Disclaimer: I received this baby carrier free in exchange for an honest and unbiased product review. Opinions are my own as an experienced baby-wearing Mother of 5.
Over the past 14 years of Motherhood, I have been through my fair share of baby carriers.
Some wraps. Some structured. Some slings. Some pouches.
Baby wearing & attachment parenting has always been a priority for me in my Motherhood journey. Knowing that baby wearing promotes breastfeeding, bonding, and promotes neural development (among a slew of other benefits), I have always been drawn to wearing my babies.
With my first baby, I didn’t think the type of carrier was a big deal so I went with the cheapest options I could find. At the time, I was using some type of pouch/sling style carrier and 2 stretchy wraps. One of the wraps was a Moby and the other an unknown brand.
Basically, I knew nothing about baby wearing and it showed.
I got along fine with the cheap wraps for my first two babies, but I had yet to discover the true joys of prolonged baby wearing and bonding (especially once I had multiple children).
With my first 2 babies, I only wore them when I was out and about and not much around the house. I was full hands-on and completely overwhelmed with a baby and a toddler.
If I had better baby carriers at the time, things might had been a bit easier.
I still didn’t learn my lesson with baby 3 and bought myself another cheap carrier. It was OK, but not comfortable for either myself or my baby for long stretches. Still, I managed, but it could have been better.
Then baby 4 came along and I didn’t skimp out. It was all hands on deck with homeschooling and running a business, so I needed something that not only worked, but provided me with long-lasting comfort.
I had found the softest stretchy wrap for the first few months, but then was back to the drawing board after my baby outgrew it (which didn’t take long). With baby 5, I ended up purchasing a Tuck & Bundle wrap that became my go-to. Oh, how I wish I could have used it longer, but my baby grew quick and it wasn’t right for the job any longer.
Then I found Happy baby carriers.
The first thing that jumped out at me was the name, not going to lie. Anything with the word “happy” in it will automatically get my attention, so I couldn’t look away.
I continued to do my research on their baby carriers and drooled over all of the bright colors and designs that they offered.
When I got my Onbuhimo carrier in the mail, I knew what the hype was all about. The fabric was a soft linen, thin enough to provide breathing room, but thick enough to keep baby safe and secure.
What I wasn’t expecting with the Happy baby carrier
I knew that I had picked out a carrier without a waist belt. I figured, this would be more comfortable in the long run if for ANY reason that I needed to back carry a toddler while pregnant (at this point, with 5 kids, my default is always thinking about another baby in the future). Ha!
So when I inspected the carrier for the first time, I had NO IDEA how in the world this baby was going to fit in and stay put.
It is literally a piece of fabric attached to some shoulder straps. It definitely humbled my baby-wearing self. I had previously thought of myself as a seasoned wearer of sorts, but I will admit that I had no idea how to use this thing.
But after looking at the guide that was sent in the packaging, and again online, we were set and ready to rock it!
At first, my baby hated it.
I will admit, I was wearing him wrong.
I had never used a carrier like this before so user-error was to be expected. He twisted and fought to be carried on my back that first go around. But once I realized that is was my error, the second time proved to be much better.
Once I figured out how to place him in PROPERLY and tighten the straps the way they were designed, everything felt much better.
It was easier to use and my baby was calm and, maybe you can guess the word – HAPPY!
Another thing I hadn’t considered about the Onbuhimo was the comfort level
After getting a good feel for the carrier after a few uses, I realized that you need to have muscle in order to use it for long durations. I even read this on their website AFTER picking this style of carrier. Not that it would have changed my decision, but I was happy to read that it wasn’t just me and my out-of-shape muscles.
I am an avid lifter, so it wasn’t something I was expecting in the slightest.
I’ve since found that working your way up to longer periods of use is the way to go. I wouldn’t advise using it for the first time on a hike through the woods – unless of course you have the shoulder muscles that can handle it.
Now that I am more used to it, my back & shoulder muscles are up to speed and I can wear it for longer periods of time.
What I love most about the Onbuhimo baby carrier
Simply put, I love the simplicity of this carrier.
I have several friends who also have Happy baby carriers and they have told me that with time and more washes, the fabric gets softer. Hooray! Give me ALL of the soft carriers because comfort is KEY to the best baby wearing experiences.
I also love the fact that it can be used for newborns and toddlers.
The one downside about my previous stretchy wraps were that once baby got big enough, I couldn’t use them any longer – which was sad. But with the happy baby carrier, I will be able to use this for YEARS.
All in all, I am HAPPY with this carrier and I give it my full seal of approval.
I hope that my experience and this review helps you make the best decision when choosing a soft & structured baby carrier. I can say with confidence that you won’t be disappointed.
Read Next: What attachment parenting looks like 12 years later
Straight from Happy Baby’s website
The Happy Onbuhimo – a beautiful and simple, Japanese-inspired waistless carrier. Designed to support a high back carry position, our Onbuhimo provides your baby with a view of the world from your level in comfort and style.
BENEFITS:
+ Designed for use with babies/toddlers 7-40 lbs
+ Hidden pocket carries sun cover with room for extra storage
+ Comfortably worn by caregivers of different sizes
+ Great for pregnant moms as it has no waistband
+ 30-50% lighter than most SSC currently on the market
+ Folds up small and easily fits in a purse or diaper bag
+ Ergonomic shoulder design features slim profile
+ Sleek and minimal design
+ Made in the USA with imported fabric
+ Compliant with CPSIA and ASTM standards