Page 3 | When do people stop carrying babies in baby carriers ?

marilenagrace · 2021-04-18T16:58:47+00:00

I had a small one but would like to start carrying my 15 month old again sometimes, as I find it convenient. Is that weird ? I have no idea when people tend to stop carrying them in a baby/ toddler carrier ? They definitely sell them for her weight category.. but just wondering if it's a bit weird to carry them like this ? [smile]

oblada · 18/04/2021 19:56

Definitely at least till 2yrs old as standard, 3-4yrs old depending on child. My girls loved being carried and enjoyed it even past 4yrs old when they could. My son (younger than them) refused to be carried after about 2.5yrs but he was a fab walker and otherwise would be on shoulders.
I had a pram with my first but found it too much faff (especially as I was walking the dog so going on 'rough terrain') so sold it on. I considered getting another with my second child but the really good prams just seemed too expensive so never did.

We use a mei tai, sleepy nico and we have a couple of 'proper ones' for v long walks include a big back pack style. Works a treat.

Runssometimes · 18/04/2021 20:13

Almost to five. My DS was on the small side but I definitely carried him all day at Glastonbury when he was 4.5. Not that much day to day unless on a really long walk. Didn’t use a buggy at all much. Was easy to bring the carrier on a day out and if he was really tired pop him in it so we could do some pretty long days out without whinging. He could walk a couple of miles easily but on a day out we might do 10k+ which was a little far for him.

SnackSizeRaisin · 18/04/2021 20:51

Some very strong people on this thread! Either that or you must have tiny 4 year olds. In real life I don't know many women who can comfortably carry 15 or 30 kg for any length of time! A word of caution that carrying heavy weights puts a lot of pressure on the pelvic floor so I wouldn't carry a child who's too heavy if you have any doubts about that area!

MinesAPintOfTea · 18/04/2021 21:06

@SnackSizeRaisin

Some very strong people on this thread! Either that or you must have tiny 4 year olds. In real life I don't know many women who can comfortably carry 15 or 30 kg for any length of time! A word of caution that carrying heavy weights puts a lot of pressure on the pelvic floor so I wouldn't carry a child who's too heavy if you have any doubts about that area!

They get heavier slowly. And surely most people can carry their 4yo for a bit? A carrier just means it’s better structured.

The last piggy back I gave DS on a walk, he was 7. At nearly 9 and 4.5 stone I still lift him to carry for short distances, ie car to house if he’s taken his shoes off. 1-2km at a time in a structured carrier when he was 4 was easy in comparison.

oblada · 18/04/2021 21:18

@SnackSizeRaisin

Some very strong people on this thread! Either that or you must have tiny 4 year olds. In real life I don't know many women who can comfortably carry 15 or 30 kg for any length of time! A word of caution that carrying heavy weights puts a lot of pressure on the pelvic floor so I wouldn't carry a child who's too heavy if you have any doubts about that area!

Have you tried carrying a 4yrs old child in a suitable carrier? Not as hard as it may look. My son is 16kg and I occasionally carry him on my shoulders. Much easier on a carrier to be honest, the back is an incredibly strong part of the human body. After all I was taught in horse riding that it was through the back that I was to control the horse, not my hands/arms.

NotOnMute · 18/04/2021 21:19

I carried dd2 most days until she was about 2 (very late walker) and my core strength just built up gradually as she grew. I think the last time I carried her was the final km of a 6km walk when she was just 4yo - it was uphill and she was so tired she immediately fell asleep on my back.

Runssometimes · 18/04/2021 21:38

I’m not particularly strong but my DS was c.15kgs and in a well adjusted carrier I could easily do 20,000 steps or so in mud. Is carried him since he was a tiny baby though so I do think you get more used to it as your child grows. And adjusting the carrier properly is vital. I do have good core strength which I think carrying him helped with.

georgarina · 18/04/2021 21:49

I did til around 2? So much more convenient than a buggy for public transport etc

birdglasspen · 18/04/2021 21:51

Like a back pack carrier? I used one till almost 2 years old...just now and then, sometimes they wanted down to walk themselves, stopped due to physical condition which means I can't currently, have pretty big children too so it does get sore on back! Depends on child too, first wanted to be doing things not sitting being walked along for ages! 15 months I'd go for it again!

randomsabreuse · 18/04/2021 22:51

It's much easier to carry a big child in a sling than in arms and I'm not convinced by shoulders in case I trip.

My 2.5 year old is a solid 14kg. I think I need a ring sling for the school run as he's learned that if he faffs too much I will carry him on the way there (time limit!!) - none of the other carrier options are quick enough if he decides to be difficult half way there!

sunflowertulip · 18/04/2021 23:03

I had a connecta toddler and carried her until she was almost 4. We didn't a lot of long walks so just had it in the bag for when she got tired. Also used it for theme parks, airports and when in a hurry (school runs for older child for example). Basically was an easier way of giving her a piggy back.

DappledThings · 18/04/2021 23:05

DS was about 3.5. Only really stopped when he stopped napping around then.

DD is coming up to that age now and I still do it once in a while if she gets knackered after a good walk.

Using the same carrier since about 8 weeks for both of them. That's a good 5.5 years of service. A good return on a reasonably expensive item!

