Before we went to Italy we wanted to invest in a great child carrier for those moments when a stroller wouldn’t cut it. We researched for hours. Well actually my husband researched for hours. He rarely gets passionate about any children’s products but he was excited about the selecting the perfect carrier. He knew we would be using it on future hikes as well as other outings and that he would be doing the majority of the carrying so he took the lead on finding the carrier. After searching numerous Youtube videos, customer reviews and online blogger’s reviews we decided to purchase the Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier from REI.
When it arrived we both immediately tried it on and pranced around the house. It was fairly lightweight for everything it has on it. There are several pockets for anything and everything you might want to store. There’s even a pocket to put your Camelback bladder in for long hikes so your water supply is carried with you. There’s a large storage compartment at the bottom for diapers, wipes, bottles or any other larger objects. We got the version that has a sun shade that easily pulls out and clips on the carrier and when you are done using it you slide it back in the pocket and zip it back up. It’s super simple. Another big plus we liked about this carrier was that it fits extreme height differences. I’m 5’2″ and my husband is 6′ 2″. It’s very difficult to find a carrier that accommodates this drastic of height difference. All you have to do with this carrier is slide the shoulder straps up or down and they range from XS to XL. My favorite feature on it is the stirrups for the kids. They don’t have to have their legs dangling but can place their feet in the stirrups and rest their legs as if they are seated in a chair. I also feel like the weight distribution doesn’t put too much pressure in one area. Often you find carriers that strain your back or hips but this does a good job of distributing the weight evenly.
My husband and I traded carrying our son throughout Italy in the Osprey. I could easily walk miles with our 13-month-old and not feel tired. Our son often slept in the carrier and you can also rest it on the ground with the child still in it. It has a kick stand that pops out when you need it. So he’d be sleeping on my back and we would take him off and set him down on the ground next to our table while we were eating dinner. Places like Rome have cobblestone streets and it’s hard to get around with a stroller so these carriers are really needed. All the museums, especially the Vatican Museum, are not stroller friendly so it’s handy to have your child in a carrier when visiting these places.
I will say our son screamed bloody murder the first several times we put him in the carrier. Over time the more we practiced and let him in it the more he started to enjoy it. Now we can’t even let him see his carrier or he will flip out because he wants to ride in it so bad. We take it on hikes and other places and he rides along as happy as can be. We even ordered the waterproof cover for it so our son will be protected from the rain when he’s in it. We ended up using the rain cover in Rome and I was thrilled to have it. He seems extremely comfortable in there and I’ve never seen him without a smile on his face while riding in it. We put his water bottle and snacks in the pockets next to him so he munches or sips his water while we give him a ride. It’s fun for everyone. I highly recommend this carrier for all situations. It’s a little pricey but so worth it. REI has them starting for $199.95. If you can afford it, then it will be your new favorite accessory. I promise you and your child will love it.
Mommy's Wild West 