. This is not a U.S. safety standard, though I feel it should be, but is a requirement in other countries. Other carriers may or may not have this.
An additional safety feature, which is also a comfort for baby Dominic, is the optional neck support that is apart of the carrier. It can fold down when he is interested in looking around. what I do is just unclip 1 side so he can see but still has some head support. He lets me know what side by either trying to look over the top on that side or trying to push it away with his face so he can see. When he falls asleep I just clip it back to the shoulder strap where the hide away buckle is.
Another safe & comfort for the baby is the sun shade flap that is attached to the carrier with loops and snaps to the shoulder straps providing full shade for the baby, if he is over stimulated, or to lessen the impact of wind getting to him. The sun shade flap is removable for separate washing or you can just wash the whole carrier.
There is zipper along the back of the baby that provides a flap that rolls down exposing padded airflow mesh to help regulate the baby’s temperature in warmer weather.
Cons
My biggest complaint would have to be that trying to put my baby in the carrier with only one hand. In the instructions it says to support the baby with one hand. Anyone with a baby knows that babies move a lot, so trying to put the shoulder straps on while holding your baby & supporting his head can be difficult. With that said it does get easier with practice. I’ve used it around 20 times and each time has been easier to get him in the carrier.
What I do is seat him on the waist strap that is already hooked to me. While holding with one hand his upper back and neck I get one should strap on. I switch hands to the outside of the carrier and put on the other shoulder strap. Next I pull the carrier close to my body by running my thumbs up the shoulders till I reach the buckle in the back. Then I stretch to clip the buckle that is between my shoulder blades. If you would like a video to see how it works let me know. So, this is just how I do it, I have read one mothers story that she loosens the back strap first, gets the baby situated then reaches back and tightens it. I just prefer to reach back and clip as opposed to reaching back and pulling a strap.
Another tricky thing is the inside baby harness. Trying to maneuver that strap around the baby was hard at first but like anything it has gotten easier over time.
Value
Pros
There really are only pros here. For being a 6 in 1, being an all seasons carrier, and your wife can breastfeed the baby while using it all for around $140 you can’t go wrong. There are cheaper carriers on the market but the Lille Baby All Seasons 6 in 1 is, in my opinion, the best one currently on the market.
Versatility
Pros
It has 6 positions: Fetal, Infant, Face Out, Toddler, Hip, and Back. There is the option for a wide seat or narrow seat depending on the child. In addition to that the mother can use this to do hands free breastfeeding. With the zip and roll that exposes the padded airflow mesh it works in cool and warm weather. There is a sun shade hood that can be attached to the shoulder straps to provides shade or to avoid over stimulation for the baby.
Cons
My wife did say that getting the baby into position and staying latched during breastfeeding can be difficult when walking.
There is a pocket but it’s on the flap that rolls down making it unusable when it’s warm out. Plus there really isn’t much you can put in it. I won’t put my cell phone that close to my baby, it may or may not cause health issues but it’s also not a risk I want to take. it’s not good for keys, so that leaves what your cards, binkies, storing the hood, that’s about it. If it was me I would have designed it as to have the pocket along the waist band.
When using the carrier in cooler weather or at night there isn’t a way to keep my baby warm other than my body heat and I’m always cold. I mean it can be 90 degrees outside and my hands are like ice cubes. What we do is take Dominic’s baby blanket, wrap it around the carrier, and tuck it under the shoulder straps. Now this causes a few issues:
- The blanket just hangs, if it comes untucked there is a good chance I’m dropping it unless my dad reflexes kick in.
- You can’t use the sun shade cover, well you can but I don’t. Reason is because with the blanket blocking the sides it’s also blocking air flow. If I also cover him at the top than it’s seriously restricting his ability to breath, which I’m sure has been a serious potentially fatal mistake parents have made before, so please make sure if you use the blanket to allow proper airflow.
Comfort
Pros
This carrier provided the most comfort out of all the ones I tried. It has wide padded shoulder straps, as well as a padded waist belt that helps when you plan to wear the carrier for an extended amount of time. There is also a lumbar support that helps when carrying the baby on the front because without it I’m sure my back issues I would be feeling it. I have worn it for 3+ hours plus walking around for about 3 miles.
Cons
Now like I said above I’ve had issues with my back as well as my hips which has caused me to have some issues with wearing the carrier. Mostly if either I’ve had a backache within the last few days I’ll start to bother me after a while.
Also I’m going to state here ladies I am so sorry for what you have to endure for 9-10 months. My body was not used to the added weight and dang if my hip muscles didn’t feel the burn. Now that I’ve been using it for a few months my muscles don’t hurt neatly as much. One thing that’s a slight annoyance is that if I’m wearing a belt the carrier doesn’t sit over it comfortably without adjusting my belt buckle.
Ease of use/ instruction understanding
Pros Though the manual provided isn’t as easy to understand as it should be, they do provide instructional videos on their site which I suggest checking out. As for ease of use once I got my technique down I can get him out of the car seat, and in the carrier within minutes.
Cons It is difficult to use in the beginning. I had to have my wife strap me in while I clutched Dom to my chest (daddy to new baby syndrome) fearing any movement might hurt him. The instruction photos could be better by providing closeups and better views. Also as a note to them putting a model with a white shirt on a white background makes it difficult to see.
Lille Baby made an excellent product with some slight room for improvement. As a designer myself I know there is always something you can improve when creating a product. This carrier will not be the best carrier for everyone because people have different body shapes. That is why it’s important to go in stores and try the carriers on. I’m not sure if all baby stores allow that but I know Buy Buy Baby does. When trying the carrier on you wont have the weight of a baby in the carrier. Push down on the waist belt to simulate the weight and direction the carrier will be pulled. As someone who uses this carrier I must say I am happy my wife and I chose this one.
If you liked this review check out my review of the Austlen Entourage Stroller one of the best strollers on teh market regardless if you have 1,2, or 3 kids
Affiliate links are included above. This means I will receive a commission if you order a product through one of my links. I only recommend products I believe in and use myself.
