Beco Gemini Baby Carrier

January 27, 2012 //
2

Ready to go for a walk!

The Beco Gemini is one of a few different baby carriers available from Beco.  I bought this carrier because I knew I wanted to carry my son during his non-walking years.  I don’t like strollers for the people traffic jams most of them create and I like to travel light.  I figured I could keep Gavin strapped to me while I clean, vacuum, do chores, er, um, I mean while I work on my truck and build things in the garage.  Also, I would be able to strap Gavin to me and walk the dogs at the same time.  (Multitasking!)  It really allows me to have both hands free to do things around the house or elsewhere.

NOTE:  If you’ve got no interest in having a baby carrier and are one of those people that push an enormous stroller around while oblivious to everything and everyone around you, then this is probably not the product for you.  It takes a certain type of person to want to carry a baby and I’ve found these people to be more minimalist in nature.

Given the opportunity to try on and test different baby carriers, I found the Beco Gemini able to carry baby: facing out, facing in, on the hip, and backpack style.  These options were in my desired list.  The only style of carry I haven’t used up to this point is the hip carry.  (I’ve got no hips for now, but I’m working on the middle age spread!)

The instructions for the Gemini were pretty easy to follow and there is ample padding for the different methods of carry.  I started carrying Gavin when he was about 6 weeks old (facing in).  Beco claims that the carrier can hold 7-35lbs.  Gavin was 7lb 13oz when born, but I didn’t feel at all comfortable trying to carry Gavin at that time.  It was just my personal preference and I waited until he got a little bigger.

At this time, Gavin is 9 1/2 months old and about 20lb.  He’s easy to carry with the Gemini and there is still enough padding to keep him comfortable.  We’ll see if he’ll still wants to be carried like this at 35 lb.  Either way, there’s room for him to grow.

This baby carrier was one of the few that did all the styles of baby carrying that I wanted.  It didn’t look too girly, but couldn’t they print bullets or knives on at least one of their carriers?  I don’t want to discourage anyone from this carrier because it is great, but I’ve seen plenty of use with it and I’ve got a few small issues with it.  I can’t get the waist support around my waist.  I’ve got a 29″ waist (31″ after eating a steak) and the waist strap doesn’t cinch tight around me.  The problem comes when I put the baby into the carrier and he sinks down into that space between me and the strap.  When this happens, his chin ends up resting on the top lip of the carrier.  After walking for a while, it rubs his chin skin and gets red.  Either have the top part fold down further or make the thing for skinny dads.  We do exist and we do carry babies.  Another issue I have is that there’s no storage, not even a place to hold a nickel you may pick up on the side of the road.  Lastly, washing the material, even once, causes it to fade slightly and look worn.

On the bright side, the safety buckles are great and the stitching of the material seems to be holding up quite well.  I like having the top part to fold up for shading Gavin’s head from the sun or supporting his head when he’s tired.  The Beco Gemini has enough support to be functional without being a problem to fold up and travel with.

I guess the real question is:  Now that I know all the ins and outs of this product, would I buy this again?  Yes.

———-

Overall Rating:  7 Worms   

Ease of Use:  7 Worms 

Performance:  7 Worms 

Features:  7 Worms 

Durability:  8 Worms 

Manliness:  6 Worms (No guy looks manly carrying a baby.  Though, he does look sensitive and caring!)

Retail Price:  $130

———-

Pros:

Safety clasps, 4-way baby carrier, lightweight, quality stitching, packs tightly into my suitcase for travel

Cons:

No pockets.  Doesn’t cinch tight enough around my waist.  Could use more adjustability in padded portion for different size babies.

Things I would modify:

Add pockets or bags that you could velcro to the straps.  Just something small to carry a pacifier, diaper, and a couple wipes, so I don’t have to carry around a diaper bag everywhere I go.  I’d like to see the top fold down portion able to fold down further.  My baby isn’t small, but his entire head still doesn’t clear the top flap. (It may also have to do with the loose waist strap.)  I’d also like to see more adjustability in the padded section, like possibly more button fasteners so that I can fine tune the comfort for baby.  Maybe breathable fabric?

