Best sling/child backpack for holiday?

[crace]

My daughter will be 22 months when we go to Malaysia for a 2 week holiday. She is more than capable of walking most places but we don't really want to take a buggy - more like a backpack or sling or something to carry her around in when she gets tired etc.. |Any ideas?

The ergo is very popular. (I actually have a slightly different one but wish now I had opted for an ergo).

ergo baby/child carrier. Folds up light when you don't need it. It's very comfortable, the most comfortable sling I've tried (and I've tried 7!)

I use it every day to carry my two year old on my back, sometimes she walks.

What a great place to go on holiday! very

if you use it on your back, you don't get too hot. The front carriers can get very hot.

Solarweave Mei Tai with hood would keep your DD cool and protected from the sun.

Mei Tais can be worn on the front and back and can be folded compactly around your waist like a belt when your DD is walking.

Try www.thebabywearer.com for loads of advice, reviews and new/second hand carriers section on the forum.

Ah, fab - thanks for the tips. We have a ring sling and a wrap made out of fleece which are both lovely but the fleece is too hot and cumbersome and the ring sling I will bring but not for long hauls. will check out these. Thanks very much

I find my ring sling too uncocmfortable to use for any length of time. It's fine for thirty minutes or so, but not for much longer. I can use the ergo for two hours no problem.

Another vote for Ergo, last summer I easily carried 2stone+ 2yr old for ages

Ergo

I think Mei Tais are much prettier than ergos. They are works of art and you can find one (or many) to match your taste, style, outfit or whim. They are actually smaller and more compact than the ergo too and as comfy.

I couldn't quite get on with the ergo because the waistband and shoulder straps were too big for me as I am petite.

Are Mei Teis really easy to get them up on your back?

yes Mei Tais are easy-n it was how I first learnt back carry's wth my 5 months old (now 2 yr old) Son.

There are good pics if you search the babywearer website.

I would also add that personally I will not buy an ergo as they are currently behaving in ways that are not too ethical.. there is info about this at TBW.

oooohhhh where are you going in Malaysia?

I heard about that...Ergo trying to close down WAHM who also sew SSC slings, some of which were around before they were !!!

Plus taking away retail contracts from any shops who dare to have other slings for sale alongside theirs.

I would never give money to such a nasty company.

Yes, Mei tai are great for back carries, I use a santo's toss or a hip push to get DD onto my back.

MTs are easy to do back carries. Here is the instructions page for the Kozy carrier. (The mum is 7 mo. pg at the time.)

here and here are 2 videos on how to put a baby and toddler on your back. I also kneel down and tell my dd to get on my back 'horsey' and that makes it simple to her her on.

It is true what babieseverywhere said about Ergo. They are trying to get patents for basically a MT with buckles but it has shown that one Canadian manufacturer has been making rucksack style babycarriers since 1992. They are trying to close down a Beco, Patapum and Sachi which a lot of experienced babywearers find more comfortable and more attractive than the Ergo. Any seller who wants to sell these carriers alongside the Ergo are also told they can't sell ergo if they sell any of these.

ERGO

oh dear. I didn't realise that about the ergo company.

oooh I'm shocked to hear that about the Ergo manufacturers.

I just had an Ergo on loan (did a swapsie for my Cwtshi) and found it very comfy and easy to use. Similar reasons as OP for wanting it, on holiday o/s with 22m old.

Am now in another swapsie with Kiski with a MOM MT which I'm going to use for the first time today [excited]!!

The only comment I'd have is that with my Cwtshi I can leave it tied on quite comfortably without dd in it which doesn't work with the Ergo.

Don't forget you can hire slings/wraps etc from Big Mama slings. I did this last year with a Calin Blue gauze which was fabulous.

Oh, and I found the Ergo was quite hot for extended wearing and dd got quite a rash around her thighs after being in for 2 hours at Heathrow waiting for our departure gate. I couldn't let her out as the departure lounge was utterly mobbed and I'd packed her reigns so it would've been a nightmare trying to keep track of her.

On the upside, my back and shoulders were fine even after 2 hours!

Sounds like Ergo are too big for their britches! I will do some research and likely will find the same thing - if so, count on me not getting one for that reason alone. Pushing WAHM out of business seems v ridiculous!

Will research the mei tei some more but leaning toward it the most, loving the hood,

We are doing Kuala Lumpur (sp!) for a few nights then off to Penang for the rest of a two week hol. I am very nervous about the 13 hour plane trip, but hey ho - I am sure it will be fine

Beco and Yamo are two of the WAHMs stuff taht they are pushing out of business. In fact, while Ergo is saying that Beco and Yamo are stealing its ideas, word among the babywearing mums is that the New Generation Ergo stole the new style of its sleep hood from Yamo. So, there you go.

A UK WAHM is making a soft-structure carrier called a Connecta. I have heard good things about it on TBW but not tried one myself.

One ex-retailer of Ergo was stripping the colour out of the Ergos and redying them at customer's request. An ergo rep saw this on a visit to the retailer an enquired about the colours, which ones customers went for etc, and later the retailer got a letter stating that she was tampering with Ergo products etc and to stop right away or else... Turns out that ergo then brought out the NG in one of the colours she was dying them.

If you are more interested in this saga, you'll have to join theBabywearer.com and find the thread 'Heads up regarding Ergo' Warning it is over 600 posts long but some of them are fascinating with regard to the Babywearing subculture. A lot of the retailers and business women have written some very interesting posts including stuff about how patenting works.

several types of carriers for sale here - look at the Beco
www.naturalconnection.co.uk/page37.htm

I'm struggling with the lack of chest strap in the MT.

I'm just getting too pulled back in the shoulders and am not so keen (or comfy!) on the mono-boob look.

Any advice here?

you feel pulled back meaning too too much room between you and dd?

If that is the case, did you try bouncing you dd down into the MT? then pulling some more on the straps before tying.

(I don't understand teh mono-boob ref as I am flat chested.)

the first video below shows the bounce and the second video has one where she ties the strap on the baby's bum first. If you tie it behind your dd's back first, then bring either to your front or, once more under her crotch? there are videos for this but i am going out soon.