Want a Backpack-Style Baby Carrier? Here"s How to Choose a Safe One
If you spend much time with your baby or toddler in the outdoors, a frame baby carrier might be an ideal way to haul your little one around. These sturdy baby carriers have a metal frame and a fabric child seat. Most are designed ergonomically to be comfortable for you and your baby, even over long distances. Although these carriers are associated with outdoorsy, hiking and camping families, many parents also find frame carriers comfortable for everyday use, even just around the house.
Size Matters
Whether or not the baby carrier will fit you is the first consideration. Does it come in various sizes? If so, would you need a second frame carrier to accommodate any other adults who might want to take a turn carrying the baby? If it's one-size-fits-all, be sure to try it on before buying, too.
The range of sizes for baby is also important. What is the minimum age or developmental stage that this carrier can accommodate? What is the largest size child that can ride in it? It's hard to tell whether your baby might be on the large or small end of the weight charts for age, so it's best to look for a frame carrier with the widest child weight range possible.
Adjustability
It's hard to find a baby carrier that fits every adult perfectly right out of the box. That's why it's important that any frame carrier be adjustable. Most have some type of strap adjustment around the shoulders. Other adjustments to the waist strap and the child seat are also beneficial. There should be a harness to keep the baby in the seat, and you'll want to be able to change the size of that harness to fit baby, too.
A too-large harness might allow baby to fall. One that is too small will not be comfortable.
Features and Accessories
Check to see how you load your baby in and out of the frame carrier. Is it easy to put on and take off? Would you be able to do that by yourself if necessary? Some frame carriers have a kickstand that pops out automatically so it's really easy to load and unload.
Other accessories that can be useful are sun shades and rain covers, comfort pillows for baby, water containers, storage bags, and clips for toys or snack containers. When you compare various frame carriers, check to see which of these accessories are included. If you need to buy accessories separately, that could increase the final price considerably.
Safety Standards
In 2015, the Consumer Product Safety Commission created a new set of mandatory safety standards for frame baby carriers. These standards go into effect in September 2016. No fatalities were noted in the 10 years of data studied by CPSC as they developed the standards, but 33 kids were injured in frame carriers during that time. Stability and durability were the primary problems noted in the injury incidents. One child was injured when the carrier fell off a chair with the child inside.
The new safety standards are based on voluntary standards from ASTM. They now require tests to be sure that the child is adequately held into the carrier by the harness system. Other tests cover durability, flammability, sharp points and hinges, leg openings, stability of carriers with a kickstand, and handle integrity. The frame carrier must also be tested to three times the maximum weight listed on the instructions.
Its important to note that all of these safety precautions can't be a substitute for careful attention. You need to make sure you read the instructions that come with your baby's frame carrier, and you must use it correctly. Don't leave your baby sitting on a cliff edge in the carrier, for example. The safety harness cannot protect against falls from high surfaces.
Frame Carriers to Try
There are several companies that make frame carriers, so try out as many as possible as you shop. Among the best available are the frame carriers by Osprey and Kelty. The Osprey Poco comes with lots of accessories and is one of the easiest to adjust. The Kelty Journey 2.0 has a really nice kickstand that makes loading and unloading a breeze.
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