Where to find:

www.becobabycarrier.com

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Please Drive Forward and Enjoy the Fruits of Your Wife’s Labor

January 27, 2012 //
0
750 mm by 1050 mm (30 in by 42 in) Preferentia...

Image via Wikipedia

Forget what I said in an earlier post about losing 30 minutes of my life.  I wasn’t in my right mind.  Today, Tebow shines on my brain and blesses me with a stroke of genius!

I’m driving along and I see the usual signs on the local freeway:  merging traffic, exit only, carpool – 2 or more…wait, 2 or more?  I’ve got two or more in the car.  In fact, I’ve got three in the car at the moment!  Me, Gavin and Duncan = 3!  I can’t believe it!  I’m 2 or more!  I’m 2 or more!  The sign doesn’t say anything about the description of 2 or more, just 2 or more!  The pint-sized progeny finally has a purpose.

Wow!  So, now I’m entitled (well, aren’t all Californians entitled?) to a new entitlement!  I can use the carpool lane!

I see myself saving minutes of freeway driving every week now.  Added up over the course of a few months, I may save enough time to go for a good mountain biking excursion!

All I need is to do is bring the baby wherever I go.  Rush hour traffic?  No problem.  Put the baby in the car.  Morning traffic?  No problem.  Put the baby in the car!  (What else has he got to do?  Nothing!  He’s a baby!)  Minutes saved from traffic will become hours and hours will become days!  This baby isn’t a time vortex anymore, he’s a time machine!

I finally understand why having kids is so rewarding.  Thank you, Tebow!  Hallelujah!

Gavin is the gift that keeps on giving…on the freeway!

Gavin – 5; Dad – 3

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First there was Steph and I. Then at 12:45am he showed up…

January 26, 2012 //
0

You want me to do what?

Separating mommy from baby was my first job as a father…Does that face say “I’m clueless about fatherhood” or what?

Due to the high demand for baby pictures on this blog, we have started a new category called GPOD – Gavin Pic of the Day.  It’s a way to shamelessly promote the adorability of our son Gavin.  We will be starting from his very first breath of air.

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Be Prepared – A Practical Handbook for New Dads

January 26, 2012 //
0
Cover of "Be Prepared: A Practical Handbo...

Cover via Amazon

Steph and I have read a lot of books trying to prepare ourselves and our lives for the new baby.  Some of these books we liked, and some of them we loved. This book is one of my favorites.

The authors are Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden.  ‘Be Prepared‘ is a funny, yet practical book that is sure to bring a laugh.  I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  Near the end of Steph’s pregnancy, I read the first half of the book, you know, to be prepared.  I reread the first half of the book just after Gavin was born…during the midnight feedings.  After Gavin turned 6 months old, I read the second half.  The book is split up into categories (First Week, 0-3 Months, 4-6 Months, 7-9 Months, and 10-12 Months)  so you can read the part that pertains to you and your baby.  But, I’m sure that once you pick this book up, you will read it through from beginning to end.  The ideas and information presented are very much the way a man would do things. It’s entertainingly useful and well organized, kind of like me!

The things I loved about this book is that it made learning about my baby fun and memorable.  It was also nice to pick up and read in short bursts during those midnight feedings.  (Just make sure you don’t laugh too hard or you’ll distract the baby from feeding!)

On a side note, this book makes a great baby shower gift for the dad, but only if he’s got a sense of humor about things.  Well, even if he doesn’t, it may lighten his mood somewhat under the magnanimous pressure of pending responsibility of caring for another human.

It’s definitely worth a read.   Everything you need to survive your first year of fatherhood.  I highly recommend it.

———-

Overall Rating:  10 Worms   

Readability:  10 Worms

Usefulness:  10 Worms 

Manliness:  10 Worms 

Retail Price:  $15

———-

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The Baby Mind Meld…

January 26, 2012 //
2

I work one day during the week.  Let me back up here.  I go play for one day a week at my office and I leave the “work” to a babysitter.  She takes the Worm all day and I get some much needed adult time.  During this glorious day, I carry on conversations with people other than myself!  I see clients and do adult things like speak in full sentences.  I look forward to it.  It’s a brief, but welcome respite from my SAHD duties.  (I just found out that there’s an acronym for me, Stay At Home Dad or SAHD).  In other words, getting a day at the office keeps me sane and able to handle the rest of my week, sort of like what coke does for Charlie Sheen.

