Babycape–the superhero of winter coats!
January 6th, 2009We all love a good superhero. My current personal favorite is Ming-Ming from WonderPets. (Can you tell who’s in charge of the TV lately?) But what does a superhero have to do with outerwear? If you’ve ever struggled to secure your little one in her car seat complete with winter coat or even slightly less bulky pullover sweater you know it often requires superpowers to adjust a five-point harness without compromising safety. Never fear! Babycapes are here!
Babycapes were created by two moms, who faced the similar struggle of trying to get their busy baby girls into car seats with bulky winter coats. The Babycape has a generous front opening with three snaps so it’s easy on/easy off and allows you access to harness straps. It has a cozy hood and openings in the sides for little arms, but the pièce de résistance is its back opening with a single snap. When open it lets you easliy slip your child into a stroller, car seat or front carrier without removing the Babycape, and when closed it makes the perfect outdoor cover-up.
Olivia and I were able to test the pink Minky Sherpa Suede Babycape during the Christmas holiday. I couldn’t wait to see if it were as easy to use as it appeared, but I was even more interested to find out if it would keep her warm even in frigid weather. I will admit it took us a few tries to get the hang of the Babycape. (Perhaps if I’d watched the instructional video on the website like any smart person would do, I’d have got it the first time!) Our first attempt we put it on her in the house, slipped her arms through the arm holes and quickly realized we had to take her arms out in order to get her arms under the harness straps. Then we put her arms back through and adjusted the cape around here. Olivia, who isn’t the best traveler anyway, was a bit flustered by the time we were done and none too happy.
When we tried it again and left her arms under the cape she got a bit frustrated having her arms covered, but at least it was easier to get her in the car seat! And even in 20-degree weather she stayed toasty until the car’s heater took over. Because we had a bit of a struggle the first few times using the Babycape I almost gave up, but when we tried it today, Olivia and I both seemed to finally get it! She kept her arms under the cape until I had her in the car seat. I of course didn’t realize until now the generous front opening was for me to use to adjust the harness straps. I was flipping the cape up to secure her, which she thought meant it was time to pull the Babycape completely off!
Now we’re becoming seasoned pros at the Babycape thing and I am slowly falling deeply in love with it. It really is a much safer alternative to a big winter coat and it is less hassle than a coat and blanket, which is what we were using (and the blanket was always just as cold as the car!). The Babycape is to die for when it comes to style and design and it is super soft to boot. Today I caught Olivia turning to look up into her hood and smiling at who knows what. (I think she was smiling because she too had fallen in love with her Babycape.)
I love that the moms behind Babycapes are just as interested in making sure your child is safe as they are in telling you about their product. They’ve dedicated an entire page of their site to safety information complete with a safety video and links to sites with more information about car seat safety. When a company is as concerned about your child as you are, you can rest easy knowing their product was designed with your child’s safety and comfort in mind.
Babycapes are custom made and assembled in the U.S.A. They come in a wonderful array of luxurious, machine-washable fabrics such as Marshmallow Minky, Minky Sherpa Suede (love how that rolls off the tongue) and Minky Cuddle. And because one size fits newborn to preschooler, you won’t have to purchase a new coat year after year. Those Babycape moms have thought of everything–talk about superheroes!
The weather is still frightful, at least in my neck of the woods, and Babycapes will come in handy for a few months yet. I suggest you pick one up now, especially since they’re on sale through January 31st. Considering Babycapes last a good 3-4 years, that’s less than $30 a year…a heck of a lot cheaper than your typical winter coat and a heck of a lot safer in a car seat. Comic books and movies will tell you, the superhero is always a safe bet! –Emily
*** Giveaway! Babycapes is giving away one Babycape, winner’s choice! Please leave a comment telling us your favorite Babycape (color and style); include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: January 14, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
* Congratulations to Leah F., the winner of the Babycape giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!
January 6th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
My baby boy would love the Marshmallow w/Green Skulls. Thanks!
January 7th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Wow, these are so great. I hate putting my little one in her car seat without a winter coat, but I know that it is for the best. This is the perfect solution! I love the brown sherpa suede.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Babycapes would be so wonderful to have. It’s 60 one day, 20 the next! I feel like we are constantly switching coats and adjusting the straps on the carseat! I’m fond of the Marshmallow Pink w/Pink Daisies. It looks so soft!!
seeryusfam@msn.com
January 7th, 2009 at 9:27 am
wow, these are so cute. love the brown sherpa suede.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
My 10 month old son HATES his coat in the car, and we live in Chicago so it’s FREEZING here in the winter. This is fabulous. I love the Green Marshmalow with multi-dot! Thanks for the opportunity!
January 7th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I would love to have the pink minky marshmallow for Molly. Doesn’t that just roll off the tonque, lol.
I can just imagine hugging her and she would feel so squishy soft!
January 7th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I like the Babycape in Minky Cuddle with the skulls
January 8th, 2009 at 7:45 am
I love the mint green sherpa suede.
January 8th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I really like the Pink Sherpa Suede!
January 8th, 2009 at 9:05 am
I love this ape. My grand daughter ould wear it at the ice hokey rink while her brother skates!
I love the Mint Green Sherpa Suede- gotta keep her warm.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:12 am
I LURVE the Marshmallow Green with Skulls (great combo!!)..
