,,, but I just can't face mumsnet.
So the SO and I are heading off to France on holiday and would like to spend some time doing the tourist sites. I'm guessing that pushing a buggy or carrying a car seat will get very tiring very quickly so I'm looking at baby carriers.
Talk to me about your experiences. Amelia will be 8 months old by holiday time and is excited about her hols already
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Ta
G
We have a MacPac, not cheap but very good. The backpack bit is the comfiest pack I've had and the baby bit is fully adjustable for the size of the child. It has plenty of storage and a very well thought-out sun shade/rain cover arrangement. If I'm hiking with ours I would usually bring poles just in case I slip.
Easy - http://www.littlelife.co.uk/html/child_carriers/cross-country-s2.html
I've not read a bad review about them. second walk for us with it was 8 miles and 1500ft of climb, no problem.
Cost about £90 new or £45-60 on ebay
the ergobaby carrier is very good - light and easy to use. I accept that its ever so slightly on the hippy end of the market but they are great.
we got a deuter kid comfort 11. after trying on lots and lots it felt immediately comfortable and has proved thus ever since.
Another vote for the ergo. We mainly went for that as it was comfy for both of us and can be used for a really large age/size range, especially if you get the newborn insert as well.
Seriously buy a Deuter Kid Comfort, they are excellent, I'm 6'4" so the height adjustment of the pack is a bonus they're also, and probably more importantly comfy for the bairn. The older ones can take a camelback bladder and I'd Imagine the new ones do too
Got a little life and love it! Just passed it on to a mate for his little one. Best to try them John Lewis and Cotswolds often have them in stock you can try them for fit before you buy evenn if that is on e web!!
We bought a Jack Wolfskin Watchtower from a hiking shop in Brecon for around £100. Highly recommended, but it was more of an impulse buy and we didn't test any others, so I can't comment on other brands. Either way, it's been the best "baby" related thing we ever bought. Had loads of use out of it and it has seen us through 4 children, lots of walking on beaches etc. I even found it better to use walking around the city rather than try to manouvre a buggy. It also doubled up as a makeshift highchair at feeding time. When they were older (as a family we do lots of walking), I'd often take it for the outbound walk empty and they could then hitch a ride back for the return journey. The JW was comfortable enought to wear all day long. It may be worth doing a search for baby carriers on here because I think that there was a thread on it back in the Summer.
We got more use out of it than a pram, but that was probably more down to our lifestyle than anything else. If you spend lots of time outdoors, you'll use it. Just remember to keep the baby wrapped up warm at this time of the year because they don't generate the heat that you will when you're carrying them around.
We use a close baby carrier which is nice and our
baby is happy in it
BigG: we have the Little Life which I keep meaning to put on eBay as the nipper is too big. They really are fantastic and its in immaculate condition. Let me know if you are interested.
We have a Littlelife Voyager S2 - being as I was pretty much just the donor of seed and now the person who watches our daughter so the wife can have a social life - I had/have very little say in things that concern the kid.
So needless to say it's the top of the line version and has everything with it - wee changing mat, stirrups, water/wind cover for small person (that also works as a pretty good sun cover as well). detachable rucsac and quite a bit of storage space in the carrier itself.
It is seriously comfy - with or without child - the top end one comes with all the extras but I'd recommend a Littlelife carrier to anyone.
Daughter is 2.5 years now and still uses it when we go for walks up the hills/countryside. I much prefer it to the pram (which now sits in the garage doing heehaw).
Can't recommend it enough...really good.
I suspect the main players are all very similar - some are free standing but watching youngsters wriggle around as they do, we went for one that wasn't free standing - it stands on it's own but won't stay upright without your foot in the anchor point (which we thought was good as it meant you couldn't leave the child, so there is no chance of the carrier falling over).
Think it should have cost about £180 but the good lady (wife for everything else - cleaning lady if she isn't within earshot!!!) got it for about £130 online. Link [url= http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&q=littlelife+voyager+s2&cr=countryUK|countryGB&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=9584947154117008395&ei=tGsrTbb_Hse4hAf1q_j-CQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDQQ8wIwAA# ]here[/url] and a review [url= http://www.mumsnet.com/Reviews/Backpacks/54-little-life-voyager ]here[/url] (;-)).
Let me know if you want a nosey at it...we aren't that far away!
I have one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160522523547&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Its a bit basic but very comfortable and well padded, has fold out arm for stabilty, storage at bottom and rain/shower hood
Ive used it for around 10 mile walks no problems (any longer little one gets bored when she wakes up)
No longer needed so happy to sell it for £15 plus postage
@iain1775 - first dibs to bigG since he started the topic - but if he doesn't want it could I take your ebay carrier please? Thx Simon
Thanks all, Dick that sounds like good advice. A little life it shall be!
Think it's sturdy enough to sit on my back for a circuit of CV one night ride? (would love to see the SO's face if I suggested it)
Dark Side, you got mail for more info.
G
We've got a Karrimor one. Worked well enough. From memory make sure they have a decent support at your hip.
Little Life Cross Country is great - but don't overlook using a pram, especially at 8 months or so. Once they fall asleep it is much easier to have them in a pram and not lolling about in the baby carrier. As you are also carring the 'baby stuff' including food, drinks, cleaning etc, a pram is pretty useful about town.
