Back carrier for 2 yr old - recommendations ASAP for trip next week?

[Baklava]

Can you wrap? While there are gorgeous fancy wraps, you can also go buy a length of fabric and so it on the cheap.

 

[Kacie]

Is there a babywearing group in your community? My city has one (affiliated with Babywearers International) or something like that, and you can rent a carrier. Or maybe a mom will loan you a good toddler carrier on deposit or something. A toddler Tula or a kinderpack with coolknit would be worthwhile. I mean if you were local to me, I would totally loan you a carrier (with a deposit, but still!)

My tot is 34 lbs and I will be taking those (for my husband!) because she is 34 lbs. Nope. I wore her around the World when she was 24 lbs. and that was plenty!

 

[megrod74]

I honestly think it will be too hot to carry him. We used to live in FL and I wore my kids but it was for short periods of time only and there is no way I would have done it at WDW in August.

 

[leeliani]

I took an Infantino Mei Tai. It only cost about $35 at walmart or target. It worked great for when my son couldn't be in a stroller. Most of the time that is when you are indoors too so heat wasn't an issue. This wrap allows you to front, hip and back carry. I don't wear my toddler much at home, so having something that was less expensive was great. The weight you can use it for is from 8-36 lbs.

 

[DMCastner]

My cousin is an advocate for baby wearing and uses Paxbaby for her kids. Her oldest is 3 (almost 4) and still gets wrapped on her back from time to time. I know you said you don't want a bulky bag but there are some backpack carriers that really resemble a backpack and do not add much space. This also can act as a diaper bag/bag in park which we like. We have a Kelty TC 2.0 which we enjoy.

 

[tigger51276]

I always hip carried my girls until they became too heavy to do so, it is far more comfortable and "natural" as when you pick a kid up you usually rest them on your hip. As another poster mentioned if you get tired on one side you can always switch sides. I think I tried hip carrying with the ergo and I watched a you tube video, but I also had the Playtex Hip Hammock (not made anymore) that I loved and used with both my girls!

 

[ninafeliz]

I do have both (and many other carriers!) I wear my LO a lot, but we just came back from Disney and I used the stroller more because of the heat! I mostly wore while waiting in line or if we had to travel by bus. If it were cooler, it may have been a different story. Do you think your child is going to want to be carried? If so, it's worth it to have a carrier to use but if not then just use your stroller.

The Tula straps are much less bulky than the Ergo. They have multiple adjustments to get a nice fit. The body of the carrier is wider too for more support. The Ergo was good for us until around 9 months, then we switched for more support.
ETA
If you're on Facebook, join The Babywearing Swap. You can sell the Tula after your trip for close to what you paid (probably 130-140 depending on print.) Have a great trip!

Well, I actually bought the Tula and it comes today. There was a pattern I loved, and with the free returns I figured I could try it and see how it feels, and return it if I don't think it's worth it or if I take it but never use it.

A person above mentioned lillebaby, which does the side and back carry for higher weights. The good thing is that if you have a buybuybaby locally, they often have carriers out for you to try. And you can use the 20% coupon for it

We don't have much of anything locally! I'm nearly equidistant from Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh and you pretty much have to go to one of those cities for much of anything beyond the typical stuff a smaller city like Erie, PA might have (it's much closer).

There's a baby carrier rental place. I don't recall the name, but you can google for it. They could likely ship it to your resort!
ETA: PaxBaby is one place you can rent. This rental shop seems to have them in stock and could ship it to your resort: http://earthbabyboutique.com/products/tula-toddler-blue-zig-zag-rental

My daughter wouldn't even let me put her in the carrier at 2. I loved wearing her. I had a sling and a Beco Butterfly II. Loved my butterfly, but if Tulas had been around, that's likely the route I'd have gone.

Luckily, Z still likes to ride in her stroller on long days. (We are season pass holders to Story Land in NH and go a couple times a month.) You may have to just have your child ride in the stroller. If being carried isn't a choice, and he can either walk or ride, he will likely ride. That's how Z is. "Mumma, pick me up!" "Nope. You can walk, or you can ride in the stroller." These days she picks walking most of the time but last year she picked stroller.

I never thought of renting. I've just always bought stuff, but with the number of things I've bought and barely used over the years I should have thought of renting! My son always wants to be carried, I haven't used a baby carrier much for him since he pretty much outgrew the front carry Ergo (he might fit, I can't recall the weight requirements, but he just seems so big to put in there now!). I don't know how he'll take to being worn on my back or hip, but I know I can't just carry him for long anymore! he usually hates his stroller, but also hates to walk. he wants carried. He will have to be in the stroller at Disney regardless of what he wants, when he walks he wanders, doesn't listen very well, and we can't make any progress. We'll let him out when we can, in select areas. A good spot is always the back walkway from New Fantasyland to Space Mountain.