January 8th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I like the Brown Sherpa Suede.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:33 am
my favorite is minky marshmallow green with multidot. thanks!
January 8th, 2009 at 9:51 am
I love the Cuddle Pink with Daisies! Very cute. Please include me in your drawing.
Thanks
~Amy
January 8th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Our favorite is the marshmallow green with skulls. Thanks for the giveaway.
January 8th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I love the PInk Sherpa Suede one….so pretty! This would come in very handy!
January 8th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Marshmallow pink with daisies…too cute!
January 8th, 2009 at 10:53 am
I love the Blue Sherpa and the Marshmallow green with skulls!
thanks!
January 8th, 2009 at 10:54 am
The Pink Sherpa Suede looks so soft!
January 8th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Mint Green Sherpa Suede is too cute for my lo !! thanks
January 8th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I would like the Brown Sherpa Suede!
January 8th, 2009 at 11:27 am
I’m gonna have to go with the Brown Sherpa Suede – hard to choose!
January 8th, 2009 at 11:39 am
I like the Pink Marshmallow with Daisies babycape! Thanks for entering me!
January 8th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
thay are all so cute and well i have well a lot of them i think that are realy nice and well if i win this can i pick it out then but untell then well i think there all grate and well please enter me in for this thanks much
January 8th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Mint Green Sherpa Suede would look so sweet on my baby girl
January 8th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
pink Sherpa Suede is my favorite
January 8th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
What a fabulous idea! I have found myself frustrated with the whole strapping in with a coat and having to remove the coat in FRIGID temps in order to buckle in properly! I would LOVE one of these! My pick would be Brown Sherpa Suede.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
my baby would love the pink marshmallow with daisy please.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Great review Emily!! I love love love the Minky Sherpa in Pink – these are cute!
January 8th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I adore the Pink Sherpa Suede!! Too Cute!
January 8th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
the cuddle pink with daisies is great
January 8th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I love the Pink Sherpa Suede.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
BabyCape in Minky Cuddle…pink with daisies!
January 8th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
I love the marshmallow pink with daisies cape, it looks so soft and cozy!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
ann dot guns at mac dot com
January 8th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
i like the marshmellow green with the multi colored dots. how cute!!
January 8th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I love the brown sherpa suede! Thanks!
January 8th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
My son would look cute in the mint green sherpa suede. Thanks for the chance to win!
January 8th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I’d love to win a Babycape—my favorite is the Blue Sherpa Suede—for our little girl. Thanks for the giveaway!
January 8th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
I’d love to have the Marshmallow Blue w/ Multi-dots for my son! Trust me we need it here!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway
January 8th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I love the green sherpa cape the best, but they are all really cute. Such a great idea too, my daughter hates being bundles in her car seat and i also worry about safety when she wears her coat under the straps.
thanks for the chance to win
January 8th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
I love the mint green sherpa suede! These look so comfy and cozy for the cold!
January 9th, 2009 at 4:23 am
I really like the blue sherpa suede!
January 9th, 2009 at 5:04 am
mint green sherpa suede is pretty and can go for boy or girl
January 9th, 2009 at 6:22 am
I love the green marshmallow with skull! Looks really soft and comfy.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:17 am
For my boy it would be the Minky Marshmallow in marshmallow green with skulls. How fun! Thanks!
January 9th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I’d love the Babycape in Minky Marshmallow (Marshmallow Pink w/ Gingham). These look fantastic!
January 9th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
The brown sherpa suede would be fantastic!
January 10th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I like the Babycape in Minky Brown Sherpa Suede!
January 10th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I’ve always loved the Blue Minky Sherpa Suede.
January 10th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
I love the Brown Sherpa Suede…these are fabulous and I would love to win one for my son!
January 10th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
I love the Minky Marshmallow – pink with daisies! Great idea!
January 11th, 2009 at 2:25 am
Personally, I would like the brown sherpa suede for my boy.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Green with Multidot Babycape in Minky Cuddle.
January 12th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Hi love the blue and brown sherpa colors! Just gorgeous! I have a boy so I’d be thrilled to own either color.
January 12th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
I love Cuddle Pink with Gingham! So cute!
January 13th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
the blue sherpa suede is my favorite
January 13th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
These babycapes are so great! My favorite is the pink sherpa suede.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:19 am
I sooooooo love the Babycape in Blue Minky Sherpa Suede!!! Very sweet!
Thanks so much for this fabulous give~away! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
January 14th, 2009 at 6:26 am
I would love to win the Blue Sherpa Suede for my daughter. These are adorable!
January 14th, 2009 at 8:28 am
i really like the babycape in minky sherpa suede in the blue color. these look awesome! thanks!
January 14th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I would love the Pink Sherpa Suede for my daughter, it would be perfect for her! Thanks!
January 14th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Marshmellow Pink with Gingham.. These have been on my “List” for over a year now! I’d love to have one of these for my daughters… in Colorado weather I need it!
January 14th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I like the mint green sherpa suede cape or the brown sherpa suede.
January 14th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
My fave is Marshmallow Green with Skulls! I wish they made a marshmallow for ME to wear too!
January 14th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Babycape in Minky Cuddle: in Cuddle Green with Multidot
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Thanks sooo much! : )))