Carriers for CP kiddo

Annie0919

Hey ladies! I hope it's ok to ask this here; I figured you would have extensive knowledge in the carrier world. Let me know if this isn't the place to ask!

A good friend of mine has a 2 year old little boy with CP and just had a kidney transplant. He can't sit up on his own and has little head control. She wants to find a good carrier so that he can see things and others see them and not be confined to his wheelchair.

Do you all have any suggestions? She would ultimately like him to face outward but is open to front and back carriers.

He weighs 26 pounds if that changes anything or helps.

Thanks so much for your help! Have a great day :

Jenny952

My DD is 18 months and has spina bifida, so she doesn't walk.  I have a boba carrier, which is a soft structured carrier and I really like it.  I have heard others like their ergo carrier, which is a similar carrier.  I like that she's supported and the carrier holds her weight on my hips and shoulders instead of my back, so it's very comfortable.  The boba and ergo both face forward, and facing outward is difficult on the wearer and the child.  If she wants him to be able face outward, maybe check into a carrier that she can wear him more on her hip/side.  I don't know of a good back carrier.  My boba can be worn on the back, but I have a really hard time getting DD into it b/c she can't help in any way to get into it.  My husband has a backpack carrier but your friend's DS would probably need to have pretty good head control for that to work.

Good luck to your friend!  I love that she wants to carry her DS.  My DD loves being held, even though she can be more independent in her wheelchair, there's something about the security of being up high with mom and dad.

ncbelle

If she hasn't been babywearing already probably a buckle carrier is her best bet.  I would get something like a toddler Kinderpack or Tula - if he has little trunk strength he needs a large body carrier that will come up above his shoulders and support him out to the knee (so many carriers like the ergo or boba would be too small bodied to offer him the support he needs).  I would NOT recommend a FF carry at all - not supportive for a child with little trunk strength and that weight will be murder on the wearer's back.

Annie0919

Thanks so much for your help! Ill give her your suggestions.