Yesterday morning, Gavin was cranky.  Not happy with the rigors of baby life, he wouldn’t stop fussing.  (You know those mornings, right?)  So, I decided to get him over to the babysitter’s early, so that she could deal with him spend more face time with him.  I grabbed everything I needed for his day (car seat, diaper bag, food, formula, toys, stroller) and everything I needed for mine (kit, backpack, laptop, phone, treatment table, travel bin, lunch, tea).  The truck was packed and ready to go.  The only forgotten item was my brain.  Leaving the house was a blur for me.  I could only remember bits of it.  There’s no other valid reason for this except the baby mind meld.  (Has he been watching Star Trek re-runs late at night?)  In that clever Spock-like maneuver, Gavin jostled my mental acuity and I drove away from the house with the garage door open.  A brief moment of clarity made me realize it once I got on the freeway.  I panic and turn around to race home.  All I’m visualizing is a group of neighbors standing in front of my garage, mouths agape, and the Hoarders TV crew filming their next episode.  Luckily, as I approached the house there was no one there.  (What? Am I not good enough for Hoarders?)  I close the garage and leave again…for the second time.

At this point, I’ve lost 30 minutes of my life (actually, I don’t want that 30 minutes back.  Keep it.)  I head back to my original destination, the babysitter’s house.  Of course, once I get there, the babysitter is not home.  Her husband tells me that she’s at my house waiting for me.  Brilliant.  I drive back home and drop Gavin off with the babysitter.  (I probably threw him at her, but he deserved it.)  I leave the house again…for the third time.

After all the morning fracas is sorted and I show up late to work, I conveniently lock myself out on the back patio…Argh!  Blast this mind meld trick!  It’s still working on my brain!

Young grasshopper, you have learned the art of confusing your adversary.  You win again.

Gavin = 5; Dylan = 2

Don't worry, it won't happen again. I'm wearing protection. 😉

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The First Years BabyPro Bottle Warmer

January 24, 2012 //
0

The First Years BabyPro Bottle Warmer

The First Years BabyPro (or is it Baby Pro?) Bottle Warmer is a tool for warming baby milk, formula and food.  It’s a pretty clever design which can also keep bottles cold for up to 8 hours before you need to use the warmer for feeding time.  That makes it a nice product to keep in the bedroom, especially when baby is feeding often at night or the kitchen is far away.

Let’s start with the cooling portion of the BabyPro.  It’s basically a cooler.   There’s no electricity that runs through it so it only insulates an already cold bottle.  Steph and I never used this part because the baby slept in the kitchen sink for the first few months and the fridge was right next to him.  (Just kidding, we’ve got a small house, so it was not a necessary feature for us.)

Now, the warming portion of the, uh, warmer.  I like the simplicity of it.  I found it easy to use, especially for those memorable nights where you’re the exhausted parent fumbling for milk to feed a screaming baby.  There’s one button and all you have to do is add the proper amount of water to the unit.  It turns on when you push the button and turns off when the water inside evaporates and milk is ready.  Now, I think you’d be hard-pressed to make a much simpler device.  But, it’s possible.  (See my modifications section below.)

Now for the issues with the bottle warmer.  I’m not sure about this, but my unit never had an instruction booklet.  (Not that I would read it anyhow.)  Some other people have said the same thing about their BabyPro.  But, it’s not a big deal. it’s just something that I have come to expect with most appliances, even easy to use ones.  Also, milk that spills over into the heating element will harden on the element, thereby reducing the heating ability of the BabyPro.  You can use regular water for steaming the bottle, but I think distilled water would be best to keep the heating element clean and effective.  (I use regular “hard” water and I regularly clean my BabyPro with CLR cleaner to keep the heating element free from debris.)

