KP asks:
I just got my new Beco Gemini today. I can’t try it out with my new baby as he/she isn’t here yet. I just have some questions. When the head support is up it hits my chin. Am I just too short to use it this way? Also does it have to be up with a newborn? Lastly, should the bottom part be narrow or wide with a newborn? I just want to learn to use it perfectly before baby arrives.

Laura answers:
The baby’s body will pull it down and pouch it out, so the headrest shouldn’t be touching your chin with a baby inside, but it might be close to it, and that’s perfectly OK. You should be able to tilt your head down and kiss the top of your baby’s head.

The headrest doesn’t need to be up with a newborn. Only if the baby is sleeping, or if you feel like you need some extra shielding or support, but not all the time, no. A typical newborn will fit in the carrier and have adequate neck support without the headrest up.

For the base, it depends on your baby’s size and dimensions. You can try it wide at first…if your baby’s legs exit the carrier and the baby’s knees can bend, then use it wide. If your baby’s knees can’t bend because the carrier is too wide, then make it narrow. You want your baby’s legs out of the carrier and able to bend at the knee without carrier getting in the way.

If you use it narrow, then keep checking in over time…you don’t want to use the narrow base for too long as your baby will start to dangle if there’s not enough support under the bottom and thighs. When the wide base allows your baby’s knees to bend freely, then it’s time to switch to that.

The Beco Gemini is available at The Portable Baby.