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not sure if this is the right place to post this but wondering if anyone had any advice on getting a baby carrier?

think we've narrowed it down to either a vaude or bushbaby but any advice from anyone that uses baby carreirs would be great

we would be using it for part days easy/moderate walking/hiking

we have a kelty meadow back carrier. which has a removable rucksack and bumbag for putting all your babies nappies etc in. this is the one we have

Baby Carriers, Beans of Bicester Baby Carriers scroll down to meadow.

and we also have a full rain cover for it as well as a sunshade still giod 18 months down the line

rokki how old is your little one i have one of the frame back carriers

its the same as this if your intrested http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5232-2978-1/1?AID=9479574&PID=1428744&mpre=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-new-DELUXE-baby-children-s-carrier-NEW-B04_W0QQitemZ230252574099QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230252574099&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I had 2 framed carriers and found both very uncomfortable after a while. Then a sling mad friend of mine asked me why i felt i needed all that stuff on my back if all i wanted to do was walk around some nice countryside, not scale the himalayaS

Well truth was i was just doing what everyone else did of course so she very helpfully introduced me to the world of soft baby carriers - not the type you get in mothercare like baby bjorn ( which are no good past a certain weight despite what it says on the box) but ones like tricotti slings, moby wraps and mei teis - google them and you will find the most comfy things ever. You can also find lots of info here www.bigmamaslings.co.uk

I am a childminder now and have used slings to carry babies from 6 months and toddlers of 2 1/2 with no discomfort - most of the sling also fold neatly away when not in use which of course the framed packs could not do

Good luck with whatever you choose

I agree with yvonner about how great soft slings are!  I loved carrying my daughter around that way.  Wish I'd known about them when I had my son who only ever wanted to be carried but hated his Baby Bjorn.

I also have a framed carrier to get rid of.  I would just say - buy one second hand and don't spend a fortune - some kids love them and some hate them ( I had one of each). Mine cost about £70 and has probably been used 5 times!

Carrie

I had one of the old Tomy Snugli framed backpacks which was more of an urban carrier rather than a true mountain  one. It was light, comfortable and could sit unsupported on the floor with the baby in it. It was very comfortable and I got a lot of use out of it before I passed it on.

My kids all loved it but they were big kids and by the time they got to about fifteen months they were (a) getting too big for it and (b) my back couldn't cope any more! So my advice is to go for something light and don't be thinking they'll still be in it at four or whatever, because they won't. Also there is usually several of these at every NCT sale, because they don't wear out and they don't normally get heavy use.

wow, thanks for all your replies, certainly given us something to think about

lunarjon - Samuel's 5 months old (today!) but still hasnt got strong head control yet and a way off sitting up on his own - we want a carrier soon as poss really as we are going out and about so much at the moment, so the one you have wouldnt suit us at the moment, but thank you so much for the offer

we've got a close baby sling which i've used quite a bit but i think hubby felt a bit uncomfortable wearing it (said he felt like a hippy - personally nothing wrong with a being a bit of a hippy imo!) - i really like the slings/soft baby carriers, especially when he was really tiny and snuggled up, it was a bit like being pregnant again!

we've got a mothercare front carrier which hubs uses but its not that comfy for long use

i think he likes the idea of the back carrier but is getting a bit carried away - some of the ones he's looking at cost a fortune and i dont think we'll get as much use out of it as he thinks

unfortunately the NCT sale we went to recently didnt have any and there's not another one till november! :o(

he really liked the bushbaby one as it was so light - it costs £80 new with a discount from the babyshow which we went to and where we tried it on, think i might try ebay!

You can get some good macho looking mei tei carriers which can be worn front or back and would suit your 5 month old easliy.

If OH wants something more "technical looking" shall we say take a look at the ergo carrier or patapums or jetpack all of these are renowned for being popular with men but also good if you have bad backs or looking at carrying for a while or carrying older children. Not as cheap as the mei teis but cheaper than bushbabys

incidentially always check ebay.com as well as the uk ones as with the current exchange rate you can get some great bargains - i got a mei tei for the equivelent of £10 new - they usually sell for nearer £30

thanks everyone - good tip about ebay.com, hadnt thought of that, and the mei tei carriers look really good

badger, it was the bushbaby premier that hubs is looking at, nice to hear your experience of it

out and about i generally use the pram as we live in a city and i can put all my shopping in the basket, but its not suitable for "off pavement" driving! hence the search for a carrier

Hi Rokki,

I'm too out of touch to talk about specific brands, but we used a back carrier for both ours (now 10 and 12!), for walking/ light hiking.  I wouldn't say we got masses of use out of it, but it was worth every penny in the feedom it gave us.  The younger one was in it until she was 3, and my children aren't small. 

Mine was made by Karrimoor, as I decided that company that made serious rucksacks probably knew a thing or two about weight distribution!

Just to add I had the baby Bjorn until baby was old enough for the back pack and we now have the bushbaby premier, fantastic piece of kit, I wish I had a rucksack as good as this.  Weight very well distributed on hips rather than shoulders, baby is safe even when I fell over!  The rain cover along with the sun canopy is also brilliant.

She is 22months and still goes in it - a little heavy, but what a way to travel.