Carriers for older babies

[FurryGiraffe]

Ok, I know this has been done to death and I will go and try things out at the sling library, but I wanted to quiz people on what they found useful in a carrier for an older baby. DS2 is 11 months. We've mainly used a stretchy wrap, which is great, but now carrying is all about transporting him from A to B and nursery pick ups, rather than naps and snuggles, so a wrap seems a bit faffy.

So, if you carry your older baby, how much do you use front carry v back carry? Realistically, do I need to worry about how comfy a front carry is? I imagine I'll use it for convenience/ease for very quick things like nursery, but will I want to use it more than that (because if I don't I won't worry too much about the comfort of it!). If your carrier can do a hip carry do you use it, or realistically is it just not very comfy weight distribution wise as they get older? He's quite long but skinny- only just over 8kg at the moment, so not a big baby at all.

Lastly, I'd welcome thoughts on the merits of the very lightweight/compact carriers like the Connecta, versus the bulkier/more padded ones. I love the idea of something that's small enough to slip in a bag and whip out as needed, but worry I'm going to regret the lack of padding on the waistband. Would love the views of anyone who has tried both styles.

Connecta on your back is exactly what I'd recommend, but if you want a bit of padding, you'll want to try a Tula rather than a Connecta.

Job done

Sorry I missed the bit where you said he's only 8kg, so he'd be grand on your front as well, so long as you're both comfortable.

I found a Connecta good for front carries (with crossed straps) but the straps didn't tighten enough for back carries. In terms of padding, I think it's personal, but I found padding mostly just worsened the fit for me and that a mei tai (no padding) or a Wompat (minimal padding) worked best for back carries. I preferred a wide waistband in something like corduroy, so it's grippy but moulds to you and bends with you. But I know a lot of people who love the Ergo and Manduca, so it really is horses for courses. Possibly they did less bending / reaching etc while using them - mine was very much an about the house sling as well as a walking around the place one, and so the ability to bend was important to me.

I'd buy a boba air - cheap, does front and back carries, folds into its own pocket (I used to leave it in dd's nursery bag.

It's not the comfiest for more than day half an hour, but all it's other good points outweigh that for me!

I have a connects, my DD is just under 8kg and i find it really comfy front carrying her and it does fit shoving it in the changing bag not attempted a back carry yet though!

I had a toddler connecta and found it wasn't as good for back carries as the boba (also had a boba 4g!) as the chest strap is nowhere near as good

I know you are against faff, but a woven wrap needn't be faffy once you have learned to use it (and sounds like you have managed well with a stretchy). It can also be super versatile - you can learn a number of different carries for quick 'ups' on back, front or hips to more supportive carries that enable you to hike a few miles comfortably with a hefty toddler on your back. I used to wear my short wrap as a long scarf in winter after I'd dropped DD to childminder...!

I have an ergo and get loooooads done with DS on my back. He is light as a feather that way and he loves it. Front carry is nice while they're tiny but as soon as you want to get stuff done back is best IMO. I can cook, shop, vacuum, whatever I want with him in there.

Whichever you go for, make sure it has a hood to support his head while he's sleeping, and that you can attach it yourself. That's the most useful function, I've found.

We had a manduca that was used regularly for back carries until DS was 3, although he was always on the small side.
It was very comfy particularly for carrying him for long periods of time, such as on walks and at festivals.
We also got a ring sling but I never really got on with it.
Last year DS got too big for the manduca so we got a pre school connecta. It's great now as he only goes in it when he's tired and generally not for long. It's handy to be able to stuff it into a bag just in case. I'm not sure I'd have found it as comfy as the manduca when he was younger and being carried for longer periods.

Have you tried a shorter wrap? My 2 yr old is on my back in a ruck most days. Very quick to tie & small to put away. At 8 months a kangaroo on front would be my go to. One wrap many carries!