Babies don’t cry for no reason, but sometimes it’s soooooo freaking hard to find the reason!!!!!!!

Whenever I have eliminated all logical possibilities and cbb is still upset, I do the one thing that never fails me: Put her in her baby carrier.

Almost immediately, she calms down and settles. And before I know it, my crying baby has fallen asleep. I guess it’s not surprising to many that babywearing has been indispensable for me and cbb over the past 14 months! Out of all the baby carriers I have tried (and I have tried quite a few soft-structured carrier brands), our favourite is our Tula Baby Carrier, for two main reasons: ease of use and incredible support.

I have received a number of messages from new parents on choosing their very first Tula. What’s the difference between the new Free-to-Grow (FTG) and the Standard canvas Tula (referred to as ‘Standard Tula’ in this post)? Today, I’m going to be comparing the two.. hopefully this post will help you choose a Tula that’s right for you and your baby. Not including wrap conversions in the comparison as those are a different price point altogether! The FTG and Standard canvas Tula cost about the same at US$149-$159 thereabouts (SG$229-$239). And for your reference, cbb is 95% percentile in height and only fit a Standard Tula (without using an insert) at 6 months.

Tula also has a Toddler size carrier, which is still too big for cbb. Friends have said that toddlers start to fit when they’re around 33″-34″ onwards (83cm thereabouts).

All FTG pictures in this post are of ‘Soar’, one of Baby Tula’s latest releases. The Standard Tula you see is ‘Lucy’s Garden’, my absolute favourite canvas design!

So what’s the main difference?
The FTG and Standard Tula can both be used when baby is 7-45 pounds (3.2-20kg), although the fit is often dependent on how tall your baby is, instead of how heavy he weighs. The FTG, newly launched in the earlier part of this year, makes it possible for you to carry your baby from birth without the need for an infant insert. The Standard Tula requires the use of an infant insert for smaller babies, which adds bulk and heat. Read my review of the FTG here. It also extends up to the size of a Standard Tula, that’s why it’s named ‘Free-to-Grow’! Ok, so if the FTG can go up to the size of a Standard Tula, plus have the added feature of no-insert-needed, why would anyone still buy a Standard Tula then? Flat shot for comparison:

Because the support is different when it comes to older and heavier babies, when carried for longer periods.
I love our FTGs because it’s so comfortable and soft, but find myself reaching out for the Standard Tulas (be it canvas or wrap conversions) more often. Why? I carry my 11kg 14-month-old for long periods at a stretch – it could be up to five hours while we’re exploring the outdoors or shopping in a mall. While I still feel comfortable carrying her in the FTG for 1-2 hours, I felt much better carrying her for 3 hours and beyond in the Standard Tula. However, if she were smaller and can’t fit in the Standard Tula without an insert yet, I would use the FTG all day, every day! Read about the qualities of the FTG in this blog post!

What could be the reason for this? The selling point of the FTG is that the body panel can be adjusted from short to tall, and the seat can adjusted from the narrow setting, to the middle setting, and then finally to the widest setting (which is the same size as a Standard Tula) as your baby grows. This adjustment is possible because of three sturdy snap buttons between the waistband and the body panel. On the other hand, the Standard Tula isn’t adjustable, meaning strong seams (instead of sturdy buttons) hold the waist band and body panel together. I believe this translates to better support for the wearer (you!) over longer hours.

What about comfort for the baby?
Cbb loves being in ALL her Tulas, be it the FTG, Standard canvas, full wrap conversions or tencel-blend wrap conversions! She’s happy either way, but the features and material of the FTG makes it extra moldable to a baby, especially a newborn (while supporting their spine development). The FTG is made of ultra soft twill, very smooth and softer than the Standard Tula.

Which is cooler?
I do get this question a lot – but I think the difference is negligible. Consider a Coast carrier (which comes in FTG, Standard and Toddler) if heat is a concern. But even so, the difference felt is also not exceptional because we’re in SUNNY SINGAPORE. You really can’t escape this heat. And of course, if we’re talking about a newborn/younger baby who can’t fit into the Standard Tula yet, the FTG is 100% more comfortable and cooler as compared to being in an infant insert!

Are there any other significant differences?
The shoulder straps on the FTG is a little wider. It might be a consideration when ordering drool pads. I mean, my Lucy’s Garden drool pads can go around the Soar FTG, but it’s a bit tight.

The leg padding on the FTG is also thinner and curves slightly inwards as compared to the Standard Tula.

All in all
The FTG and Standard Tula are both incredibly supportive carriers. There’s no need to have just one! I mean it! But if you are intending to purchase just one for now (haha), consider a few things: Are you planning to have more than one child? Is your baby now still too small to fit in the Standard Tula without an infant insert? Do you intend to wear your baby from birth (at least 3.2kg/7lbs)? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then the FTG could be what you need. However if all your babies can fit into the Standard Tula with legs swinging freely at the knees, and you see yourself wearing your bigger babies for longer periods of time, then you might want to consider the Standard canvas (or even the more expensive wrap conversion) Tulas for better support for yourself.