Can you wrap? While there are gorgeous fancy wraps, you can also go buy a length of fabric and so it on the cheap.

I do have a boba wrap, I just never thought of using it now that he's so big.

Is there a babywearing group in your community? My city has one (affiliated with Babywearers International) or something like that, and you can rent a carrier. Or maybe a mom will loan you a good toddler carrier on deposit or something. A toddler Tula or a kinderpack with coolknit would be worthwhile. I mean if you were local to me, I would totally loan you a carrier (with a deposit, but still!)

My tot is 34 lbs and I will be taking those (for my husband!) because she is 34 lbs. Nope. I wore her around the World when she was 24 lbs. and that was plenty!

I don't think we do, but I guess I never looked into it. I did g to La Leche meetings for a while and they talked about babywearing a lot, and I think if there were a local babywearing group it would have been mentioned.

I honestly think it will be too hot to carry him. We used to live in FL and I wore my kids but it was for short periods of time only and there is no way I would have done it at WDW in August.

I may find you are totally right. If that's the case I may return the Tula if I never used it at all.

I took an Infantino Mei Tai. It only cost about $35 at walmart or target. It worked great for when my son couldn't be in a stroller. Most of the time that is when you are indoors too so heat wasn't an issue. This wrap allows you to front, hip and back carry. I don't wear my toddler much at home, so having something that was less expensive was great. The weight you can use it for is from 8-36 lbs.

I haven't weighed him in a while, so maybe I'm guessing low for his weight. i wanted something that goes a little higher, so I could use it a little longer! he might be getting closer to 36 lbs than I realized.

My cousin is an advocate for baby wearing and uses Paxbaby for her kids. Her oldest is 3 (almost 4) and still gets wrapped on her back from time to time. I know you said you don't want a bulky bag but there are some backpack carriers that really resemble a backpack and do not add much space. This also can act as a diaper bag/bag in park which we like. We have a Kelty TC 2.0 which we enjoy.

I'll have to look into that. Not for this trip, but for the future and places other than Disney.

I always hip carried my girls until they became too heavy to do so, it is far more comfortable and "natural" as when you pick a kid up you usually rest them on your hip. As another poster mentioned if you get tired on one side you can always switch sides. I think I tried hip carrying with the ergo and I watched a you tube video, but I also had the Playtex Hip Hammock (not made anymore) that I loved and used with both my girls!

I did look up the hip carry in the ergo on You Tube, and figured it out. It didn't seem bad for the 2 minutes I had him in it, so that might work. He looked so big in it! His long legs hanging down. he didn't like it at all, but he was at home playing when I made him come over to try it out so I hope he will like it better than walking if I decide to use it in the parks or around disney.

 

[wdwbride2005]

Well, I actually bought the Tula and it comes today. There was a pattern I loved, and with the free returns I figured I could try it and see how it feels, and return it if I don't think it's worth it or if I take it but never use it.




We don't have much of anything locally! I'm nearly equidistant from Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh and you pretty much have to go to one of those cities for much of anything beyond the typical stuff a smaller city like Erie, PA might have (it's much closer).



I never thought of renting. I've just always bought stuff, but with the number of things I've bought and barely used over the years I should have thought of renting! My son always wants to be carried, I haven't used a baby carrier much for him since he pretty much outgrew the front carry Ergo (he might fit, I can't recall the weight requirements, but he just seems so big to put in there now!). I don't know how he'll take to being worn on my back or hip, but I know I can't just carry him for long anymore! he usually hates his stroller, but also hates to walk. he wants carried. He will have to be in the stroller at Disney regardless of what he wants, when he walks he wanders, doesn't listen very well, and we can't make any progress. We'll let him out when we can, in select areas. A good spot is always the back walkway from New Fantasyland to Space Mountain.



I do have a boba wrap, I just never thought of using it now that he's so big.



I don't think we do, but I guess I never looked into it. I did g to La Leche meetings for a while and they talked about babywearing a lot, and I think if there were a local babywearing group it would have been mentioned.



I may find you are totally right. If that's the case I may return the Tula if I never used it at all.



I haven't weighed him in a while, so maybe I'm guessing low for his weight. i wanted something that goes a little higher, so I could use it a little longer! he might be getting closer to 36 lbs than I realized.



