My baby is becoming a toddler but I'm addicted to the baby backpack handsfree get up & go life. Any solutions please?

[19fran76]

At 11 months of age the basic bit of nylon strung from a metal tubular frame is no longer the answer. My shoulders are protesting. What is the baby carrying next stage? Please advise me. I love it so. (DD likes her crows nest too FWIW).

I have a MacPac - DS1 is now 4.5 and still goes in it occasionally!

Gosh, I really got sucked into reviewing all the options with the Ocah This is how a collection begins, huh?

CMOTdibbler, is your DS comfy when snoozing? My DD is sometimes disturbed by not being able to find a comfy place to rest her head.

Dophus, the MacPac is serious kit, the like of which many DPs would approve . Have you used it day-to-day & how have you found it? Do you carry your 4.5 yr old?! Wow.

alittleteapot - dh has never commented that dd feels too low in her Beco and he's a big rucksack user too. Personally, I sometimes feel she could be a touch higher but it's never caused any problems and still comfy.

Reading about the hip carries - upto around 2 years I was a big ring sling user and the babyhawk is pretty nifty for front, back & hip too. More recently though, I tend to favour my Scootababy which is just perfect for hip carries (that's when we're not playing daddy donkey!) but admittedly, not as versatile as the Babyhawk or Beco.

Never found the lack of hood (on the BH) a problem as my little bundle always tends to lol forward resting on my back of bossoms!

Hope this helps and sorry didn't see the posts earlier l-teapot.

Ergo, Connecta, Babyhawk Mei Tai, Patapum, Patapum toddler, Mac Pac Vamoose (another framed one - but it IS comfy - and easy to use - but bulkier than the soft carriers mentioned above).

Didymos, Merrycarry, Storchenwiege, wrap slings are great - but they have a learning curve - you are going to have to learn to use them - once learned - you will wonder how you did without them!

Kozy carriers are absolutely fab too.

I like the solarweave connecta carrier - and find the sleep hood invaluable - for holding a sleepy head up, sun protection, and discreet breastfeeding. (lower the sling and swivel to side slightly to attach baby at breast - with hood up loosely for your privacy - and to keep baby from being distracted if you are walking along while feeding him/her).

oh yes, the ocah list of options is fab. i think my custom slot is due in at the end of the year and i cant wait have stopped buying little extras in the week to pay for it. i have the wrap ready, but am trying to decide whether or not to dye it first. but figuire i need a neutral carrier at times.

We had a big structured frame carrier (Macpac Vamoose) for DH as he wouldn't entertain the idea of carrying DD around in our Connecta or wrap. It worked fine for them from about 6 months up to recently, but now DD is 2.5 (and even than on the small side) he has pretty much admitted defeat. He can manage her for up to an hour or so then it gets too much for his shoulders. Unfortunately those big carriers, whilst affording great views just pack too much weight themselves.

The Connecta is great though, and we can still use it comfortably (or would if I wasn't currently 33 weeks gone). We don't have one with a hood - but can see it would be handy. Shame can't do side carries in it (but we do have a hippy-chick hip seat)

Fran - we do a lot of walking so wanting something that was proparly designed to take straing off the pack. We therefore chose a specialist backpack company. The MacPac is uperb - I have carried my 4yo approx 10 miles. Of course I was glad to get him off my back at the end of it but it is doable.

The other advantage is that it could be adjusted to fit both DH and myself. When DS2 was 6 months we bought a second one.

DS2 has never been as happy in it as DS1 was (and is). Wehn out and about on my own I prefer to use the backpack over a pushchair as it keeps my hands free. Also great around airports, especially Gatwick and Heathrow which on landing won't let you have a pushchair until baggage collection. The only problem is that is there isn't a bench or chair (or DH) I need help to put it on/off when loaded with a child.

Now pg with #3 so my back getting a rest!

Thankyou everyone for sharing your babywearing experiences with me. After much daydreaming/drooling over various options I splashed out on a Beco. Can't wait for it to arrive

oooh, good choice - which colourway did you pic?

I went for Lenka, moss green on turquoise print with black staps

Straps would've been more helpful [blush}

So excited that I can't even look embarrassed satisfactorily

LOL! Off to look at the connecta site and see the "Lenka" print now.....

Yu can get both the Connecta Baby Carrier (with 10% off at the moment) and the Ergo Baby Carrier from the very lovely Victoria at Baby Bean who has been super helpful to me in the past and really knows her stuff. I've tried a Connecta but personally find the Ergo much more supportive; it's comfy enough to carry a 3 year old on a 2 hour hike.

I had the 10-years ago versin of this bush baby

I loved it and carried them all till between 18 months and 2 years in it. Took the kids to Central America when dd2 was 16 months and literally went 'backpacking' with our 3 children!

Just my recommendation!