What's the Difference?

We often get questions about the differences between SSC (Soft Structured Carrier) Brands. The differences are often small but can make a big difference in comfort from person to person. People tend to want an easy answer to the question “which SSC is best for me?” The problem is that especially with SSC’s there tends to not be an easy answer to the question of which one is best. Just as each brand of SSC varies from another; every wearer’s body varies from another. This means that while one brand may be a perfect fit for one caregiver, it is not necessarily a perfect fit for the next.

There are a few main differences that can often be found between brands. For example, some brands place the waist buckle in the back and some place it on the side. Some brands only pull one direction to tighten waist and arm straps while others pull both directions. Those differences aren't the focus of this post though; here I want to concentrate on subtler things that can make a difference in how a carrier fits you. In order to demonstrate those differences I am going to compare two standard size Action Baby Carriers (ABC’s).

Action Baby Carrier changed ownership a little over a year ago and many people have noticed that since the ownership change there have been some changes in the carriers as well. This is not a bad thing. It happens. Carriers change and companies change. It is however an easy way to show how small differences in the same brand and size of carrier can change the way that carrier wears and feels for caregiver and baby. Below you will see pictures comparing an older ABC and a newer ABC(after ownership change) and I will point out some differences between the two carriers.

In the photos below both the Pink/Green wave and the Green/black carriers are older ABC’s. The Grey Carrier is a newer ABC. The waves carrier is exactly the same as the green one except for the fact that the green is one of their organic carriers. These are all standard sized carriers.

 Inside of the grey and green ABC’s

Outside of the grey and Pink/Green Waves ABC’s

Height comparison with hoods down.

Close up of Height comparison. (grey, Pink/green waves. Hoods up)

Height Comparison with hoods up. (Grey and Waves)

Height Comparison with hoods up. (Grey and Green)

You can see above that the padded portion of the waist band is very similar and approximately the same length.

The waist straps however are significantly different in length. The longer one on top is the newer grey carrier. This means it would fit a wider range of body sizes.

This photo shows the placement of the arm buckle from the front. You can see that the grey carrier(Far left) has a much different placement than the other 2.

Comparison of arm buckle placement from the inside of the carrier.

Grey Carrier.

Same child in green carrier.

Same child again in grey carrier

For me personally wearing an almost 2 year old and being short I found the older ABC's more comfortable than the newer one. One reason was height difference in the carriers. The advantage of the shorter body on the newer carrier is that it can be used sooner with a small baby. The disadvantage is that it doesn't provide as much support when wearing a toddler.

Height difference aside as that aspect would only be an issue if I was wearing for a long time, I did not like the placement of the arm buckle on the newer carrier. When tightened to where I needed it the difference in placement meant that the buckle on the older carriers hit me fine but on the newer carrier it dug into my armpit. Someone taller would not have the same issue, which demonstrates the point that every wearer and every SSC is different so what works for one may not work for another.

The 3 main things I pointed out here: Height difference, arm buckle placement and waist strap length, are not huge differences. They are however things that can make a difference in how the carrier fits both wearer and baby. They are also not necessarily things you would notice much unless you tried the carrier, which is why there is no easy answer to the question “which SSC is best for me?”.

It's all in here! International Babywearing Week events!

In case you forgot to mark it on your calendar last time you read our blog, we've got one week left until the kick off of International Babywearing Week 2014!  #‎intlbabywearingweek‬  #bwiofncil

Here are all the events that BWI of North Central Illinois are hosting throughout the week. Come to one or come to several. We will have special giveaways at each event we are hosting! We also have great raffles you can buy tickets and enter to win. The drawing for those will be completed at the conclusion of International Babywearing Week.

Sunday, October 5 - THE BIG EVENT!  1-4pm at Great Lakes Leadership Campus in Elburn
Event details here!
Event Tickets here!

This will be a great afternoon of workshops, food, and fun. Follow the event ticket link so that you can pick your classes you want to attend and also to let us know if you will be utilizing the free childcare we have available.

Monday, October 6 - Dekalb October Meeting **Special Location**   6-8pm at Lehans Drugs in Dekalb
Meeting details and sign-up here!

Tuesday, October 7 - Babywearing Photos with Hilary   10am-12pm at Emricson Park in Woodstock
Details and sign-up here!
The cost is $25 (cash only please) for a 15 minute photo shoot. You will receive 3 edited images - one will be a group shot and the other two are your choice! Please contact Katy Willis Meyer or one of our educators to reserve your session.

Wednesday, October 8 - Babywearing Yoga   6-7pm at Radiant Heart Yoga in West Dundee
Details and sign-up here!
Come and wear your little one while doing a yoga class. This free event is at a very kid friendly location. Get in a little workout and have some fun!

Thursday, October 9 - Two events!
South Elgin October Meeting  10:30am-1:30pm at Fluff Envy in South Elgin
Meeting details and sign-up here!

Park Play Date 11am-1pm at Belvidere Park in Belvidere
Details and sign-up here!
Pack a little picnic lunch and after we eat and let the kids play at the Bloom Playground we'll take a walk through Belvidere Park and enjoy the fall colors.

Friday, October 10 - Online Event!
Post pictures to our Facebook group and Instagram of your wearing from International Babywearing Week. We'd love to see what you've learned and how babywearing has helped you. Make sure to tag your photos too.  #intlbabywearingweek  #bwiofncil

Saturday, October 11 - Phillips Park Zoo   10am-1pm at Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora
Details and sign-up here!
Enjoy this free zoo with fellow babywearers. Bring your whole family and check out if any of the animals are wearing their babies too.

And last but not least - we are putting another scarecrow in the contest at Scarecrow Fest in St. Charles. The festival runs from October 10-12 and our babywearing scarecrow will be in the Traditional Category. Visit the festival and vote for us so we can do even better than our 3rd place winner from last year! Scarecrow Fest details here!


BWI of NCIL is looking forward to Share the Adventure!

A Pavo for our lending library!

We are a very lucky BWI Chapter!  

Marsupial Mamas and Pavo Textiles has graciously donated a beautiful Pavo Form Plume!!!

This wrap is amazing!  It's got this amazing texture to it, is moldable and super supportive.

Wanderlust is part of Pavo Form, their everyday line.  Plume is natural and turquoise colored.  This design is gorgeous!  This is an all cotton wrap and for those into wrap geekery (I know I am!)...the weight is 280 gr/m2

Make sure to try this one at your next meeting.  We're hoping to capture a couple of action pics of it too.  We'll post them on this blog post.  

The leadership team, will make sure that this makes it's way to all the meetings before getting checkout.

Also, please feel free to stop over at Pavo, Pavo Form and Marsupial Mamas 

to say thank you from BWI of North Central Illinois!  

Pavo Textiles

Pavo Form

Marsupial Mamas

Everyone had a chance to play around with it at the DeKalb evening meeting, they loved it! 

Plume traveled to our Rockford meeting, it was a hit!
One of our members had this to say about it..."Glad to try a Pavo for the first time.  It is a thicker wrap than I am used to, but not super thick.  It has a good grip to it when you want the passes to stay put, but passes slide well into place.  Cushy on the shoulders too.  We would have been comfy for a while too if my daughter didn't want to go run around with the rest of the kids."