Need a baby carrier for a trip to Oz. Suggestions!

[JenZen]

We need a baby carrier for our 15 month old -taking a buggy but want option to walk where buggys don't go and also if our 3 year old gets tired walking. Looked at Little life carriers (got a big one already but want smaller), just looked at Beco butterfly carrier and patapum carrier which look great as will take up zero space but will it kill our backs?
Help!!

I am so tempted by the Beco myself but don't know nayone with one irl. I have heard brillaint things about the Ergo but they're not the prettiest things, as shallow as that is! There are websites that let you hire slings so you can try before you buy, because it's an awfully expensive mistake if they turn out to be uncomfortable.

I love my Ergo, absolutely adore it. No, it's not pretty-pretty but it is COMFY and really well-made and robust which I think is much more important. I borrowed a pretty MaiTai and a Sleepy Nico to try because I thought I wanted something fancier, but they just didn't compare and felt really flimsy by comparison.
I can squish my Ergo up into a tiny space, but it still feels like a proper substantial carrier iykwim. I think you can hire an Ergo to try from SaSa Slings, or I bought mine from Baby-Bean.com

There are lots of different slings out there - I carry my 2.9 year old in a ToddlerHawk MeiTai and it doesn't hurt my back at all.

If you want to carry your 3 yr old, then an Ergo will prob be a bit small. With a TH, you can roll the waist to make it a little smaller for your 15 month old, and wear it full for the 3 year old. As you tie them on each time, there's no fiddling around adjusting them when swapping between you and DH either.

If you buy second hand (UKBabywearingSwap group on Yahoo is great) then you could buy a Beco and a MeiTai and see which you prefer, and then sell the other. Cheaper than renting

You could also look for a slingmeet near you, where you'd be able to try a few different slings and see what you get on with.

Personally, I didn't get on with the Ergo at all - but I've got a Didymos wrap, a BallBabyOverall Mei Tai and a Napsack MeiTai that I find pretty comfortable for my 2st 2 year old. There's less of them than the ergo and they're not so structured, but they feel extremely secure when on and I love the "cuddly floppiness" {) of them.

UKbabywearingSWAP and natural mamas are both good places to look for 2nd hand slings. The Baby Wearer is also useful - they have a HUGE amount of info and a very active 2nd hand sale forum, but its US based and there are fewer bargains now the $ rate isn't so good.

Why not just buy one there? They make heaps - Hug a Bub is Australian, for example - and the exchange rate is fairly good. If going to a major city, you can get it easily, and they can advise on best for needs, in such a hot country.

I wouldn't wait until you get there, a carrier is in IMO an absolute necessity for getting through the airport without losing the will to live.

The general concensus among babywearers (folk who use them full time instead of a buggy for example) seems to be that the Beco would be better for your back than the LittleLife type carriers. I can't comment properly as I've never used a LL.

I have got an Ergo and a Yamo (which I suspect is pretty close to a Beco) The Ergo is slightly more supportive than the Yamo but it is hotter. How hot is it going to be when you go?

You could also look at a GypsyMama Bali Baby Breeze (I think they're now called Wrapsody), but you'd need to try this out first to see if a) you can get the hang of tying it, though it's pretty easy when learnt b) it's heavy duty enough, as it would depend on 15 month old's weight - at that age it might pull on your shoulders a bit. They are pretty and fabulously cool.

If your DD is a pretty big 15 months, I'd consider the Toddlerhawk mei tai. I'm not a great mei tai afficionado but they're reckoned to be the business. They pack up pretty small, are fairly quick to put on and you can get very very pretty ones (in fact you can get them with a pretty picture on one side and plain on the other side so it can be worn reversed.)

Second omgidbi that carriers are a godsend for travelling. If you avoid one with metal, you may be able to take a sleeping child through security without having to take them out though there's no guarantee of this. (It probably also helps if the carrier is as mainstream looking as possible - have had lots of success through Eurostar checks with my Ergo - so if you get a Toddlerhawk, wear it plain side out in the airport)

I've got the Beco Butterfly and I wear it for hours on my back without any problem. It might be a bit hot for Oz depending on when you are going. DH has used the toddler patapum with a 3yr old but it is quite a hassle to get on and off because of the extra set of straps and 3 yr olds tend to want up and down a lot.

I have worn a babyhawk on my front(patterned side out!)numerous times going through security and only had to take it off twice (once in UK, once in France).