Baby Carriers FAQ (continued): carriers for older babies, and serious backpacks for carrying babies

Table of Contents

• about carriers
• carriers for newborns
• light carriers
• heavy-duty carriers
• sources

For more info on slings, see under newborns, above.

Sara's Ride (about $50 US) Sources: The Sara's Ride is still available, as of 2005! See Ride-on Carriers - the picture looks just like our beloved Sara's Ride which we first purchased in 1992. This would be an ideal baby gift for anyone. It is much smaller and more comfortable, in hot weather, than a sling, and puts more weight on the hips, reducing back strain considerably as compared to a sling. It is not for newborns. Get a sling or a front-carrier for a newborn. The Sara's Ride carrier is probably the best-loved of all baby carriers. It becomes useful at around three months, although it's marked for ages 4 months to 4 years. It's not necessary for the baby to be able to support his/her head very well, because if you wear him/her over one hip, you can use the crook of your elbow to support the chin. We found it uncomfortable after our son was a year old and continually popping up and down, but for the nine months we used it, we found it invaluable. Most people who get a Sara's Ride love it and post enthusiastic recommendations. However, one person failed to get it to be comfortable, no matter what she did, and hated it. About half of the baby's weight goes on your waist, while half hangs from your shoulder--the woman who hated the Sara's Ride could not get the strap to stop digging into her neck, but most people don't have too much of a problem with this. An advantage of the Sara's Ride is that the baby can be worn anywhere--front, back or side, although most people prefer to put the baby over the left hip--and facing in or out, with facing out being more popular among most babies after a certain age. -peb When my son outgrew the Comfey Carrier, we bought a Sara's Ride, and I am very pleased with it. It is a hip carrier, very compact and easy to use, and comfortable, though I find that it strains my shoulder after a while. The baby can face in or out. This is for babies who can sit up, or who at least have good back and neck strength (mine is one of the latter). We take the Sara's Ride everywhere, and he actually seems to enjoy riding in it. --Andrew Siegel "...I've got a "Sara's Ride" hip carrier that I adore, and that I'm still using with my younger child (over 2). It puts her where I would normally carry her in my arms (over my left hip), and a waist belt and single shoulder strap spread the weight. After a little practice, it is much easier to get the child in and out of than a normal carrier, and holds the child much more securely. I tried on a bunch of "slings" at the store, with her in them, and I found them bulky and that I still had to keep one hand on the child. Once the child can hold their head up for a good long time they can go in the hip carrier. I find I am truly hands-free unless I bend way over, at which time I use one hand to support the child's head. I can push a grocery cart, sort thru a rack of clothes, or run thru an airport holding my son's hand in one of mine and the car seat in the other, with my daughter happily riding in the hip carrier! --quoted by Ashley Burns (original author unknown) I heartily recommend Sara's Ride, for a baby from about 4 months onward (you still have to support his head, but since the baby is on your hip, it's pretty natural to just bring your arm around his back). We still use the Sara's Ride when we go to our local soup & salad bar for dinner--I put Dylan in it while we're going through the line. And, he's 30 pounds now. (Jan 93) --Diane Lin After my kids stopped liking the infant carrier, I switched to a "Sara's Ride" hip carrier. If I had to give up all my baby equipment but one item, the Sara's Ride would be the one (well, ok, the car seat would have to be kept!) I adore it. I continue to use it probably an average of 3 times a week for my daughter (25 pounds). It carries the child on your left hip, where most righthanded parents would normally carry a child (I don't know about left handed folks). It can be swung around to be on your belly, or on your back, but is most comfortable and functional on your hip. It has a strap around your waist, and another that goes from your hip on the left, diagonally across your back, and over your right shoulder. Learning to get the child in by yourself takes a little practice and some flexibility. However, once mastered, it is easy to get on and off, easy to put the child in and out, is small and light, and very, very durable. It is *ideal* for that stage where the child wants up-down-up-down-up-down. The child is positioned in such a way that you can totally control what they can reach, and conversation is easy and comfortable. You can't use it with an infant until they have the ability to hold their heads securely without support as you move around, but that happens fairly quickly, so if I could only have one