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Original poster

Baby back carriers and sleeping babies!

26 replies

Jane64 · 19/02/2003 22:15

I've have spent so many hours scouring the internet looking for the ultimate back carrier & I still can't decide! I've read the review section & the previous message & the Bushbaby seems a hot favourite, but my ds sleeps alot when out & the Bushbaby & many others I've looked at don't seem high at the back to support his head/neck. The GS60/GS90 appears to be higher, does anyone out there have one of these? Any comments about carriers and sleeping babies welcome! Unfortunately it seems we don't have many outlets near us (Leicester) to go and have a look at a good range of different products.

OP posts:
zebra · 19/02/2003 22:24

Hi Jane64 -- Hey, another Leics Mumsnetter....!!

I thought the GS60 was very comfy (your comfort is very important, too), but wanted bigger. We currently own a Tomy Dreamrider & a MacPac Koala. To be honest, I think the only way to keep baby comfy in backpack is to wedge some clothes around their heads (like nesting) so their heads don't flop about when they try to sleep while you are still walking. The Tomy Dreamrider also tends to pinch fat toddler legs; watch for that. That said, we climbed Ben Nevis when DS was 21 months old in the Dreamrider (about 10 hours hiking, in the end). I went to London to try on carriers when I was shopping for the MacPac...

Gem13 · 20/02/2003 09:23

You could contact Little Trekkers and ask their advice. That's what I did recently and found them really helpful. 10% discount if you go through mumsnet too. I think we'll be going for a Bush Baby but we only want it for occasional use. Still haven't bought one yet though!

elliott · 20/02/2003 09:31

we have a bushbaby and ds seems to find it perfectly comfortable for nodding off in! The nice thing is the padded cushion at the front which stops his face getting jolted too much - but equally he has slept quite soundly with his head back, looks really uncomfortable but I'm sure it isn't!
The bushbaby is good because it is very adjustable (for baby and adult), and also has lots of storage space. If you can manage to do a trip to a good outlet it is well worth trying them on for comfort.
But in general I wouldn't worry too much about the need for head support. HTH

elliott · 20/02/2003 09:33

also, with the bushbaby the part that they sit on can be adjusted to sit them higher or lower - if they are sat low down they are quite snug with the back of the carrier quite high up behind the head. I've never had the need to put padding around ds (he's used it from 6 months and is now 15 months).

Philippat · 20/02/2003 09:42

We have a GS90 and dd (16 months) has never slept in it, although she has got close, in which case she tends to lean her head forward onto my back/neck so the high back of the carrier is a bit irrelevant really!

However, the main reason she has never slept in it is because I can't manage the weight for more than 45mins without starting to feel a bit faint! (incredibly impressed by zebra's 10 hours - note I am a bit of an unfit weakling). I find the pack quite comfy to wear until the weight gets to me but DH finds it really uncomfy. I think dd recognises this and has never been happy in it with dh - generally screams the place down.

So basically, if you possibly can try some out, it's really worth it!

elliott · 20/02/2003 09:48

Yes, I should admit that I hardly ever carry ds myself - he's just too heavy now (though quite light for his age - maybe about 22 pounds?) DH loves the carrier though - he never uses the buggy! And ds loves it too - he likes being able to see out. He gets all excited about going in it now!!

Original poster
Jane64 · 20/02/2003 22:58

Thanks everyone for your advice - I too am incredibly impressed with Zebra's 10 hour hike up Ben Nevis - I'd baulk at that without carrying a toddler! I think mine will be more for daily dog walking & odd days out walking. Oh and I'm still undecided!

OP posts:
Cityfreak · 26/02/2003 17:00

I would highly recommend Macpac, which is also comfortable for your own back as well as baby. I can't remember what our one is called, but it is one of bigger ones, and I did not bother getting accessories for it. I have been using it for 2 years and ds is only just getting too heavy for me. It was invaluable in airports, when the only way to have a free hand for luggage was to put ds in a safe place! He often used to sleep in it, in a position which looked uncomfortable to me but ds seemed to like. It does not stand up alone though, and you have to be really careful that the baby does not topple over the moment you put it down.

Cityfreak · 26/02/2003 17:00

I remember now it was a Possum.

WideWebWitch · 15/08/2004 10:54

Just reviving this thread to see if anyone else has any other recommendations. Is it worth spending 150quid+ to get a decent one or is the 29.99 one here, a Cosatto Sherpa a good one? If it is I think I'll just buy it today. TIA to anyone who can help.

hercules · 15/08/2004 10:56

someone on mumsnet got one recentky i believe. I'll search who.

maomao · 15/08/2004 10:57
WideWebWitch · 15/08/2004 10:58

maomao, I can't be arsed and I don't know how ebay works

hercules · 15/08/2004 11:01

here

lailag · 15/08/2004 11:02

yes, I got a£ 10 tomy carrier through ebay and have used it a lot,both dd (now 16 mo) and dd (3 y!) have slept in them (seem to lean foreward and put head on shoulder)

WideWebWitch · 15/08/2004 11:16

Thank you so much hercules, I haven't seen that thread, looks like exactly what I'm looking for.

WideWebWitch · 15/08/2004 11:22

Hercules, which one did you get? Sorry if you said on the other thread. Wobblyknicks, are you still happy with the Cosatto?

WideWebWitch · 15/08/2004 11:29

Oh, my dp's 6'4" - will the Cosatto be OK - I can see from the bush baby mumsnet reviews that someone said they were over 6ft and most were uncomfortable. He'll be doing most of the carrying since I have a bad back.

hercules · 15/08/2004 14:05

We got a different one. Cant remember brand but was £15 in nct sale.

wobblyknicks · 16/08/2004 09:24

www - don't use the cosatto as much as I thought I would but still use it at least once a week and it's really good. Its better now dd is getting bigger and fitting into it better, but thats not the fault of the cosatto, dd is quite a lean baby so needed to fill it out a bit more!! Would definitely recommend one tho, tis a bargain at 30 quid.

emkana · 16/08/2004 09:33

Do you know the ergo ? I've only ever read rave reviews about it, everybody who buys it seems to love it, and it's not as bulky or expensive or tiring on the back as other carriers, or they say.
Mine is being delivered soon, and I can't wait!

emkana · 16/08/2004 09:36

and you can order it here

WideWebWitch · 16/08/2004 20:23

Thanks for that emkana. No, I haven't heard of it before. We went to John Lewis and dp tried a few on on Sunday but wasn't that enamoured of any of them. Neither was dd but she'll get used to it. So we're still looking - any other recs, especially for tall people, most welcome.

Fennel · 16/08/2004 20:35

dp is over 6 foot and finds the bushbaby comfy. the kids have all found it easy to sleep in too. you can loosen it to lower them down for more head support while they're asleep.

hovely · 16/08/2004 22:17

Another possibility you might consider would be to get a padded neck support. haven't got time to put a link on, sorry, but they are like the inflatable pillows you can buy for air travel, sort of u-shaped which the child wears round their neck then it holds the head up when they fall asleep. Probably travel section of something like Great little Trading Co wouod have them.