Toddler carrier

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Our 7 year old Littlelife back carrier is no longer working for our 2.5yo. He's only a titch at about 1st 11lb but the carrier is now lacking the strap which secures it across the chest and DS3 really struggles to stay upright and comfortable in it. I need some sort of carrier to go for dog walks with until DS3 gets significantly more reliable at walking. I'd love something like a Tula but I don't really want to pay that much. Does anyone have any experience of the mei tai type ones on Amazon around the £30 mark?

Mei tais can be great but you need a supportive one for a toddler - Toddlerhawk or Melkaj are the ones I know are safe and well reviewed. Have you got a sling library locally? If so, try a few from there and see what works for you before investing as its so individual. What works for one person doesn't work for another.

I suspect you may find a soft carrier much comfier but that the getting in your back technique is different and may be a bit tricky at first. I could get mine on my back by myself in a soft carrier but not in the rucksack style ones, but DH was the other way around.

I'd strongly recommend you try a sling library, online if there isn't one near you. I must have tried 20 slings before I finally found one I liked (sleepy nico). Good luck!

I use a toddler connecta with my 3 year old. Really comfy for both of us and takes seconds to put on.

I have a toddler Connecta, which is cheaper than a Tula but does very well for my now-3yo who's decided that she won't walk anywhere

Here's the manufacturer's webpage.

Alternatively, if you're on Facebook then the "Slings and Things - FSOT and advice" group has lots of sale posts if you don't mind secondhand.

I loved my babies in space for ds1, but not cheap unfortunately

Please be aware the are lots of fake ergos out there

Madame goo goo. .. seriously just look at her beautiful stuff!

Don't buy a cheap one off amazon fake carriers aren't safe. You could just borrow from a sling library.

I use a toddler connecta for my large 18mo. He sounds about the same size if my bigger then your LO. I find it easy to get him into a front and back carry. In fact in 21wks pg and have been carrying him around the French Alps in it for the last few days.

I use a toddler tula and find it really comfortable. It was expensive but worth it. Definitely go to a sling library.

Yes get a good second hand one and sell it on when done - is like hiring it. The fb group above is great.

Thanks, I've joined that FB group. They seem to hold their value second hand don't they?

You mean the palm and pond cheap ones? They'd be too small. Connecta, tula, toddler hawk or other toddler size mei tai would be a good option. Personally I love mei tais.

Great info, thanks.

Yeah, they are called Palm and Pond Mei Tais. Say they go up to 35lb.

Have an Ergo here for dog walks, school run... Until v recently I didn't drive so have used it most daily.

Fyi I got a palm and pond ring sling and it was vastly inferior to other ring slings I've subsequently seen.
Buy cheap; buy twice ime!
Connecta baby has been awesome, very comfy with a hefty little girl. Will get a toddler one when needed I think.

I have a palm and pond mei tai I got just to have on the car for quick trips when it's wet (I use a woven wrap usually) and tbh and around 18lb my LO is already much to heavy to be comfy.

You can hire online from it's a sling thing if you can't get to a local sling library, maybe a onbu would suit or connecta seem very popular at our meet although the unpadded waist didn't suit me

I think I'm going to go for a toddler Connecta. Friend has one so will try first. x