carrier, I'd go for the Sara's Ride over an infant carrier because it is useful so much longer. It spreads the weight out nicely, though eventually my right shoulder gets sore. It is available from some catalogs ("Right Start", and "One Step Ahead"), and some baby stores and runs somewhere around $30. --Susanne Gilliam I bought [Sara's Ride] from Right Start. Okay, but a little floppy, even if the baby is older. I liked the pocket on the back. Somehow the weight distribution didn't feel right compared to the babysling, but perhaps it was just the feeling of the hip strap squishing my post-baby fat... --Laura Jensen One Step Ahead sells an "Ultra EZ Baby Carrier" which resembles a Sara's Ride. --Paula Burch Fanny Pack (approx. $10-25 US) (known in the UK as a "Bum Pack") Instead of a formal carrier, you can put your child's weight on your hip with a fanny pack! Buy a crescent-shaped fanny pack, anywhere, pack it tightly with anything (we use ours as a very small diaper kit), adjust it to fit your waist tightly, arrange it so the pack is over one hip, grab your kid, and go! The greatest advantage of this is easy up-and-down--essential once your child is mobile enough to want to walk, but small enough to frequently retreat to being carried again. Another advantage is that all of the weight goes on your hips, eliminating neck and shoulder strain. The only disadvantage is that the baby must be able to sit well, and the baby cannot be faced outwards. I used this technique from the time my first son was a year old, but have since found it helpful for babies as young as seven months. Women with small waists may have difficulty in getting the waist strap adjusted tightly enough. In this case, use a sewing machine to make one vertical seam in the strap, to shorten it as needed. -peb Fanny Caddie The Right Start catalog (5334 Sterling Center Drive Westlake Village, CA 91361-4627, 1-800-little-1) carries a gargantuan fanny pack being sold for use as a baby carrier, for $25. It looks as though it holds a lot more than my little crescent-shaped fanny pack does, and has bottle holders on it (not that we ever needed a place to park a bottle, anyway). Strap-Eze (suggested retail $24.95) The Strap-Eze is a very attractive little device, simply a wide adjustable rainbow strap with two thick pads, one to go under the baby's bottom and one for the shoulder. It works much like a sling for carrying an older baby, but with the advantage of thicker padding and much less bulk (important in warm weather, and handy for tucking into a purse). As with the Sara's Ride, the baby is supported with one arm (but leaves both hands free). Because the Strap-Eze, like a sling, has no waist strap, I would recommend its use only for people who either have waists significantly smaller than their hips, or who have babies under twenty pounds. I have observed that people with relatively large waists or small hips (not noticeably so, but the ones who search for pants with smaller hip measurements relative to the waist) do not do as well in using a sling for a toddler or older baby, and the same problem applies to the Strap-Eze. People who can carry a baby on the hip will be able to use the Strap-Eze (or a sling) for a heavy baby more comfortably; those whose hips do not stick out enough find instead that too much of the weight goes on the neck, and prefer a carrier with a waist strap to help distribute the weight. I noticed a potential durability problem with the shoulder padding on the Strap-Eze. The strap passes through slits cut in the neoprene material of the shoulder pad; it appeared that these slits might tear. Source: The e-mail address I had for Dr. Randol Womack (in Phoenix) no longer works, and I have no other contact information. It may be that this product has been discontinued. --reviewed by Paula Burch (from a free evaluation copy) Serious Backpacks For serious backpacking, or if you can't stand to have much weight on your shoulders, a good frame-style backpack is the best. A key feature is that the pack must have a good hip belt; a good one, properly adjusted, allows you to put all of the baby's weight on your hips, if you so choose, and none on your back. Another essential feature is a good child restraint system, as the person carrying the pack has less direct control over the baby, and, obviously, it could be very dangerous for the baby to climb out of the pack. Make sure that the waist belt goes all the way around your hips. One horrid Gerry-type model I saw had half a belt in front, with a bar in back, so the more you tightened the belt to give your shoulders relief, the more the bar dug into your back! Serious backpacks are too much trouble for many uses, because they take a lot more effort to put on and take off than does a carrier like the Sara's Ride, and they do cost a lot more, but they can be very useful not only for long hikes, but also for doing housework of the sort that requires the baby to be safely out of the way. -peb To give you an idea of what to look for: Works for all the folks