sling/carrier for 10 month old

[BoBoo]

Hey

I've been carrying dd2 in a structured carrier on my front and now she's getting pretty heavy and I feel like it's time to switch to something different. I think I'd like something that allows me to carry her on my back, is easy to get in and out of (allowing for a bit of practice) and will hold her securely enough to give me freedom of movement for running around after a toddler. On the cheap side would be a bonus. What have people found works for them?

which carrier do you hhave? some of them are good for back carries too

A mei tai gets my vote. If you can do some simple sowing, I made one for less than £20.

Otherwise a soft structured carrier but they're not usually cheap.

I love my Ergo carrier, DS is 2 and still goes in it quite happily on long walks.

It was expensive (even 2nd hand from ebay) but it's been worth it and is still going strong for no 2.

A Meitai gets my vote too - I always found doing a back carry easy with them. Of course now, DS climbs on my back by himself, so even easier !

toddler pattapum or ergo....
toddler pattapum says from 18m I think, but we used ours from 12m and it was fab

Thanks for all the replies. I think an Ergo is a bit too expensive for me - I'm into my period of unpaid maternity leave so money's a bit tight at the moment. I'll keep an eye out on ebay and give the mei tai a go.

The Patapum is quite a bit cheaper than the Ergo and is very similar indeed.

for a cheap ssc, I've just bought one of these, and in tests last night could carry ds(4m) and dd(2.9) with equal ease
however they forgot to include the chest strap so I am chasing that

the sleep hood is marginally better to use than the Patapum one, but doesn't stow so neatly when not in use

swings and roundabouts...

oh and I tried the Ergo at a slingmeet yesterday and apart from the pocket, which is very handy, it is no way worth twice the price of the Patapum/Action Baby

Also good (but expensive) were the Yamo, the Manduca and a gorgeous US one from a co called Olives and Applesauce

There are Patapum customer returns on BigMamaSlings at the moment in both baby and toddler size at quite a good price.

I agree with Mrs Badger about the Ergo. The pocket seems like a good idea but the baby can undo it and remove the contents (mine did, anyway). The fabric on the Patapum is a lot nicer too.

Even more things to check out. It's my birthday soon so maybe I could get something a bit pricier that way. Birthdays are not what they used to be

So do you think I'd be better getting a structured carrier with a hood that a mei tai? I've got a Infantino carrier which you can wear on the back as well front but I find that she ends up going to sleep in it and then her head falls back somewhat alarmingly. Would I still have this problem with mei tai?

I have a Babyhawk mei tai with a headrest and I haven't found it to be much good as a headrest. For longer trips where DS might fall asleep I prefer an SSC with a hood/headrest that I can put up and down as required. It also acts as a sunshade.

I know other people who haven't had this problem with the Babyhawk headrest so I think it is to do with the positioning of my DS in the carrier.