Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling by Dr. Sears-Dotted Daisy Brown

Comment: Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3UVDE7HY5PN7N If you don't want to watch the video but would still like to know what I have to say, here is what I covered in my video review:

I have used this sling for 2 1/2 months, starting when my second child was three months old. I have washed it without any problems and my baby and I both love it!

Pros:
1. The adjustable "tail" stays neatly tucked into a loop.
2. Adjustable sling fits both me (5'7") and my husband (6'4").
3. Can be used by either left-handed and right-handed people (my husband and I are also opposite handed).
4. My hands are free! I can take care of my 3-year-old and baby at the same time.
5. Evenly distributes weight across shoulder and back.
6. Comfortable for me and my baby. My baby has slept for 2 hours in this sling.
7. You can fit in areas where a stroller can't.
8. Great to wear while shopping and you can leave the carseat in the car.
9. Small pocket on both sides of sling, so you have access to a pocket whether wearing the sling on your left or right shoulder.
10. Though not recommended by the manufacturer, it can also hold other items where baby's legs are (i.e., burp cloth).
11. Depending on size of child, sides can provide protection from the wind and sun.

Cons:
1. Baby can get really warm (not a con if it is cold, though).
2. Can be difficult to pick items up from the ground, but not impossible (just bend at your knees).
3. Can be tricky getting baby in and out of the sling until you get the hang of it.
4. Can't see my feet very well (only an issue if uneven ground or stairs).

Comment: This is very stylish, but not so easy to use. It's really hard to get the baby into one of these slings and it didn't look like she was very comfy. I stopped using mine until my baby got bigger becuase I heard terrible stories about small infants suffocating inside of them and I can def se how that happens. My daughter little neck would get crooked, smashing her chin quite tightly down to her chest. I would recomend buying the carrier type and not a sling. Plus it's not comfy for me to have on longer than 10 minutes. It really pulls unevenly on your shoulder.

Comment: I love this sling! I have tried other slings and this one by far is the best! It is very comfortable to wear and my 4 month old loves it too. She falls asleep in it almost everytime I put her in it. It also feels very secure, the other slings I tried felt like my baby was not supported. I think the key is to follow the directions, make sure you wear the sling snug and it should hang just below your bust once your baby is in it. I was able to go grocery shopping for the first time in months and had my both my hand free, it was great! I should have bought one of these months ago.

Comment: After my mother in law offered to buy us a sling, I did my research, read reviews and it seemed as though the Balboa Baby sling would be perfect for my baby. Boy, was I wrong!
We were given this sling 5 months ago and I've only used it twice for periods of about 8 minutes before my baby starts screaming in protest.
I'm 5'5" and even on the smallest setting, the sling is wayyyy too big for me. I'm now hoping one of my girlfriends will have a baby soon and I can gift it to her.
My advice, take a look at other brands before you decide on this one.

Comment: The pro-s:

1. very small and lightweight, so it fits in the diaper bag (it's about the size of a T-shirt).
2. if baby falls asleep, can remove easily without waking him up.

Con-s:

1. Not very safe or stable - I have a Moby, an Ergo, and a BabyBjorn - all of them are safer and stabilize the baby better than the Balboa.
2. Very uncomfortable to use. The strap will kill your shoulder, and unlike the three models above that distribute weight evenly (at least between the two shoulders) with this one you will be off kilter.
3. Not really hands free - I still use one hand to hold baby or at least stabilize his head.

If I were to rank the four carriers I have used, I would go with the Moby first for the newborn months (say 0-3), the BabyBjorn being the alternative for this period, then with the Ergo after the baby gains head control and quite a bit of weight. The Bjorn kills the shoulders and the Moby kills the lower back after the baby puts on about 15lbs.