I received this item and monetary compensation in exchange for my review. All opinions remain my own.
Before I became the #TryAllTheBabyGear blogger that I am today, we went to a resort in Mexico with a 6-month-old Cub. I didn’t even know that there was such a thing as a baby carrier for the water, but boy do I wish I had! Here we are, in 2013, about as far into the pool as we ever got:
Our hotel room only had a large shower stall, so it was awkward to bathe Cub. The best beach for swimming was a decent trek over marsh and sand, and my buckle carrier got soaked every time we made the journey. If I had a DeLorean, I’d go back to that blissful vacation and pack my ByKay AQUACarrier.
The AQUACarrier is a wrap-style carrier made of a fine gauge knit, 100% polyester fabric. It absorbs very little water, wicks away moisture and sweat, offers over 90% UV protection and dries quickly. It can be used, provided you are both comfortable, from newborn to toddler. The current safety rating is for children up to 20 lbs.
Sadly, there is no vacation down south anywhere on the horizon, and big brother’s loathing of pools means I haven’t brought his sister to the pool yet since I can’t exactly just leave him alone in the observation area. I’m looking forward to the water park this summer and to hitting the pool when Papa Wolf is free to wrangle his water-averse son while I splash with Little Miss Cub.
It’s been unseasonably hot in Calgary (last week we hit 28•C), so I at least got to pretend we were going to the beach and try out our AQUACarrier. It was easy to put on (even if it’s your first time with a wrap) and very comfortable for the both of us.
I figured I would at least give it a try in the shower. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not so enamoured of my children that I feel I cannot even be without them in the shower. However, at a public pool, in a hotel without a bathtub or once in a while for fun, it’s handy to be able to wear Little Miss in the bathroom. I wasn’t sure if she’d like it, but her wide grin and giggles while she watched me wash my hair and then hers was proof she loved shower time with Mommy!
ByKay also makes an AQUASling in the same material.
I chose to go with the AQUACarrier over the sling because I am somewhat sling-challenged, and because I prefer a two-shoulder carry. That said, there are advantages and disadvantages to both styles, so it will depend on your particular preferences when choosing the wrap or the sling for your aquatic adventures.
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ByKay is based in the Netherlands, founded by mother of four, Kay Poeler, ten years ago. They don’t just make water carriers! They make a variety of structured carriers, slings, wraps and mei tais.
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Maman Loup sponsor, Lil’ Monkey Cheeks, carries a variety of ByKay Carriers. Find out more about the brand and locate a retailer near you by visiting their Canadian distributor, PEC Canada.
The AQUASling & AQUACarrier are available at my sponsors, Lil’ Monkey Cheeks and Gentle Nest! (shipping to the US & Canada).
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