A backpack which folds down small???

[Artichokes]

We are off on holiday with out 1 year old. Its just beginning to dawn on us how much "stuff" we need to take. We want to take a backpack to carry DD in when we go for walks but the one we inherited from my SiL does not fold at all. Its thus huge and impossible to pack.

Any recommendations for a backpack that will comfortably take the weight of a one year old and folds up small?

ergo back carrier. It's soft, incredibly comfortable, can be used front back or side. Perfect for a one year old on holiday.

We had the Vaude one which goes flat but not small iyswim . Can you not either attach it to a case if it wont fit inside or check it in separately. Think we took our as handluggage but that was many years ago and restrictions may mean it would be too big now.

www.ergobabycarrier.com/

The Ergo looks great. However we leave in a few days and I am not sure that we have time to order of the net. Does anyone know of any shops in London that stock the Ergo?

There must be loads of shops that sell them in London, usually the same shops that sell cotton nappies and organic cotton baby clothes.

ergo seems to be sold online only. haven't heard of a street stockist yet. I have one i am seriously considering selling. but it has to be sold with the newborn insert and other bits and bobs that dh ordered with it.

mei tais fold down smaller than ergo.

The Natural Nursery www.naturalnursery.co.uk/index.php?cPath=29
is a street shop that sells it, but in Bristol, so not much help.

Oh dear. Extensive googling is not yielding promising results for London stockists. Kiskidee - where are you based and how much are you considering selling for?

I might try googling Mei Tai now. Does anyone know a London stockist for Mai Tais?

Maybe start a thread 'Where can I buy an Ergo baby carrier in London?'

a shop called 'Born' have a shop in London and have an ok selection of slings, but not ergo.
www.borndirect.co.uk/

near durham city but going to noltts tonigtht & dartmouth tomorrow

None of those places are near me kiskidee. That is a real shame as I am having zero luck finding a Ergo or Mai Tai stockist anywhere in London. Can't even find an internet site that does next day delivery .

since a lot of these places are by wahm, contact them by email.try bigmamaslings.co.uk, rumplebums.co.uk and naturalmothering.co.uk. all 3 are highly thought of in babywearing circles. they will prob check their email on a sunday. they are also good at giving user tips. i should think they will be willing to do next day delivery if you are willing to pay for it.

www.napsackbaby.com/index.html here is a london wahm who has her own style. it is sold by bigmamaslings and i have seen good reviews about her products. very minimalist mei tai. it has a phone no on her contact page. good luck. let me know how you get on with finding?

www.slingdiva.co.uk/londoner.htm here is a london stockist of several types of slings. Had you asked a day earlier you may have made the london summer sling show which was yesterday. here

when i'm not on maternity leave i work in a shop that stocks ergos, i can ask my friend if she'd do a next day delivery for you if you like? i'm sure it wouldn't be a problem. will it still be possible with the postal strike though?

Thanks for the tips everyone. I really appreciate it. I e-mailed Rebecca at BigMamaSlings last night. Even though it was 10pm on a Saturday she e-mailed right back . I have ordered an Ergo (I was very tempted by the Mai Tai but DH prefers a more "conventional" look). Rebecca says it will be here by 1pm Tuesday .

when you come back from hols you can always get a mei-tai for yourself. heh, heh. glad it is all sorted.

I hope you like it! You have to make sure the waist straps are really on the hips so that the baby's weight is distributed around your hips, and it will feel very secure and comfortable.

After quite a lot of practise I can put dd2 onto my back with no help - the trick is to make the straps long enough, and really bend over. Pull the straps tight when he is on your back.

artichokes , are you still around?

how was your holiday and how did you get on with the sling?