Baby carriers for toddlers: NoJo sling, Hip Hammock

In planning to go to Ethiopia, I have been trying to decide what might be the best way to carry our 28 pound 2 year old. She can walk, but in strange situations she insists on being carried, and does not have the stamina for walking long distances. In Addis the roads are rough (and often muddy)making a stroller an impractical option, except maybe for wheeling around in a hotel.

Over my years of parenting I have tried a variety of carriers. In the next two posts, I’ll be giving you my impressions of the NoJo sling, the Snugli frame-style backpack, the Hug A Bub, the Hip Hammock, and the Ergo. All of these are decent carriers with plenty of good points. I’ll try to explain what I like about each so that you’ll have an easier time deciding which carrier might suit your own needs.

NoJo sling

The NoJo sling is a good sling that I used for several children, including to tote a 28 lb toddler around Addis.

Pros
- Easy to put on and take off, even by yourself
- Can be worn on either shoulder
- Folds well for packing
- Can hold a toddler on your hip or cradle a small baby
- Can be worn while seated in a taxi, which is convenient if you will be in and out a lot.
- Offers camouflage when nursing (see: adoptive breastfeeding)
- Is soft and can double as a pillow or blanket in an airplane or taxi.

Cons
- Puts most of baby’s weight on one shoulder, which is tiring
-Unstable when you lean over –you need to hang onto the child to keep him from falling out

In the end I decided not to use this one for my upcoming trip because of the strain it puts on my shoulder with a large toddler– and because I found another carrier that works better.

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The Playtex Hip hammock is a toddler hip carrier that I have tried twice.
Pros
- Holds child in a stable, secure way on one hip
-Can be put on without assistance
-Works for various sizes of babies
-Puts some of the child’s weight on your hip.

Cons- Only moderately padded.
- Puts weight on only one side of your body
- Unless I put the strap across the point of my shoulder, the diagonal strap came across the side of my neck like an ill-fitting seatbelt.

This carrier does get good recommendations from quite a few people, and so it obviously works well for some people. But I have concluded it is just not right for me.

Next post: HugABub, Snugli and Ergo

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