Feature Friday- A Closer Look at the Beco Gemini

Feature Friday today is one of my favorites and usually the first carrier I recommend for new moms.  If you've been following along, you've heard me talk about it before, and we of course have our great giveaway happening right now with Frogmama.com, so I thought it would be a perfect time to delve deeper and take a closer look at the Beco Gemini and why I love it! 

OVERVIEW:  Babywearing offers so many benefits!  Its gives you a close connection with your baby, it keeps them calm and comforted, it gives you free hands (which is huge especially with older siblings involved), and its really convenient (easy to bring along on a trip or in the car etc).  The Beco Gemini is a SSC (soft structured carrier) and is a great way to do this, and especially great for new moms as its infant friendly and there's very little learning curve.  Its an easy to use carrier, simple to adjust and can most definitely be shared between parents. While the Gemini can't be used quite as long as some other SSC's on market (including the Beco Soleil), it can be used earlier starting at 7lbs with NO insert needed which is a great perk and IMO gives you a better lifespan on the front end. 

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POSITIONS: The Gemini offers 4 carrying positions which makes it a really versatile carrier.  You can wear baby facing in, which is perfect in the beginning; the Gemini puts baby is an ideal spot close to your heart and just high enough to kiss.  You can start with the base snapped in for a narrow seat (love this feature) to easily accommodate a young baby (7+ lbs) without an insert.  Every baby is different in terms of when they're ready for the wider seat (mine were about 4 months(ish). Its all based on size.. your baby should look to be in a comfortable "M" position and the carrier should support knee to knee.  When wearing your baby in any type of front carry, you have the option of crossing the straps in the back or wearing them back pack style.  I prefer crossing them in the back as it fits my petite frame better that way and seems to more comfortably distribute the weight.  The Gemini also allows baby to face out which is a unique feature with an ergonomically minded carrier.  I am not a huge fan of facing out for long periods but I know this can definitely be a lifesaver for some parents.  Note that you always want to have the base snapped to the narrow setting if you are going to have baby face out.  The third position of the Gemini is a hip carry.  I don't find the carry in general particularly comfortable, but many people like it for quick trips and outings and many babies enjoy seeing a bit more of the world.  The Gemini also allows you to do a back carry which is a great option to let baby face out in an often more comfortable position for them. Back carriers can be a little bit harder to master getting baby in and out of, but once you do, its fantastic. 

PROS/FAVORTITE FEATURES:

The ability to cross the straps in the back!  This is a great feature on both the Gemini & the Soleil. It allows for a more customizable fit and allows petite parents to wear it more comfortably.

More Supportive body- than most SSC's on the market.  This is a personal preference, but I like it and find it gives a better/more secure fit for the wee ones.

4 Position Options - As detailed above, the Gemini is a versatile carrier

Padded waist band- I found the waist on the Beco Gemini to be one of the most comfortable I've tried

The ability to carry an infant right away at 7lbs & safely without the use of an insert- This was a huge one for me...it obviously depends on the season and climate, but I just found infant with other carrier too hot.  Having a carrier that is easy to use like this and allows you to carry your new little one is a big deal!

The capability of two width options for the base- not only eliminates the need for a infant insert, but also allows for a better fit for baby. Snapped in the base of the seat is 7", and at its widest its 13".

Adjustable headrest- is really nice to have.  When the head rest is all the way up, it makes the body of the carrier 18.5" which is one of the tallest on the market.  This is great to clip up when your little one is sleeping or if they still have poor head control, and a great feature if you're nursing in the carrier.

Tri-Lock buckles at the waist and back straps - are super secure and supportive

Style for everyone- What's great about Beco Carriers is that they all come in basic colors with no print  for those looking for a simple/clean carrier.  BUT, they also come in some really terrific colors and patterns.  Take a look at the current collection

Easy to wash-  I just toss my carrier in the washing machine on delicate.  Its been washed so many times, and it still keeps in shape and look with only a little bit of fading.  I would however recommend purchasing the drool pads for the straps, that will save you a few washings.


