Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Too Big for a Stroller, BUT... {Review & #GIVEAWAY - Ends 10/30}

If you've read my blog often enough, you know that we don't have a car for many reasons. This leaves us a few alternatives: ride the bus, ask a friend for a ride, or walk. The bus is nice, but the schedule and routes aren't always convenient, plus it costs a dollar each way (when we all go, that means $6 just to get there and back - more than gas!) Once a month, we carpool to the grocery store with a friend to get our frozen, bulk, and heavy stuff, but asking for a ride every time we want to go somewhere becomes annoying to friends with cars! Plus, we don't have a car because we chose NOT to drive everywhere in the first place. So, we walk more often than not.

Last summer, we took our stroller everywhere with us - to the park, outdoor concerts, the store... Little Guy would run alongside it for a block or two at a time, then ask to sit in the stroller. The stroller was a pain, though. You couldn't push it through grass easily, taking it into stores was sometimes impossible, someone had to always be watching it so no one would take it when we were at our destination and taking a child into crowds with a stroller can be dangerous! People tend to hold cigarettes at the eye-level of a child who's sitting in a stroller. We had a couple of near-misses at the River Raisin Jazz Festival last year.

This summer, we pretty much ditched the stroller. I can't tell you how free it felt to leave it at home. Little Guy was able to walk farther distances (actually, he runs everywhere), but he still needed to be carried sometimes. We live a mile away from our favorite park, the post office, and downtown - the three places we go most often. That means 2 miles round-trip, plus whatever walking/running we do while we're there. I almost always end up carrying Little Guy the last 1/2 mile home, oh, along with whatever we happened to take with us and/or buy while we were out. I have arthritis in my hands, elbows, shoulders, and knees. Plus, I get nice little flare ups of sciatica from time to time. Carrying him usually results in some major pains for me later on!

So, what's the solution? Baby Nari's Hip Hugger! I cannot give enough praises to this wonderful product. It is basically a fanny pack with a little seat for little ones. If only I'd had this for the past two summers... Well, can't go back and change time - I have one now and love it! There is a nice-sized storage pocket where I can keep an extra pair pf pants and underwear, sunscreen, snacks, etc. The Hip Hugger also has storage pockets on the inside of the waist strap for keeping money, an ID, etc. safe. PLUS, there is a mesh pocket on the outside where we keep Little Guy's water (or whatever car he's decided absolutely must go bye-bye with us.)





The Hip Hugger isn't just a fancy fanny pack, though. The waist strap is very wide 5 inches and padded so it distributes the weight evenly. It has both Velcro and a safety strap to ensure it will stay on and stay snug (Baby Nari recommends that you keep the belt tight to stay comfortable.) And, it's easy to change the size of the belt buckle, so two parents can use the Hip Hugger without having to go through a huge mess of trouble changing the size (it fits waists up to 40 inches.) The seat has a little heart of non-skid material to keep a wiggly child from slipping and constantly needing readjustment.

There are two versions of the Hip Hugger: Infant and Toddler. We, of course, have the toddler one, which can hold a child up to 40 pounds! I has an angled seat which tilts the child closer to your body, making it easier to carry them. The baby version can be used as support for a tired arm when they are tiny. As soon as baby can sit on his or her own, you can use it in the same way as the toddler version. It can be used from 5 months old (15 lbs.)





Oh, and did I mention that they come in a ton of COLORS?!

I can't wait to use this in the winter. We were pretty much stuck at home last winter because strollers aren't made for snow and ice and Little Guy couldn't go very far - snow take a LOT of hard work to walk through! Carrying him with all of the bulky clothes between us was nearly impossible - he was constantly slipping, making him pretty much dead weight. We'll be able to go so many more places this year - no cabin fever for us!

Baby Nari Hip Huggers are available to buy HERE. With the code: BABYNARI you can get $20 off your order. Oh, and shipping is free for orders over $50!

So, would you like one? Maybe you know someone with a baby or toddler who could really use one? Fill out the Rafflecopter form and give it a shot!

32 comments:

Anastasia said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Favorite color is the Blue Jean

anastasia at eco-babyz dot com

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I would like the brown color. I love the fact that my husban and I could quickly switch if we need to without much trouble.

pamelajmcbride at yahoo dot com

Jess said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates
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Jess said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I like the blue one

jsapalio at yahoo dot com

Amy D said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I like the brown and black!
asd42116 at yahoo dot com

Natalie A. said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I like the beige and brown color! Thanks!

coolnatty12 at yahoo dot com

amanda hoffman said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

i like that the babies weight is supported by the hip hugger and not your arms and i like the black one
amandahoffman35 at yahoo dot com

Lacie said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

My cousin has had an extremely rough pregnancy with her first baby and I would love to be able to give this to her! I love all the colors but I think she would like the black!
Chipee813@aol.com

Ali J said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

i like the beige!

SuperMom3128 said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I love the blue jean color.

artCain said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I love the pink one! I've tried a lot of different "holders" for my youngest since she was small and never liked any of them. I'm 5 foot tall and always looking for aids to help my back with my kids!

Amy V said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

i like black

annae07 at aol dot com

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I like the denim and black ones.

urchiken at gmail dot com

st3phanini said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

love the brown color

MelissaH said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I like that you can wear it on your side or front. And it's not girly so my husband won't have a problem wearing it.

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I like the red color the best!
beccaebyATgmailDOTcom

Beatriz said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

black! it won't show stains :) beatrizbry2 at aol dot com

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Favorite color is black. I love that the weight is on this and not your arms. I also love that you stand straighter and not leaning!

Donna said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I like the infant one in Blue Jean.

shirley said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I like that you can stand straighter with this and the weight is not on your arms, like the blue jean.
supergrand2009@yahoo.com

Caitlyn said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

The Pink is my favorite, hands down!!

yo8798 said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I love the pink one!! I would love how it would help put the weight right to help with my back!

nzrd said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Well-balanced posture.

Sarah Kay said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I would like it in black :}

kim said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I would love to win one for my daughter who is expecting. This is her 2nd child and could really use this. I would pick pink.

Becca said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

love the black one and the fact that it gives your arms and back a break!

tiffany said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

i love that it supports your spine!
glamgirlajj@hotmail.com

meredith m said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

im indecisive but i like black b/c it goes with everything :)

Rosalee Lugo said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I love love love the red hip hugger!

Jessica said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Blue Jean
jessicajhennings@gmail.com

Sara Jennings said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I like the pink one and I love that I could walk around and carry my little girl and not have tired arms and a back ache all the time!

Ashlee Davis said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I like that i would be able to use the toddler one for both my kids! And the Blue Jean would totally match one of my favorite diaper i have for my son. And that pocket is awesome!