Evenflo Snugli Front & Back Baby Carrier

I spent a lot of time thinking about what to add to my baby shower gift registry. Partly because I was excited about being pregnant and partly because I like to thoroughly research things before I buy them, I started making the list in my first trimester. After reading some reviews here and on the Babies R Us site, I added two baby carriers to my registry. I didn't think I'd actually get both, but even if I did, I felt they were different enough to warrant making my friends and family dish the cash.

The Snugli Front & Back Pack was the first one I added. It seemed perfect for my needs. It has a weight range from 7-26 lbs. and can be worn three different ways: in front with baby facing in (for newborns), in front with baby facing out (for infants who can hold their head up), and in back with baby facing in (for infants who can sit upright unassisted). It's a lightweight carrier with lots of padding made of an easy-to-clean fabric that can be machine washed. The carrier looks like it has enough support for a moderately small woman's frame and possibly for a man's frame and its motif is simple: black belt, straps, pocket, and inner fabric with gray seat and outer fabric. Just perfect for mom or dad to wear with any outfit.

MY EXPERIENCE
Long before my daughter was born, I knew I'd be tied down with a newborn and the only way I'd get things done was if I strapped her to me. I had heard good things about the Snugli from other moms and I was very glad when I received it at my shower. I think my daughter was only a few weeks old the first time I tried it.

THE OLD IN AND OUT
As most parents know, newborns curl their legs close to their bodies. I soon learned that this not only makes it hard to put pants on them, but also to put them inside a Snugli. Each time I'd get one of my daughter's legs inside it, the other one would slip out. I couldn't understand what I was doing wrong. I had placed her on my bed and didn't bother to unlatch the Snugli. I was just trying to slide her legs into the openings and then lift her and the Snugli together. I figured that was the easiest way. I finally managed to get her inside it and the shoulder straps over my arms. The next problem was how to get the back buckle (sits between your shoulder blades) and belt buckle (located at your waist) attached without the shoulder straps sliding off. The belt buckle wasn't too difficult since I could tip my head and see my waist. But trying to reach behind my back to attach a buckle is not pleasant, especially since I'd wasted so much time by this point that my little baby was starting to squirm and cry. I ended up giving up and taking her out of the Snugli (which was relatively effortless because of that curl-up leg reflex). I'd try again another time.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED...
The next time (probably a month or two later since I had gotten so frustrated the first time) I made sure the buckles were adjusted to their limits (so I'd have plenty of extra width to work with) and I took the time to unlatch the dual side-entry buckles. These supposedly can be undone with one hand to "easily take a sleeping baby out." OK, I'm no rocket scientist, but I needed two hands to open these tricky buckles and that was while the Snugli was on the bed in front of me and my quiet baby was in her crib in the next room. So after fussing with them and finally opening them, I spread open the Snugli and went to get my daughter. I placed her on top of the open Snugli and then lifted the panel over her so that her legs were in the leg openings (much easier that way) and then began futzing with closing the side-entry buckles. Ugh! It can't just be me. Those things are a pain to slide into place. But this time, I actually had my daughter in the Snugli and could attempt to get some things done. I still had problems attaching the back buckle but I used a mirror and managed. (It's much easier when you have someone helping you attach it, but that kind of defeats the purpose of having a baby carrier. I mean, if my husband was around, HE'D be the carrier.)

THE TEST DRIVE
The shoulder straps on the Snugli are well padded and comfortable. They do tend to slip off when you bend down, especially if you don't have your hand behind your baby's head for added support. The back buckle does help a little to hold them up but not enough. The straps are not, however, long enough for a 6', 250 lb. man's frame. We managed to put the Snugli on my husband twice and both times he looked extremely uncomfortable. He was happy to have Wendy in his arms while we strolled outside so he didn't fuss much. But I could tell he would've preferred if the straps were longer and the waist and back buckles adjusted to a longer length. They just barely closed.

The waist belt is very comfortable and does help disperse some of the weight. I have had back problems in the past, and the Snugli held up my daughter without any pain. Well, at least without any pain in my back.

My whole reason for wearing the Snugli was to have two free arms to do work around the house while my daughter got her cuddle time. So imagine my dismay, and discomfort, when I bent down to pick up something and the hard part of the Snugli cut into my groin and almost cut off my circulation. Ouch! This was when I was wearing the Snugli in front with baby facing me (the only position in which we've used it). The hard part is intended to provide support when baby is riding on mom's/dad's back but it doesn't seem to serve a purpose in the front mode except to cause excruciating pain to the wearer when he/she bends down. There's no way to detach it either. The other complaint I have is that the mesh fabric made me and my daughter sweat. Although the carrier is lightweight, the fabric is some sort of polyester or nylon and traps heat.

The last time I wore this (probably only the 7th or 8th time we ever used it) I tried to slide Wendy into the carrier while I was already wearing it. She was a bit older and didn't curl up her legs as much and my husband was spotting us. This proved pointless. She squirmed, I couldn't get the pouch to stay open, and when I finally got her legs in, she was stuck. My little baby had outgrown the Snugli! I don't remember how old she was at the time but she was around 20 lbs. She's only 24 lbs. now so she should theoretically still fit in the carrier. But the sides were tight around her chubby hips and butt. Recently, she's gone through a growth spurt and has trimmed up a bit so I'm tempted to try it again, this time on my back. Maybe I will come springtime.

BABY'S VERDICT
My daughter didn't seem to mind being in the Snugli, but she didn't love it either. She would turn her head and try to see around me. It was no easy task to get her out of the Snugli and she'd squirm and cry while I stood still and tried to undo all the buckles.

MOMMY'S VERDICT
This was a waste of money. Fortunately, it wasn't my money. We've gotten so little use out of the Snugli. It did work better than our other baby carrier, but there are still too many issues with it. The straps and buckles aren't long enough for my husband. The hard "back plate" prevents me from bending down. The straps fall off my shoulders (yes, I tried tightening them) except when I'm supporting my daughter with my hands, which defeats the point of having a hands-free baby carrier. It's very difficult for one person to get baby in and out of the carrier and the mesh "easy-clean fabric" creates a warm pocket that made me and my daughter sweat. Yes, the carrier is machine washable and yes there's a cute pocket for my keys or cell phone, but that's about it. My daughter outgrew it way before she hit the weight limit.

I received this product as a gift at my baby shower, but it is available at Babies R Us for $29.99.

Evenflo Company, Inc.
1801 Commerce Drive, Piqua, OH 45356
1-800-233-5921 8am-7pm EST

www.snugli.com

Here are some other baby equipment reviews I've written. I hope they're helpful.
Safety 1st Odorless Diaper Pail
Tiny Love Gymini 3-D Activity Gym
The First Years Deluxe Tub
Safety 1st On-the-Go Booster