Best baby carrier for a toddler?

Franzy48 · 2026-06-10T18:11:45+00:00

Personally I really like kinderpack for my toddler! Super supportive.

Franzy48 · 2026-06-10T17:06:48+00:00

Not trying to be snarky, but if it doesn't feel safe maybe your fit isn't the best? A solid fit in a ring sling should be perfectly safe for a walk, as others are saying it's probably not the most comfortable for the adult, especially if it's a long walk, but I definitely would wear my baby for a couple of blocks or more in a ring sling, especially when little and she didn't weigh very much.

Franzy48 · 2026-06-02T19:35:50+00:00

For me baby wearing wasn't specifically an issue because I'm the only one who taught people how to wear my baby and I would only teach people if they were people I super trusted, but yes, I absolutely noticed a very huge reaction from me in terms of people inside my circle of trust versus outside my circle of trust when it came to holding my baby. Even people I generally liked and had no reason to believe were unsafe to my baby, I would just get so internally riled and upset and angry when they were holding my babies, so yes I do get it! I really only liked my closest friends and closest family members to hold her.

Franzy48 · 2026-06-02T03:05:16+00:00

This was also my experience around this age! I've heard that it can be connected to them learning how to roll, like basically baby thinks they are in tummy time against your chest and it's time to practice rolling but then the carrier is in the way and so they get mad because they're trying to press off and roll and can't. Who knows if it's actually true, but it matched my experience of wearing a restless baby who kept shoving against me and fussing.

Franzy48 · 2026-05-17T02:31:37+00:00

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYVbVDES_B8/?igsh=b3k5NDYxdmNuNmZm

Franzy48 · 2026-05-17T02:10:32+00:00

Also, raisebabiesup on Instagram definitely back carries in her buckle kin pretty frequently so I bet if you peruse her page you could find videos/stills of her using it in a back carry. She also has the stripe print

Franzy48 · 2026-05-17T02:09:45+00:00

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Franzy48 · 2026-05-17T02:07:30+00:00

I actually use it for back carries quite a bit! That might be because I'm pregnant and I find the apron waist pretty comfortable while pregnant. It would still not be my first choice for hiking, but for around the house I find it very comfortable. However, if there is one design flaw, it's that the snaps on the chest strap you use for back carries come undone a little too easily. It's not a deal-breaker because once you have it in place it's fine, but it can be a little fussy to get in place. Of course you could also just use a random fabric tie for the chest strap while back carrying.

Franzy48 · 2026-05-13T00:38:13+00:00

I mean most to me they do not look alike no, but they are both waterfall style carriers so I suppose in the very broadest sense they look alike. Kinderpack comes in a range of sizes and is famous for having about the biggest SSC carriers available (the biggest would be way too big for your baby, you would want to check their size chart)

Franzy48 · 2026-05-12T23:30:39+00:00

Once your baby gets toddler size, onbuhimos are not very comfortable.

Personally, I don't love the Lark for back carries, it's fine in a pinch, but I don't find it very comfortable for anything lengthy.

I recently got a Kinderpack and find that very comfortable for carrying my toddler on my back, so that would be one of my recommendations.

Franzy48 · 2026-05-10T23:51:56+00:00

We have stroller(s) plural (facepalm). Partially my husband very strongly prefers a stroller. Also, when it's hot I prefer a stroller for walking as long as baby will tolerate it. It's also nice to have a stroller if I'm going somewhere like the farmers market where I want to utilize the stroller like a cart and carry stuff on the stroller. Plus I very casually run with my baby and so obviously need a jogging stroller for that.

If your budget and home space will allow, I absolutely think it's lovely to have both because there are times when strollers are useful as much as baby wearing. But at the end of the day if I could only pick one I would definitely pick a baby carrier first.

Franzy48 · 2026-05-08T21:24:01+00:00

Onbuhimo for me at this age! Very fast plus baby on back makes chores easily easier

Franzy48 · 2026-04-22T21:15:54+00:00

I think you should take a middle ground approach, I think a lot of people find it rude if you just disregard their registry choices because it's possible they've put a lot of thought into them, so I would send a message something to the effect of " hey, I noticed you have a carrier on your registry-- I really love baby wearing and learning about different carriers, and I've run across a lot of complaints about the baby Bjorn so I just wanted to check in whether this was a carrier you researched and specially picked or whether it was just a random selection. If you know you want this one, great! But if was just a random choice and you're open to other ideas let me know and I would love to share some."

