We are getting many questions about the Beco Carrier availability. Here is the latest information (November 1 2011 update):

last season’s colors of Beco Butterflies are now on sale – $125 each! The original Beco Butterfly is retired and was replaced with version “Beco Butterfly 2” with some noteworthy design changes! We have 16 organic colors in stock – solid black and brown and the new Fall 2011 prints : Niko, Nova, Foxie, Robots, Sienna, Cars, and Owls. All the spring/summer colors are now discontinued and sale price :  Ginger, Luna, Lucas, Paige, Natalie, and Tyler. There are summer season limited editions available for $149 $139, these are Ever and Duke. The spring/summer colors will sell out before long and no more will be made – there are only have a couple left in stock for each color and Becos move extra fast at sale prices, so we will run out before long!  The most recent choices before that for the Butterfly are Duke and Melody colors, which sell for a bit more than the standard carrier cost. Because the baby carriers are over $100, they all ship free the same day or next day after you order them.  The Butterfly carrier is not being discontinued – the new Gemini is a quite different product and these are selling side-by-side. Neither model is a replacement for the other kind.  The first collection of pictures here are all Butterfly models – there are many more colors available on the butterfly than the gemini. Scroll down past these pictures to hear more about the Gemini carriers.

In fall of 2011 Beco unveiled the Gemini carrier – Organic – colors are black, brown, Nova, Foxie, Sienna, Robots, Cars, and Owls. For Geminis, the discontinued colors are almost gone! Only one unit left in each color, and they are Ginger, Luna, and Carnival. Please note that the old colors have the print on the outside panel, much like the Butterfly does, while the new October 2011 Gemini carriers are “Gemini Insider” version, meaning that the print fabric is on the inside of the carrier body, on the fabric that is touching the baby, and so the print only shows when you have folded down the top of the carrier body or have folded in the leg opening area. The main carrier body looks like a solid color, with contrasting piping, even when you buy a print version.

Also, please note that our Lucas Geminis were produced in summer 2011, this set of Lucas Geminis are paired with espresso brown straps. Before this summer, Beco made Lucas print paired with khaki tan straps, but this combination is long gone.

discontinued colors of the Gemini are on sale for at only $105 each. The Geminis are listed in the same section of the website as the Butterfly, just scroll down to order the Gemini carriers. This is Beco’s new 4-position carrier, it does front, back, side, and forward-facing-outward. No infant insert, and price is $10 less than the Beco Butterfly. It is a quite different carrier, and the Butterfly is NOT discontinued. Call or email us if you want help figuring out which carrier would suit you best.  We have blogged specifically about Butterfly vs Gemini at this link.

The Beco Gemini colors are :

The automatic free shipping is FedEx ground. There is a new map on our policies page for delivery speed with Fedex ground service. You may find you live close enough to get overnight or 2nd day service at the Ground price.

Everybody is curious about how the Beco fabric prints look close up and in the sunlight, so we blog these whenever we can. Check the sidebar for the “butterfly photos” section. Our homemade close-up outdoor shots of Isabella and Olivia are here. Extra images of Abby Sara and Natalie are here. Our shots of the discontinued Scooters Becos are here. When we still had them on hand, we took photos of our custom-edition Aubrey, Ethan, and Emma – especially useful because you can clearly see the words in the popular Emma print.  The currently available Paige color has extra photos here.  The Butterfly 2.0 blog thread on colors and stocking is here.

Many people ask about the sold out colors – We have been with Beco since 2006, well before there was such thing as “A Beco Butterfly” and we do still get phone calls asking for colors that came and went long ago. I can confirm that the following colors are discontinued and not being made any more: Duo organic owls in sand, sky blue, or rust orange.  Aiden, Andrew, Anaya, Alison, Avery, Argyle Deer, Carnival, Ethan, Grace, Jacob, Joey, Hannah, Lauren, Panthers, Pony Express, Lenka, River, Ryan, Sara, Scooters, Trinity, Zoye.  That lovely photo above with the lady holding a coffee mug is wearing the Joshua print from an especially small production run from 2008.  Also sold out long ago are the Tender Cargo Exclusive fabrics : custom-made Abby, Mia, Audrey, Olivia and Emma.

Beco Gemini – Left … Beco Butterfly – Center  … Beco Gemini – Right

Color is Paige – Grey and Black

Notice the differences – the Gemini has the black area at top where they have snapped it down to baby’s shoulder level. If it were left up, the carrier body would look much taller, even above the baby’s head. The Gemini carrier has snaps also where the carrier body meets the adult’s waist belt.  In the left photo those are not snapped down, they are showing the carrier at full width. A smaller baby would want those snapped down so the legs wouldn’t need to be opened as wide. Also, a baby in a front carry but facing outward will need those snapped down for the right size leg openings while they face out (shown in the photo on the right). The Beco Butterfly (right) does not snap down at the top, nor does it snap in for adjustable width at baby’s legs. Instead, the Butterfly carrier has an internal seat for baby and the use of the infant insert accomplishes this same goal. However, it will not do a forward-facing position where baby’s back is touching the adult’s chest. With the butterfly, baby is always tummy-to-tummy if on your front, or tummy-to-back when baby is riding on your back.  The actual colored fabric panel doesn’t run as wide on the Gemini. Also the straps have a thinner or sleeker look to them, partly because they don’t need the extra buckles like the Butterfly straps do.  It doesn’t show in this photo, but the Butterfly straps go “backpack style” that is, they connect to their own side rather than crossing the back as an X. There is a shoulder clip ( or chest strap if you prefer calling it that). The Gemini straps are more shaped to cross like an X over your back when baby is carried on your chest. Many people find this more supportive and distributes the weight better.

