Backpack child carriers

[iamroddo]

Our DS is 4 1/2 months old. He's a bit above the weight/length curve but not by much. He's not yet crawling but seems to be champing at the bit to do so. He holds his head up well and has the strength though not the balance to sit. He loves being held up by his shoulders in a standing position, holding his own weight, and even to jump with some help. Is he too young to carry around in a child carrier backpack?

do you mean the frame back pack style ones? If so i'd say too young i'm afraid.
I think they are ment from 6m and ds was a few weeks over this when we first got one. He's a big lad, and very strong. Even though he could sit up at thu point he still struggled to balance his head and at first, a couple of times, hit his face on the bit in front of him (which contains metal bars). Nowt at all serious but not nice for him.

Instead i'd recommend making a wrap. Get 5m of slightly stretchy fabric, half it length ways and get an age appropriate tie off t'web. I can post links later if you like.

We have one of these for ds and use it ALL the time, even though he is now a hefty 14mo. It's great for off road. You have to get the hang of tying it but that doesn't take long and it's then very convenient.

We got one for DS when we were on holiday in September last year so he would have been just 6 months. Loved it and we are still using it loads now.

Go for it, it won't be long.

We started using ours (a Bushbaby one) when DD was 5.5 mths and she was OK for up to an hour. However she tended to list to one side and got a bit fed up for any longer than that. Was fine once a little older and able to sit unsupported.

I'd get a soft sling / carrier - much lighter and more versatile, and no tying like you get with a wrap. We use a Connecta and (now DS is a hefty 2+ stone toddler) an Ergo. IIRC they say from 4 months with good head support.

The frame backpack we were lent by a friend said not to be used before 6 months.

We started using our chicco caddy knapsack (frame backpack see link www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=chicco+back+pack&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=3278320236197670304&sa=X&ei=NH-bTYbZOJKFhQefrpnbBg&ved=0CEAQ8wIwAg#)
with our DS when he was 4months old. He was on the 75th percentile so a bit bigger than the average 4month old. He used to love being up so high, and when he fell asleep his head would rest on the padded bar that goes around the seat. It has an adjustable seat so depending on the height of the child you can set it so DC can always see out.
DS is now 18 months and its still going strong, we use it a lot. very comfy to wear as well (our DS is now 2 stone and I can still wear him in the backpack for most of the day).