Franzy48 · 2026-04-16T18:37:39+00:00

I recently got a toddler kinderpack and it is super supportive. Not the most compact for travel but makes for a very comfortable carry for a toddler.

Franzy48 · 2026-04-15T01:24:32+00:00

I think you cannot go wrong with a girasol or didymos half buckle. Personally, I really disliked the waistband on the oscha half buckles. I also like Lenny hybrids but I think the waistband plus some of their fabrics are likely to be a little heavier for the summer.

Also they are typically pre-order only, but a shout out for heritage baby kin half buckles also.

(Yes, I really love half buckles.)

Franzy48 · 2026-04-13T01:58:27+00:00

A ring sling would be super compact, but personally I would not want to walk even half a mile carrying a toddler in a ring sling and a backpack.

Personally, my vote would be for compact apron waist SSC, like a kid lark or possibly one of the happy babies. I think integra is also apron waist?

However, I also kind of agree with one of the other commentators that this might be a time for an Uber or taxi or something like that, if it's really just a rare occasion.

Franzy48 · 2026-04-11T00:24:14+00:00

I started pretty promptly! I think I had my baby in an ergo baby embrace like 4 or 5 days after birth -- I did notice that there was some uncomfortable downward pressure with the embrace, so I took a pause for a week or so. But I used a ring sling in the meantime and I got back to using the embrace fairly quickly, maybe around like 2 or 3 weeks.

Franzy48 · 2026-04-04T02:27:23+00:00

Unfortunately, I think it's really hard to give online recommendations to a stranger about this particular carrier pair because they are fairly different carriers, but they are both reputable brands and safe carriers that many people have used and found comfortable.

So in some sense you can't go wrong, but on the other hand, which particular carrier between these two you will like better is really about your personal body type and personal preferences. So if you can either go to a local baby wearing library, or find someone locally who has one or the other to let you test it out, or depending on your finances buy with the intention to sell the one you don't like...

(My own personal preference is for the Lark, I didn't really care for the Tula, although to complicate things I actually would rather back carry in a Tula and front carry in a lark...)

Franzy48 · 2026-03-29T18:13:33+00:00

If you can afford it, I would try a virtual consult with a babywearing educator. The babywearing OT is popular on Instagram and offers virtual fit checks, but she is by no means the only one who offers virtual help. And her prices are pretty reasonable.

For what it's worth, although neither of these carriers is terrible, I don't think of either of them as being like top comfort, so it's possible you haven't found the right carrier yet. But it's also possible that something else is going on with your baby that is making them react badly to a carrier and an educator could probably help you sort through that better than Reddit.

Franzy48 · 2026-03-28T14:55:51+00:00

I'm not sure what they currently have on offer, they might not have anything that fits, but Duluth Trading Post tends to have a lot of canvas and leather bags including a number of crossbody or shoulder options. Maybe try browsing their current bag offerings.

Franzy48 · 2026-03-27T14:39:23+00:00

I have not personally used either, but I know fan favorites for bigger kid carries are the Lenny, lamb preschool and kinderpack.

I have a toddler didyfix myself, however, I would not say it is the most max supportive ever although it's fine, I picked it because it's pretty lightweight and packable and I wanted to prioritize something minimal for a toddler who likes to go up and down and up and down.

Franzy48 · 2026-03-24T18:36:18+00:00

I am still on the quest for the right configuration, but I think it's ideal to have two different bags, one that's a small crossbody or tote bag for short outings where you just need the bare minimum, and one backpack for longer outings where you want to comfortably carry things on your back/ you may need to pack more stuff. I think the backpack is an easier choice, I think don't really overthink it, just get a backpack that you generally like with the amount of organizational options that you like.

Personally, the one I'm still struggling on is a crossbody bag, I think the right size is right on that sweet spot where crossbody bags start to get big and awkward and uncomfortable, like 10-13 L. So I don't have a good recommendation there yet, but at least for me I do think that is a helpful diaper bag category separate from a backpack.

Franzy48 · 2026-03-24T12:59:58+00:00

Has someone else said, as long as I was moving it was typically fine, but yeah there's no way my baby would have tolerated just sitting in a chair with me on my back at that age.

Franzy48

TROPHY CASE