Seven years ago, I gave birth to a sweet little boy in the middle of summer. A very hot summer. We spent our days trying to stay cool and our nights pacing the sidewalks as I attempted to lull him to sleep without dissolving into a pool of sweat. “Babywearing” saved me with him, just like I knew it would with my new twins. They were born on a January night, in the middle of a literal blizzard, and I was prepared with wraps, slings, and soft-structured carriers. What I was not prepared for, however, was how to babywear in the winter.
Enter Mountain Marsupial: a 4-in-1 jacket designed by mompreneur Amy, and inspired by the Colorado Rocky Mountains. I’ve had the opportunity to test out this jacket of all trades with the twins, and I’m so excited to finally share my thoughts with the PMB community!
Fit
The Mountain Marsupial jacket is designed to fit moms through all seasons of life. The zip-in panel accommodates a growing belly, carries on the front or back once baby arrives, and is easily removed if mom ever gets the opportunity to venture out on her own. Long zipper pulls make it easy to open and close the panel with baby on board, and the elastic bottom panel hugs the body nicely to help keep in warmth. At 5’4″ and 145 pounds, a size small fit me comfortably, both with and without the panel attached. The panel was very roomy around my infants, even with both of them on board, so there is plenty of room to grow and accommodate a toddler.
There are several, thoughtful elements that help improve fit with the jacket, including velcro cuffs, an elastic drawstring at the waist, a full-size hood with elastic drawstring, and cord locks to keep everything in place. The sleeves were a smidge shorter than I prefer, but I have strangely long arms, so I’m confident the length would be more than enough for any normal-limbed person. I also have a long torso, but found the overall length of the jacket to be perfect. When wearing the jacket without either panel, it has a flattering silhouette, which can be hard to achieve in outerwear!
Fabric
The designer behind Mountain Marsupial lives in Colorado, so she wanted a serious fabric for this jacket. The jacket is made with DINTEX, which “provides an impenetrable layer to prevent water and wind coming in, while keeping the highest level of breathability.” As such, it is the perfect material for babywearing in Oregon weather; rainy, windy, cold, and even freak snowstorms. On cold and wet mornings walking my big boy to the school bus, I wore two base layers, two babies + wrap, and my Mountain Marsupial jacket, and we stayed toasty warm. The super-soft lining is cozy against baby’s skin and makes the jacket comfy to slip on in chilly weather.
The Mountain Marsupial comes in two bright colors, Peek to Peak Pink and Mo’ Better Baby Blue. My wardrobe generally consists of not-so-exciting colors like black, gray, and white, so this jacket was definitely a departure from the norm for me. I think it would be great to add some reflective fabric to places like the cuffs, pockets, and hood. You can never be too careful when you’re out and about with your baby.
Function
This category is likely what you’re most curious about; sure, the jacket fits nicely and is made out of fancy fabric, but does it actually work? Yes, mamas. It totally does. I put the Mountain Marsupial through the wringer and it held up its end of the bargain splendidly. I also took this jacket to the park on walks with our dog, to the food carts, and tossed it in the minivan for trips to Target and Costco. I’ve worn it with woven wraps, ring slings, an Ergo, a Beco, and a Moby. I wore the twins individually and at the same time. I even tried out the panel zipped all the way up, then folded part way down. In every scenario, I give it two thumbs up!
Babywearing is not just an excellent way to bond with your child(ren), it can also be a lifesaver when you need your hands free. And, like all aspects of parenting, having the right tools at your fingertips makes the job so much easier. If you need a jacket to take you from pregnancy through babywearing and beyond, look no further than the Mountain Marsupial. You will be thankful for the high quality materials, ease of use, and design ingenuity. It’s the perfect addition to any mama’s wardrobe.
Crossing my fingers
I would love to win this super cool Mountain Marsupial jacket and babywear my little one when we visit Seattle and Atlanta this spring break 🙂
Thank You for the chance!
I think this looks really really useful! Do they also make a back carry option?
Yes! 4-in-1 because you can front carry, back carry, wear it when pregnant, or wear it when not! Pictures of front and back carry are on the Mountain Marsupial website.
Love to wear it in Telluride
Comments are closed.