carriers for walks, baby carrier/backpack carrier?

[justtryingherbest]

so i have a 4 year old and an 18 month old. the 18 month old can walk well but obviously not far! but my 4 year old has bundles of energy and loves exploring! and i love getting out and about! i also want to teach my son that its WAY more fun to get outside than it is to sit and watch tv!

i want to get a harness/sling or carrier type thing but not sure what to go for? any suggestions?

We have an ergobaby carrier which can be used for back carrying, although I never have. We also have this littlelife hiking backpack carrier which is very small and portable - that would probably work? DD is 2.5 and still fits it, and you can get a sunshade and rain cover. We got ours for about £20 off Facebook marketplace, basically unused.

We had a little life backpack carrier, it was brilliant. We got a lot of use out of it.

DH used to sell them!
He recommends MacPac or Littlelife (the only ones never to get returned for being uncomfortable either to parent or baby.

Try it on first- with your toddler in it!
Adjustable back can be helpful if more than one adult, of different sizes, will be carrying it.

I'd avoid the frame ones like a plague. They mess with your centre of gravity, and are basically a precursor to the modern slings/carriers you can get.

I'd get in touch with a local sling library to see if you can borrow or try out a few. By having your toddler more flush against your back is a lot more comfortable, and they fold up small.

When mine were that age, I used a integra a lot, which packed up so small it fitted in her reins backpack, so when I wasn't carrying her, she carried her own sling!

I can carry school age children on my back in my largest size integra, or in a wrap, so it's definitely doable for an 18m old.

I had a Beco Gemini that I used from about 2 months to 3.5 years so plenty of use from it as a back carry at 18 months.