Help with carrier for chunky tall 9mo

[Flangeosaurus]

Looking for advice please on which carrier to get!

DS is 9mo but a right chunky little monkey and very long. I have a sleepy nico carrier which he feels too big for - he’s too heavy for a front carry and on my back he gets his arms free and flails about because I think the fabric doesn’t come high enough up his back. I bought a little life rucksack thing as it had a proper harness for him but I can’t stand it as his weight is too far back to be comfortable and the waist strap didn’t feel in the right place.

Any recommendations? We do a LOT of fell walking and I feel like if his weight was against my back (and he was secure!) it would be fine. I’ve been looking at the Tula carriers but not sure what model to go for, if any, is there any difference between the free to grow and the toddler carrier? Or any I should be looking at?

Thanks

Can't you just get a rucksack carrier? My son was in one from about 10 months. Ours was a Little Life one.

Yes I’ve got a little life rucksack but I don’t like it because his weight is too far back and the waist strap didn’t feel comfortable

Tula Free to grow or Tula toddler. I’ve had them both and they’ve been fab. Tula F2G would probably be best for your requirements now, but the toddler would last longer. Can you try and hire both and see which works best?

Also, just to add more options, the Explore is also a fab carrier too!

At 9 months unless he was a giant he will be too small for a toddler tula. They need to be comfortably in 2-3 year clothing for it to fit properly. Go to a sling library if you have one locally, or look for an online sling library to try some on. In person would be better as it could be your current carrier just needs some tweaks to be more comfortable for you both.

I have a prolapse and I bloody hated our expensive osprey back carrier with a frame - seemed to tip my pelvis under so all the weight was straight down through my pelvic floor. Awful. We had a connecta, and then a connecta toddler. They’re great. He’s just turned 5 and when his cousin was visiting we got the toddler one out for her to borrow, and were playing with it, and actually I can still front and back carry him quite comfortably in it despite his feet basically grazing my shins these days 🤣. Have used it in the cairngorms and the lakes when he was smaller.

Integrababy are brill and have a size that goes past toddlerhood! Bit think you'll still be good with the size one.

No local sling library unfortunately but I will have a look at the suggestions thank you!

I love the Boba 4g- ditched the awful osprey rucksack for this. Still use it occasionally with my 5 year old when his asthma is bad.

Connecta/Integra (can't remember which one is the name now) or Tula.

Love our Tula Explore! Maybe hire some from a sling library?

Ergo baby 360, all carry positions and so easy on my back!

Another recommendation for a Tula. They are so comfortable and mine was great for my tall dd.

Re: Tula, the Explore allows facing out front carry as well as facing in and back carry whereas Free to Grow is only back carry and front carry facing in.

We love our osprey poco - it has spent many a weekend in the lake district hiking

Have you looked into why your child is overweight? May be something sinister

😂😂 this wins MN today. He’s not
overweight, he’s a normal chubby baby who will no doubt do what the majority of them do and slim down when he grows and starts to crawl

Wtf?!?!?!?! That is what you took away from the OP? Fucks sake.

I have an ergo 360 and a Tula ftg. As they get bigger, the ergo is actually better for long walks. And sturdier.

Ergo very much available second hand on fb marketplace etc, well worth checking out.

Definitely try to get to a sling library if you can - what works for one won't be as comfortable for another etc.

Personally I love my original Tula. It's been on the go for 7 years through 3 kids and is so comfortable up until around age 2 (and my kids are all tall). It's inward facing only, but that always worked for me as when they are older I prefer back carries anyway.

The toddler Tula will definitely be too big for a 9 month old.

Be careful of going second hand for an Ergo - ask if they have the original receipt if you do (most people buy online so might be able to dig out an email). There are loads of fakes of that particular brand around, which means the buckles, dyes etc aren't safety tested.

I had a Beco Gemini and used it from 8 weeks to 3.5 years. It was great.