Toddler/Baby Carriers

[OnNaturesCourse]

Does anyone have recommendations for a carrier for a 16 month old (weighing 2 stone and 82cm tall)

Our current one (can't remember brand) is starting to get uncomfortable for us both.

LO likes being forward facing in the carrier and I don't like him on my back cos, well, he can't be trusted 😂 I also need one that is quite supportive for lower back and comfortable on shoulders (old injury there)

Forward facing is not recommended over 10kg. No sling will recommend that as you risk damaging your back further. What do you mean by can’t be trusted in a back carry? That’s one of the best option for toddlers and for your back health. We have a toddler Tula and it’s great for that.

Simply that he's 16 months and wild. He'll pull hair, claw at my shoulder to try climb out and basically won't rest.

He likes to be front and centre.

Plus I usually have a backpack nappy bag that I need to carry so there is that too.

If he can't be trusted on your back you'll need to use a pushchair or reins or something else - there's no safe way to carry a child of that size and weight on your front.

If we put the weight aside... What does everyone recommend for older babies?

As, regardless, I'm going to have to get something as our current one is over 4 years old and tatty/uncomfortable now.

Pushchairs aren't always a option particularly for the walks around where we stay, and walking with or without reins isn't either (it would take me all day just to do the school run lol)

I don’t think there are any for toddler to go on your front front facing. They just aren’t designed for large toddlers like that. The weight is wrongly distributed and it isn’t great for them leg wise.

Ds is 2 years. We use the toddler Tula. I use it a lot on my front still, but inwards facing so he can nap. Or on my back

you could hip carry which might be a more comfortable middle ground for you both. forward facing or parent facing the best comfort is going to come from the right fit for your body. definitely worth talking to your nearest sling library/educator for advice. If you're not sure where that is feel free to message and I'll find out.

my 18 month old is barely large enough for a standard tula, isn't it fascinating how different two kids can be? :)

We have a boba air which folds down into a tiny space so handy for shoving in the bottom in the bag. It can hold up to 2kg front or back carry, but not forward world facing. I've also heard good things about the toddler tula. They also do a preschool size but that will probably be too big at the moment.

You won't be able to do a front carry front facing at that size as anything which is supportive for bigger babies/toddlers is designed with more shaped leg support so they physically won't fit in a front outwards facing carry. For outwards facing the front of the carrier basically goes down in a V shape like the bottom of a vest. Actually this would also be quite a lot of weight concentrated in one small part of the carrier so I'm unsure whether it would be OK from a safety/potential breakage point of view either.

If he's on your back in a proper carrier he'll be able to see over your shoulder. You can wear your nappy bag on the front. Besides, he'll soon be too tall to fit on your front without being in the way of your face or his legs dangling on the floor! They just get unwieldy over age 2 or so.

However. At his current size, wouldn't he fit in something like the Ergo 360? I still 100% wouldn't recommend it because you'll be front heavy, it will put strain on your back/shoulders regardless of the design of the carrier and it will be a lot of money for something that won't last long term. But it would possibly do what you want.

Other than that, the Boba carriers are meant to be great for toddlers and Pouchlings make them right up to Preschool size.

The Boba Air is brilliant but not the most comfortable thing ever. I use it for emergency carries but if I was carrying longer I'd use my Angelpack as it's the best one I have (also have a toddler Patapum which is a piece of poo)

@shuckleberryfinn - he’s 90cm, 12kg now at 2 years. He did fit in the ergo 360 still at 18 months but I found that rubbish and bulky, so swapped around then for the toddler Tula which is far far better

We use a Tula carrier for our 3 year old. Usually on our back and occasionally on our front. I used our ergobaby until he was two so that might be a good option.

As others have said, there aren't front-facing options for toddlers as they're just too heavy, you'd wreck your back.

I have an Izmi Toddler carrier and love it for my 15mo. I moved her to this from our Ergo 360 around 11 months and haven't looked back. It's much softer and more comfortable and more compact too - far easier to just chuck in the nappy bag "just in case"!

I have a Je Porte Mon Bebe physiocarrier that I still front carry in (facing in though). I'm 50kg and she's nearly 13kg, we get along happily with it.

Boba 4g is great for piggy back with an older/longer/heavier child, OP. I used my one til my lass was 4. I still have it but would happily donate it as it’s awesome! PS one of the most useful things about it is the foot stirrups: really eases your back!