I'll have to look into that. Not for this trip, but for the future and places other than Disney.



I did look up the hip carry in the ergo on You Tube, and figured it out. It didn't seem bad for the 2 minutes I had him in it, so that might work. He looked so big in it! His long legs hanging down. he didn't like it at all, but he was at home playing when I made him come over to try it out so I hope he will like it better than walking if I decide to use it in the parks or around disney.

I'm glad you went for it. Hope you love it!

 

[Kacie]

I don't think we do, but I guess I never looked into it. I did g to La Leche meetings for a while and they talked about babywearing a lot, and I think if there were a local babywearing group it would have been mentioned.

Maybe so. Did you say you are near enough to Erie, PA? I did a quick search and there are some groups serving that area. Idk if they have a lending library or what. There's also a natural parenting store that you are probably aware of.

BUT! You have your Tula. I hope you love it! Is it the toddler size? Hope so. It will be awesome and you can get some use out of it and resell for a good price when you are done. Enjoy your trip!

 

[amygphillips]

A good solution to baby wearing when its hot outside... Get a cooling towel and put it between you and your child. It really helps! Your shirt will be alittle damp but I promise it was so much better! I wore our toddler for a good amount of time in 85 degress weather. I tried to plan on her being in stroller during the hotest part of the day and would lay the cooling towel across her... She loved it then when she wanted to be held I put it between us. Hope this helps! Have a great trip!

 

[Mamato2cutekiddos]

Ditch the Ergo. The Tula toddler is fantastic. Also my very close 2nd choice is the Onya.

http://www.tulababycarriers.com/collections/ergonomic-baby-carrier-toddler

http://onyababy.com/

From someone who worked in an upscale Baby Boutique for 2 years.

 

[ninafeliz]

Ditch the Ergo. The Tula toddler is fantastic. Also my very close 2nd choice is the Onya.

http://www.tulababycarriers.com/collections/ergonomic-baby-carrier-toddler

http://onyababy.com/

From someone who worked in an upscale Baby Boutique for 2 years.

Can you do a hip carry in the Tula? That's the only problem I see with using only it, and not the ergo.

 

[Mamato2cutekiddos]

Can you do a hip carry in the Tula? That's the only problem I see with using only it, and not the ergo.

This is true... I think you can hip carry in the ellaroo... I'd have to check, it's been awhile.

 

[Mamato2cutekiddos]

Yes! You can: http://www.ellaroo.com/index.php/instructions/hip_position_mei_hip

 

[ninafeliz]

Yes! You can: http://www.ellaroo.com/index.php/instructions/hip_position_mei_hip

I don't have an ellaroo, I haven't heard of that. I have a Tula toddler. The directions that came with it had front and back carry, but not hip.

 

[MrToadfan]

I think you will love the Toddler Tula. We toggled between our Toddler Tula and Toddler Kinderpack during our last trip. My little one was a few weeks shy of her third birthday and walked most of the time, but it was wonderful to have the carrier when she grew tired and for standing in lines. As a previous poster mentioned, the enduracool towels are fantastic for keeping a cool layer between you and your little one. You can't hip carry in the Tula because of the way the straps are designed, they don't disconnect at all.

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

I have so many carriers...Moby, Balboa sling, Baby Bjorn, Mai Tei, etc. However, I just bought the Infantino Advanced Flip for $30. I'm hoping to use this at WDW in December with DS who will be 19 months. I tried the back carry briefly with with DS and he loved it! I need to take him for a long walk in it to see if it will be ok at WDW.

http://www.infantino.com/products/flip-advanced

 

[ninafeliz]

Just to update everyone- I took the toddler Tula and I only used it once because of a combo of the heat, a stubborn toddler, and inertia (he was in the stroller or walking, and it was easier to do what I'm used to instead of get the carrier out). Also, the one time I used it I carried him on my front out of the AK so that I could sit on the bus with him, and I'm glad I did because he did fall asleep. However, despite that less than ideal amount of use on our August WDW trip I really like the Tula! I took at 5 day trip to NYC 2 weeks after returning from WDW, and carried him on my back on the subway and all around times square and central park without a problem. Also, he decided the carrier wan't so bad. I really liked it a lot better than the Ergo, he felt much more secure and didn't feel like he would flip out of the carrier backwards. I anticipate using it much more on our December WDW trip because it will be cooler, and I now know I like it and will make more of an effort to use it. I also think it will be better with the crowds on Christmas, I'll try a day with just the carrier and no stroller (my 5 yr old can walk that day).