Baby wearing is amazing, you snuggle that teeny little baby, and everybody is snug and happy.  Then, one day you realize that that teeny baby is a big, wriggly toddler.  A toddler that wants to run, jump, play, and at times, maybe even kick you.  I sat for two days trying to figure out how to approach this post and I couldn’t come up with anything.  Then, this happened:

I had to go grocery shopping, it had been almost two weeks and we were eating like crap because we didn’t have much for food around.  Charlie only napped 30 minutes today.  I thought I planned so well, considering.  I stopped, got us Subway, went to Walmart.  Worst grocery trip ever!!!  2 1/2 hours later, and the absolute only thing that kept me from really losing my mind with Charlie was babywearing.

I thought, after today, I want to share a few tips to make your outing with your toddler a little more enjoyable.

Stay hydrated.  You are carrying a bigger kid in there, your body will be working harder, and you will likely be thirsty.  Be sure you and your toddler are both well hydrated.

Listen to your toddler.  Mostly, this is just something I really enjoy about wearing my kids.  Maggie is hilarious to talk to, and she will point out so many things that we see.  It’s fun to see things from the same perspective and hear how she interprets things, or what she is excited about.  Charlie is just as much fun because I can see what he is pointing at and {trying to} talk about.  It provides wonderful one on one time for us.

Wear lightweight clothing.  I am always warm anyways, but adding another little body to my back keeps me warmer still.  I like to wear layers, take off the sweatshirt while I’m wearing my kids, then put it on when I’m done.  Let’s face it, your body temp changes a ton when you suddenly don’t have a 20 pounder on you.

Make it your style.  Okay, so you don’t have to do this, but I really love some of the prints Action Baby Carriers has.  I fell in love with the Canyon print right away, it’s gorgeous, and I can use it with a boy or a girl.  Not to mention, the different hues of blues and browns that make it look earthy, which is very “me”.

Be comfortable and have the right carrier.  Your toddler isn’t the same as a newborn.  Be sure your carrier is designed for your child’s size.  Action Baby Carriers give you the option to purchase the toddler carrier that is designed to be higher and wider to fit  larger children.  We received the toddler Canyon carrier {for review} and it is designed for 15-45 pound kids.  I’m pretty sure that Maggie will graduate high school before she hits the 45 pound mark!  The toddler carrier is 3″ taller in the back, and 19″ across the seat to provide maximum comfort and safety for your toddler.  The seat of the carrier will reach out to their knees to keep them comfortable longer.  Because the toddler carrier is used more for a back carry, as opposed to a front carry, the shoulder webbing is narrower for a tighter, more comfortable fit.

The hood on the carrier is longer than on the original Action Baby Carriers so that it fits over your tall toddlers head.  I love that it has such a pretty look to it, whether the hood is up or down.

Action Baby Carriers are able to be adjusted to fit your size, whether you are a 7 year old, or a 6 foot guy.  Adjust the carrier to fit you by loosening or tightening the straps under the arms, around the waist, and the chest strap.  The chest strap can be adjusted for whatever width you need, as well as up or down to allow you and your toddler to be comfy.

The 4″ waistband sits comfortably, while adjusting from 28″ to 53″  Because the padding reaches around 27.5″, it doesn’t feel like a strap is rubbing around your waist.  The waist buckle is very large, and secure to ensure your child is safe.  The webbing is one piece sewn throughout the entire carrier because safety is #1.  And, an added bonus, Action Baby Carriers are made in the USA!

There is so much I love about wearing Maggie and Charlie and it has made my life a million times easier when we have things to get done.   Charlie loves to run off, but I can generally keep him happy, and contained so he doesn’t dump over the display at the store {this happened} or worse yet, run away where I can’t see him.  He’s close and safe.

Happy toddler-wearing!

What is your favorite thing about wearing your toddler?  What tips do you have?  What Action Baby Carriers print do you love the most?

Right now, you can win an Action Baby Carrier of your own through October 21st, 2013.  Or, you can take advantage of this 10% off coupon code through November 15, 2013 – opoe5gabc7f.

*I received the above mentioned product for the purpose of this review.  All opinions are 100% my own and only influenced by my experience with the product and company.*