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The post Should you get a Tula Free-to-Grow or Standard Tula baby carrier? appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.

This morning in the office, as I was making my way to the toilet, I met a friend and colleague, who follows my Facebook page.

“Just how many Tula baby carriers do you have?!”

“Err, not a lot!”

“But I always see you with a different one!”

*grins*

To set things straight: I only have three six nine Tula carriers.

I also have a Kokadi Flip babysize, a Kokadi Flip toddler and an Ergo Adapt. Plus a Soul Flyaway ssc.

But I spoke the truth… I only have three six nine Tulas! Which isn’t too excessive I think. There’s potential for more! *runs* I love my Tulas!

A little background
Not many people know this, but the first thing I EVER bought for cbb, even before she was born, was a Tula canvas carrier, in Foliage (now discontinued):

I even ordered matching droolpads from Etsy, shipped from the US for $50 all in, I think. Fast forward to when CBB was 6 weeks old. Friends around me were using the Kokadi Flip with much success to calm colicky babies. It worked for us too. I loved my KKD and sold Foliage soon after.

Babywearing: it’s really about preference
But as cbb grew, I couldn’t use the KKD for more than an hour before my shoulders and back surrendered. I started exploring with different carriers, slings and wraps with the awesome Janna of Jars of Fluff, who introduced me to the world of babywearing. She made me see one thing: that there is no such things as a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to babywearing. I hated the ring sling. I tried wraps, and while they were the most supportive, I just couldn’t wrap with confidence in public. I tried the Mei Tai (now termed Meh Dai – Cantonese/ Bei Dai – Mandarin. I’m struggling to understand this, because not all Asians/people of Chinese race are Cantonese. Why use the Cantonese pronunciation instead of say, Teochew, Hokkien or Hakka? Isn’t choosing one Chinese dialect over another inappropriate, too? Please enlighten me if you know why. Thank you in advance!), and although it was more convenient than a wrap, I found that an SSC still works best for me.

Rekindled love
Dancey Doll Twirl (Full Wrap Conversion)
When cbb was 6 months old, I decided to try Tula again, all because of one carrier: the Dancey Doll Twirl.

Are you kidding me? The whimsical prints and turquoise colour were screaming my name. The illustration has dolls dancing playfully among confetti and disco balls. What reason do I have not to get this? I got this at a great deal with custom accessories: a matching hoodie with ears, ribbon reach straps and curved drool pads. With the original hood, I went on to customise a pair of booties/prewalker shoes for CBB. The accessories maker even made a headband with the extra fabric!

The Dancey Doll Twirl is a full wrap conversion, meaning all aspects of the carrier, excluding the buckles and straps, are converted from a wrap fabric. Of all the carriers, I feel that it supports CBB best. The 30% tencel and 70% cotton blend is buttery soft and molds to her body, all round. If you’re talking about overall support for mama, our canvas carrier (coming up right below!) offers a little bit more, for me.

Beacon (Canvas)
I got struck by two things when I laid my eyes on Beacon: the sunshine yellow colour and the retro prints. I had to have it! Beacon is not available in Singapore and so not a common design. I customised my reversible drool pads and have a hoodie on the way!

Shabby Chic (Full Wrap Conversion)
If there’s a personal description for Shabby Chic, it would be: “All the things I like, manifested in this carrier.”

Lace. Ribbons. Ruffles. Mint. Purple. Mustard. Craft. Victorian. Mystic. It’s completely dressed with full accessories. I got this from a lovely mama who got this from a lovely mama who has kept it in pristine condition. She even included scraps for me, and they’re on the way to be made into booties for CBB! Can’t wait to see how they will turn out!

The stock photo on the Baby Tula website doesn’t show how gorgeous Shabby Chic really is.

The days ahead
I see myself using my Tulas in rotation. Not just because they’re pretty (of course that’s a factor!), but also because to me, the support and convenience can’t be beat. I can carry her (she’s 9+kg) for the entire afternoon we’re out shopping. That’s easily 4-5 hours without putting her down. The thick shoulder padding and structured waistband provide the support I need over other SSCs I’ve tried. Plus, in a couple of months, I can try the backcarry with her. She would love that!

How long will I babywear CBB? I don’t know. But for now, I know that she loves to be cuddled. And I love to baby her. Although you technically only need one carrier for that….. :P

We’re very lucky to be chosen as a Tula Ambassadors for Singapore. There’s nothing I love more than to share my love for baby wearing and Tula carriers! And of course, I’m looking forward to err, growing my collection. I’m a bit obsessed with Lucy’s Garden, an Abby’s Lane exclusive release with glittery fairies. I hope to get my hands on it one day!

If you like my posts and updates, or would like to be informed of baby/cooking-related giveaways and promos from time to time…..
Like my Facebook page or follow @budgetpantry or @chuabeebee on Instagram! Yes, I just started an Insta account for CBB too!

The post Why I love wearing CBB in our Baby Tula carriers appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.