CONS/MISSING FEATURINGS:
Note this really is a great carrier so there aren't too many cons, but here are a few areas of improvement/disadvantages to consider...

Longevity-  While the Beco Soleil and some other SSC's will take you well into toddlerhood, IMO the Beco Gemini will not.  The Gemini for us lasted until about 18 months, which I think is just about average. But remember it all depends on the size of your baby.  The carrier can hold up to 35lbs (which my almost two year old is not close to), but you also want the carrier to give baby a comforitbale seat and keep them in an "M' position. While the longevity might not be as long, IMO you get more bang for your buck in the beginning when baby is small. Nonetheless, if you want to carry your child through toddlerhood, you'll most likely need to replace the Gemini with a Soleil or another Toddler carrier.

No Hood-  This can actually be a deal breaker for some people... A hood comes in really handy when baby falls asleep, when its really sunny, and when nursing etc..  IMO it would be nice to have a hood, but the ability to fold up the headrest helps for sure, and not having the hood keeps it simple and less bulky

No Pocket- The Gemini is a very sleek design, and includes no pocket for storage of any kind.  This can be a little bit of a pain when you're on a walk and want to store your keys etc... but not a huge deal

Two Handed Buckles-  The Tri-Lock buckles are super secure and great reassurance in terms of safety, but it means that the buckles take two hands to undo and can take a little practice (the first time I wore the carrier, I thought I was stuck).

Potentially Hot-  The body of the Gemini offers a bit of extra padding/support compared to some other carriers.  I really like the support it offers baby, but it can potentially mean its a bit warmer.

WHO IS THIS BEST FOR:  the great thing about the Gemini is that its really easy to use and adjust.  So sharing a carrier between parents is not a big deal at all. The Gemini fits parents from 5'-6'5" and the waist goes from 27'-59".  Because of this sizing and the fact that you can cross the straps in the back, the Gemini is a terrific choice for petite moms.  I have a petite frame and the Gemini is without a doubt one of the most comfortable options out there for me.  I don't have personal experience with this, but I've heard for men that are really tall and on the heavier side, the Gemini is not a great option.

Overall: The Gemini is a fantastic easy to use carrier that is sleek in design and stylish is pattern options. Its simple design may lack a few features, but I always found the comfort and design outweighed them.  Great carrier for petites but easily adjusted for most parents.  Its my go-to recommendation for new moms because of the ease of use, infant friendly design, and versatility with 4 position options. I did have to get another carrier to get us through toddlerhood, but I don't regret for one second buying the Gemini; it was one of sour go-to carries for nearly 18 months. 


COMPARING IT TO THE SOLEIL:  This honestly deserves its own post.  But to get your started, you'll find a great comparison from Beco on the specs of each carrier. on their site (under specs). Frogmama.com also has a great video comparison on their you-tube channel.  Note that the Soleil is a very different carrier.  For starters, it is a bit wider with the base being 16' and not adjustable.  The Soleil requires an infant insert for the first few months until baby can comfortably sit in the wide seat. The Soleil is a great design with lots of terrific features.  I will say I prefer the Soleil for back carriers because of the added width and lighter fabric for movement, but I hands-down prefer the Gemini for infants.  Also good to note that while they are both designed to go down to fit 27" in the waist, the Soleil seems to run a bit bigger to me and I have a harder time getting it tight enough. I'm a big fan of Beco Baby Carriers, they make well thought out and user/parent friendly, quality carriers.

Hope this is helpful!  I love to talk about the Gemini and other baby carriers, so please feel free to email through my contact page!  Would also love to hear your comments below on your experience/feelings about the Gemini if you've tried it.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Rebecca


Shop Beco Geminis now on Frogmama.com 

This post is not affiliated with Beco Baby Carriers.  This is based on my own experience, and 100% my honest opinion :-)