Need one of those hipster’esque child carriers for strapping an average sized 9mth old to his larger than average dad in order to take walks in the woods, etc.
Not sure if I should be looking at front mounted or rear mounted a la rucksack?
Needs to be able to carry the lad in comfort and safety whilst being roomy enough not to constrict me and make me hot and bothered.
Hive advice welcomed.
Don’t bother and get a decent buggy?
Buggies interfere with the dog walking/lead handling, plus many of my local trails aren’t particularly set for buggy access, Think single track /South Downs trails
Don’t bother and get a decent buggy?
Still crap for proper rough/steep stuff, single track and the like (plus gates, styles and the like)
We’ve got a Baby Bjorn One..... it’s fine. Missus likes her Tulla too. Also a Little Life something now that he’s bigger - also good
We've got the osprey poco and use it instead of a buggy in almost all situations. Has a bit of space to carry his lunch/nappies/clothes, and has a decent sun/rain cover too. Will still be useful until he's about 2ish I think. Maybe longer.
It's not as warm as the on-the-body carriers and takes up a bit of space in the car boot.
Ooh, that Osprey Poco looks suitably technical, will check em out.
Thanks, didn’t really know where to start looking.
We started with a Baby Bjorn as it was cheap, light and portable but upgraded to a Poco when our youngest was one-ish. He's now two and a half and we are still getting loads of use out it including walks along Hadrian's wall this Easter. I'm not sure my back and knees will tolerate it this time next year. Quality is superb but it does take up quite a bit of space, even folded.
We started with a Baby Bjorn, then as little miss breadcrumb got too big went for an Osprey Poco. Brilliant piece of kit, although as soon as she was walking she wouldn't entertain the carrier. She had got in it recently (2½) as it seems new and she understands that to cover more distance she's better off on dad's back. Jelly babies are also a good bride/negotiation tool 😉
get down your local sling library and learn how to use a woven wrap instead, Rucksacks and crotch dangling baby carriers are the "all the gear no idea" option.
Me and Jr. with "all the gear, no idea" In Northumberland last month.
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As you can see, we're having a terrible time.
We had a MacPac baby/toddler carrier, it was brilliant.
Toddlers get surprisingly heavy!
I think any of the jobbies from LittleLife, Osprey, Deuter etc. are all good options. It's a competitive market so with any of the premium brands, you're generally getting what you pay for. We had a Kid Comfort 3 from Deuter which was a bit pricey but it was an excellent bit of kit. It's since moved on to another STWer who I hope is finding it equally good. Friends had a LittleLife thing which was good, but a little less carrying capacity than the Deuter. I'd say go to a GoOutdoors and try some on with the kid and see how comfortable each one is. You'd be surprised how heavy a load it can become for all day carrying especially as they start toddling and putting on a bit more weight. Also, one that can stand up (the Deuter had fold out back "legs" that meant when he was asleep, it could be placed stably on the ground) when off your back is good - although I think most of them do this these days.
If not looking for load space as well as sprog carrying ergobaby omni 360 we just got seems decent.
We've used a Osprey Poco for both children. Have taken both children places in it that you'd not get a buggy.
use a woven wrap instead
I doubt that would have work for some of the things we have used ours for.
We’ve got a dieter kid comfort 2 and have been very happy with it. It copped well with little ginge number one; until he was too heavy to carry for any significant distance. It was easily adjusted to fit me (at 6’ 2”) or the missus (at 5’ 7” in a tall day, apparently) and came with serviceable sun shade and rain covers to keep us going through all the weathers. I’ll be looking forward to being able to take little ginge number two out in it when she is big enough.
get an osprey.
ours was brilliant.
Baby bjorn, Air edition
How about a fabric sling? I found it way more versatile than a carrier for my two as you can wear it in so many ways. It was comfortable for long walks as it doesn't create pressure points and could also be used as a blanket for the car or on a picnic
We used a Deuter Kid Comfort III - Raincover was also invaluable on a few occasions.
As above - there are times where I don't think a fabric sling would have been as good.... {uses opportunity to post gratuitous photo}
Littlelife one we've got is good, now on to our second sprog.
Been up and down a few hills in the Lakes....though you do feel it afterwards!
Most of the brandname ones seemed decent when we were looking, only bought this one as there was an offer on.
We use the little life traveller, very comfy and doesn’t take up too much space.
Only downside is it won’t stand up on its own when loaded!
The osprey one will stand when loaded with child. The legs easily fold in and out to reduce your depth. I'm still using ours with a 15kg 3 yo. Normally have a DSLR, nappy kit, coats food and several litres of water on top of the child as well. Done Lakeland fells and also walking half way up a snow covered mountain whilst on our ski trips.
9 months might be too wee for a back carrier, not far off it though.
