Can anyone advise re baby or toddler Tula please?

[JuniperTisane]

DS2 is just coming up for 16 months old and built on the smaller side so I was going to get the baby Tula but I see the toddler is recommended for 18m+ so now I'm unsure.

I rented a baby one last month and it fitted comfortably but am I going to come a cropper in six months time if I get that one or would I be better getting a toddler one?

I moved on from a standard Rose and Rebellion to a toddler ABC at 15 months, tbh I should have done it a bit sooner.

I found that weight and age guides were a bit irrelevant, and the only way was to try it on. The important measurement is the knee to knee one. It's a lot easier to cinch a slightly-too-big carrier in with a scarf than find a way round a slightly-too-small one iyswim. The R+R was comfortable, but the toddler one is noticeably more comfortable because he's properly supported.

Also, toddler Tulas sell very very well on the preloved facebook pages

DS is 50th centile for weight and between 25th and 50th for height for reference.

I guess it also depends what you use a carrier for. I live in a flat near town and cba lugging a pushchair around, but ds likes to walk a lot already so I actually find my size 2 wrap more use as I can wear it as a scarf when needed. If it were for longer stuff like country or beach walks, you want both of you to be as supported as possible so I'd go for my longer wrap if he was staying in or the buckles if he might be up and down. Also, some toddlers don't like to walk far - mine will do 2/3 of a mile with a bit of encouragement, but it's also completely normal for them to go much less before getting tired - or much further. I can envisage myself taking the sling on the school run in the early days just in case; imagine the outrage on here if i did :o

Thats very helpful thank you . It sounds like the toddler tula is probably the better bet really and just work around it if its slightly big for a bit. He is also between 25th and 50th centile for height and weight. Built long and lean but not very either really.

He's been walking about 2 months so not up to all that far distance-wise yet. The carrier is used twice a week on the nursery run for his brother and at weekends when we're out for the day.

I should say that we have a Manduca (for DH) and a Connecta floating about the car as well as a KiBi on hire (which is going back, don't like it). so there is no shortage of stopgaps if necessary.

A toddler Tula would be useful for DS1 (3.7) occasionally too. I've done it in the Manduca round Brands Hatch but I don't find that one especially comfortable - boobs too big. It suits DH shape much better.

Ramble ramble ramble...

Ramble away, did you not see the length of my post?!

If you've got an older one then I'd definitely go for the toddler, or even cinch in a preschooler size? I hired the library custom Simply something custom half-buckle which was preschooler - OMG comfiest thing ever!!! DS was only 14 months but all the padding was fine under his little knees; much nicer than the R+R not quite getting there. He was guaranteed asleep within minutes of putting him in

DS is an odd one for walking. He's 17m, took his first steps at 11 but didn't walk "properly" till nearly 15m. But from 10 months has been quite happy to toddle to the park about 100 yards away holding a hand. He still prefers to hold hands when out, which I encourage as we live on a main road. So I think his stamina is a bit ahead of other babies his age even though his actual ability is pretty average iyswim? Maybe it's because he's always been slung, so for him it's not normal to be pushed in a buggy while the grown-ups walk?

I haven't tried a Manduca but don't get on with anything where you have to cross the straps for back carries. The ABC doesn't even have a chest strap; my Ergo-loving friend borrowed it the other day (she uses the chest strap across her shoulders on hers and generally only front carries) hated it for front carrying so I helped her into a back carry and agreed no chest belt needed. And we're pretty different shapes I'm the short chubby one

I'm a wraps girl, the buckles are dp's. But they do come in handy sometimes :o

PS (more rambling) Connecta also do Toddler size. But Tula do get snapped up in seconds the instant one comes up preloved - especially the bigger sizes. So you'd probably get most of your money back once you finish with it

Yes, I agree - go for the toddler size. You can roll the waist and cinch he base if necessary until your DS grows into it.

You don't have to cross the straps back carrying with the Manduca, its just an option. It does seem to be suited to a flat-chested person rather than a curvy one. I really like the shaped straps on the Tula, its the most comfy carrier I have used. Might go and look for a preloved one now. Do I have to join facebook for that?

Ham, I know you can roll the connecta up but is that possible with a carrier with a waist belt?

I adore my connecta but it really hurts to back-carry so I keep it for quick shopping trips on my front.

I met with a fellow MNer earlier this year and she tried to show me how to use her woven wrap. I couldn't even get my son on my back and handle all that material We gave up in the end. Buckles are my friend

The toddler Tula is massive. It says 18 months + but is too big on my 2-and-1-month old and I tried a friend's chunky 2.5 year old in it the other day and it was only just about okay - still on the big side.

If you like the curved straps of the Tula it is probably also worth trying the Boba 4g.
Tula also do leg extension pieces that make the carrier last longer as their legs grow. You can use them on most SSCs, not just Tulas.

Everyone says the Toddler Tula is massive but if you're prepared to use your Manduca for a couple of months it might be your best bet. R&Rs are much smaller than Tulas. Could you perhaps rent a toddler one to try it out first? Having said that, people also often say that Tulas are all sized slightly differently and certainly the one I hired seemed to be a but of a different shape/fit to the one I bought!

Off to hire a Boba 4g now...

Hmm. Boba has arrived. Its not as wide as the Tula. Or as tall. Haven't tried it on sleeping beauty who is in his cot right now.

We shall see.

Can you get to an actual physical meet to play?

Its a 40 minute drive to the nearest. It would have to fall on a day when I only have one child. Possible but not very likely.

The other option is to try their facebook group - or one of the big groups like Slings And Things FSOT. There might be someone closer to you who can let you try theirs in return for cake. My nearest is 30 minutes away, although in a town I like to visit anyway so not a problem; I've taken many a sling back for local mums, and given lifts to those who don't drive, just because I'm going anyway :)

I just about squidge my 1 year old into the toddler, lots of fabric left over. In fact my 3.4 yo just fits :) but I think he will fit better in it in maybe 6 months time. I own a standard at the moment. There is a standard and toddler at our local library. A few friends have loaned from it's a sling thing as she does postal hire.

So in the end I've bought a baby Tula which arrived yesterday! I managed eventually to try on a toddler Tula but it was just far too tall for him. He sort of disappeared in it .

Now I have to sell my old Beco Butterfly to fund it...