[Pooks*potters]

DS is 11/12kgs. I'd love a back carrier where he could ride up high and really see what is going on, I think he would love it. Any suggestions?

[Le-a]

Have you tried a Manduca or Ergo on your back? DS liked being in the Manduca on our backs at that age.

I was also given a MacPac, which is like one of those hiking baby carrier things, and DS sits quite high in that.

[Stoked]

The Ergo will not be high enough for the baby to look forward over your shoulder, not sure about Manduca.

[SarahM72]

What I do is either use a mei tai or a long piece of woven cloth, like a dupatta size.

For the mei tai what I do is instead of tying the bottom ties around the waist, tie them ABOVE my breasts. Then put the baby on my back then pull up the top ties over my shoulders, give a bit of a pull to the ties to get the baby seated nicely in the mei tai then pass the ties over my shoulders, then under (no crossing at front, just straight under my arms), then bring the ties together at the back and over the legs and tie them under the baby bottom. Baby is nice and high and can look over my shoulder. Google mei tai high back carry.

It may be better to buy or make your mei tai with the top straps that come straight up, rather than at an angle, for this back carry, as the straps needs to go straight up and then under your arms, so kind of like a backpack.

With the dupatta I put the baby in first, by putting him in the middle, spreading the cloth under his bum and up his back, gather the ends together then hoisting him over my shoulder and onto my back. Then I get the two ends and pass then over my shoulders, then under my arms, then tie over his legs and under his bum so he is up high (like the mei tai but without the bottom ties). If the cloth is long enough cross over and bring to the front and tie. I make sure it is tied nice and high, so the baby can see over my shoulder. If you google something like back carry woven wrap you will get the idea.

[Cranky Kitten]

Some of the soft structured type carriers (Manduca, Ergo) can be worn slightly higher on the torso to allow baby to see over your shoulder - Manduca is good for this especially.

I do also like a mei tai or woven wrap for a good high back carry, but if you're looking at doing this I'd suggest finding a local baby wearing group and going along to a meet - try http://www.slingmeetsaustralia.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/groups/bwbss/ to find one in your area.

[Lokum]

We had a hiking one which wasnt very comfortable. We tried a katmandu one whih seemed ace but was too exy.
We stuck with the ergo. Even thoughh DS could only see out the sides he was still v happy, made friends on thr train and reached for other peoples snacks. In fact, the snack thing brcame a pr oblem on crowded pubic transport, so i switched back to front wearing.

[erindiv]

I had a hiking one when DD was little and it was like trying to carry a very angry pony on my back. It was huge, cumbersome, heavy and DD hated it.

I have heard several people rave about the Ergo.

[SarahM72]

ARe the hiking ones the ones with the metal frames? I think part of the problem with those ones may be that the baby is held too far out from the body, so you are feeling unbalanced? I don't know, I've never tried them, but to me that just look terribly uncomfortable. I would never use one as I like the baby to be against my body. They seem expensive as well.

IMO much more comfortable, easy and cheap to use a woven wrap or mei tai with a high back carry. I find it very comfortable to carry little children in the mei tai or the wrap with a nice back carry. My kids must find it nice too, because when they were little whenever they get upset they would always ask to go on my back. My toddler still asks all the time to go on my back when he gets sad about something.

[Pooks*potters]

Do you think the really cheap mei tais on eBay would do the job?

...She asks as she contemplates baby carrier number 4 haha.

[tamjk]

I've got a Boba carrier (old model).
It's actually more comfortable with DD (12kg) in a back carry than it is with DS2 (6kg) in a front carry!

I like to wear high, and this is the best carrier I've tried. DD can comfortably look over my shoulder when I have her in it. I'm actually considering getting the Boba Air as DH and I fight over who uses the Boba carrier now, he likes using it for DS1 (16kg) in the back carry.