We used a baby Bjorn front one with a really good fitted fleece cover in some cold weather, then after trying a few on, a little life back carrier which came with a clear plastic "phone box" waterproof cover. Both were well tested in standard Scottish weather.
Have a look in Go outdoors, etc, try some on (and teat fit the little one in them) decide what you like, then pick up a 2nd hand bargain. Its one of the things many people buy then hardly use.
Woven wraps are great for really little ones as they take up next to no room. We moved on to a Baby bjorn and a Ergo baby for our twins once they were little bigger. Both are good but the Bjorn is easier to use. I have 2 Osprey Pocos for longer walks where we might need to carry some kit too. They brilliant but really big and 2 take up as much room as a double buggy in the boot.
All this stuff is available used on ebay super cheap if you're patient. People buy it and never use it, I paid £50 and £60 for the Pocos and they were mint, but then I wasn't in a hurry.
get down your local sling library
Definitely a good idea - there are many soft carriers to choose from (not just wraps) so there's bound to be one that suits you. Bondolino was my favourite when my kids were younger. We used carriers until our kids until they were about three and a half - a way easier option than lugging a buggy around (you can go more places and most of the soft ones will fit in a normal rucksack or tie easily around the waist when not in use).
What I learned from carting small children around, get a carrier that ensures the orifice most likely to leak is pointed away from you.
And they can occasionally get travel sick on a back carrier, so it's down your neck and in your hair. Oh, the joys...
Do folk really buy this stuff new? There must be thousands going cheap when the kids have grown!
I really am bored. Sorry, I have no interest in this subject.
learn how to use a woven wrap instead
with that attitude and direct delivery you'll go far on STW 😉
IME at 9 months you could go straight to a papoose style carrier. At around 9 months we were stopping using the soft sling and using an Ergobaby 360 a lot more. Style of carry depended on whether we wanted little one to fall asleep, hope long the walk would be and how your back was feeling (carrying on front less good for your back).
Going up an a framed carrier means your little one will see a lot more than a soft carrier on the back. Also lots of options for carrying stuff and adding wind/rain shelters.
We didn't like a Deuter Kid comfort (and old model). The shoulder straps were very uncomfortable, it didn't strap the little one in very securely at all and the sun shade didn't stow internally, so never got used. Replaced it with an Osprey Poco, which addresses all these points but still don't find the hip belt/pads very comfy.
I have a Vaude Jolly that I got for £15 unused.
Has a metal frame and leg that folds out meaning its stable on the ground with child in, invaluable when faffing.
Its just a bit heavier than the Osprey ones but also has rain/sun covers.
Reminds me of my DofE days, 12 kg on the back...
Before that we used a baby bjorn we got for free and before that a big stretchy sling rented from a sling group.
Best thing you can do is always carry the child, these child attachments are way better than prams even around town. Also you get stronger as the child gets heavier so it doesn't feel like a deadweight when proper hiking.
My boy is coming up to 2 now and does some of the walking himself, and will most of the time take his nap in the backpack. But its a special kind of hell being on top of a fell with a crying tired child that won't go to sleep, so plan escape routes accordingly, summits with no alternative aren't the best walks.
I've used a combination of:
- stretchy wrap
- Tula carrier (fabric papoose type thing)
- Osprey Poco
My wife used a stokke carrier too (I wasn't a fan), all but the Tula 2nd hand before you ask. They've all got their pros and cons, checking out a sling library is a good shout though to see if it works for you. I prefer the wraps/Tula, it keeps the kid closer to your centre of gravity so they exert less strain on you, also you know how they're doing (if you're warm enough they're warm enough). The Poco is more useful now she's running around (2 1/2), it's easier to get her in and out when she decides she does/doesn't want to walk herself and you don't have to get layered up/strip off. But given it cantilevers off you it is less comfy. I'm not sure what nixie has been up to that he would do with a rucksack that he wouldn't do with a wrap.
In terms of still being able to wear jackets with carriers my wife bought one of these: make my belly fit along with a host of zip adaptors for our different jackets.
Lots of options. Get one with a height adjustable waist strap and try it in store (or 2nd hand) with your kid (or a bag of potatoes) loaded. If they are comfortable for the carrier they are a joy, especially as little one gets out to explore and goes back in when tired.
My kids are 16 and 11 so make the most of it while you can carry them around 🙂
We've used a littlelife cross country for many years. Our third sleep thief has just moved to it from an ergobaby at 10 months. Its great, good sized compartment underneath so it'll double up as a slimmed down change bag/daysack. Ours came with a sun/rain canopy/mossie net which works brilliantly. There's plenty of loops to lift it with or strap things to and you can easily secure it to a beer garden table with a quickdraw (or one of the stirrup straps) if you need to use it as a makeshift high chair. We've travelled all over the world with it and the kids have always loved travelling in it.