i have a 16 month old and carrier her on my back occassionaly just for something different... not sure how heavy she is, definitely over 12kg... i find the ergo awesome... i mean you still feel a bit of the weight, but its incredibly comfy and you have your hands free, and its not a struggle to hold them.... it certainly gets my heart rate up if i go for a walk though!!
To be honest Elissa, a cheaper carrier will not help you if you want to carry your toddler. With carriers, like with so many things, you really get what you pay for. Most of the mass produced, cheaper carriers are not suitable for older babies, let alone for toddlers. If you seriously want to carry your toddler comfortably, a bit of investment is well worth it!
Depending on what sort of injury you have, and your body shape, an Ergo may or may not suit. Ergos are great because they remove most of the weight from the shoulders, and they do suit a lot of people, but IME are not the best carriers if you are short or narrow shouldered. They are great for back carries, which is what you will want to be doing most with your toddler. Front carries, or one shouldered carriers like ring slings will not distribute his weight evenly. But if an Ergo doesn't suit, there are other carriers than the Ergo which have less bulky shoulder padding and the waist support actually sits on the waist, not the hips. This helps hold bub closer to you (prevents drag on the shoulders which I found with the Ergo) and gives you a more natural centre of gravity.
Alternative Soft Structured Carriers (two shouldered carriers styled like a mei tei) which are good for toddlers are Patapum, Kanga X (google Bloo Kangeroo), Pikkolo. You could even try a Connecta - I have one and it is beautifully comfy for my heifer of an 8 month old (although he's nowhere near 15kg), and with the new lumbar support belt much better for carrying toddlers.
Otherwise, you could look into a Mei Tai. These are more adjustable, having straps, not buckles, but have a greater learning curve than a buckle carrier. There are certain brands which suit toddlers better, having taller bodies. Or, if you sew, you can make your own. There are some good patterns out there - this is one of the best links to free instructions for a good toddler suitable mei tai: Christmas Eve Twins: Make a Scandi!
Or, if you want greater comfort and versatility, but the greatest learning curve, a woven wrap is wonderfully supportive for a toddler (not a stretchy wrap like a moby or hug-a-bub which are NOT suitable for older babies and toddlers). Heavier weight wraps like a Storchenweige or Didymos are most suitable for toddlers. I have a lighter weight wrap because I live in the tropics, and it is great for longer carriers, but does require a bit of commitment to learning. Good woven wraps are not cheap.
Whatever you decide, if you'd like more advice, you're more than welcome to PM me. If you have existing injuries, and haven't carried for a long time, the most important thing is to START SMALL!!!! When you carry for the first time, only carry for about 5 minutes a day, gradually increasing the amount of time you carry. If it hurts, stop!!! Play with the adjustment of your carrier to find the best adjustment for your body. Your muscles haven't acclimatised to carrying your toddler, and each carry (and carrier) uses different muscles. It's not uncommon to feel a bit sore after using a new carrier for the first time, but you are starting from behind the eight ball, as your babywearing muscles have not been used for a while, and you have an injury that you need to take care of. That's not an insurmountable obstacle, but you will need to be a bit careful so that you get the most enjoyment out of babywearing.
If you are interested in an Ergo, it's a great place to start, and it may suit you wonderfully - they do suit most people. But Ergos retain a good resale value (I know because I just sold mine ), so if it doesn't suit you you can always try something else.
wow Suze! thankyou so much for all that info it is wonderful!! You have goven me a whole lot more info than i have been able to find on severzal internet sites. I have thought a lot about it and tried him in just a home made sling and I am going to give carrying him a miss, he is just SO heavy. Am hoping to have a new bub next year so will carry bub from birth in an appropriate sling.
Thanks everyone for your advice, will certainly buy an Ergo next bub as everyone seems to rave about them.
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), so if it doesn't suit you you can always try something else.
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