who might use it Waist Belt Diaper Bag attached Lots of places to adjust the fit and ride Adjustable seat Kick-stand Canopy for sun protection --Debra Bettis Just a note on carriers. We use the carrier for hiking but also for visits to museums and aquariums. Strollers are hard to use in crowded areas and we found that we had to constantly pick him up to see the exhibits. We used the back carrier recently in a trip to Washington D.C. and it worked well through the tour of the White House, Smithsonian, and on the subway. --Bonnie Heck Once our daughter got strong enough to sit up comfortably we got a baby backpack. This is the best carrier ever (IMO). Not only is it comfortable and secure, it is also a breeze to set up and get her into, she loves it because she's up high and can see everything that's going on, and it provides a wonderful opportunity to pull hair and yank on glittery things dangling from Mommy's ears. ;) --Jeff Peacock Backpacks are for older babies and toddlers. There isn't such a great developmental need for carrying at this age, but they do get tired of walking (and parents get tired of holding them). A good backpack can prevent a lot of misery on a long walk, shopping trip, vacation, etc. It's a lot easier to deal with than a stroller. Wide, well-padded shoulder straps make for greater comfort. Make sure both parents try it on; a lot of them aren't big enough for big men (or big women, I suppose). A removable outer cover is nice. It goes on for colder weather, and comes off when it's warm. Backpacks MUST have a hip strap. It transfers most of the weight to your legs and off your back. Your back will ache otherwise. It's also nice if the part of the frame touching your shoulders is thickly padded. Big pockets are a definite plus. --Reid Kneeland I also used a "baby backpack" carrier with a frame; I unfortunately don't remember the brand. I borrowed it from a neighbor. It has some plusses -- it gets the child up high where they can see well, it nicely spreads their weight if it is built on a decent frame, and it keeps the child more or less out of trouble. It is most suitable (in my opinion) for situations where you are going to put the child in and leave them there for some time -- taking a walk, going around a museum, etc. It is not convenient to get on and off, though I did manage to figure out a more or less safe method of doing it by myself, but it wasn't easy. I also did not like the fact that is hard to talk to the child (you can hear them ok, but you can't talk to them without cranking your head way around). Nor did I like the fact that the child can reach stuff without your seeing it. My daughter dumped *everything* off the top of our 'fridge one time when I had my head bent down to look inside it. In stores, I found it was very difficult to guess what she could reach and what she couldn't because I couldn't see what she was doing. Used in the right circumstances, it is great, but the hip carrier (Sara's Ride) is more flexible and much smaller/lighter/cheaper. --Susanne Gilliam Sizing One issue not addressed is pack size. This was important for me. I looked at four: the LL Bean model, the Kelty Kangaroo, and the Tough Traveller (Stallion and Kid Carrier). These packs are all very similar in terms of features and price ($100-$150). I found the child straps on the Tough Travellers to be easier to use than on the LL Bean or the Kelty. The Kelty is a little more adjustable than the others, with side cinch straps to draw the frame closer to your body. Most of my problems related to torso length. Some manufacturers publish a range of torso lengths that their pack will fit, but these are unreliable. Tough Traveller gives a range of total heights - these are just about useless. You must try a pack on to see if it fits. Still, I can give some ideas from my shopping around. I am 6'4" and have a torso length of 21.5". First, measure your torso length. Place your belt at the top of your hip bones. Measure the vertical distance from the belt to the little bump on the back of your neck. This is your torso length. LL Bean advertises a torso length range from 15" to 20", and I think they are about right. Kelty (the Kangaroo) advertises a range from 15" to 19". I found that their pack will probably go as long as 22". The Tough Traveller Stallion fits probably up to 23" or so. The Tough Traveller Kid Carrier probably only goes up to about 20". At the small end, some of these packs look pretty ridiculous on a short-waisted person. Your kid is way up over your head somewhere. It is asking too much for one pack to fit a 6'4" man and a 5'6" woman. You would never expect a technical backpack to fit such a wide range. A shorter person will need to stick with the smaller packs like the LL Bean and the Tough Traveller Kid Carrier. [Editor's note: my long-torsoed 6'3" husband likes the Tough Traveller Kid Carrier just fine--perhaps there is another factor besides strict torso length. The Kid Carrier does have a special height adjustment.] --Rich Ready Specific Brands of Backpacks Gerry It's questionable whether anything made by Gerry can be considered a serious backpack. If it doesn't have a good child-restraint harness, and if it doesn't have a heavily padded hip belt, it's not a real backpack. Merely having a frame does not make a backpack worth trying.