A baby carrier, up to how many kilos?

article adapted from the Babywearing blog, posted on 25/02/2009

Knowing our limits (of weight, age, and endurance)!

People often ask me “how much weight can our baby carriers hold”.

To tell you the truth, I hesitate to answer with the actual number of kilos the slings could hold. The reason is that it’s far greater than the weight anyone could bear to carry. Most sling manufacturers set a limit of 15-18 or 20 kilos (depending on the type of carrier). Not because the Asterakis couldn’t hold more, but because manufacturers are wary of the strain on the body of the person wearing them.

A KiBi baby carrier from Asteraki with a 5-year-old child – comfort and perfect support.

The Asterakis have been tested with very heavy loads. (I have some very funny photos – not with children – that I hope will never see the light of day!) And we’ve found that they hold up just fine. And the strange thing is that we feel comfortable too. That’s exactly the “trap”. You can feel so comfortable that you think carrying 20 kilos on your back for a long time is acceptable. In reality, though, it isn’t. You may feel comfortable, but your body isn’t meant to carry that kind of weight for long!

In case of need, it could be done for a little while. Back when there were constant power cuts in Athens, when the school bus came to pick up Vasilis, we had to go (quickly) down from the fourth floor on foot, since the lift was out of order! It was very easy for me (and comfortable, I admit) — I’d put Vasilis on my back and Rea in front of me and we’d be downstairs in seconds. There were plenty of times when I needed to wear both of my children at the same time. They now weigh (together) about 32 kilos. I could, if there were a serious reason, wear them together. But I prefer not to put that much strain on my back!

And that’s also my answer to anyone who asks me “up to what age can I wear my baby”: For as long as you like, but with an awareness of your own endurance!

A big child asleep in an Asteraki wrap-tai carrier

In practice, we very often need to carry older children, two and three years old, in Asterakis of every type (and it works just fine)!

A big three-year-old child who fell asleep in an Asteraki wrap carrier

In the video below, from a family outing of ours at Filopappou, we’re wearing Iliana, aged 2, as well as Rea, aged 4.5, in an Asteraki mei tai!

read more: A tour of the narrow streets of Athens with three children

It’s fairly clear, I think, that the “weight” limit far exceeds the ages at which it’s necessary to hold your baby in your arms.

Note: It’s not recommended to wear babies weighing more than 15 kilos for long periods. Consult your doctor if you have back problems.

When will the carrier start to tire me?

In general, a baby carrier is a very comfortable choice; you should certainly find it far more comfortable than if you were holding the baby in your arms, and you should also be able to wear them for quite a while without any problem.

Whether or not a baby carrier will tire you generally depends on the following:

1. How early you started and how often you wear them. As mentioned elsewhere on this site: if you start with a small baby who gains weight gradually and you wear them every day, then you’ll end up wearing your two-year-old without even realising it! But if you wear them once today and then again a month later, bear in mind that in a month the baby may have gained a whole kilo, and on your body that’s a sudden change. Also, if you’re starting out with a big, heavy child, it’s better to wear them for a short while the first few times and gradually increase the time, so as to give your body the chance to adapt. And don’t forget that you really are getting exercise by wearing your baby (the muscles that support your spine work harder)!

A big child in an Asteraki sling at the sea, comfortably and safely

2. How correctly you wear them. It’s important to pay attention to the basics: the baby should be close to your body (not hanging away from you), the baby should sit in a deep seat (with their legs hugging your body and their knees higher than their bottom), and the baby should be at the level of your navel or higher (not low down). If you’re wearing a ring sling, it should hug you on the rounded part of your shoulder (not close to your neck), and you should have a very good seat for the baby, high up on your body; if you’re wearing a mei tai you should tighten the straps without leaving any slack points.

3. Your own physical endurance as a person. Always keep in mind that a baby carrier is essentially “your arms” — don’t compare it with the pram but with your own arms. Two hours out and about with the baby in the pram may already be tiring, let alone two hours out with the baby in your arms! Plenty of people do it comfortably, others get tired.

Objectively, the distribution of weight with a mei tai, with a buckle carrier, or with a correctly worn wrap is better than with a ring sling. But, subjectively, that isn’t necessarily what you’ll need in order to feel comfortable! (Many admit that the weight is carried better with a mei tai but still prefer the ring sling because it makes them feel better. Others say the opposite!)

What does toddler size mean? Do I need a special carrier for my big child?

As you saw above, you can wear your baby up to an older age and many kilos with a regular Asteraki. There are carriers defined as toddler-size (for toddlers), which are usually suitable only for older children, in some cases only from 15 or 18 months and up. Most carriers intended for this age are designed for big children, because the “body” of the carrier is much wider and much taller than usual for baby carriers. This is done for greater comfort for both the child and the parent doing the carrying.
However, all the photos on this page are with carriers that are suitable for newborns too!

In the end, having an Asteraki can be a reason to keep wearing your baby for longer than you’d originally planned. What matters is that you feel comfortable!

Do read this too: Fabric baby carriers and their lifespan