Little background: I am 5′2″ and 110, my husband is 6′3″ and just over 200 lb., and we both like this carrier, which is almost unheard of. Our son is just barely 6 mos. old, 18 lbs., and about 27 in.

PROS: MUCH more comfortable for both child and adult than other carriers (we owned several, and tried them all), as child’s weight is more evenly distributed. 5 point harness keeps Houdinis where they should be. Child’s arms and hands are free to move around. gopd view of the world for little one. Easy in and out– not a million straps and buckles, as with other carriers. Child can “support” their own weight w/ their feet on the frame of the carrier (watch the video– you will see the baby “bouncing” with his feet on the carrier frame in one clip). So much more interesting and normal for baby than simply hanging from their crotch (again, as with other carriers). Able to take this many places where stroller is simply not realistic (like cobblestone streets, narrow aisles, or where navigating through crowds is difficult).

CONS: Not for smaller babies (<6 mos.). Child really does need to be at least 25 in. (and weight appropriate) and have excellent head/trunk control. Requires some upper-body strength to get it on as manufacturer suggests (should not be placed on an elevated surface to put on). I am a very athletic female and have no issues, but I question how well the "average" woman could do it without using an elevated surface (for my husband, this is a moot point-- no issues). Wish it was a little bit more adjustable-- there are three "snap" levels for lumbar support, but at the smallest setting, I still wish it would ride a little higher for me (I'm a mere 5'2"). Again, my husband has no issues-- he uses the tallest setting, and he is 6'3". No comfortable head position for child if they fall asleep in the carrier (this is true of all outward-facing carriers, but perhaps someday someone will rectify this?).

All in all, we like this carrier a lot. More expensive than most carriers, but often you get what you pay for. Nice fun prints too, but remember if you want your hubby to help carry baby, you might want a more neutral one (we have the brown “bubbles” and my Marine has yet to complain). Remember that regardless of how great the support is, carrying an extra 20-35 lbs. on your back is going to take a little more out of you, so people w/ extra large children (close to 30 lb. weight limit) shoudln’t place their expectations on comfort too high. If you are extremely petite (under 5′) or very lacking in upper body strength, this may not be the carrier for you, but it beats all the others we have owned and tried hands down!