-peb As for brands, we've had very good luck with Gerry. I believe that Gerry bought out the original Snugli people (kind of sad; snugli was a nice little cottage industry). --Reid Kneeland Gerry's rigid-frame pack can be adjusted so that 90%+ of the weight is on your rear. Set the bottom band at the base of your spine and tighten the belt a tad more than you would a normal belt on your pants. Loosen the shoulder straps enough so that they serve only to keep the pack from falling off, but transmit little weight. --Christopher Biow I can tell you which one NOT to get. I have the Gerry back pack and although my daughter likes being in it, it is hard on my back. My daughter also likes to lean over on one side, which caused added stress on my shoulders from the shoulder strap. However, it could be that I'm not adjusting the straps properly. --Linda Boyle We have a Gerry that is about ten years old. The new ones (1993) seem to have the same design. We used it extensively for our son between 6-11 months, even taking it hiking in the Rockies. We were not happy with it for several reasons. In fact, only my husband could use it from 10 to 11 months. The bar across my back hurt; there was no support for the baby's head when he fell asleep; every time that he shifted his weight to look over the side, my center of gravity shifted so much that it was hard to walk straight. --Bonnie Heck We bought both the top-of-the-line Tough Traveler "Stallion" and the middle-of-the-line Gerry backpacks, so I feel pretty well qualified to state a recommendation. We used both backpacks extensively from the time Dylan was able to sit up pretty well unsupported (about 5.5 months old). He was much happier in the Gerry at first, because he could see out of it; the Tough Traveler (TT) has side panels which makes it very difficult for smaller babies to sightsee....the Gerry puts most of the weight on one's shoulders and back. However, the Gerry is easier to deal with for short trips to the market and such, as the TT is pretty big. Once Dylan got to be about 25 pounds, we put the Gerry into storage--it's supposed to accommodate up to 30 pounds, but only if you're Charles Atlas :-). I could really feel the strain after only 20 minutes, so it wasn't worth it (and I'm very strong). So we now use the TT exclusively, and it's really NOT a hassle to use it frequently. ....The Gerry models only have a waist strap for the baby, which definitely isn't as safe. --Diane Lin I have the Gerry Ultra something--Kiddy Pack or something like that. ven with its three height adjustment positions, the waist/hip belt rests too low on my hips. Also, As my son leans side to side, the whole top of the carrier tilts, so the straps are always slipping off my shoulders just a little, throwing the whole thing off balance and making my shoulders hurt. --Sarah Hetherington I tried out Gerry's newest carrier (the one with the mylar frame) and it was a painful experience. The weight was all on my shoulders and I didn't last more than a mile with it in the park. I switched to the Kelty Kangaroo... [see below] --Hans Ongchua REI This company has a good reputation for real backpacks and is likely to be a good source. More info is needed from actual users for this FAQ. Kelty I tried out Gerry's newest carrier (the one with the mylar frame) and it was a painful experience. The weight was all on my shoulders and I didn't last more than a mile with it in the park. I switched to the Kelty Kangaroo; a discontinued model. The pack seemed a little heavier because my daughter was positioned further from my back. Her weight however was nicely distributed between my shoulders and my hips (mostly my hips) and this made carrying her much less strenuous on my back. I covered two miles with no difficulty. I returned the pack because this model does not have a sun/rain hood. I exchanged it for a Kelty Trek and will be trying it out this weekend. --Hans Ongchua For those of you looking for backpack carriers, I thought I'd share our experience. We got a Kelty Kids (Trek) backpack carrier this weekend and we really like it. The store we visited had Tough Traveler and Kelty Kids. We tried both on there. The Tough Traveler was less adjustable and didn't seem as well made and also seemed to dig in to our shoulders. The Kelty is really nice - it has a stand with an elastic mechanism to hold the stand out (and it pulls in when you fasten the backpack on). The stand itself has rubber on it for non-skid standing. The belt is comfortable. The pack for holding my daughter seems very nice and secure (and she loves it!!!). We also got the add-on diaper bag which fits below the seat. I wore my daughter on our usual 30 minute walk yesterday and the pack felt great (although I got more