Review: Feeding Essentials Kiwi Backpack

I had been following this company's Facebook page for a while. They are cheaper than the super mini backpacks and a lot cuter. When a mom was selling her gently used Kiwi backpack we decided to buy it and give it a try. It was a cute navy backpack with robots on it. It came with the optional matching padded shoulder straps too. We tried it on L a couple times and here is what I think:

1. The quality of fabric and the durability of the backpacks are great. I don't know how long the previous mom used the backpack..there was significant fading and some wear spots...but the seams and all stitching was still strong and intact. This company knows how to make a durable pack. GREAT!

2. The additional padded shoulder straps were nice. They added a little comfort to the straps for L when his feeding bag was full of formula. GOOD!

3. This backpack also came with the additional chest straps. Here is where I get to some of the negatives of the Kiwi backpack FOR US. There are many people who love them for their child but it wasn't for L. The straps fit him good but without the strap pals (padded straps) the straps tended to dig into L's neck and shoulders especially first thing in the morning when his bag was heaviest. The additional chest strap was great to help us keep the backpack on L but it wasn't fixed to a certain site and would slide up and down the straps. We could never get it to stay where we wanted it too even after multiple strap adjustments. Another negative to the chest strap was that it bunched/wrinkled the shoulder straps and the shoulder straps wouldn't lay flat. I did some google searches and a majority of the pictures of other kids wearing the Kiwi backpack have the same issue. L was always pulling at the straps to try to make it feel better and would get frustrated with it. NOT SO GOOD!

 Notice how the straps wrinkle at the site where the chest strap are located. No matter how we adjusted we could never get them to lay flat. Maybe if they were sewn and in a fixed location.....




4. The size of the backpack is great. It is small and thin and easy for little kids to wear. The pump sits in the top zipper pouch and the feeding bag sits below it in the Velcro pocket. The only problem with the size was that there wasn't enough room to put our emergency supply bag in it like we could in the super mini.  There is a little pocket to put stuff in but it was too small and easy for little hands (Like L's twin brother J) to get into. The weight distribution was an issue for L. He is used to the majority of the weight being lower in the bag and he could never got used to it sitting higher. He would try to lean over to pick something up and the backpack would slide up, hit him in the head, and make him fall over. L never really complains about wearing his backpack but usually after 45min of wearing this backpack he would ask for it to be taken off and if you said no he would try to take it off himself.   
Actual Size: GOOD        
Weight Distribution: Not for L        
 Extra Storage Site/Size: BAD

 Top flap open to reveal the plastic sheet that allows for pump screen and buttons to be seen. That compartment is accessible through the top zipper.

 The storage area is between the robot fabric and the fabric that covers the feeding bag compartment. Not much room to put our supplies and since it is on top it is easy for curious brother to get into. Also there isn't extra room inside the feeding bag area to put supplies.

 This is the opening to the area that the feeding bag goes into. It is hard to get the bag into and also the Velcro piece to hold the bag on is very short. It is good quality Velcro that still holds strong even with a overfilled 500ml bag! One thing that I didn't talk about was that getting the tubing to the feeding pump and making sure it wasn't kinked was a hassle too.

 My hand is the the area that the feeding pump goes. Sorry I didn't use the pump but it was busy feeding a little boy! The top of the bag has a zipper opening for the pump and the clear plastic piece to see the pump.





 For us it wasn't the best pick for L so back to the drawing board we went. We keep it around because you never know when you will need an extra backpack and it is acceptable for an emergency backup backpack! I think if we had started with this backpack that L might not have had issues with it but since he was used to different straps and where the weight sits he didn't like it. Check out the site. There are more features and helpful AND cute products I didn't talk about but it is a company worth supporting!

Here is their website and a link to videos on Facebook showing how to use/load the backpack:
http://www.feedingessentials.com/
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=501840457096

L and his feeding tube

L has a Mic-key GJ Tube (a tube that bypasses his stomach) that provides all his nutrition because he will not/cannot eat enough to keep himself alive. L didn't get his tube until he was 16 months old and we had tried everything we could and followed every advice we could to try to get him to eat and gain weight. Getting his feeding tube was something we knew had to be done but we waited until we had exhausted every other idea before we consented. He started with a Gastric Tube (GT) that put formula into his stomach. He couldn't keep the formula down and was tiny because he couldn't gain weight so we switched to the tube that bypassed his stomach. He started gaining weight and became a happier healthier boy! This is the short side of the story.

We struggled with his eating, weight gain, reflux, vomiting, and many other things until he was almost 2 years old. He will have had his GJ Tube a year in August and even though life is easier, we still have our struggles. L still won't eat and only drinks about 1-2 ounces of fluid (usually water) on a good day. He is in therapy at his daycare and S L O W L Y takes little steps toward our goal of getting rid of his feeding tube. We are about to do one of the last tests to check him for something that may be causing his swallowing problems. After that we are going to really push eating and drinking and maybe do an intensive feeding program. I will say that one thing hubby and I both agree on is that if L has to be tube fed his whole life, we are okay with that. He is a miracle little boy who has an amazing story of God's healing in his life. With all that "could have been" we are so thankful that this is his only major lingering issue. There is so much more that I could write about but it would take months to get it all down!

There are many things that hubby and I want to use this blog for: sharing our thoughts, saving you money, sharing yummy recipes, and technical stuff I have no clue about! I also want to talk about what we go through with a son with a feeding tube. There are very few resources/information for children with feeding tubes and we want to share what we find. The more people that talk about it, the more attention it will receive, and more resources will become available! Even if you don't have a child with a feeding tube, chances are you will run into someone who does or a friend of a friend will surface that could use information. I hope that we can become a place where people can turn to for information!

I LOVE MY TUBIE AND HIS TWIN!

-R