You Know I'm All About Those Buckles

You may see them called soft structured carriers, SSCs, buckle carriers, or even WCFB (wrap conversion full buckle) or WCHB (wrap conversion half buckle). But these back pack style carriers that clip on are probably the most user friendly carrier options there are. Perfect for Dads and great for toddlers that are up and down a lot, these carriers are pretty straight forward, easy to use, and quick. For this reason, they probably don't get talked about enough. So we decided to focus this month on all things buckles! We asked our lovely Volunteer Babywearing Educators a few questions about buckles that will hopefully give you some insight into these great carriers!

Jenny and her wrap conversion with her toddler

Anna Hurley

VBE, Anna's husband carrying their daughter in a WCFB

1. What is your favorite kind/brand of soft structured carrier? Definitely Boba for a little baby. It just fit my body type better than an Ergo. Okay, and I love the Beco Butterfly Original but I can't find one for the life of me :(
2. In your opinion, what are the benefits to using a SSC? SSCs are great for when people are staring and you are afraid to wrap in front of them in the parking lot.
3. In your opinion, what are the downsides to using a SSC? They are not necessarily a one size fits all type of carrier like say a ringsling or a long wrap.
4. If you could have your dream buckle carrier, what would it be like?  I want a Kinderpack.




Brittany Ridley
1. What is your favorite kind/brand of soft structured carrier? I have a Tula and really love how straight forward and easy it is to use. It's my favorite because it just fits my husband and I so well.

Brittany and her little man in a tula

2. In your opinion, what are the benefits to using a SSC? I like them for fast and easy ups and downs. My husband likes them because they are easy.
3. In your opinion, what are the downsides to using a SSC? I can't always get the weight distribution where I like it for long wearing, but it is usually fine.
4. If you could have your dream buckle carrier, what would it be like? I guess if I could get a Tula with side clips so I could cross the straps I might call that perfect.

Nikki and her little guy with their kinderpack

Nikki Moore
1. What is your favorite kind/brand of soft structured carrier? Kinderpack. I love amount of adjustability and the fit! I love how deep the seat is too.
2. In your opinion, what are the benefits to using a SSC? SSCs are great for quick ups, squirmy toddlers, and for daddies!
3. In your opinion, what are the downsides to using a SSC? Fit varies from person to person. They aren't as versatile.
4. If you could have your dream buckle carrier, what would it be like? I'd love to be able to customize a carrier to exactly how I'd want it to look and function: ability to tighten the straps a tiny bit smaller, possibly a ring waist, slightly narrower straps and some really awesome fabric.

Mary and her older daughter wearing the littles in their tulas

Mary Rodio
1. What is your favorite kind/brand of soft structured carrier? Depends on the stage. I love Becos in general. I really like the Gemini for little babies the most. Followed by the original Butterfly, but because those are impossible to find, I think the Soliel is going to be a great substitute. For bigger babies and toddlers, it's going to be the Kinderpack. The Tula was at the top of that list until I tried the Toddler Kinderpack. It's pretty much love due to the deep deat darts and I find the webbing way more comfortable. 
2. In your opinion, what are the benefits to using a SSC? Benefits of a SSC is the ease of getting it on and off and quickness.

Mary and her daughter in their Beco Gemini

3. In your opinion, what are the downsides to using a SSC?  To me personally, I hate the waist band. I just don't like having things on my midsection generally. A good, proper fitted SSC is tolerable but still not my perferred carrier. They can be hard to get adjusted just right to to find that "sweet spot" for people like me. 
4. If you could have your dream buckle carrier, what would it be like? I love half buckles and ring waists..Does that count? The webbing in my favorite half buckle was very moldable and thin and I really enjoyed that. It would have deep seat darts like the Kinderpack for sure. Straps that can be unbuckled for a hip carry or crossed in the back.



Sarah Murray
1. What is your favorite kind/brand of soft structured carrier? At the moment my favortie SSC is the Kinderpack. The shoulder straps are extra cushy for my big toddler in tow and the seat is amazingly deep. I have one with the optional breathable panal which makes spring and summer wearing much more enjoyable with a thickly padded buckle carrier. Although we loved our Ergo well into 15-18mo the KP suits our needs now with a 3year old. 

Sarah and her daughter with their
Madame GooGoo
 wrap conversion

2. In your opinion, what are the benefits to using a SSC? There are many benefits to an SSC: they are easily and quickly adjustable for front, back, and (some styles) hip carries. Great for toddlers who want up one minute and back down the next. I've personally found SSC's l one of the easiest to discretely nurse in just because of the adjustability and the access of the sleep hood on some models.
3. In your opinion, what are the downsides to using a SSC? Downside not every SSC will fit every body type. Thank goodness there are many options, brands, and styles for our extremely petite mama's to our fluffier mama's as well. Also some models have features others don't such as sleep hoods and straps that unclasp to be able to hip carry in them.
4. If you could have your dream buckle carrier, what would it be like? I think I own my two dream SSC' s already. Between our solar veil KP and a custom wrap conversion Madame GooGoo created carrier I have to say I'm more than stashified when it comes to buckle carriers.

Carrie and her little man in their tula

Carrie Plemons
1. What is your favorite kind/brand of soft structured carrier? I really like my tula. I am tall and my kids are tall, too, and the tula fits our frame better.
2. In your opinion, what are the benefits to using a SSC? I love how quick it is to put my baby up. When they are fussy or if you are running errands and have to do several quick ups and downs, SSC's are great!
3. In your opinion, what are the downsides to using a SSC? The downsides of SSC's are that sometimes it can be hard to get a good fit for all ages. You need an infant insert when they are little, and when they are older, the seat may not be as comfortable.
4. If you could have your dream buckle carrier, what would it be like? I love Oscha's Okinami wrap (the one with the waves on it - I'm a California girl at heart) and would love a toddler wrap conversion made out of that wrap. 

Ashey's Husband rocking a Kinderpack
on a recent adventure

Ashley Teller


1. What is your favorite kind/brand of soft structured carrier? I am a huge Kinderpack fan. They have these amazing deep seats and wide cushy straps. Plus they have the most versatility in my opinion. They have an amazing infant size that has a cinchable seat so you can put baby legs out much earlier than others. Then they have a standard, toddler, and preschool. Plus they have standard or plus straps with Perfect Fit strap adjusters.

Ashley also enjoying the buckles on their
recent family adventure

2. In your opinion, what are the benefits to using a SSC? They are quick and easy. It's definitely my husband's favorite and the best for up and down toddler phase. It's also great for travel.
3. In your opinion, what are the downsides to using a SSC? They're not as adjustable and versatile as others. I don't find them as comfortable as wraps either.
4. If you could have your dream buckle carrier, what would it be like? It would be a wrap conversion Kinderpack and it would have some storage options for keys, phone, and water bottle so I could leave the diaper bag behind.

Some of your leaders enjoying the ease of the buckles

Even the leader's babies can enjoy a good buckle carrier themselves