Best Baby Carrier Option For 9 Month Old

[jedijohn82]

At the time we are at WDW our son will be almost 9 months old. He is pretty long and the Baby Bjorn seems to getting a bit small on him already.

What have others done for their children around this age to carry them around the parks?

• Baby carrier only
• Stroller between rides and a carrier while in the lines
• Stroller between rides and just holding him in the lines
• Other?

Also, what sort of carrier do you recommend us looking into getting to replace the bjorn? We'd preferably like something we could also use when we go hiking on our camping vacations if possible.

 

[HGD24]

We have an Ergo and it works really well with our 1 yr old DD. We know many people who have them and love them as well. They use them for hiking, long walks, trips to the grocery store, etc and you'll be able to use it for a few years.

We didn't use ours at WDW just because DH preferred to carry DD in lines and have her in the stroller between rides.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I don't have much experience with carriers....but I did use a hip carrier with DD in Disney her first trip when she was 13 months old. It was very helpful. I got it from One Step Ahead.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ergo!

 

[DISNEYNV]

Not familiar with the Ergo. Is it a type of carrier for older babies? Just wondering. My DS will be 18 months on our next trip and was looking for a good stroller alternative. I think we will be bribing just one along this time for the two kids. Thanks

 

[eww1024]

I was given one as a gift after my son was born. It's an amazingly lightweight carrier that you wear around your back and support the child on your hip. When done using it, just stick it in your purse or bag.

I'd recommend a stroller too. I've gone to Disney with a 5 month old, then 22 and 6 month old, then 3 and 2 year old. The stroller comes in handy, although a lightweight one is probably best.

 

[J3nn78]

ERgo is an awesome carrier. ANd it works wonderfully with babies of all ages. I still can carry my almost 4 year old in it. I regularly use it with my 2 year old.

In Disney, we used strollers during the day and DH and I each had a child in an Ergo for evenings in the park. So much easier fighting the parade and fireworks crowd without a stroller. Easy on and off the bus with tired and sleeping kids who did not need to be jostled and woken up.

 

[Ariel8676]

Ergo, Beco, Kanga X or XT..they all can be used on the front (facing in which is nice for cuddle time before a nap) or on your back. The Beco or the Kanga is taller (which means you can use it for much longer) than the Ergo.
I would recommend checking out http://thebabywearer.com/
I always used a SSC (a carrier mentioned above) and something that you can wear the baby on your hip..which is great for quick carries and lines, like a ring sling...

 

[msmama]

My 10 month old refused to sit in his stroller so I'm glad I took 2 carriers.

I used a Babyhawk (which is a Mei Tei) and DH used the Maya Wrap. Both take a bit of practice, I think, so if you go with either of those I'd get 'em before the trip.

Oh, we still took the stroller to the parks to carry all of our other stuff.

 

[lucigo]

Its been several years since ours was a baby (he is almost 6 now) but when he was 8 months we took a stroller/backpack combo that worked great, especially since he didn't like a regular stroller. Might look into something like this. Let me know if you want pix, I think it was from InStep.

 

[tanyaandallie]

For a 9 mos old and for an 18 mos old I would get a soft structured carrier. These carriers are AMAZING!!! The distribute the weight of your child so well that you can actually wear them on your back all day long and not be bent over in pain! I will say that the soft structured carriers are at their best when your carry your kiddo on your back. It takes some getting used to if you don't normally back carry but it trulyl is so wonderful and comfy!!

Here is a pic of my ds in the Beco at about 16 mos....

The Ergo, Patapum, Beco, etc. are all great carriers!!!

 

[Gaia]

I second the Beco - I LOVED mine! (Both of them....) Heard very good things about all the others mentioned (Ergo, Patapum, etc.) as well. The Babywearer rocks!

 

[jedijohn82]

Thank you guys for the suggestions so far. I will definitely be checking into some of those carriers you have mentioned.

I have one other question...and it may be obvious to others, but as a first time parent never having been to an amusement park with a baby I am not sure...but I would guess we have to sit our son in our lap during rides or how does that work?

 

[tanyaandallie]

Yes, baby can sit on your lap. If you have baby in a front carrier you can actually leave them in there.

 

[disneytriplets]

I love the BabyHawk!

 

[SignOfTheFishBurger]

Ditto the babyhawk!! Those are amazing and so pretty. My DD is 3 months and I pretty much rotate between a moby wrap, zolowear ring sling and a babyhawk. I'll have all 3 of them with me when we go next week.

The babyhawk is best, seeings how my husband is also really comfortable wearing her in it.

 

[tvgirlmin]

I use an angelpak, which is really similiar to a Beco....I have been babywearing since 5 months old and don't plan to stop anytime soon! We are at 18 months and while she will ride in a stroller, I always carry my angelpak with me for tough times (my baby will not nap in stroller, only in the pak, and sometimes my 4 year old just wants to ride while I carry her).

 

[Beka]

My Baby Bjorn *kills* my back (doens't help that I have a herniated disc, but still!). My dad got me a Playtex hip sling for Christmas & I love it! Here it is on the web.

 

[El&Asmom]

For a 9 mos old and for an 18 mos old I would get a soft structured carrier. These carriers are AMAZING!!! The distribute the weight of your child so well that you can actually wear them on your back all day long and not be bent over in pain! I will say that the soft structured carriers are at their best when your carry your kiddo on your back. It takes some getting used to if you don't normally back carry but it trulyl is so wonderful and comfy!!

Here is a pic of my ds in the Beco at about 16 mos....

The Ergo, Patapum, Beco, etc. are all great carriers!!!

Here are dd2 and I in that same Beco at WL back in 2006.

To the OP. I agree that a combo of a stroller and a baby carrier is ideal for that age. In these two pictures, dd is 9mo and was quite big for her age. We got along well with her in a carrier for most of the trip. She only went in a stroller for short periods of time, and was much happier with me carrying her.

Here she is in a BabyHawk mei tai at AK.

Have fun. Dd was great at Disney at that age.

(Sorry, I don't know why the pictures are so small).

 

[two-foxes]

I have a babyhawk, ergo, belle, hotsling and a bjorn...(don't ask...it is a bit of an obsession....)

Having used all at WDW at one point or another, I really prefer the Ergo, hands down. No worrying about straps to tie, you can wear the LO in front, side or back carry and it is just easy and more importantly, comfortable. Not inexpensive, but certainly worth it.