Beco Gemini – Left and the Beco Butterfly – Right

Color is Metro Black. Position is Backpack Carry.
This can be done about age 6 months, when baby sits up on their own and has full head control. As you can see in the photos, the Gemini base is fully extended for full support under baby’s bottom. the Gemini top is snapped down so baby’s head is uncovered. The Butterfly in this photo is showing an older child, but both carriers are suitable for about the same age range, 7-35 pounds on the gemini and 7-45 pounds on the butterfly. In fact, the Butterfly can do a back position sooner than the Gemini, because the Butterfly internal seat offers more support to the baby’s position, allowing a safe, secure, and confident back carry at 4 months old.  The Butterfly carrier has more buckles and adjustments than the Gemini, or compared to the Ergo for instance. But it is this extra harness that most people appreciate so much in daily use, especially with new babies, because the carrier offers so much “help” in getting baby safe and snug. Most people put the carrier on themselves first and then lift baby in to position. However, the Butterfly also offers another way – lay the baby in the carrier first, check their position and buckles and then lift the whole ensemble to your chest (or your back). Many nervous parents prefer to do it this way, and only the Butterfly carrier can do it.  However, this same infant insert and internal harness for older babies does prevent a hip carry position.  To see the side (hip) position, look at the gemini below, the photo at the bottom left. Side carry positioning tends to be “a love it or hate it” issue. It’s the sort of thing that most people never even try, while other folks use every day.  If you have been wishing your older Beco could do a hip carry, you’ll love it with the Gemini.  But that said, most Gemini users will stick to the more common front and back positions for carrying baby around town.  Both  Beco carriers accommodate newborn babies without buying an extra insert or other accessory purchases.

Our most popular question so far is “when is the beco gemini coming out” or “when is the gemini carrier available”.  Folks, it is here NOW! There is no more waiting!   After that, people often ask which carrier is right for them.  We hope this blog post helped you. If not, call us to chat about your individual situation – we love to help! (877) 333-0697

Also, you might want to look over the Gemini user manual. The PDF is here

Currently the Beco Gemini comes in 8 prints and 2 solid colors.  The butterfly comes in the same 2 solids, 6 regular prints, and 3 limited edition prints. Pricing is $129 for Gemini and $139 for Butterfly. August 2011 Back to School Sale puts the Gemini at $105 and the Butterfly at $125! Free shipping is automatic within the USA. All Becos can be purchased here

Photos of a mom and a dad with 18 month old toddler in a back carry. Next time we do this, we’ll show the hip carry and front positions too. All photos are with the 1st version Pikkolo carrier in color Appletini green with black straps. The mom is not wearing the optional chest strap, but the dad chose to. For her, the memory foam kept the straps in position just fine, and she didn’t want the extra step of a chest strap. But the dad tried it both ways and found he preferred using it. It probably depends some on your body type.

Both are wearing it too “low” in the outdoor shots- at the top of their hips instead of at the natural waist as suggested.

Click the images to enlarge them in a new window

more, with better positioning, higher up so baby can see. The straps are worn backpack style, but for a front carry you would cross them, making an X on your back.

The Medela milk storage/feeding bottles changed in mid-2009 to a wider based nipple.  The same bottles and lids fit together, but now the nipple itself has a wide base so that means the bottle collar needs a wider opening.  the color is that screw on part that holds the nipple on to the bottle. Without further ado, here are some photos we took at the store of the Medela bottle collars, just so you can see the difference.

If you have older style (narrow nipple) medela bottles and are having trouble finding the replacement parts for them, no worries, just keep your bottles with their lids and caps and order new collars and nipples. The new widebase style collars and nipples are available everywhere now and they will fit the rest of you milk pumping/storage system.

We are posting this after hearing how impossible it is to get the info anywhere else – Hope the pictures clear things up for you!

old style - thicker collar for narrower nipple base

new style - thinner collar to fit a wider nipple

The Disc is the flat piece that fills in the collar to make a lid when the nipple is not present

We created a photo album below of  Bumgenius diapers, version 4.0 (latest available) demonstrating all colors with natural light at our store location. These are our own homemade photos, not staged or edited in any way. The idea is to show you exactly what they look like in person, not on a model in professional lighting.

