Toddler carrier to sit on lap

[Pseudo341]

I carry DD on my lap in my wheelchair. She's currently 11 months old but is very big for her age and she's outgrown her babybjorn so I'm looking to replace it with one that has a much higher weight limit since I don't want to have to shell out again in a years time. She's likely to be on my lap until she can comfortably walk everywhere since I can't push a pushchair, so I guess up to about 4. I've been looking at toddler carriers but all the ones I can find on the internet have a very wide belt at the bottom and the baby sits above it which means she would be too high to sit on my lap.

I really need a carrier where the baby's bum hangs at the same level or lower than the bottom of the adults belt. It doesn't need to be a particularly good quality sturdy one since I have no intention of it ever supporting her weight, just acting as a restraint and support to stop her sliding down my lap or deciding to go off exploring by herself.

Ideally if possible I'm trying to avoid anything with a big plastic buckle in the middle of the back which a lot seem to have as that would make it very uncomfortable being sat in the chair.

I will have another experiment with my moby wrap but I find the whole thing a hell of a faff and was hoping I'd find something I could clip on easily. I also don't fancy having the wrap on in this heat since I'm already wilting!

So if anyone can come up with any suggestions that would meet my rather long list of demands they would be very much appreciated!

[Darnsarfupnorf]

Hi my cousin is in a wheelchair and although her first 2 dcs sat well on her lap when they grew out of their sling the 3rd will not sit so well! she has a toddler sling that she manages with quite well although i dont know the name of it sorry but i wanted to reassure you that there is one somewhere!
shes quite well to do so it could well be boden or jojomamanbebe or somewhere like that!

sorry i cant be more help! could you try padding out the back so a big clip would be more comfortable?

[WhollyGhost]

try the naturalmamas website for expert advice

Otherwise, why not try a thin but supportive wrap like a Bara Barn? Can be simply tied under your DD's bum.

another idea would be to just put a good quality toddler harness on her and use the long strap to attach her firmly to you.

[Pseudo341]

Thankyou for the advice everyone, you've been very helpful, lots of new leads for me to investigate.

[QueenOfFeckingEverything]

What about a Close Carrier ?

I wouldn't want to actually carry a large 11mo in one as they are stretchy and would sag under the weight, but if it is simply as a restraint whilst she is on your knee then it would be fine. It looks similar to a stretchy wrap once on but instead of being tied, it has rings on either side that you tighten the fabric through, and the fabric is stitched into a wide flat cross that goes across your back. Really easy to put on and adjust.

[CMOTdibbler]

I'd try a meitai with xl straps so that you can tie the waist ones to the side, or you could sew on an extension to them (as you say, its not like you are going to be supporting her by it), and then the top straps just need to flip over your shoulders round to the front.
If you/she want her to face forward, you could use something to pull the body of the MT together low down to make it comfy

[BertieBotts]

I think I would go for a Mei Tai, actually. The reason being you can wrap it around your back and then back around the child and tie in their back or front, and because it's less structured you wouldn't have to bother with the under-the-leg straps, or you could make them very loose. Anything very structured with buckles is going to be difficult to avoid using this part and so having her higher than you want her. Also a Mei Tai is good because the straps are thinner so no bulky material to tie or make you hot.

Or as someone suggested a set of reins, if the D-ring attachment clips could attach onto your chair, or the long strap under your legs or around your back.

FWIW I tend not to strap my DS (2.10) into his pushchair now and I haven't since he was about 2 and a half. He can walk but he sometimes gets tired or overwhelmed if there are large crowds etc, and at this point he just gets in himself. So there might be less need for the restraint as she gets older and understands not to jump out.

[Pseudo341]

I have tried baby reins but because they only strap round her top half she ends up sliding down my lap and I have to keep hoiking her up, though I expect she'll grow out of doing that. Hopefully she'll grow out of trying to lauch herself off my lap in persuit of intersting shiny things in the supermarket too :)

All this talk of Mei Tais has reminded me that my sister actually owns one, at least I think she does, I've got to wait for her to get back off holiday to find out, I'll let you know how it goes.

[Pseudo341]

Update: The Mei Tai didn't work out, the long straps were a nightmare, I'd get them all arranged on my shoulders then stand up to lift her out of the car and they'd land in a puddle every time. Also it's not really designed for forward facing carrying so I had to gather it up a lot between her legs and it didn't really keep her in a comfortable position. We're currently doing without and it's working okay as she sits pretty still now but I do have to keep an arm round her which is a pain as I need my other hand for the joystick so I have no hands free for anything else. If I come up with a solution I'll let you all know.