Review/Giveaway: Kowalli

Well, winter is finally upon us here in New England, I envy those of you who don't quite know what I am talking about. Gone are the mornings where sunshine equals warmth, sunny with a high of 30 is more our winter routine. Last winter Coraline was a tiny little bean so carrying her around was no problem, she fit just fine underneath my coat with me. This winter however, Coraline is a full fledge toddler and keeping us both warm is a huge challenge. My go to method of transportation remains babywearing, if you have never worn your baby I urge you to give it a shot and see why I mostly pick my carrier over my stroller. So I try my best to bundle us both up, and then in the carrier she goes, it leaves something to be desired like we need a big blanket over us both.

I searched long and hard before I found the Kowalli, but I loved the concept as soon as I understood it. The Kowalli is a baby carrier cover, it really is a cross between a blanket/cape that goes over you and baby. Let me tell you it is ingenious.I have to admit  I was  fairly skeptical that this was going to be s useful product to me. At first glance it seemed very big and baggy, ie totally unflattering. No, life is not a fashion show but I definitely believe that looking good in turn makes you feel good. My hesitations were quickly put to rest when I started using the Kowalli everyday.

First, I was wrong about the oversized nature. Yes, it does look a little like a stylish sack but the functionality far out weighs that fact. I was sent the turtle/eggplant color, which coincidentally matches my entire fall/winter wardrobe. So this is how it works, after baby is safe and secure in the carrier (Kowalli works with any carriers as well as front and back carry positions) you put your head through the big top hole and also put your child's head through. Kind of simultaneously you put one arm through the single arm hole, then pull the body of the fleece cover down over you and babe. The you adjust the cover on top and bottom using the two adjustable built in elastic pulls. It's so easy that once you put it on you don't really need instructions, I am all for this kind of intuitive product.

Kowalli is made of weather treated non-pill Polartec Fleece, which is super warm let me tell you. I thought I would be chilly out and about with only the Kowalli, but I was actually very warm. Now that it is winter, I put Coraline in her usual coat and boots (hat and gloves of course) and I wear my own Polartec fleece jacket, the Kowalli on top. So far this has been working well for us, later in the season I will have to wear a larger jacket underneath. 

The stand out features for me are that the Kowalli is super easy to use, very comfortable, and versatile. Just yesterday JP wore Coraline on the way home and I insisted that he wear the Kowalli to keep her warm, anything that is daddy friendly gets big bonus points in this house. I have been wearing this nonstop since I got it and I have to say people ask me all the time what it is.  "That's the coolest thing I have ever seen" says the lady in the dentists office.  I wanted to post some super cute pictures of us wearing our Kowalli but I haven't gotten around to taking them. I have been holding up on this review for so long that I decided I would forgo my usual product pictures and get the review up. It's getting cold, you all need to know how to keep warm!

Kowalli was kind enough to also send Coraline a Polartec Fleece hat that matches the Kowalli cover, it is so adorable! They also carry matching booties, I'm not usually super matchy but they are all just too cute to pass up.

Buy!

Kowalli is available online

Win!

Kowalli knows you are drooling at the chance to wear your baby all winter while keeping warm, so they have offered one lucky reader a Kowalli of their own! (retail value $69.00)

Read the rules and entry information below

Rules:

Must complete mandatory entry
Additional entries will not be valid without mandatory entry
All entries will be verified!
Must leave a comment for  each additional entry.
Additional entries are worth 1 entry unless otherwise noted.
Contest closes 12/19/10 @ 9pm eastern standard time
Valid email address must be entered
Winner will be contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond.   

Mandatory Entry:

Go to the Kowalli site and leave a comment telling which color combo you would choose AND what carrier you use! 

Additional Entries:          

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"Win a Kowalli #babywearing carrier cover for winter! http://ow.ly/3kjv4
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ErgoBaby Performance is here!

Hands down one of the best things I ever decided to use in my parenting is baby wearing. I am always surprised at how many families have never even considered baby wearing as an option with their infant! It took me a few months and several products to figure out what worked best for our family in terms of how we carried Coraline. I found the most important factors were comfort, feeling secure, ease of use and versatility. You may remember my glowing review a while back of the ErgoBaby Organic carrier, it was a match made in heaven for us.

Since we brought the ErgoBaby into our lives all of those months ago, we haven't looked back. Coraline has been in her ErgoBaby in several states, airports, airplanes, restaurants and foreign locals. Can you believe I nearly left Anguilla without my ErgoBaby and had to drive back to retrieve it before leaving the island! I would have been totally lost without it.

Coraline in her Organic ErgoBaby

One of the greatest parts of the ErgoBaby is that my husband also finds it easy to use, he loves carrying Coraline for walks with the dog or just around the house. I know how lucky I am to be able to breastfeed my daughter, we share an amazing bond because of that, but because of our ErgoBaby; JP and Cora have also been able to develop their own special bonds.

There was one downfall to the ErgoBaby Organic, at least, only one that I could find. The organic cotton is thick, which equals hot. Coraline gets hot and sweaty fairly quickly which means we haven't been wearing the ErgoBaby as much as I would like this summer. On hot summer days I have lately been opting instead for a stroller making sure to keep both Coraline and I nice and cool. Well, ErgoBaby has literally answered my prayers because now there is the ErgoBaby Performance.

