Beco Gemini Review

For us, the Beco Baby Gemini was extremely versatile touting four carry positions (front carry facing in, front carry facing out, back carry, and hip carry) and a weight range that can accommodate a newborn all the way up to a toddler. It is lightweight, comfortable, and comes in a variety of different colors and beautiful patterns. Read on to find out more about our experience with this carrier.

Performance Comparison

Baby's Safety

The Beco Gemini scored an 8 of 10 for Baby's Safety in our tests. The back support for baby is more than adequate and we really find this helpful when putting our older baby or toddler into a back carry as it offers a deep seat and holds them really close to the wearer. At 12 inches, it offers a nice, wide seat for baby and maintains the "frog leg" position when facing in. Even when adjusted for front carry facing out position, the seat comes in wider than most at 7 inches, but there is still a bit of "leg dangle" and it does not accomplish an ergonomically correct position as well as the Ergobaby Four Position 360.

Baby's Comfort

This was a really comfy ride for both newborns and toddlers, and scored an 8 of 10 in this category. We like that the front carry facing out position allows baby to check out his surroundings while still being close to mom. Even without an infant insert, a small infant is provided with plenty of support for both head and neck, allowing them to rest comfortably in this carrier. One gripe we have about it is that the straps and buckles on the head support tend to dig into baby's head, especially those in the 6-12 month range. Also, extra padding on the leg holes and a sleeping hood are additional features that would have definitely increased baby's comfort in the Beco.

Parent's Comfort

The Gemini scored an 8 of 10 for Parent's Comfort. It has well-padded shoulder and waist straps (although less so than some of the other higher scoring carriers) that we found could be worn a couple of ways. You can put them straight back over your shoulders and use the chest buckle at the top of your back for added support, or you can cross the straps to form an X on your back like the Onya Baby Outback, which we found offered the ultimate comfort and support. Once on, it's easy to adjust if needed.

Ease of Use

The Gemini received a 7 of 10 here because we found it to be simple to use and easy to adjust both fit and carry positions. Being lightweight without a lot of extra straps or pieces makes it great for taking on the go. To transition from front carry facing in to front carry facing out, there are flaps at the bottom of baby's seat that fold either in or out like wings. To narrow the seat for a front carry facing out position, you simply fold the flaps in and snap them down. This adjustment is a cinch to make compared to other carriers that have the same option, such as the Lillebaby COMPLETE All Seasons or the Ergobaby Four Position 360. We are also pleased at how it handled a baby under the three month range, yet didn't require any additional inserts.

One major problem with this carrier is the buckles. The buckles are designed to be ultra-safe by requiring two hands to get them undone. We see and appreciate the thought here but we sure did struggle with them as it isn't always convenient to use both hands when you have a fussy or squirmy baby. When using back carry with a toddler, we had trouble getting the chest clip as tight as we wanted. We also really wish this carrier came with the convenient features that most of the higher scoring carriers have — a hood and a storage pocket.

Ease of Cleaning

This carrier scored a 7 of 10 as it is machine washable but must be hung up to dry. Frequent washing is not recommended.

Best Applications

Even though you don't need an infant insert and it's rated for babies starting at 7 pounds, a newborn can seem a bit swallowed up in the Gemini. In our experience, it really feels best after baby reaches about 10 pounds. We wore baby while doing household chores and walks in the neighborhood, but because baby can face out, it's also great for outings like the zoo where your little one might enjoying looking around and taking it all in.

Value

We love that this carrier is made in the USA. Since the material is a little more lightweight than the Lillebaby COMPLETE All Seasons or Ergobaby Four Position 360, quality might be a concern at first glance, but based on our experience, it should hold up just as nicely.

Conclusion

The Beco gets it right in so many ways: quality, usability, versatility, comfort and style. However, the are other soft structured carriers out there that are just a bit easier to use, more comfortable, and provide better ergonomics, especially if you're looking for a carrier that allows baby to face out. We'd say check out the Ergobaby Four Position 360.

Other Versions and Accessories

Beco also offers a few different fabric patterns for the Gemini, as well as a few accessories:

• The Beco Gemini Organic $150, is a 100% organic cotton option.

• The Beco Drool Pads $20 are made of organic cotton and attach to the shoulder straps of the Gemini.

• The Beco Gemini Bib $30 is also 100% organic cotton fits over the front of the Gemini carrier to keep the carrier drool free.