Carrier Review: Daiesu Sakura Summer Wrap Conversion Mei Tai

Carrier Review: Daiesu Sakura Summer Wrap Conversion Mei Tai

     

     This is the third time I have had the pleasure to test a carrier from Daiesu and I still love the brand so much. This time I took their Sakura Summer Wrap Conversion mei tai out for a spin. A "mei tai" is a generic term for a baby carrier with a square or rectangular panel and straps on all four corners that needs to be tied in a certain way to safely carry a baby. Sakura Summer is made from 100% organic cotton and woven in a jacquard style like most of Daiesu's wraps. it"s weight comes in at 270gsm and width at 35cm. The straps and waist belt are heavily padded to make the wearer more comfortable. There is also a hood that is detachable and a string to tighten the panel to make it fit smaller babies.

     Upon getting Sakura Summer out of the bag, I noticed it was very heavy and I could feel how dense the weave was. The colors looked amazing and not garish at all for orange and pink. I immediately tried a quick front carry with my son and found Sakura Summer to be very cushy and soft but also very warm to wear. I could only stand to use it for 15 minutes that first time since it's summer here. The next time I used it, it was during a city trek and I had my kid in a back carry for 2 hours. I didn't experience any pain at all and my son enjoyed sight seeing, but when we peeled apart, we were both drenched in sweat.

     The next time I tried Sakura Summer on, it was in a mall and we used it for a longer time, up to 3.5 hours. I was able to breastfeed in it but it required untying the shoulder straps and jiggling my baby down to lower him to the correct height. Sleepy dust kicked in since we were in a cold environment but once we got out in humid air, we sweated buckets again. I tried to cajole my hubby to try it on, since he loved wraps, but he didn't want to since he remembered how sweaty we got during the 2 hour back carry stint. 

     I had a few of my friends try this beauty out during an impromptu sling meet. One of them was a slim and pregnant mommy who's taller than me. She absolutely loved Sakura because of the color and how easy it was to do a back carry with her toddler. Another mom was a curvy gal and she also loved how Sakura looks. She said she wished it wasn't as thick and the straps weren't as hard to tie together. The last mom who tried it out was tall and statuesque. She had a bit of trouble tying the straps around her and there was almost no tail left at all, This made us think that maybe this wasn't meant for big girls at all. But she still loved how the mei tai made her feel like a goddess.

     Overall, I am very happy with my time with Sakura Summer. I just really wish I had her during our rainy months so that I wouldn't be dripping with sweat everytime I used it. The mei tai retails for around 3,700 Php to 4,200 Php. I would recommend this carrier for parents who love the feel of a Wrap but want the convenience of a Soft Structured Carrier, because it really is the best of both worlds.

April 6th.

April 6th.

      What's in a date? April 6th, 2015. One year ago. 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days ago. What a year it has been. It's been a year since I gave birth to my son. A year of breast feeding him, cracked nipples and almost sleepless nights. A year of changing diapers, from disposables to cloth. A year of cuddles and dancing and songs and whispers until he falls asleep. A year of mundane, everyday tasks to make sure he grows up happy, content and safe. How fast time flies.

     When I made the decision to be a stay-at-home mom, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. In retrospect, if I knew what it would entail, I probably would just have gone back to work. But there is not a day that goes by that I'm not certain that I made the right choice fory baby. And in further retrospect, that is what's important. He has grown into a cheerful and energetic toddler. He has breezed by all the expected milestones and I couldn't be prouder of him than I am. 

       I never thought I could hold so much love in my heart, and also so much fear. Fear that I will let him down, fear that he will get hurt, fear of letting him grow up and go out on his own. My husband thinks it's funny that every month I implore him to not grow up too fast. But I feel that sincerely. Even when we're together 24/7, I still feel that I only have too little a time with him. Too soon will he grow up and run and play without me. Soon he will start school and have new friends. Too soon will he start dating and then have his own family. Yes, I am looking down that road as early as now. At times like this when the house is quiet and I am staring at his peaceful and sleeping face. He has just turned one but I fear it's the start of him leaving me. 

     I keep these fears bottled up inside as I go by our daily routine. I keep on thinking that this might be the last time he feeds from me. The last time I change his nappy. The last time he wants to go uppy on his carrier. The last time he wants a cuddle before he sleeps. I try not to show my boy how conflicted I feel. Naturally I want him to grow into the amazing man I know he will be, but there's still a small selfish wish in a mother's heart that wants to keep him by my side like this always. 

     So mothers, hold your children as much as you still can. Cherish every smile, every laugh and even every tear. Be thankful for all the times you have your child in your arms and always remember how fast they grow. All too soon we have to let them go, accept that they don't need us that much. We are not the center of their universe any longer, rather we are a satellite that lights his path. Make sure that as young as they are now, they will always know how much they are loved every single day of their life.

       Happy birthday my darling baby boy. Mommy loves you so very much. Don't grow up too fast ok?

April 6th 2015