Adding the proper amount of water can also be an issue.  Lots of users have issues with this.  There’s a guide that tells you how much water you should put into the warmer for heating up different amounts of milk, formula, or jar food.  (But, it’s kind of like the cake baking directions on a box…if you’re not cooking in Betty Crocker‘s stove, you may have to adjust accordingly.)  Common sense should also tell you that when the air temperature is lower (say 60°F) then you would probably need more steam (hence more water) to warm up a bottle, than if the air temperature was higher (say 80°F).  But, as I said before, in the middle of the night, those brain functions are just not there.  That has less to do with the warmer and more to do with the user.  But, once you’ve used the warmer enough times, it becomes second nature to know when to add a little extra water and when not to.  So, if you require a more precise warmer, then this may not be the one you need.

NOTE:  We used Medela 5oz. bottles for this warmer and they fit perfectly.

———-

Overall Rating:  7 Worms   

Ease of Use:  8 Worms 

Performance:  9 Worms 

Features:  7 Worms 

Durability:  9 Worms 

Manliness:  6 Worms 

Retail Price:  $30-$60

———-

Pros:

Cooler and warmer.  On-off switch. Night light.  Heats bottle fast.  Price.  Durable. Easy to use once you get the hang of it.

Cons:

Water measurement issues for some.  Once you figure out how much water to put in, it’s fine.  The button on my unit is starting to stick and I’m not sure why.  (I just wanted to note this for other users, in case of a flaw in device.)

Things I would modify:

I would add a water dispenser that you could fill up to the unit.  Then, when you have a 5 oz bottle to warm up, you would press the button to dispense incremental amounts of water that you need directly into the warmer.  That way, you could get rid of the little water compartments on the side of the unit, as shown in the picture.

The First Years BabyPro Bottle Warmer can be found in many places, so I won’t list anywhere specific.

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Purple Nurple? The Dylanobscuro Effect

January 24, 2012 //
4

I’m a new dad.  Of course, you knew that.  So, there are things that I don’t know about babies.  (It’s hard even for me to believe.)  But, I’m learning.

For example, the other day I was changing Gavin’s pajamas.  As a normal routine, I check his body for cuts, scrapes, bruises, redness, rash, etc.  (I’m a medical professional.  It’s a habit.)  I also look at the color (or lack of color) of his skin.  And if you remember from some of my other posts, Gavin’s a little on the white side.  Ok, he’s a lot on the white side.  (For the first 7 months of his life, he had less melanin in his skin than my wife, Steph.)

Since then, Gavin’s gotten some coloration.  His skin is not as light as Steph’s anymore, but it’s definitely not the caramel cinnamon cocoa color of his old man.

Again, the other day I was checking out the Worm’s skin like normal and I was shocked to see that his areolas had darkened.  Now, it doesn’t freak me out or anything because it’s not like his nipples turned purple.  But, they’ve definitely changed color from a pinky pink to a browny pink.  (Ladies, you can translate that to whatever name I’m sure you already have in your color palette.  But, to keep things simple for the guys reading this, pinky pink and browny pink are extremely accurate descriptions.)

I’ve done searches online and I didn’t find anything about baby nipples changing color as they get older.  The only search results that come up for me are for mom’s areolas changing color during and/or after pregnancy.  And the other searches come up with nipple rings and other weird stuff like that. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)

So, here I am stating to the world that I have the first documented internet webpage denoting that baby nipples can actually change color as they age.  For the record, Gavin was 9 and 1/2 months when this happened.  In return for sharing such said knowledge to the world, I proudly accept the new term for baby nipple pigmentation, Dylanobscuro.  (Obscuro means darkness in Latin, duh!)

So, if your baby begins to gain more pigmentation as he or she ages, it’s only the Dylanobscuro effect.  (Add it to your MS Word dictionary people!)

My explanation of why this is happening is because Steph and I have a mixed up baby.  Two different species races. We’re seeing different genes and characteristics manifesting at different periods of baby’s growth.  Pretty interesting.  It reminds me of the old saying “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”  (Come on, that movie was 18 years ago!  That’s old!)  And we’re not sure how the Worm is going to turn out.  But, if you are interested, stay tuned to Me vs. Gavin!

And I can’t show you his nipples because then you’d be looking at child pornography (only in America, right?).  So, to save you a trip to jail and to save me from having my website shut down, I leave you with the edited picture below.  It’s safe for you to view now.  It’s safe for America now.

Uh, Dad what are you doing?

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