Baby Backpack / Carriers

[OzFan]

My sister in law has a almost 2 year old, and was wondering how those backpack carriers worked out. She is reluctant to purchase one without anyone's opinion. Has anyone used this in the parks? How comfortable was it for your child? Was it easier than a stroller? And finally, whould you use one again?

 

[Pioneer Hall]

A stroller will definately be easier for the long walks. Think about carrying a two year old child on your back all day (and if it is hot your dead). And the child is 2 so he isn't extremely light either. Definately go for the stroller and save yourself a lot of trouble.

 

[krazyjon]

Gotta agree with the Insider, go with a light umbrella stroller. As you can tell by my avatar I've toted a couple of little ones around the park a few times, and I give umbrella strollers my five-star recommendation.

 

[Maria]

Originally posted by krazyjon
Gotta agree with the Insider, go with a light umbrella stroller. As you can tell by my avatar I've toted a couple of little ones around the park a few times, and I give umbrella strollers my five-star recommendation.

Totally agre!

Are you serious about carrying a two year old on your back???!!!
My nephew is only 15 months and weighs enough for us not to carry him more than 15 minutes at once! Think of you and your back! You don´t want to need a wheelchair on your second day at WDW!

 

[tinkrbel]

we used one when our granddaughter was 16 months old ..it was really great ..she liked it alot. We didnt use it the next year though because the airlines lost it and it was never recovered .. we didnt buy a new one.

 

[navrik]

We took our daughter to Magic Kingdom when she was 1 1/2 and did all four parks when she was 2 1/2 and used a light weight umbrella stroller both times. It worked out great. There are virtually no steps or stairs in any of the parks to worry about. We hung a backpack type diaper bag on the handles to keep necessities close at hand. Although I wouldn't recemmend leaving valuables on the stroller, the parks "feel" very safe and we sometimes left the stroller and bag parked in a central location for several hours without fear of anyone messing with it. I think a backpack carrier would get hot and uncomfortable before the day was over. You probably would half to leave it outside of most the rides anyway. Another alternative would be to rent a "Disney" stroller when you get there. I don't know the price, but I think they're quite cheap. Last year I had to rent a wheel chair the first day (twisted my ankle on ice the night before I left) and it was only $6 for the day.


Hint: If you hang a bag on the handles of the stroller, get some workout wrist weights and strap them near the front wheels so it won't tip over backwards when the kid gets out.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We took our 9 month old to WDW in Dec and used a back pack stroller from InStep. She was about 15 pounds at the time. It was great and we loved it. It was 50 dollars at the Target Greatland near us (not on sale). I have seen it other places for up to 80 dollars. It is as small and light wieght as a umbrella stroller and very easy to fold up, maneuvure around and my daughter loved sitting in it. Insteps stroller goes up to 30 pounds. There is another stroller like it that costs around 100 dollars, but goes up to 40 pounds and I have heard good things about that one too.

It was the only stroller we needed and we used it more as a stroller, but when we did use it as a back pack it really helped. Some places you can't have strollers (One man's dreams, AK safri jungle treck ect...) For crowded places (like MK during a parade ) it was wonderful! We bought a small black Mickey bag with long handles and hung it over the back as a diaper bag. It also has a detachable sun screen and a mess bag for carrying things under it.

I would recomend it for kids of the right age around 5 months and up to 30 pounds) and if a parent is strong enough to use it. My husband did most of the back packing. It really depends on how big you niece is. If she is light I really recomend it. I will try to atach a picture of it later if I can locate it!

Have a great trip!

 

[Dwarful]

I would go by the size of the child. My daughter will be 2 in April and weighs in at 23lbs. I am in good shape and wouldnt dream of carrying her on my back for half the day (giving dad the other half). We are taking our PegPerego Stroller this will be the strollers 4th Disney trip. We always strap a backpack to the handle bar with Diapers, wipes, snacks, sunscreen etc. That way if the child gets tired they can recline and take a nap while you keep touring esp. nice at Epcot. I also prefer to be able to change diapers right away if they are dirty and I am not near a restroom. This year though we are going to stop at a Wal-Mart type place and grab a cheap umbrella stroller for our 5yr old. We will be at Disney for 10 days so the cost of renting a stroller for even two days its cheaper to go grab a $20 stroller and leave it behind if you want too. Heck maybe the day we leave will see some other family that will take it over for us

 

[mej]

I have always taken strollers. My kids were 3 and 6 last year and I took two even then and intend to do the same this year! The 7 year old is not at all proud - especially after a long and tiring day! It makes life easier (and kinder!) for all of us!

 

[Jedi Osborn]

We took our daugher down when she was 9 months old and she liked the backpack. But we couldn't rely on it for the whole day, so we brought a stroller too. That was a pain. For the rest of the trip we only used the stroller. But while we had it the backpack was nice. You didn't have to push your little one in front of you, your hands were free. It does have its advantages. A lot depends on your strength, the weight of your child, and how you are at the parks (meaning if you're in and out of attractions, the stoller will be easier, but if you tend to walk a lot, the backpack might be nice)
Hope that helps.
Either way, have fun!!!

 

[Beauty and the]

Originally posted by mej
I have always taken strollers. My kids were 3 and 6 last year and I took two even then and intend to do the same this year! The 7 year old is not at all proud - especially after a long and tiring day! It makes life easier (and kinder!) for all of us!

I'm glad my 7 year old is the only one who ends the day in a stroller, thats if the 8 year old hasn't kicked him out :animwink:

I have always used umberella strollers with my little ones, I really don't think me or my husband could have manged to carry our little ones all day and they were all tiny for their age.

 

[2much2do]

A stroller because of all the things the others said, but mostly for one reason no one else mentioned:
A two year old will need to sleep, and they cannot sleep in a backpack. At least not comfortably. Get an umbrella stroller that RECLINES. I fgeel so so sad seeing those poor little babies with their heads and necks all out of whack and flopping over cuz their cheap parents wouldn't spring for a recling stroller for their sweet baby to sleep in comfotably!

 

[mej]

And while they are sleeping comfortably - you can eat in peace and quiet!

 

[Dwarful]

yep, thats why we always take the pegpereggo it reclines and has the cover over it to keep them shaded, also the handle flips over so either they can face us which is nice when eatting or for quick diaper changes, or they face forward. Glad to see my daughter wont be the first Kindergartner to cruise epcot in a stroller! She is small for her age and I know she wont make it through the day without becoming "Super grouch" Thats why we would never consider going to Disney w/o a the strollers! we are doing the cheap umbrella stroller for the older one simply because she wouldnt recline and nap anyway, plus its cheaper for us to buy one at walmart when we get to florida than to rent one daily for her!

 

[mej]

We take ours to the shopping malls as well - if they get grumpy at WDW, they can be worse when shopping! I wonder if there is a great big stroller I could pop my husband into?!

 

[figmentmom]

Take the stroller!!! Our two-year-olds would never have been content in a back carrier - kids want at least a semblance of freedom at that age, and a back carrier is just too confining. Plus, you'd be in traction for the next 6 weeks from carrying all that weight around...