Love: Saya Baby Carrier

The above picture doesn't present me at my best but I'm still posting it as it's the only one I have of me using the Saya Baby Carrier. This was on a recent bus trip that took ever so long where I carried the little one on the said carrier.

I've mentioned this carrier before. I've been wanting it so much even before my little one was born but I was waffling because though it was readily available online, it was not that easy to find at the usual malls and since it was size-based and I'm really bad at choosing clothe sizes, I wasn't sure on which one to order. Thankfully, when I went to Shangri-La Plaza last month, I saw it at the Momtrepreneur stall.


After a lot of hemming and hawing from the hub, he was eventually convinced that having 3 kinds of carriers is not a bad thing. We got it just before the 10-hour bus trip. It was a real lifesaver.

First off, I think it would have been easier to get the carrier when the little one was a newborn. It wasn't that hard for me to use it in the usual carrier position, chest-to-chest, but it took some getting used to for baby to settle down because he wasn't very used to it. Once settled in, he got comfortable and slept quite well.

For myself, the carrier, it was a very comfortable experience. With the usual carriers, my shoulders would hurt after just half an hour as the little one isn't so little anymore and tends to move a lot. As long as I make sure to spread the cloth over the shoulder and back, it didn't hurt to wear baby with the Saya. I like the carrier so much and find it a great convenience that I'm not at all afraid of going out with just me and baby.

There should always be caution in using all baby carriers. It's a little person in front of you and like it or not, he will want to move on his own. No matter how well I position the baby, he would lean back and side to side and every now and then, I check if he's in the correct position not to fall off. That it covers his knees and as much of his back as possible. Thankfully, the cloth stretches and adjusts quite easily.

I noticed that whenever baby is in the carrier, his pee tends to pool at the front of his cloth diaper so even if the back area is dry, it's better to ensure that the front is dry as well or both of you will smell like pee.

I used it as a nursing cover as well, and it worked well enough for the front-buttoned shirts. If the little one is small enough, you don't have to get him out of the carrier to nurse him. That is not the case for us so I couldn't try it for myself. For the other positions, they included a pamphlet with the package that includes a small bag to carry the Saya in when not in use.

In the below photo, I'm wearing the Saya with baby out and it's not obvious at all.

Looked Up: Baby Carriers

I’m looking into getting another baby carrier now that the Safety 1^st carrier will be retiring soon.

BabyBjorn Comfort Carrier, $199.95 (Available in Amazon.com for $144.77 for the black)

This carrier is designed for 3 months to 2 years. It is designed for comfort, with padded shoulder straps and waist belt, baby’s leg is in the recommended wide position and baby can be carried facing either inwards or backwards. Unfortunately, it is designed to be worn in European climes, not tropical countries like ours. I will not be buying this unless I win the lottery but I would dearly love to receive one as a gift.

Mei Tai Baby, $84

This is my dream carrier, which might be weird for some people as it looks quite simple but that’s the beauty of the design for me. Simple is definitely best, I think. The design is based on Asian types of baby carriers used for a good long while, centuries even. I’m not sure as to ease of use. I’m guessing there’s a market in the Philippines for this type of baby carrier as there isn’t a local producer yet. This carrier is designed for comfort, with support in the proper places for both the carrier and the babies being carried. Also, it’s not too thick that baby will be too sweaty though that could depend on the body temperature of the person wearing baby. My body temperature runs a little colder than most people so it’s ok for me. I thought about buying this but it seems simple enough to sew one so I think I’ll try that for this month. J Actually, it’s more like finding a seamstress who’d sew it for me. I’m not that good at sewing. Lots of patterns can be found online like this. This is good for newborns to 35 lb babes.

Moby Wrap, $44.95

Though this carrier looks like it’s hard to wear, based on a lot of reviews, this is the most comfortable one. Please note that the Moby was designed for lighter climes than ours (tropical) so it might be hotter than you expected. It takes lots of practice but definitely worth it as there is the ultimate support for both wearers and babies and great contact too. There is a local producer of a similar one, the Bailey Wrap, which is made of a material much friendlier to our climes. Great for newborns to 3 years.

Saya, P988

I’ve posted on this carrier before. It’s also good for newborns up to 3 years though the Wrap carrier has more support. You can always buy the stabilizer belt if you want more support. The thing about this carrier is that it originated in the Philippines and looks very stylish. I posted their sling-type pic above because if you might notice, I like posting men wearing babes. It just seems right to me. I wanted to buy one and would have bought one already but one thing stops me. The size of the carrier you buy depends on the person who is going to be wearing it, not on the baby and there are 3 people who will be wearing baby in our house and it isn’t right in my book to buy 3 different ones. If mom and dad are of the same frame, though, no worries on that count there.

Except for the BabyBjorn, all other carriers posted above allows baby to be breastfed without being taken out of the carrier.

Pictures from the product websites.

Craves: Saya Baby Carrier

I am in full crave mode for the Saya Baby Carrier. We have two carriers at home already but with me not going out without baby these days as I prefer breastfeeding him directly, I'm trying to find a carrier that is convenient, has great shoulder and back support and is easy to breastfeed in. Baby is already 5 kilos, by the way and he's just a month old. I can barely lift him without my wrists aching afterward.

The Saya is made in the Philippines and is worth P950. From all reviews I've read so far, it's a favorite of baby-wearing mommies and is comfortable for mommies and babies who are ok with swaddling. What I'm really excited about is that it looks easy to breastfeed baby in. I'm not sure as I have yet to try it but it looks like I can even switch breasts while baby is in the carrier. I want this carrier so much I'm almost convinced that I need it.