Hip seats - can anyone advise me?

[Greensleeves]

I would like to be able to carry either my nearly four year old or my nearly two year old, depending on which one of them is being tired/arsey, and have been told a hip seat is the thing to go for. It would be so noce not to have to take a buggy out sometimes - they will both walk most of the time now. Does anyone use a hip seat for children this old, and are they expensive, and is it really much easier than just carrying the child?

I used to have one and got rid of it. It's quite bulky to carry about - a ring sling might manage the same goal, only better?

What I tend to do, instead, is carry kids on my shoulders. Well, I wouldn't with my nearly-5-year-old (DH does though), but I do it all the time with my nearly-2-year-old.

Oh, the QuinoaQueen uses one, though, for her DS, and I do know others who use theirs for ages.

Hmm...have done that, but I still make my nearly four year old hold my hand all the time, so I was hoping some sort of seat might leave my hands free.... what's a ring sling? Can you use it with a bigger child? I had no idea child-carrying technology was so sophisticated and diverse

Ans can they eat sausage rolls in a ring sling?

i had a hip seat and used it quite alot. mainly if i was just nipping into shops etc. would have given it to you but now have 4 month old who needs it. it cost about £40

Ah, but with a hip seat, you have to hold onto them, anyway, I think.

Here is a rubbish picture of a ring sling. They're very simple. Might not work for your nearly-four-year-old, though, they seem to be up to 15kg or 35lbs.

Alternatively, there's that African sling style that I see around, seems to just be a piece of cloth, but works very well.

Thanks NQC

Where is La Quinoise, anyway? Still inspecting His Nibs' outgoings?

Oh dear, no doubt. Poor thing, with her proud potty training moments this morning, followed by diarrhea this afternoon.

Hide! Hide! She's annoyed about nicknames now!

Is she?

I cart around a 3.5 year old all the time, I haven't used a buggy for over a year now.

You can just wear it all the time, so it's not really that bulky. Older children sort of cling on by themselves, but I'm not sure I would be able to hold a hand at the same time, just because it might make me lean (I am tall).

I use mine for the school/nursery run. ds2 (12 months) goes on the seat and dd (3.11) holds my hand and walks. It works really well and I like the fact that ds2 is at the same level as me so we can chat etc. I'm not sure I would like to use it for a child above three though but then again maybe I'm a weakling .

Hi all,

so with the Hipp Seat, does DS have to hold onto me? or me hold onto him? I have a wriggly 21lb 15 month old who isn't quite walking - I'd love to ditch the buggy for short trips out and about.

Yes, you have to have your arm round the child.

Older children tend to lean into your body, so are a bit more self supporting. Babies definately need an arm around them, but my friend has one for Japan and it has a strpa which is really cool as it is no hands!

I use mine a lot for dashing inbto the bank/school etc, when I don't want to get a buggy out

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I used mine loads till my dd was 3. I have the Hippychick heap seat. My arms and back ache if I carry her without it. These days I don't use it much though, as we take her scooter out more, as I find her quite heavy even with the hipseat.

Brilliant, thanks. I'm going to have a look on ebay for a Hippychick one.