There are a lot of great options for baby and toddler wearing, but if you’re looking for something suitable for a preschool aged child you’ll find that the options are slim! Thankfully, the Baby Tula preschool carrier will meet the needs of most families looking for options for bigger kids.
Of course, kids have to outgrow carriers at some point, but as most parents know, a preschoolers’ endurance is, well, limited. If you’re planning on going hiking, exploring a new city, or navigating quickly through a large airport, it’s nice to have the option to conveniently and comfortably carry your four or five year old when their little legs inevitably get tired.
Baby Tula is one of only a handful of brands that design carriers for older children. It’s designed for kids that weigh 35 to 70 lbs. We took it on our trip to Colorado to test it out! Here’s what we found.
User-friendly
We took the Baby Tula preschool carrier on a few hikes during our trip to Colorado. Our oldest is 5 and while he’s certainly capable of walking, he gets tired pretty quickly. Our goal with the carrier was to have something that’s easy to stuff into a hiking bag so that we could pull it out once the “I’m to tired” phase hit. Which, honestly, happened way earlier than we were anticipating — at about .5 miles into a 3 miles journey.
We love that the Baby Tula preschool carrier is lightweight and can roll up easily to fit into a hiking bag. It’s got a pretty simple design so it’s easy to throw on to your shoulders, strap your kid in, and go!
User friendly score: 5/5 stars
Design
Overall, the simplicity and beauty of the design is very well done! It provides for easy transport, comfortable wearing, and ease of use. The only thing we wish was different was the sternum strap. You will need to adjust this strap for comfortability and while it is adjustable, it can be a little tricky because it doesn’t slide very easily.
Design: 4/5 stars
Comfortability
Baby Tula preschool carrier has a wide support panel for both the back and the shoulders, which means it’s comfortable…even when carrying our very tall, 45lbs five-year-old! He was also very comfortable in the carrier.
However, I’d say the 3 mile hike with a soft-framed carrier was probably the limit on the comfortability. By the end of the hike my husband, who carried our son, was starting to feel a little the strain on his back. If you plan to do longer hikes or longer urban excursions, consider a framed carrier which provides more back and shoulder support.
Comfortability score: 4/5 stars
Durability
This carrier is very well made! It’s thick and sturdy, giving it an overall quality feel`. Plus it’s made from cotton so it’s easy to throw it into the washing machine when needed!
Durability: 5/5 stars
Value
At $179 it’s not the cheapest carrier on the market! However, if you’re looking for a carrier that has a wide range of use — from hiking, exploring a new city, or just everyday shopping — we think you’ll get your money’s worth! And considering how durable it is, this carrier will last for years.
Value: 4/5 stars
Storage
A huge plus with child carriers is the extra storage they can provide — more places to stash your cell phone, snacks, or wallet really comes in handy when exploring with kids. The Baby Tula preschool carrier does have a small velcro pocket on the back perfect for a few items like a cell phone or keys. We wish the pocket was zippered though — that would provide more security! We also wish it was in a different location; it’s on the back panel which easily gets covered by the kid’s bum, making it not super accessible.
Storage: 4/5 stars