Carrier Review: Riz Sashop's MTO SSC

Carrier Review: Riz Sashop's MTO SSC

     I was snooping around Babywearing Philippines when I heard about this online shop that sold made-to-order SSCs (soft structured carriers). I then went to check out Riz Sashop and I started a conversation with the owner about the carriers she made. The designer and creator of the amazing handmade SSCs is mommy Rizza Tacderas and I had the opportunity to ask her how she came up with the idea of making her own carriers. She gamely answered me,

     "Naisipan kong gumawa since nakita kong 'yun 'yung pinakamadaling gamitin for babywearing. Matagal ko 'ring pinagisipan kung pano ko ba sya gagawing safe kahit di safety tested ang buckles since yun pinaka malaking issue. Gumawa muna ako for my son, mostly hand sewn at ang inspiration ko ay yung Minions na carrier na sa Pinterest ko nakita. Tapos pinakita ko sa iba, nakita kong interested sila so I sought financial help para makabili ako ng heavy duty sewing machine, etc.. And the rest is history, hahaha!"

     I managed to score a slot last August to have a SSC made to my specifications. We talked online for a long time, discussing how the carrier would look. From the size of the panel to the size of the waistbelt, from the design on the panel and the hood to the design of the straps and pockets, she listened to my wants and made them into reality. And I was amazed when I received my SSC. It was love at first sight.

     Then came the real test. As with all my carriers, for a whole week I wore the SSC everyday for varying lengths of time in order to be able to review it objectively. The longest time I carried using my MTO SSC was 5 hours straight without hurting my back. The carrier was comfy enough on my waist and shoulders but as with full paneled SSCs it felt warm after an hour or so. My bub seemed happy enough in the MTO SSC and our record for sleepy dust was within 5-10 minutes of him being carried in it. Doing back carries with this carrier was as easy as doing them with a Tula. Basically it's the same as a Tula but without the crippling price tag.

     The waistbelt has double locks, a velcro side and a buckled side. The shoulder straps are full circle which I was told was a safety feature as well (but looks silly to me). The hood is detachable and has reach straps with cute felt icons on them and can be stored in the pocket on the waistbelt. The fabric is soft enough on baby's skin without leaving bright red marks but still supportive enough that you won't worry about your kid falling through. The buckles are YKK buckles and are internationally safety tested and from my conversation with the creator, she plans on having her carriers safety tested as a whole once she has the means to do so.

     My verdict is that this SSC is as good as the others I've tried (Bitybean and Tula). As for the comfort and safety of my kid, I give this two thumbs up. For the comfort and safety of the wearer, another two thumbs up. This is the most affordable MTO SSC in the market right now since the pricing range from 1300-1700 Php depending on design you want so that's a plus for thrifty parents. There are a lot of safety features Rizza built in to calm the fears in the back of a parent's mind and I salute her for that. I would recommend this carrier for parents looking for a SSC that's low in price but high in love. Because the way these SSCs look, they truly are a labor of love. And isn't love why we carry our babies in the first place?