hi there,

just wondering which will be better to take to thailand for 3 weeks, a stroller or baby backpack carrier. S will be 11 months old and probably toddling by then. we plan to go in december for 3 weeks around bangkok, phuket and chang mai. im thinking there will be many stairs so the backpack will make life easier, but then it means one of us is carrying S all day round. A stroller might be easier but then you have to carry it up and down and getting through crowded areas might be harder. any thoughts greatly appreciated.

We took a trip through eastern Europe with an 18-month-old, and brought a backpack carrier.

We had no regrets. Yes, we sweated a bit more, and had to build up our muscles, but it was generally easier to lug around than a stroller. We could bring it hiking. It had some storage, so it doubled as a regular backpack. It was easier to pack away. It allowed hands-free carrying of the kid (though it does take away someone's back, so backpacks may have to be carried on your front!). It also attracted a few curious stares (especially in Ukraine).

Of course, the right decision will depend on your style of travel and on what your kid likes. We were backpacking, doing lots of bus and train travel, and semi-roughing it. Plus, our son didn't really care that much for a stroller, so for us, it was a no-brainer.

If it's just a small fold-up umbrella stroller, though, it probably wouldn't be that cumbersome. They do fold up quite small, and you might even be able to strap it to your backpack when it's not in use.

I live up in Khao Lak (just North of Phuket) and this is a very family focused town, so we see lots of the little'uns running around. The stroller is a nice idea, but the roads, sidewalks and stores just aren't up to the task. It becomes unwieldy.
Plus you can head jsut away anywhere with the carrier.

I vote for the carrier too--the sidewalks can be a nightmare--on off on off. If you do go for a stroller, get one of those really portable thingies that is extremely light and cheap.

Hi,
I vote baby carrier.
i lived 3 years in Bangkok, although we didn't have kids... although we will next Thailand trip... July next year...
The pavements in Thailand even in Bangkok are very uneven and jagged, and there are people all over the place... and there are market stalls that invade the footpath...
Getting around would be hard with a stroller... the best way to negotiate BKK is by Skytrain (or the underground) and there are few stations with elevators to help disabled people or parents with strollers. The stairs are it. And to cross the crazy traffic infested roads, you need to use the overhead walkways which again only have stairs (some quite steep).
I did see one place in Thailand that is stroller friendly... we went back in January and stayed at Krabi. Ao Nang has sensible pavements and there were lots of tourists with small children and strollers... but everywhere else would be hard.
Alison

I like the backpack too. But you need to be prepared for two things:

1. weight - a 20lb baby and a 10lb backpack get very heavy after a couple of hours. Much heavier than a backpack because the tot is constantly moving around, shifting the weight balance off. You use a lot more energy than you think.

2. How long will your child be able to sit? My son, at 1 year liked the backpack, but by 1-1/2 hated it. Tried to backpack in Great Smokey Mountain National Park and it was a disaster. 4 miles into a trail was no place for a hot, tired-of-sitting, toddler. Oy!

That being said, because of the road conditions, and lack of sidewalks you might experience outside of the city, I would recommend the backpack carrier.

going with the carrier! spent hours online and found the one i want, lightweight with a sun/rain hood. the resort we're going to first has a nice walk along the beach to the nearest village so no go for a stroller.
thank you everyone for your great advice! 6 days to go!!

This might have been suggested (haven't read thru the responses). We just traveled for four weeks to Europe with our youngest being 7 months and we used a sling. I have about five slings but I found the fleece one I have to be most comfortable. The one day we left it at our tent in Rome we were miserable...it enables me to have both hands free.
The one I suggest is from www.kangarookorner.com.
Mine is five years old but I suspect she is still in business.

Three years ago I carried my 22 month old (at the time) around in it for a month while in Ukraine and Prague.

Love it!!!
Neve

Oh, Mamoo, you sound just like us! We never even bought a stroller, pram, ( or even a crib for that matter) and loooove slings. I do not know how moms live without them.

Of course, mine was walking at 6 m and running faster than me at 9m, so we did not use it that long as I believe in allowing kids that can walk be allowed to do it as much as they want. Mine wanted to walk a lot and still enjoys VERY long hikes with her dad.

We used a sling some though, even after she was walking and it was real handy when she slept, if we were moving. She could nurse as we walked and I could stand in line at a grocery store, or whatever, ( with both hands free) and no one would know.



I never used a backpack carrier because I had read that they can be dangerous as babies have fallen out ( although I have had friends that loved them). I guess I also just liked being able to see her at all times in front of me and I like the close skin to skin, heartbeat to heartbeat contact.

There are so many great slings and we used several at different stages or times. The baby bundler was one of our favorites.

With baby number one I did buy the huge SUV "pram" I even sniffed out an umbrella to match. I think the thing has left the garage only 5 times for walks. The monster can't even fit in my SUV

I do love my slings!!!!! I preferred different type slings at differnt times though, which is kind of funny and I can't explain why. Maybe it's age but now I need the tight fleece one, my pretty brocade ring sling just isn't comfie on me anymore.

quote:

I preferred different type slings at differnt times though

Me too! I am glad friends gave me a bunch. My favorites were the new native and the bundler, but there was this other one that worked well for a while too ( can not remember its name).

Someone gave us one of those baby bjorns too, but I did not like it and neither did my baby. Finally we got a tiny bit of use out of it (facing out ),once at a zoo when she was around 9m, because it did not hurt hubby's back like it did mine.

Of course she was running around most of the time that da
y, but at least it got used...tho it still looked brand new when we sold it.

Hello friends.I feel that baby stroller is better when compared with baby carrier.I always carry my Hauck shoppper 7 stroller along with me when ever I travel with my baby.

We had twins and a twin stroller is HUGE - which probably influences to my response... BUt we found backpacks perfect for travel with our babies! Both me and my husband carried one backpack and we were good to go. We even climbed up Mount Sinai when the boys were one!

We made sure we got the really good backpacks with a good suspension system - allt hat weight on your shoulders gets to be a drag after a while. And we got the ones with a sun cover, a seat belt to hold the kid in, and a zip-off day pack. They also had a duffle bag that fit in under the kid´s feet so we could take off for a weekend with just the two packpacks - everything the four of us needed fit int he two backpacks!

A stroller is gonna be some extra weight. You get the wheels, but it is much more bulky. Kokopax makes a great lightweight backpack at a little over 2 1/2 lbs and it fits in airline overhead bins.

http://www.kokopax.com/home/onlineretailers.aspx