Toddler Carrier - Playa del Rey,CA

Have you looked at the Ergo baby carrier? I got this when my daughter was 6 months, and it's good for up to 40 pounds, on the front, side, or back. It's pricey, at $100, but we use ours all the time with BOTH our kids because it's so minimal but comfy for everyone - light, folds up small, and works for the chunky monkeys and skinny minnies (kids or parents). I have done a lot of travel and this is by far the easiest of the carriers (I've done the framed backpacks, ergo, bjorn, etc.). My son is 3, weighs 32 pounds. My daughter is 2, weighs 28 pounds. They fight over who gets to ride in the ergo, and my husband and I fight over who gets to carry it! It's great for those days when your son absolutely will not tolerate you being apart - I do dishes, cook, etc., when my kids are being clingy and want mommy all day.

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a back packer would be good, distributes weight good and easier to carry at that size. I have a evenflow one. Love it. carried my son til nearly 40 lbs.

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J., there is a phenomenal BABYWEARING group here in L.A. called KOALA L.A. led by the very AMAZING Traci Cummings. Her monthly meetings are incredible, and she offers a BABYWEARING LENDING LIBRARY where you can borrow slings/ wraps/ carriers to try for yourself. Her # is: (213) 300~8275, and her e~mail is ____@____.com is truly a BABYWEARING ADVOCATE and all her help is free, though there is a small dono request when you borrow anything from the library! : ) I highly recommend contacting her with your request. And, I so invite you to join our KOALA L.A. YAHOO GROUP: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/koalaLA/ where you can get advice, post news, and buy and sell slings and wraps and BWing things.

Also, http://www.thebabywearer.com/ is an amazing place to find more data on slings/ wraps/ carriers for us BABY WEARING MAMAS and even buy and sell them!

And, just so you know I love my TODDLERHAWK MEI TAI!

http://www.babyhawk.com/

And, my 2 other favorite BABY CARRIERS are the CALYX and, of course, the BECO BUTTERFLY!

http://mamabydesign.com/shop/

http://www.becobabycarrier.com/

ENJOY!!! : )))

With lots of love,
L. (BWing MAMA to 2 year old Dylan Orion......29 September 2007). : )

After about 15 pounds most carriers are much the same...then babe's weight gets to you. Wearing on the back (maybe a chinese Mai tai) might be the least strain. Good luck.

I know you asked about something to wear your baby but I too am going to suggest the umbrella stroller. I traveled with my daughter when she was only 15 lbs and even that without a hip injury ( and I am an active fairly strong lady at that) had me huffing and puffing by the time we got on the flight. Don't forget there is more than just the baby there is all the carry on luggage to wrestle with and, depending on whether you are holding the baby or got them their own seat there is possibly a car seat to carry as well. You will appreciate the wheels even if you just put bags in it. They will check it at the gate and it will be waiting for you right at the planes entrance. Just remember even with the best planning you could end up literally running to the gate, especially if connections are involved, do you really want to do that with a hip injury carrying 25 lbs of baby?
Some unsolicited advice as well: if you didn't opt to get the baby their own seat take your car seat with you anyway. The airline may allow you to use an unoccupied seat if the flight isn't full for no charge and if not you can check the seat at the gate and it to will be waiting for you at the gate with your stroller. Our flight ended up not being full and the flight attendent offered us a row with an extra seat without us even asking. Unfortunately my rear facing seat was too big and I has to hold her anyway, but most front facing seats fit. I had to hold her little wiggly behind for 4 hours and I was exhausted! Definately taking our stroller and got her her own seat for our upcoming trip I won't carry her or wear her on a flight ever again. If you still want to wear your baby I don't know which is the best but I found that my baby bjorn, though great when she was lighter ( under 15-18 lbs), tightened up too much around the waist on it's own because of the weight and pinched my sides and made it hard to breathe so I wouldn't suggest going to the expense of that particular brand. Have a safe trip! :)

I love our mei tai. Ergos are supposed to be really great as well, although I have never tried one.

I saw that pretty much everyone mentioned the Ergo, which is what I also would suggest, except for your hip injury. The Ergo rests on your hips, and that is where pretty much all of the weight sits. I think you should try it before you buy it, it could still work for you.

I love my baby K'tan. it is all fabric~ no hooks or buckles. It is machine washable and comes with a longer tie piece for once the baby weighs a little more than a newborn. Since it is all fabic it easily goes into a diaper bag. It does take a couple times to get fast at put it on but it is super easy!!

Ergo ergo ergo! It's awesome, I carry my 31 pounder on hikes in it.

Love my mei tai too, but it has longer straps that might be a pain in the airport.

Ergos are pricey, so look for a used on on Craigslist. Although they are completely worth their money!

LOVE my MobyWrap. Never ANY back pain whatsoever. I will never use anything else....I finally found it after 7 different slings, wraps, carriers, etc.

I have an Ergo and my 2 year old daughter weighs 30lbs - she's always been the lead football type, with legs so chunky she couldn't wear jeans! - she's slimming out now. It's very easy to carry her in the Ergo. I can go a good long hour and not even feel any strain at all. If you have a hip problem I would recommend that you carry your son on your back, rather than on the front. They have them listed on Craigslist.org all the time!

I know its not what you asked about, but i recently traveled with my 20 lb daughter and could not have carried her the whole time without a hip injury. we bought a combi light weight umbrella stroller on craigslist for $45 - it folds up really small and you check it at the gate - my airline it was free, and they give it right back to you at your destination. i also liked it because it gave her the freedom of her own seat in a strange place and what if you have to go to the bathroom or something! good luck to you!

Ergobaby! Definitely that one! You don't even have to take them out to go through security because there's no metal.

Agree that Ergo is the best carrier, but also agree that, with a hip injury, carrying might not be a good option. We just traveled with 2 under the age of 2 - had our Ergos (they are expensive, but we took the plunge for Ergo #2 because we like them best) ready to good but the umbrella stroller was WAY better for airport travel. If you have to trek between gates, or worse, have a flight delay, you're not gonna want to have your little guy stuck on your person! Plus, you will end up having to bring so much other stuff (food, toys, etc) that you might appreciate having a stroller to throw a bag on vs. carrying.

Good luck!

Sit and stroll - and if you didn't buy a seat for the baby on the plane, you can put it in a bag and gate check it. We do that all the time.

Hi J... with your hip injury, I would be concerned about "wearing" the baby at all. Have you looked into a sit and stroll -- which is a stroller and carseat all together. We used it every time we traveled with both kids. You can push it all the way to the plane, then with a single push convert it into a carseat, which sits on the airplane seat (you will need a seat belt extention from the flight attendent). I highly recommend it!

I liked the carriers that you can have on the front or the back. It makes it easier if you can change their position/location.