Britax Baby Carrier Review

From April showers to May flowers, Mama Nature is finally bestowing NYC with the glorious weather it so richly deserves. To pay homage, I've started scaling back work so that I can spend at least 2 full days during the week with Sebastian and take advantage of it. He's at the perfect age (just shy of 2) to be the Lewis to my Clark.

While Leo is the best person to explore restaurants, nightlife, and travel with, he's not much into some of my interests like sightseeing, museums, opera, and shopping, which is okay because I don't believe any one person should be your everything. I share those other experiences with friends and family, and now my Prince Sebastian. I mean, isn't that the point of having a son? To sculpt him in the man of your dreams?

We've been keeping busy and other than traveling all the way out to the Brooklyn Children's Museum on a rainy day only to realize it was Monday and closed, it's been all smiles.

There have been trips to the Central Park Zoo & Children's Petting Zoo:

A long subway ride out to Coney Island to the New York Aquarium:

Visits to requisite museums like the American Museum of Natural History and The Met for the Alexander McQueen, Savage Beauty Exhibit (no photos allowed inside the exhibit hall, sorry!):

Opening day at Sesame Place to meet our favorite friends and celebrate the addition of Murray, the park's newest character.

Sebastian was his own character, the "Hugging Monster:"

Toes in the sand, smack dab in the middle of Manhattan at Heckscher Playground, Central Park:

And my personal favorites, the Children's Museums in Manhattan (for the Wizard of Oz installation) and Brooklyn, where Sebastian is free to run wild and paw whatever he desires:

Believe it or not, I still carry the 30+ lb Bubba-Beast almost everywhere we go. The benefits of baby-wearing are well-documented and I've been doing so since he was born. Now that he's more independent and resists sitting in the stroller, it's easier for me to be hands free while hopping on and off of the buses and subways anyway so I just carry him all over town and let him run wild when we get to our destination.

We've tried several different baby carriers but since Sebastian was pushing 20 lbs by 5 months, I had to retire a couple of them early on.

BRITAX is launching its new baby carrier this summer and we're fortunate enough to be among the first to test it out.

I'm happy to report the BRITAX Baby Carrier, for babies 8-32 lbs, has a padded waste belt and shoulder straps, and is definitely made for the long haul!

Unlike the one we were using, the BRITAX Baby Carrier allows me to carry Sebastian in front facing either inward or outward so he can check out what's going on around him. Less fidgeting equals less strain on my back and shoulders. It's also effortless to make adjustments to the carrier while he's in it.

The only draw-back for me, is that it's designed to slip over the head to put it on, which I don't love since it jeopardizes my perfectly coiffed hair. Other than that, I'm sold.

The BRITAX Baby Carrier line comes in two gender-neutral fashions (black and navy, $129.99), and the Baby Carrier Organic is available in tan ($139.99). The carrier includes a removable infant insert that positions smaller babies naturally, as well as a plush (100% cotton), machine washable bib. Additional accessories, sold separately, include a Seat Extender Insert (Black & Navy $24.99; Organic Tan $26.99) enhancing longer-wearing comfort through balanced weight distribution when used facing inward, as well as a set of Baby Carrier Bibs $19.99) for maximum coverage and protection of the carrier. For more information about BRITAX, visit www.britaxusa.com, or find BRITAX on Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.

WIN IT: BRITAX is giving one adventurous Glamamom reader the new BRITAX Baby Carrier to help keep you and your little one close and comfortable while on the go.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below with your favorite children's destination or activity.

For an extra entry, follow BRITAX and Glamamom on Facebook and leave a comment below that you do.

Two entries total. Please leave a separate comment for each.

I'll randomly select a winner on Wednesday, June 22nd. This giveaway is for readers in the US and Canada only.

UPDATE: The winner is Rose. Congratulations!

{I was selected for the BRITAX Baby Carrier review by Buzzing Bloggers. I was not compensated for my review or post. I received a complimentary carrier for review purposes. I am also the lucky, randomly selected winner of a BRITAX product of my choice ("door prize") from the launch event. All opinions and recommendations expressed herein are my own.}