The new color collection adds Noodle, Sweet, and Bubble. The returning colors are shown individually and in some photos they’re positioned with version 3.0 and 4.0 next to eachother to tell if there is any difference in the shade of the colors. This also allows a good show of the changes in the packaging style. The 4.0s are on hang tags where the version 3.0 diapers have the label wrapping around their middle. Also in all these example shots, the BG 4.0 are snaps and the 3.0s of course are velcro for contrast. The popular “old” colors made in both 4.0 and 3.0 are white, grasshopper, twilight, butternut, and blossom. The newer colors are pale in comparison, they strike us as subtle shades of off-white or, if you prefer, very light green, very light yellow, and pale lavender.

Bumgenius 4.0 case packs

1st Box Opened of our BumGenius 4 delivery

We took these photos right when the version 4.0 shipment arrived. See the new Bubble, Noodle, and Sweet colors as well as the popular classic colors from the last version. These diapers are one-size-fits-all from newborn to potty training, and they come in snap or Velcro closure. Clicks on the potos takes you to the shopping area and more photos of each color choice for the cloth diapers.

New BumGenius Colors on Store Display

BumGenius 4.0 colors on display

In person, these new addition colors seem more neutral. Bubble is a lavender but a very gentle one. Noodle is nearly off-white, and Sweet shows only a touch of green compared to the standard white. you could call sweet a “mint” and noodle more of a “cream” or “butter”. Bubble is not quite as light as these other new colors and is obviously a shade of purple, no doubt about it.

Here is the complete colors chart – look for the amateur photos we posted on this blog here as soon at they arrived, as well as our more detailed shots here of every color on its own and all the pale ones lined up against eachother so you can compare their subtle different shades. We are not pros, we just take these pics in our store with a regular camera in regular lighting, to contrast with the professional shots above.

Fathers Day Anyone?
Gender-neutral light blue design with black straps. This organic Beco carrier was last summer’s bestseller, a favorite of dads and parent carrying of baby boys. We have lots available in the store now to ship immediately, and there is no charge for shipping within the US.

Beco butterflies are $139, but this color is not being produced anymore so is on sale to clear out at just $119. Click to order online and see our other pictures of this carrier.
Californians, this item is in-store for pickup at 3399 Mt Diablo Bl, Lafayette CA

Just in today! A rainbow of Moby Wraps! This is an increasingly popular infant carrier choice, and no wonder! Most of them are only $39.95. They’re amazingly soft. They can hold baby to you in any position you prefer- face in or out, carry twins, baby on your back or front or hip. Nursing is easy, and covering baby as much as you need for nursing or feeding is as simple as pulling the wrap up, just like a blanket. There are no buckles or straps or fasteners. You do have to learn to tie it around yourself but the photo instructions are fabulous so that soon becomes easy, and after it’s on you, you just place baby inside and go! The lightweight stretch fabric is ideal even in warm weather, and 4 colors are made of UV-protection fabric for summer sun. the Moby Wrap is essential for baby’s first 6 months or even first year, but honestly, the day will come when you’ll probably want a more supportive, structured carrier, like the Beco. But for $39, the price is right , to get you through that first year comfortably and free to go out and about with your infant. In my town, I see babies riding cozy in their moby wraps all around the neighborhood, at grocery stores and coffee shops and at pickup time for the preschool and elementary schools. I have seen moms at the airport, traveling with baby alseep in the wrap, which is all fabric, by the way, with nothing metal to set off airport security.

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Look below to see on youTube a great Moby Wrap demonstration with a baby in a front carry. Clear video, clear sound, good tips, I just had to pass it along for you.
The Moby is an excellent carrier choice for baby’s first year, it’s the sort of thing moms give other moms at their baby shower while speaking of as a lifesaver, an essential, something they used every day- it is so soft and stretchy, babies just love to be swaddled inside it and soothed by your walking movements. Also, a wrap offers so much flexibility about positioning and size, it works for everybody. Moby is just $39, so it’s a really affordable carrier for a newborn and the months that follow, and then most families graduate to a soft structured carrier -something with support on both shoulders and the hips, something for front and backpack style carry positions to take you through the toddler years.

Re-published from Jan 29 2009

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Today we restocked our BabyHawks in all the colors that were so popular they sold out!

There are 21 colors in stock now – half our selection is shown below. These are stunning in person.

Every baby carrier is suitable from birth to 40 pounds. Babyhawk mei tais are versatile to match your outfits and the places you go since each carrier has one side with a design and one side of solid color. This is really helpful when two adults want to share one carrier but have different preferences about the design.

Black strap Babyhawks that reverse to solid black

Chocolate, Espresso, and Olive solids are in stock as well.

Psst – sneak a look inside our store!

Visiting the San Fransisco Area? We’re open 7 days a week, click for the map.

These photos are from the front of the store, where the BumGenius diapers and Medela gear goes. We are a Medela Certified Nursing Center and pump rental station. And yes, we have Bumgenius 4.0, 3.0, organic elementals, Flip, and Econobum diapers all for sale in-person at this location. Or, of course if you aren’t coming by, these are all available online.