| The Pikkolo by CatBird Baby is a favorite carrier of mine, and my babysitter's hands-down favorite. I love this carrier for its versatility, its unique design features, and its use of super-durable, top-quality, spare-no-expense materials.
Pikkolo Product Details
- For babies to toddlers. Recommended weight range is 8-40 pounds.
- Child can be worn on front (facing in or out), back, or hip and easily shifted from one to the other.
- Front carry: Shoulder straps can be worn either crossed in back or backpack-style (straight over each shoulder).
Back carry: You can cross the straps in front for a back carry, but it will most likely make your boobs look and/or feel weird. Feel free to give it a try though! If you are small-chested, a crossed-strap back carry might work for you.
- Unlike most other soft structured carriers, the Pikkolo has a cinching mechanism on either side of the carrier body to narrow the carrier so that you can comfortably wear your baby in front facing *out*! (not recommended for babies over 20 pounds or it will kill your back).
- The ability to cinch the carrier body to make it more narrow also makes it good for wearing small babies. A narrower cinched carrier body means that a small baby will not have to spread his legs as wide while riding.
- Unstructured apron-style waistband makes it possible to precisely adjust the carrier's fit. Fits both short-waisted and long-waisted body types. This type of waistband is meant to be worn snugly around your natural waist, not loose/low on top of the hips like padded waistbands. Won't pull your pants down! Very comfy.
- Tested to fit wearers between 4'10" and 6'2". One wearer said that she was able to adjust the Pikkolo to fit her 7 year old, 45 pound daughter (who wanted to carry a younger child). I am 5'8" with a long torso, and it still fits me with plenty of strap room to spare.
- All buckles are dual-adjustable and adjust both ways, for optimal fit and ease of adjustment. You can pull the straps from either side of the buckle, as well as change the location of the buckle itself.
- Super-durable high-tech fabric takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Looks and feels great wash after wash. In fact, IT IS RECOMMENDED BY ME to wash your Pikkolo before wearing it (preferably with an unscented liquid fabric softener), as it feels a little stiff at first, and washing the fabric loosens and softens it nicely. This is a carrier that takes a little bit of breaking in, but like a pair of quality leather shoes, feels better with time.
- Shoulder straps are padded with deluxe memory foam (the same stuff found in expensive Tempurpedic mattresses). It is very thin, but incredibly cushy and shock-absorbent. As the foam becomes warmed by your body heat, it shapes itself to your shoulders for a glove-like fit.
- Detachable flat sleeping hood in soft cotton.
- If you *do* prefer a padded waistband (for toddlers and heavy babies it definitely helps), there will be a padded waistband sleeve for the Pikkolo carrier available mid-July. I have a tester and it's the best waistband on the market today...contoured to the shape of the hips and pelvis, very high-quality foam padding, beautifully designed. It will attach to current models of the Pikkolo. I will sell them as soon as they are available, for about $25. See photos below.
- Recommended care: wash on gentle cycle in cold water with a mild detergent. Dry on low until just damp, then hang to finish drying in well ventilated area. Spot clean when needed.
Pikkolo - Customization Suggestion
I use the Pikkolo in a slightly modified version to make it work better for me, and many other wearers like it this way too. Here's what I've changed, and you can check the photos below for clarification.
- The Pikkolo currently comes with a separate chest belt that is a bit awkward to use and easily lost. I replaced that with a set of chest straps that are attached to the shoulder straps and buckle together in the middle (see photos below). Easier and more comfortable.
You can order a set here. Ergo (ptooey!) won't sell to me, but they will sell to you. Using the chest belt that comes with the Pikkolo is not so bad however. You just have to be careful not to lose it when you take it off. Some people don't even like to use a chest strap. I do. Your mileage may vary. Try it first as-is.
- The Pikkolo sleeping hood snap hooks currently attach to ribbon loops sewn onto the shoulder straps, but these are located somewhat far back in a back carry and can be hard to reach. If you have the replacement chest straps on, then the sleeping hood snap hooks can be attached to D-rings on the chest straps, conveniently located right at your collarbone.
If what I wrote above has you totally confused, don't worry about it. Being a carrier geek has its down side too. Just use the carrier straight out of the package, that works fine for most people.
Action Shots below!
I will be getting more photos and videos up of the Pikkolo, but for now here are some action shots of me wearing my customized Pikkolo (replacement chest straps attached to shoulder straps) WITH the padded waistband sleeve on.)
I am putting the sleeping hood up to support my sleeping baby's head.
Adrian is totally passed out, time to put up the sleeping hood.
Seen from the side. I'm praying that he stays asleep long enough to show how to get the hood up. (just kidding)
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I am currently sold out of all Pikkolo carriers. I should have a small shipment of Spa and Flame (new deep red color) arriving soon, and a larger shipment with several other other prints in early-mid September. The padded waistband sleeve should be arriving in early-mid September as well.
| Spa Pikkolo |
temporarily sold out
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$125 |
| Modern circle print on a light blue background. Stone straps and hood. Photo shows carrier with sleeping hood in use. |
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| Stone Pikkolo |
temporarily sold out
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$125 |
| Solid straps and hood. Color is a muted beige, with almost a gray tone to it. Piping is a dark brown. |
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| Appletini Pikkolo |
temporarily sold out
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$125 |
| Black straps with a soft green body. Surprisingly neutral, goes with everything! |
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| Metro Black Pikkolo |
temporarily sold out
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$125 |
| Solid black, as basic as it gets. |
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| Somerset Pikkolo |
temporarily sold out
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$125 |
| Paisley pattern in blue green and white. Black straps. |
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