4 Steps to Baby Carrier Backpack Success
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How to buy, wear and enjoy a baby carrier backpack.
Updated: October 28, 2021
4 Steps to Baby Carrier Backpack Success
So, you are interested in purchasing a baby carrier backpack? There is a lot of information on the different baby carrier backpack options but, less information on what to do once you have one. How do you set yourself up for success once you decide that a baby carrier backpack is best for your family? Here, we discuss just that!
The four steps to baby carrier backpack success:
- Purchase baby carrier backpack
- Get familiar with the features of your pack
- Experiment and adjust as needed
- Explore your new mode of transport for your little one!
Step 1: Purchase a Baby Carrier Backpack
You know you want a baby carrier backpack but, how do you choose which is best for your family?
Here are a few things to consider when deciding which baby carrier backpack is best for you:
1. How do you plan to use it? – Hiking? shopping? International travel? Long term use?
Some baby backpack carriers are ultra-padded and outfitted with high end materials and features. These packs are great for hiking and extended, heavy use. These child carriers also come with a higher price tag than other packs designed for lighter use. If your primary use for a baby backpack carrier is hiking, we recommend higher end packs that generally come with more padding. If your primary use is around town, most any child carrier backpack will work wonderfully! A smaller profile is best when in crowds, travelling or indoors.
2. Who will be wearing the baby carrier backpack? – Mom? Dad? Grandparents?
Most child carrier backpacks are designed to comfortably fit most adult frames but, some are better suited for larger frames and some are designed specifically for women. Determining who will wear the pack most may determine which pack is best for your family.
3. What’s your budget?
Baby carrier backpacks come in all shapes, sizes and price points. Regardless of your budget, purchasing a baby carrier backpack will change the way you travel with your child and likely will be one of your favorite baby items. Budget friendly baby backpack carriers are typically $200 or less. Higher end child carrier backpacks can cost around $300 or more.
Now that you know what you will be using your child carrier backpack for, the primary wearer and your budget take a look at the quick links provided to help determine which baby backpack is best for you!
Step 2: Get Familiar with Features
Once you select and purchase your baby carrier backpack get excited and further research the features of your particular pack!
The best resources for researching the details of your child carrier backpack are thorough reviews (like from The Kid Packer!) and You Tube.
We will use our top rated baby carrier backpack, the Osprey Poco Plus, as an example.
A few things in particular to look out for are if specific features are included or, purchased separately. Examples include sunshade, rain cover, and travel case. For the Osprey Poco Plus, the Sunshade is included but, the rain cover and travel case can be purchased separately.
We have linked here to our review of the Osprey Poco Plus and the Official Osprey Poco Product Tour as examples of resources to use when researching features.
Step 3: Baby Carrier Backpack Test Run
Use the information learned in step two to test drive your new baby backpack carrier! Test out all of the adjustment features including the hip belt, shoulder straps, torso, and child cockpit.
Some child carrier backpacks have many adjustments and some just 2 or 3. For maximum comfort, it’s best to customize each possible adjustment for your frame. Take a look at our article on How to Wear a Baby Carrier Backpack for more details on how to adjust and comfortably wear a child carrier specifically.
For more information on how to properly fit a backpack in general, take a look at the REI link provided in the Quick Links. This article is particularly helpful in regards to how to measure yourself to find the perfect pack.
Now, proudly wear your new baby backpack carrier around the house to test it out!
Examples of Adjustment Features
Step 4: Explore
Once you have your child carrier backpack all figured out, it’s time to take it on your first adventure. There are so many more uses for a baby carrier backpack than just hiking. We have used ours around the world and in many unexpected ways.
Take a look at the Quick Links for more on unexpected ways to use your baby backpack carrier and how to hike with a baby in winter.
Baby Carrier Backpack Success - Summary
After following the 4 steps to baby carrier backpack success listed above, you are ready to take on the world with your little one in tow. Making sure you purchase the right pack for you, knowing how best to wear it and using it to the fullest are the best ways to make your baby carrier backpack experience truly yours and truly wonderful!
About The Kid Packer
Here at The Kid Packer, we want to help you live your best life. A great baby backpack child carrier can help you do just that. After having used a child carrier backpack for over 1,500 miles of adventuring and exploring, we have a passion for them and know what makes a great pack that both you and your child will love. We hope our comprehensive research allows you to confidently find the right backpack for your needs!
