Toddler backpacks (carriers)

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We are going on holiday soon and plan to do some walking up and down steep hills. It'll be hot too, although we will only walk in early morning/ evening. We have a 2 year old and though he'll be able to walk a bit of the way he'll get tired soon, of course. Do you think a backpack would be the best option in this case and is there a particular brand that people would recommend? It really needs to have some sort of hood/ sun protection because I can't be sure he'll keep his hat on, and it would ideally be as light as possible. thanks :) Toddler is an average sort of weight and height for his age, a bit smaller than average if anything.

Are you used to having weight on your shoulders/hips? I carry my nearly two-year-old everywhere, mostly in a Manduca (which is brill). But if you haven't been doing it already, I would build some "training" for you in your plans.

I've never known a framed backpack to be as comfortable as a soft structured carrier (Ergo, Manduca, Tula etc etc) because the weight is much further back from your centre of gravity.

I've got a littlelife back pack and it is brilliant! Very comfortable to wear, I got mine 2nd hand from eBay tho as they are pretty pricey new!

Thanks for the replies, sorry, I thought it was going to mail me when there was a response but it doesn't! i'm used to some weight - I usually walk around with my laptop in a ruck-sack type bag, but not as much as a toddler. I'll have a look at those brands.

My 23 month old is getting a bit big for my Manduca, which is designed for smaller babies (as in the Ergo).

There's a thread of mine in this section called "toddler SSC for a Manduca lover" or something like that from a few months ago - that's got several suggestions for toddler-sized SSCs. I've got a toddler Tula on order.

Tulas are super comfy and resale 2nd hand for almost as much as they cost new in babywearing groups on Facebook, so if you wanted to recoup costs after your holidays there's always that option. Alternatively itsaslingthing.Co.uk and Slumberoo.Co.uk do postal hires.

Can I put in a suggestion for a Patapum? They roll down pretty small, are very soft and come with a showerproof bag. They are also fairly cheap. They click easily together and with a bit of practise you can do a back carry on your own. I still carry my 2.8 yr old in mine and she likes it. They also come with a mesh bit you can unroll to stop their head lolling about when they fall asleep.