tired than usual - that's a bit of a workout!). The sunshade appears to be useless except for noon-day sun - a hat on the child would give much more protection overall. --Kathy A. Johnson L.L. Bean, (US $99) This is supposed to be similar to the Tough Traveler model of the same approximate price range. However, they claim recent changes, so whether this comparison still holds true may be questionable. See below for Tough Traveler info. -peb From a posting on misc.kids.consumers: We have the LLBean backpack and we like it a lot. My husband is 5'10" and I am 5'2" and we can pass the carrier to each other very easily. The shoulder straps adjust by a unique system you can do while wearing the backpack. The hip belt does sit a little low on the backpack but I think you'll have that problem with all back carriers. I really like the ease of adjusting the straps on the shoulder. I would say the LLBean backpack is worth the money, but we got it as a gift and I'm not sure how much it costs. --Alan t Baumier I tried many packs before settling on the LLBean one ($99) as the most adjustable. I tried the Kelty ones, the Tough Traveller, the Gerry($65?), and the Bean. The Bean is pretty equivalent to the highest of the three Kelties ($145) I saw, but is somewhat easier to adjust, and cheaper. The cheapest Kelty is not really height adjustable. The Tough Travellers hurt my upper back--something at the top of the pack wasn't padded enough. The TT is height adjustable, but it's kind of a pain if you plan to change frequently between different height people. Also, The TT straps were harder to pull through the buckles. The Bean's child harness is easiest to put on, and the Bean one is also the most adjustable (in all areas, not only height) of the three brands. It also has a larger bag, but it's not removable: the top of the bag is the bottom of the child's seat. My only negative is that the Bean pack is pretty much overkill for my use. I wish maybe the lowest level Kelty were more height adjustable, since it was less bulky overall, more what I had in mind. The Bean one is a pretty serious pack. But, it fits, and now that I've spent several hours lugging Alexander around in it, I can see what a difference that makes. --Sarah Hetherington [June 1995] Outbound (120 dollars, canadian) Positives-- Baby is very happy in here--has a great view of the world! Good strong harness with waist strap and sternum strap. The length of the back is adjustable (although it is a bit awkward to do so) making for a comfortable carrier. I think it is a good idea to get a backpack made by an outdoors company rather than a baby company as a good harness system is essential for comfort in carrying a heavy weight. Stands up on its own making it easy for one person to load baby. Good safe harness for baby with chest pad and only one buckle to do up. Large pocket at the back for carrying diapers, snacks etc. Negatives-- No sun shade. We were quite pleased with our [Outbound] backpack. --Joanne Tough Traveler The complete line of Tough Travelers are well made, and come with the essential waist belt. To get a brochure on all of the Tough Traveler Products I suggest calling the company at 1-800-468-6844. --Debra Bettis The Tough Traveler line is also available, complete with lots of the manufacturer's information, on the web at http://www.parentsplace.com/shopping/gotough/. This is the best brand for serious backpacks for carrying babies. In approximate order of cost, quality, and carrying capacity, they are: Colt I bought a Tough Traveler backpack because of the recommendations of the net. Let me tell you, it is the best investment that we have made in child accessories. The model we ended up getting is the lower end model (there isn't a sternum strap) because I had problems with the higher end ones. In our situation, I would be the one carrying the baby for the most part because my husband has a back problem. My problem is that I'm only 5' 1". The higher end models tended to bump me in the back of the head. The one we have doesn't because it's smaller. We don't do serious hiking, so it's done very well for our purposes (mostly the mall and "outdoor" weekend events like fairs where the ground isn't smooth enough for a stroller). My baby tends to really like the backpack and stays in it for much longer than the stroller. She's used it from the time she was 5 months until now (she's 13 months). I've also used it alot for after hours work at the terminal. I hook on a rattler to the backpack and she justs sits there as I type along. Pretty neat. --Annette Jackson Montana We purchased the Tough Traveler pack for Benjamin when he was only 7 months old. At 19 months he continues to love it as do mommy and daddy. The complete line of Tough Travelers are well made, and come with the essential waist belt. They will mail you a brochure and tell you how to get a hold of the real thing in your neighborhood. I purchased the Montana. I also considered the KELTY line of backpacks but they were too large for my 4-11 foot frame and more expensive. LL Bean and several other similar mail order houses sell the tough traveler packs with a different label. We took Ben and pack camping this past weekend. We hiked for three hours at a time with son in tow. He loved the hikes. Between hikes we could not approach or move the pack without causing a false alaram and having him crying for another ride. --Debra Bettis Kid Carrier (US $120) We have this one, and it's excellent. One point in its favor is the fact that it adjusts to fit both a short-torsoed 5'3" woman and a long-torsoed 6'3" man. It holds up to 45 pounds, including the weight of the carrier itself.