Baby backpack recommendations

[MUcrick]

A number of friends have suggested that we use a baby backpack to carry our 1-yr old at WDW rather than mess with a stroller. I'd like to get some opinions from this group as well as some recommendations on which baby backpack are the most comfortable and easiest to use.

Appreciate any suggestions.

mucrick

 

[Jacksmom99]

If you are talking about the "hiking" type baby carriers, I would say OK, but you'd still need a stroller. The baby probably want to nap at times and then your farced to go back to the room rather than let the little one sleep in the stroller. For the same price as one of these backpack things you can purchase a lightweight stroller with a canopy, that folds easily and reclines. I do not suggest bringing a large stroller that is part of a travel system! There are also places where you can't bring strollers, restraurants, attractions, etc. the backpack can come in handy while waitng in line. When DS was 9months we brought the backpack and the LARGE stroller. We survived, and DS enjoyed being up high and looking around some of the times, but also needed to nap in the stroller.

Others on this site have taked about slings and other carriers. I've never used them, but I think the bottom line is you'd still need a stroller unless you plan on spending all nap/sleep times back in the room. Besides, a one year old can get VERY heavy after a while if you have to carry them all day!

 

[MUcrick]

Great point about napping. We'll probably end up taking both a backpack and small stroller.

 

[Bird-Mom]

We have an REI Piggyback backpack. It is awesome and very comfy for both my dh and dd. It was a bit pricey-maybe abround $150 or so with the extra rain/sun shield, I can't remember exactly, but we are serious hikers so it was a great investment for us. We haven't taken it to WDW although the thought has crossed our minds. I disagree that you would want a stroller too...if your child is anything like mine, strollers are not for sleeping! My dd wouldn't take a nap in her stroller to save her life! We have taken a trip with only a front carrier and a sling with her near 20 pounds-no problems at all. She wouldn't even get in the stroller without freaking out until she was about 13 months old. We always go back to the hotel for naptime. If you are down to one nap/day, it isn't bad at all.

 

[kadaten]

While we do have a backpack we use on occasion (don't remember the brand) we don't take it to the parks with us. Unlike the slingss that can be worn on some rides, you have to take off the backpack any time you do an attraction. Lots of on/off is just too inconvenient for him andus. Plus, DS doesn't sleep all that well in the backpack, but we can get him to sleep in the stroller some. If he falls asleep in the stroller, DH and I take turns doing things with DD....we couldn't do that if DS was asleep on one of our backs...since we wouldn't want to wake him by removing the backpack. In the stroller, I can see to make sure he's out of the sun (burns easy) so I don't worry about that (and our backpack doesn't have a sun/rain shield, so it wouldn't help anyway). We usually use our backpack for stuff like walking around Williamsburg, where we'll be in/out of shops a lot and the stroller isn't convenient or able to go in many places, and DS can't be trusted to walk around (bull in a china shop )

But, that's just what works for us....just give some serious thought to how many rides you'll do, how your little one sleeps, etc.....

 

[moinab]

We usually go to WDW once a month with DD-13 months. We use our regular stroller and a MayaWrap sling. Although we have a backpack, I wouldn't use it at WDW because it would be bother with the constant on and off. Another advantage of a sling is that it prevents DD from getting squirmy on rides. Often, if I am just holding her in my arms, she starts squirming to get down, but if she is in the sling, she is content.

Personally, I don't consider a stroller to be a bother at all. It's great for carrying the diaper bag and a small soft-sided cooler for snacks.

 

[DutchsMommy]

We have a "hiking" backpack from MEC (Canadian outdoorsy company) and although I love it, I am bringing a stroller to WDW because I think the backpack would get really hot (both for DS and me), and I don't like not being able to see DS easily. I have also found that if he eats anything in the backpack I usually end up with half of it in my hair!!

 

[dijid]

If you want to carry your child on your back, you could try something like an "asian style baby carrier" that you can wear on your back or on your front. I'm planning on making one of these and bringing it with us. Figure it will be good for the world showcase at Epcot where we'd only get DD out for a handful of attractions and it will be small enough to fit in the basket of the stroller. Here's 2 links that show how to make one, perhaps you could buy one if you don't sew:

http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/index.html?Baby/crafts.html (I think you'll have to scroll down and click on the link for the carrier)

http://www3.telus.net/public/a6a83106/Sling/sling.html

 

[NotUrsula]

Really, at WDW, a stroller is much easier than a frame backpack. I'm always seeing people w/ frame backpacks trying to figure out what to do with them when they will not fit inside a ride vehicle. (They also can be tricky to fit into luggage; watch out for the width of the base.) A soft sling-type carrier would be a different thing, of course, and those are very useful for waiting in ride lines, but a frame backpack is awkward unless the child will be staying in it for long stretches.

An umbrella-fold stroller is the best for negotiating busses and trams (and is the only sort you can take aboard the MK train), but make sure the handles are tall enough to push comfortably.

 

[luvthatduke]

We're doing WDW in November and taking DS, who will be 21 months. I have used the New Native Baby Carrier sling since he was about 3 months, and will be using both that and the stroller to all the parks. The sling is good to 35 lbs., and there's no "trick" to it, just buy the right size according to the instructions on their site. Also, it is CHEAP compared to all the other slings and carriers! This way, DS can be carried easily for longer periods, and the stroller is available for carrying him and all the baby paraphanelia when needed.
Hope this helps, here's their website if you want to check them out: www.newnativebaby.com
(I have nothing against any other carrier, this just worked for me).