BabyofMine · 18/04/2021 23:11

I wish I knew about carrying more when mine was transitioning from baby to toddler. I’d have gone as long as possible, I think it’s more convenient. This is the preschool Tula so shows it’s possible really until school age. (I’m sure other brands do similar but this is the only one I know of!)

When do people stop carrying babies in baby carriers ?

beela · 18/04/2021 23:11

@SnackSizeRaisin

Some very strong people on this thread! Either that or you must have tiny 4 year olds. In real life I don't know many women who can comfortably carry 15 or 30 kg for any length of time! A word of caution that carrying heavy weights puts a lot of pressure on the pelvic floor so I wouldn't carry a child who's too heavy if you have any doubts about that area!

My 10yo doesn't weight 30kg!

To be fair though, I was only carrying short distances by the time dd was 4.5 - mainly the 10 minute school run to pick up her big brother, at a time of day when she was a bit tired.

pinkstripeycat · 18/04/2021 23:15

My son was huge so never got on with a carrier altho I’d have loved it. He was 28lb at 12 months and that was feeding him breast milk and veg alone!

pinkstripeycat · 18/04/2021 23:17

My 10yo doesn't weight 30kg!

Gosh your child must be tiny

ShutUpAlex · 18/04/2021 23:23

Carried mine till she was 5. Had a connecta, absolutely loved it and never used my pram at all.

GoldenOmber · 18/04/2021 23:29

Some very strong people on this thread! Either that or you must have tiny 4 year olds. In real life I don't know many women who can comfortably carry 15 or 30 kg for any length of time!

30kg would be a very heavy 3 year old!

If you’ve been carrying them since they were babies then you build up the strength without ever really trying. Also though as pp have said, it’s a lot easier on the back having them in a proper carrier than putting them on your shoulders.

GoldenOmber · 18/04/2021 23:32

My 10yo doesn't weight 30kg!

Gosh your child must be tiny

Are you thinking of lbs rather than kgs?

Lazypuppy · 18/04/2021 23:38

I use a tula carrier on my back for my 3 year old shes 15kg so fine for anhour or so before i feel the weight

Shrivelled · 18/04/2021 23:38

I live somewhere very hilly and pushchairs are very difficult to push up the hills. Lots of parents have the ergo baby carrier and carry toddlers on their back. You could also look at getting a hiking baby carrier with a frame if you wanted something heavier duty.

Hardbackwriter · 18/04/2021 23:43

@BabyofMine

I wish I knew about carrying more when mine was transitioning from baby to toddler. I’d have gone as long as possible, I think it’s more convenient. This is the preschool Tula so shows it’s possible really until school age. (I’m sure other brands do similar but this is the only one I know of!)

That photo is taken from a very strategic angle - she'd clearly be barely able to see looking straight forward! More generally I can see how you could fairly easily still back carry at that age but I'm amazed at some of the ages people on this thread have mentioned front carrying to - not because of the weight but because of how physically restricting it would be having a child of that size on your front. I stopped front carrying DS when I could no longer sit down because his legs were in the way and that was only about 8 months I think.

LouNatics · 18/04/2021 23:44

Isn’t 30kg about average for a 10yo? Maybe the smaller side of average but still extremely normal? I know one of my skinny teen DC was 24kg at 10 years old as they had medication they had to be weighed for.

I used carriers until 4-5 with most DC, not every day, not even for long as they got bigger but sometimes they just need to be carried and that’s OK, we go up mountains as a family and small legs don’t always keep up. It’s not difficult to carry them in a well fitted carrier, I third the suggestion for your local sling library to make sure they fit, but it’s not wrong to carry children until they can keep up with you. Properly - every day, even when it’s hard terrain, or boring, or raining, or you need to walk quickly, or it’s a very busy place, or knee high snow, or whatever other reason.

BogRollBOGOF · 18/04/2021 23:48

I carried mine regularly until they were 4. By that point the pressure on the shoulders got uncomfirtable, but they naturally walked more anyway.

I remember tying DS2 (5) in the wrap as he was off school sick and too tired to walk for afternoon pick up. I was glad to get home that day!

I can still piggyback them if necessary at 8 & 10. I carried DS2 a few weeks ago because he'd fallen over and rolled in a patch of nettles so it helped while the worst of the throbbing eased. My 10yo is more awkward for pure length. He's nearly up to my chin (I'm 5'2) and his legs get in the way of my legs. I think he's just gone past 25kg. It makes me laugh when MNers vow that their child will rear face until 25 kg as at 9, he'd have ended up with one leg overhanging into the boot and the other dangling out of the window

The reality was that as they gradually get heavier, you gradually get stronger. It's no co-incidence that I got most of my running pbs when I was carrying them frequently.

Siepie · 18/04/2021 23:55

Even with my 7 month old it can be a struggle getting a pushchair up the steep hills near me. Most parents near here seem to use some form of carrier for toddlers (or just piggy backs up the hill!)

A friend carries her 4 year old everywhere in a wrap, and even put her 6 year old in it when he twisted his ankle. She said it’s quite normal for preschoolers in the area of Kenya she came from, where buggies are much less popular than here.