-peb We bought a Tough Traveler brand carrier for Christmas and are very happy with it. Our son is now 15 months old and I can use this one. It is built more like a back pack that hikers use. There is a belt so that most of the weight is carried on your hips rather than on your back. There is a 4 point harness restraint so the baby is more secure and less likely to shift his weight around. There is a small pouch under the seat for diapers, bottles, etc. We purchased this at a store that sells hiking equipment, Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) which sells nationwide through catalogs. I believe I have seen a similar carrier in one of L.L. Bean's catalogs. We paid $120. --Bonnie Heck Stallion We also bought a Tough Traveler "Stallion" baby carrier backpack for use on hikes and long walks. This is the top of Tough Traveler's line and is a true frame backpack, able to comfortably carry up to 50-60 lbs. I am a hiker and backpacker, and have used several different types of backpacks, and in my opinion, the Tough Traveler is as good and comfortable as most of the better backpacks. The Tough Traveler line is available from REI, and is also marketed by L.L.Bean under their own label. We chose the Tough Traveler over the Gerry backpack because the Tough Traveler had a better suspension system, was larger, and seemed sturdier. (Disclaimer: I never tried on the Gerry.) When you go shopping for backpacks, make *sure* to try each of them on with weight in them, either your baby, or some weights. Make sure that most or all of the weight of the pack is being carried on your hips, not your shoulders. Weight on the shoulders can result in neck and shoulder strain during long walks, and can be caused by the pack having a poor waist strap, too short a frame for your torso, or by poor adjustment of the waist and shoulder straps. --Andrew Siegel Why did we get two backpacks? Well, we wanted a sturdy one for long walks, and one that had a real backpacking frame which would distribute the baby's weight mostly on one's hips--my husband has a bad back. The TT is wonderful in this regard. It is especially apparent when contrasted with the Gerry, which puts most of the weight on one's shoulders and back. However, the Gerry is easier to deal with for short trips to the market and such, as the TT is pretty big. Once Dylan got to be about 25 pounds, we put the Gerry into storage--it's supposed to accommodate up to 30 pounds, but only if you're Charles Atlas :-). I could really feel the strain after only 20 minutes, so it wasn't worth it (and I'm very strong). So we now use the TT exclusively, and it's really NOT a hassle to use it frequently. We use it for long walks, hikes, and the small trip to the grocery store (we try to avoid using the car if at all possible). It is rated for kids up to 40 pounds, and I think it really will handle that much weight pretty comfortably. It's extremely well made and Dylan loves it. Oh, it's also got a real safety harness, and a good kickstand. The Gerry models only have a waist strap for the baby, which definitely isn't as safe. If you're only going to get one pack, definitely go for the TT (expensive, but worth it). But, we also got a LOT of use out of the Gerry for several months. --Diane Lin Bergmans of Norway We have a Bergmans of Norway backpack and we just loved it. The only thing that stopped me using it was that I got pregnant again and we didn't think we should use it with the strap going around the front, right over baby no. 2. It has lots of adjustments, so if you are in pain anywhere it means you have not adjusted it properly, It is also good because it sits on your hips, so they take all the weight not your back. --Leanne Cole Stroller Pack Finally, there is an odd but potentially handy combination: the stroller/backpack. According to the manufacturer, "the Stroller Pack is a one-size-fits-all stroller that carries like a framepack. It has pneumatic wheels that pop off easily for back-pack conversion to get the Stroller Pack up, down and over varied surfaces of the world. It has extending handles so people of all heights can comfortably operate it. It has a host of accessories to make it appropriate for children with disabilities. When you're not using it, it folds up flat. Made of aircraft aluminum, it's capable of carrying loads of up to 100 lbs. The stroller pack is billed as the ONLY child carrier you will ever