Thank you Ergobaby
for providing me with a product to review, free of charge.
These are my own honest opinions.

The best part of having children is obviously spending quality time with them, doing lots of fun activities as a family, seeing them discover the world around them. One of the best ways to make sure babies and children are part of the action is to carry them in a baby carrier. Not only is it super practical (hands free and no bulky stroller to bring along), it’s also a great position for them to see you and see around themselves.

I’ve been an avid baby wearer since our first daughter was born but wraps and slings remain to this day slightly frightening to my husband. He was never comfortable wearing our daughters even though he wanted to do it and could see all of its benefits. I knew there had to be a way to get reluctant daddies involved in babywearing! Something comfortable, easy to put on and take off, something that looks a little more sporty and masculine. Something like the Ventus from Ergobaby Performance collection carriers.

Ergobaby carriers are some of best known and most reputable carriers out there. They offer everything from organic carriers to designer carriers, infant inserts (that allow parents to carry their newborn) and even wraps. There’s something for everyone, even for active dads who may fall for the Performance in Black Charcoal or True Blue or the Ventus in Graphite. (Scoop: new colors will be introduced in the Fall!)

The Ventus is an amazing carrier, especially for on-the-go parents. Its name is derived from the Latin word for ‘wind’ and this is no coincidence. It is super lightweight considering it’s a semi-structured carrier. It is also designed with breathability in mind: it offers lots of ventilation and has a moisture-wicking mesh lining. This way, both baby and daddy can look cool and stay cool!

This carrier has a weight limit of 45lbs and offers 3 positions: front, back, and hip. I tried all 3 positions and both the front and back carries were very comfortable, with the weight distributed on my hips. I could carry either girl for long periods of time and felt no pain in my shoulders, back or hips. I didn’t find the hip carry quite as comfortable. I felt the strap pulling on my neck even though my youngest weighs about 15 lbs and my oldest weighs about 24lbs. I could carry them in that position for only a short amount of time but it could just be that I was unable to adjust it correctly.

The Ventus is quite easy to adjust whether you’re carrying a baby or a child, whether you’re short (like me) or taller like my husband. Take a look at their How-To videos to learn how to install your Ventus correctly. The safety buckles are sturdy and there is an additional elastic loop for each buckle for maximum security. The straps and waist belt are padded. Even my husband who didn’t like my other carriers said this one was easy to use and comfortable, and not nearly as intimidating as he thought. Our daughters are also comfortable because they are in a natural sitting position (knees at the height of their hips, fully supported).

We use the Ventus mostly for my oldest and she can easily see above our shoulders. Because this carrier rests on our hips, babies may be seated lower than with other carriers. For example, my youngest can’t see above our shoulders but she has a good view on either side and she doesn’t seem to mind.

Babywearing is such an easy way to bond and be close to our little ones, while keeping our hands free. I like how my husband is now confident about babywearing thanks to Ventus. It makes outings fun and more active (no need to worry about a stroller, no 2-year-old whining because she’s tired of walking after 5 minutes). We can fully enjoy doing all the activities we love from walking around the neighborhood to hiking, to sightseeing. I also love to use it around the house to get chores done while baby is nice and close to me.

If you know a daddy who would love to be more involved in baby wearing but is not sure where to start, or is hesitant about using a carrier, I think the Ventus would make an awesome Father’s Day present! It’ll give him and baby a time to bond, a way to spend more time together, a means to walk an extra mile in cool comfort and style. By the way, there is a giveaway going on on Ergobaby’s Facebook page for a chance to win a Ventus for dad!

P.S. I appologize for not including pictures of daddy. He’s away for work as I am writing this but I will be updating it when he comes back!

Buy It: Head over to Ergobaby to see for yourself the selection of carriers they offer. They have many great designs and colors to choose from. The Ventus retails at MSRP $165.00. If you’re in Canada, you can purchase it online at Barla Banana. If you’re in the US, you can purchase it online at the Ergobaby Store. They are also available in many stores both in Canada and in the US (click here for the store locator). Don’t forget to add an infant insert, it is necessary for babies up to 4-6 months of age.

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Rachel