Best Baby Carriers for 36 months & Beyond
Best Baby Carriers for 36 months & Beyond
Is your child too old to be carried?
Most people somehow have the perception that children above 3 years old do not need any more carrying. In a perfect world, it would be ideally so and perfect for all parents. However, any parents with children older than 3 years old will probably tell you that reality is far from the ideal. Although every child’s habit and needs are different, generally many children at 3 years old still need their daily naps and a good deal of carrying especially when out for longer periods of time.
Therefore, the question is not really whether your child needs to be carried, but how you are going to carry your child as comfortable as you possibly can when they need to be carried.
While children most certainly need less carrying as they get older, a good and comfortable baby or rather toddler or preschooler carrier will make it much easier for the family to travel around when their kids decide that they are tired or need a nap, or when the parents need to hold them to keep them safe.
At 3 years old, the average weight for your child will likely be around 15kgs. By 6 years old, their average weight can go up to about 20kgs. That is a lot of weight to carry around using just your arms. A good ergonomic carrier can take that weight away from your arms and shoulder and evenly distribute that weight over your hips instead.
As kids between 3 to 6 years old tend to grow taller very fast during this phase, a carrier’s panel length and width plays a determining role whether they can be used to carry a child safely in and whether the child will feel comfortable sitting in them. A taller carrier panel ensures the child’s back is sufficiently supported so that they do not risk falling out of the carrier when they arch their back especially if they are put in the back carry position. A wider carrier panel gives the child a wider seating area so that their weight is distributed not just on their buttocks but also over part of their upper thighs, making it ergonomically more comfortable for the child. Apart from that, one may also wish to consider the depth of seat for the child. A deeper seat will also mean a better and more comfortable seat for the child without sacrificing part of the panel for the seat.
If you are looking for a carrier specifically for kids 3 years old and above, we generally recommend the soft structured carriers over the other styles of babywearing tools due to ease of use and generally a larger structure for this age range. Based on the assumption that we are only considering the most practical option for most people, below is a comparison table of soft structured carriers that are structurally large enough to hold kids of average size above 3 years old.
(*Please note that our comparison table serves as a guide and is by no means prescriptive. A proper professional carrier fitting is recommended to select a carrier that best fits your child & you. We have put together this table for the convenience and consideration of those unable to attend a physical in-store fitting session but would still need some advice in selecting a carrier that may work for them.)
Carrier Comparison Table for Children over 3 years old
| Baby/Child Carrier Model | Carrier Panel - Max.Width & Height (Measured Flat) | Weight/Child Size Limit | Special Features to Cater to Older, Taller, Bigger Kids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manduca XT Baby / Toddler Carrier | Extended Seat: 46cm Extended Height: 40cm | 20kg or up to 4 or 5 years old* | Carrier panel can be extended to provide adequate back support for taller or older kids. Extendable & particularly deep seat design allows the child to sit more comfortably in the carrier without feeling that he or she is squashed against the wearer. Versatile as it also adjusts down to fit a smaller child or baby. |
| Boba X Baby / Toddler Carrier | Extended Seat: 53cm Extended Height: 39cm | 20kg or up to 4 or 5 years old* | Carrier panel can be extended to provide adequate back support for taller or older kids. Extendable & deep seat design allows the child to sit more comfortably in the carrier without feeling that he or she is squashed against the wearer. Versatile as it also adjusts down to fit a smaller child or baby. |
| Beco Toddler Carrier | Seat: 43.5cm Height: 45cm | 27kg or up to 4 or 5 years old* | Specifically built for toddlers from 9kg up with wider and taller panel compared to baby specific carriers. Simple to adjust on the go and has a rounded panel top that makes it more roomy around the top part of the carrier. One of the tallest toddler carrier available. May fit up to 7 years old with its higher panel. |
| Tula Toddler Carrier | Seat: 44cm Height: 43cm | 27kgs or 4 or 5 years old* | Specific toddler carrier built wider and taller compared to baby specific carriers. For use from 11kg or 18 months up. Rounded seat design which may be generous for kids with chunkier thighs. Simple to adjust. |
| Kinderpack Toddler Carrier | Seat: 38cm Height: 50cm | 20kg or up to 4 or 5 years old* | Specific toddler sized carrier built wider and taller compared to baby specific carriers. For use from 11kg or 18 months up. Don't be fooled by its measurements taken flat. This has one of the deepest seats for toddlers (especially with our Koolnit air mesh versions) so it typically fits a bigger child than another carrier with a taller and wider panel measured flat. |
| Kinderpack Preschooler Carrier | Seat: 39cm Height: 53cm | 25kg or up to 5 or 6 years old* | Specific preschool sized carrier built wider and taller compared to baby specific carriers. For use from 15kg or 3 years up. Don't be fooled by its measurements taken flat. This has one of the deepest seats for toddlers (especially with our Koolnit air mesh versions) so it typically fits a bigger child than another carrier with a taller and wider panel measured flat. If you are looking for a carrier from about 3 years old, we would recommend this for more mileage. |
| emeibaby Toddler Plus | Seat: NA Height: NA | 18kg or up to 4 years old | Specific toddler sized carrier built wider and taller compared to its baby version. For use from 9kg or 12 months up. It may be slightly smaller than most of the other toddler carriers here and better for parents with more petite builds. As a hybrid soft-structured carrier, the flat measurements are irrelevant. However to get an idea, the seat area is adjustable from 20cm to 75cm, while its height is adjustable up to 54cm as per provided by manufacturer. |
* The guideline on the age of child is derived based on an average size Asian child. This can vary according to your child’s physique. Weight limit is provided by manufacturer as the tested limited of the carrier. It is recommended to limited carrying to at most 1/3 of the babywearer’s weight.
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