The Sidekick bag

by Irene Nam (Subscribe to Irene Nam's posts) Jun 16th 2006 11:33AM

New and soon-to-be moms, this just might be the one thing you need!

As a mother of twins who struggled with giant totes and battled more straps than a Victoria's Secret employee, I am really thrilled about the Sidekick bag.

The Sidekick bag is a new 2-in-1 product that combines a diaper bag and a child carrier. It also features large and double side pockets, includes insulated bottle wrap and changing pad and has recently won the award for innovation at the this year's JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) show. The maximum weight capacity is 35 lbs.

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Comments (14)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Lotta 6-16-2006 @ 11:38AM

Brilliant! Just brilliant! Of course if I ordered this my 1 year old would be in the phase where she didn't want to be held by the time it arrived. But had I seen this a few months earlier it would be MINE!

Thanks for the link!

http://mom-o-matic.blogspot.com/

thordora 6-16-2006 @ 12:45PM

I WANT that. Something else I wish I had invented.

jj 6-16-2006 @ 1:43PM

cool idea, and i like the way the bag is styled! but that shoulder strap doesn't look comfortable at all to me when used as a child carrier. looks like it would dig into both your shoulder and your neck. and i think i'd get annoyed by the bag bumping my leg, hanging that low. i'll stick with a sling and a messenger bag crossed over the other shoulder.

Belinda 6-16-2006 @ 7:23PM

Looks cool but I agree with JJ, that does look like it digs into your neck. Also $80 WAY outside my budget. I have a friend that is looking into making me a sling to hold my daughter who is 17 months old and loves to be carried and wants done to walk too. That is all she want to do, "carry me or let me walk" is her attitude. I also only carry a small light weight purse for a diaper bag. Holds three diapers, wipes, and a change of clothers. Never understood the big diaperbag, you don't need all those toys. She gets blankie and one toy or book. You learn to travel light it you don't want a lot to carry!

Noor 6-20-2006 @ 12:51PM

Neat idea... but the strap looks pretty uncomfortable. I think it would dig into my neck and shoulder.
I guess I'd rather stick with mei tais and wraps and just put a small bag around my neck!

Sarah 6-20-2006 @ 1:31PM

I also agree. The waist strap looks uncomfortable too. I will stick with a mai tai.

lacie harmon 6-20-2006 @ 8:50PM

OK- so it looks like I was the first one to try this and I must say, IT'S WAY COOOOOL!!! I ordered it from Target.com and used it with my daughter today. We love it! It actually holds everything and still I can use it as a carrier. This thing is awesome! The shoulder strap could be a little more padded but the padding it comes with is good for about 30 minutes. It's as comfortable for me as my Maya Wrap. It look like from the comments that no one knows there's a shoulder strap padding. There is... again, it could be a little more padded but for my short outtings it's great.

Kate 6-20-2006 @ 10:52PM

Thanks Irene, I saw your post and ordered one on the spot! I've been using it for two days now and my 2 year-old daughter and I love it! The carrier has been a life saver when my daughter gets tired of walking. I've had a couple of moms stop me to ask where I got it. I suppose the shoulder stap could be a little more padded, but it's comfortable enough for 20-30 minutes at a time.

Melissa 6-21-2006 @ 6:26PM

Hmmm .... Seems pretty limited to me. I help run a non-profit babywearing education group and am familiar with most styles of traditional and contemporary carriers. The bag doesn't actually seem super functional and would get in the way a bit. Also, while the carrier mentions you can use it up to 35 lbs, most babywearers find that they really need a carrier like a mei tai (like a Sachi Carrier - under $80!) or a wrap (like a Didymos) to distribute the weight over both shoulders once a child gets past a certain weight. Plus, your adding the weight of your bag TO the weight of your child and putting it all on one shoulder. With a two shoulder carrier you can actually disperse the weight of your child and bag over BOTH shoulders, back and waist. I agree that compared to nothing at all, this seems useful, but most folks don't realize that there are MUCH more comfortable carriers out there that can be used for HOURS at a time, even with a larger baby! For more info, you can check out www.thebabywearer.com - a free website that doesn't sell anything but has all the info you can ever need on baby carriers.

Giving this carrier two thumbs down.

Kathleen 6-22-2006 @ 7:59AM

The SideKick is great! I'm not sure what the people who haven't tried it are thinking about it not being comfortable, but it definitely is. I've only had it for a few days and I haven't tried using it for longer than an hour, but my 2 year old won't stay in any carrier for longer than that anyway. Also, I'm nearly 9 months along with my second, so I'm pretty aware of what is easy to use and comfortable and this is. I have about 10 different carriers and I loved the Hot Sling for when my son was a newborn, but this is my favorite by far now that he's older. I think people should try something out before being negative. It kind of makes me feel bad when people are criticizing something that I like and I don't really see why anyone would do that when they haven't even experienced it.

Kimi Boal 6-22-2006 @ 11:08PM

I don’t usually write reviews but after noticing that all the negative reviews were from folks who haven’t even tried the Sidekick, I just want to tell you that I have been using this diaper bag and it is worth every penny!!!

I find it very easy to use. It is my diaper bag, so it goes with me everywhere. When my 1 year old wants to be carried, I can quickly fold out the hip carrier. It's a snap really. My baby seems very content to be carried in the carrier and has even fallen asleep while I was shopping. And a big plus, is when I go somewhere that strollers aren't allowed, like some zoo exhibits, and I want to keep my things with me, I can carry my baby easily. I think the padding could be a bit plusher, but it really doesn't bother me. I wouldn't use this diaper bag for long hikes. But I like having a carrier at my disposal whenever I need it.

You know what else I love, that for me makes it fun -- it's so awesome looking! The pockets are so well thought out, too. Super functional. Anyway, just wanted to put my opinion out there, because I am using it and I love it.

So, for all of you parents out there who carry your children you have got to try the Sidekick for yourself to believe it!

jmc 9-11-2006 @ 10:32AM

I tried one of these out over the weekend and it was SO uncomfortable. The strap was digging into my neck and my husband thought the bag hanging down underneath lookd like it was supposed to catch the poo. I much prefer the ellaroo mei hip for a hip carrier as it helped distribute the weight better.

happy mom 9-23-2006 @ 1:12AM

So, I went to McDonald's the other day, and wanted to contain my 16 month old while ordering, paying, carrying food to play area, so, ta-da! used the carrier. Nice! Also, couldn't park very close to the health department for chicken pox vaccine and -- whoosh -- out popped the carrier for EASY transportation. LOVE IT. I just think it's great.

Michelle 11-02-2007 @ 11:26AM

This is ridiculous, and looks totaly uncomfortable for mom - strap is too thin and would dig into the shoulder! And for this price you could get a much better baby carrier. Anyone seriously interested in carrying their baby or toddler please do a search for babywearing, or thebabywearer !!!