need." The base price is $279; contact info is available at 1-800-487-9652 or on the web at http://www.parentsplace.com/shopping/strollpak/. --information provided by the seller Evenflo Hike N Stroll, US $65 Evenflo makes a frame backpack with two wheels. It might be worth trying one. I saw it at a baby megastore (LIL Things). -peb I didn't take it to India but wish that I had. After we returned a friend of mine loaned me hers for a while...her baby didn't like using it. Ezra loved it. We would take it on trails around Boulder and he would have a great time. It pulls like a luggage cart. It has wheels that will go over anything. That would have been a lovely feature in India. However, in India we took a standard backpack (Gerry's top model) and a standard umbrella stroller. And due to the terrain and rough sidewalks, the stroller was never used. Had we had the Stroller Pack we would definitely have used it. pros as I see....CONVENIENCE. It is lightweight and sits well on the body. I am a big woman and my husband is a small framed man. Both could wear it comfortably. The wheels came on and off easily and tucked under the seat. They were aluminum and very lightweight, but also sturdy. In addition the sun shade over the baby's head could carry a considerable amount of weight. I sometimes would stick some groceries on therre when he and I would walk to the store. cons as I see....The kid must be able to sit on their own. There is little body support for the young infant. Ez was well over a year when we tried out our friends and he would sometimes slip around in it. Since we usually used it on short trips it never became a real problem. However, I could see it becoming a problem if we had had to use it when he was small and we were walking around for more than an hour. I think it could be modified. but the model we had was one of their earliest models. I remember my friend saying all the accessories cost them over $500. And that was 4 years ago. So maybe the models have changed. I would buy one of these in a minute if I ever go to India again. Oh and one other con (but I really feel the pros outweigh the cons) is that a taller kids feet would drag on the ground. they need to make it adjustable for the baby. I have heard that they have since done that. --Deantha Menon Sources Slings may be purchased at Toys R Us, Target, and various baby product catalogs. The selection in the catalogs is better, often including sizes for petite and tall parents, but the prices tend to be higher and the selection of fabric patterns and colors lower, in the catalogs. -peb Catalogs or retailers with several carriers The Right Start catalog (1-800-little-1) and the One Step Ahead (1-800-274-8440) catalog carry whatever is currently trendy in the expensive baby catalogs, always including at least a few baby carriers. Wider selection than others, but heavily weighted toward vertical-type carriers and inferior brands of backpacks. The Motherwear catalog (po box 114, Northampton MA 01061-0114; 413/586-3488) has at least one sling. The Natural Baby Catalog (816 Silvia Street, 800 B-S, Trenton, NJ 08628-3299, 609/771-9233) has at least two slings. Camping retailers may be the best for serious frame backpacks. Try L.L. Bean (US 1-800-441-5713 or 1-207-552-3080 or L.L. Bean, Inc., Freeport, Maine 04033-0001 USA), or REI-Recreational Equipment Inc (800-426-4840). If you have a good local camping goods store, use that rather than mail-order, so you can try on the different packs. Beginnings in Amsterdam (phone +31.20.685.13.55) will also do postal order - they have lots more types of carriers and slings as well as shawls (selendang) for carrying. individual carriers The current address for the Comfey Carrier, as of November 1997, is: P. O. Box 2535, Lyons, CO 80540; toll free phone number: 888-865-2738; or call (303) 823-9367. Indi sling: Helen Moore, phone 413-256-1223 (USA), e-mail hm25ATtiac.net The New Native Baby Carrier, PO Box 247, Davenport, CA 95017. Phone: 1-800-646-1682 or 408-423-1681. [Also see Amazon.] Two places for the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder: 1-800/637-9426 or 714/361-1089; or (770) 396-4747 (Susan Wittenstein) [note that the number given at the web site was at one time incorrect, when this one was more up-to-date]. Both Tough Traveler and The Stroller Pack are available online at ParentsPlace.com. Tough Traveler - http://www.parentsplace.com/shopping/gotough/ Stroller Pack - http://www.parentsplace.com/shopping/strollpak/ --David Cohen dlcohenATix.netcom.com Amauti - Inuit carrier: The Minnguq Sewing Group, General Delivery, Broughton Island, Northwest Territories, Canada XOA OBO tel 819 927 8885 fax 819 927 8318. This is a lady's sewing group but they do take orders. If you call, be patient as it may take a while for an English speaker to get to the telephone. The best idea would be to fax a request, no problem with English there. No they are not on e-mail.

Copyright notice

Sitemeter says that there have been different visits to this site since May 5, 1999.