I feel more honored then I can express to be among the first to get to test out the ErgoBaby Performance. I was like a little kid on Christmas morning waiting for the Performance to arrive in my mailbox and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

I was sent the gray carrier, which is good news for JP, gray is very daddy friendly. I was immediately struck by how light the new carrier is, 1/3 the weight of the standard . The new Performance carrier really does strike you as being designed with activity in mind. Made of a high-performance polyester exterior it features a breathable mesh lining which allows for way more air circulation, keeping you and baby cooler. In addition to all of that, there is a "Cool Max" Panel, which helps wick moisture away.

The design of this ErgoBaby Performance is much more sleek and sporty, I like it a lot. It seems more urban to me, or streamlined. It gives you that same ergonomic fit that I love about ErgoBaby. All the weight distribution on your hips whether you are doing the front carry, back carry or the side carry. The new straps are contoured, which adds that extra touch to the sleek look, they also feature padding that won't absorb water.

Two of my favorite features of the standard ErgoBaby were the little zippered front pocket, where I always put my keys, phone and subway pass and the built in sleep hood. I can't even tell you how many times Coraline has been asleep under that hood while we were out and about. Both of those features are still a part of the ErgoBaby Performance. The new sleep hood is even better, made with two layers. The outer is a water proof layer slightly lighter then the rest of the carrier, the inside is a soft cotton. This is a great improvement to the standard hood. Also, the hood has two adjustment straps built in and the hood pocket is zippered.

 

backSo many great new features,  Here is the rundown of great new features we are throughly enjoying.

1/3 lighter then the standard ErgoBaby
Contoured shoulder straps
Waist band extends 5 inches longer then the standard ErgoBaby

Even the way the back buckel sides up and down the straps, has been streamlined and made simple.

New Cargo Pack
The Cargo Pack is made especially for the the Performance line. Made from the durable polyester and cotton, it attaches to the side buckles on the carrier. You know I will be ordering this very soon! Talk about all ready to hit the city via trains and buses, a lightweight carrier with a versatile Cargo Bag.

Overall, I am in love. This carrier is exactly what my family needed when we are on the go whether it is around the city, in the airport or visiting my family in the Caribbean.  Even though we still love the standard carrier, I will be using the new carrier a ton. The  ErgoBaby Performance is like my favorite pair of yoga pants: comfortable, durable, makes me look good and is ready to move.

hood

ready to get out :)

Buy!

The ErgoBaby Performance is available today! Visit ErgoBaby.com to order one right away!

($120 retail value)

Dear FCC: I did receive a product sample for review, at no charge. In no way was I paid for this review or my positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own, based on my own experience.

Sunday Review: Ergo Baby Carrier

Babywearing is more then just a transportation method, it's a lifestyle. Parents who wear their babies can almost always tell you about how it fosters a closer bond with their children. I definitely agree. I knew when I was pregnant that wearing Cora was something that was for us. It goes right along with our style of parenting, to be as close to her as possible, teaching her we are there for her when she needs us. I have tried so many slings, wraps and buckle contraptions that I almost gave up on trying to find something that didn't hurt my back as I wore my ever growing daughter. I am only 5'4" and I have a small frame, with 15lbs in front of me, I was always complaining about how sore my shoulders were or my back hurt.
Then the really great people over at Ergo Baby sent me one of their carriers to try out and review. I'm a changed mom! The carrier they sent is one of their Organic line. There are a few great things about this carrier so it's hard to find a place to even start.
The carrier is made of 100% Organic Cotton and it's soft yet very durable feeling. At first it doesn't seem like a huge difference, the fabric, until you realize that your baby is going to chew on the shoulder straps. Cora does this almost immediately so I'm happier knowing that it's a great thing for her to chew on.

The Ergo is really easy to put on. Some "carriers" I have tried have had tons of buckles, straps, adjustments and ties. One of the things that is important in baby wearing is feeling confident that your child is secure. There is no point in having a sling or carrier that you don't feel secure in, you just end up using your hands to hold your baby in the carrier anyway, such a waste. As a stay at home mom I am most often alone with Cora and that means I need something that is easy to use. I can easily put the Ergo on all by myself. Two buckles and we are good to go. Cora has never seemed so comfortable! Everytime we use this she has fallen right to sleep. Which leads me to the really nice sleep/wind hood. Once she falls asleep I can simply pull the hood out of the pocket and snap it onto the shoulder straps. simple. Then the outside world is a bit more blocked allowing her to sleep longer. There is also a great little zipper pocket on the front where I stuck my cell phone and keys, love that.
Now to the the very best part...the ergonomics, for me and for her. The carrier is built a lot like a hiking backpack I had in college. Based on the amount of weight you are carrying, it just makes sense to take as much of that weight off your back, as possible. So most of the weight is distributed onto you hips. The waist band of the Ergo is wide and sturdy. I felt and immediate difference from other carriers when I put her in. The real test was walking, we walked about 2 miles with this carrier today and I felt great. She slept and I didn't have to deal with a huge stroller. Because she is being supported by her bottom and not her pelvis, her spine is totally supported. You can front carry, side carry or back carry with this, so far we have only done the front because Cora is something of a peanut even though her legs are long. They even have videos online that show you how to wear the Ergo in different positions and remove a sleeping baby :)
My husband has had our only complaints so far, Because his shoulders are so wide it is difficult for him to buckle the shoulder straps. I think with more practice he can perfect this. This is probably my new favorite baby item. It makes my life easier and my daughter loves it. You can tell this is a product that was designed by a mother because she needed/wanted something great. The love shows through in the design and ease of use.

If you are a new mom or you haven't tried baby wearing yet, I highly suggest the Ergo. It will be money well spent when you see all the benefits. Now I am off to order some of their accessories and make our load even lighter with a backpack or hip pack and definitely a set of shoulder strap covers that Cora can chew.