There is a lovely balance that you need to find when you are walking with toddlers or children up to the age of 5. That is that you want them to spend most of the day actually walking - however the nature of the game is that sometimes you have gone too far, and then you have to carry them back to the car.

This is where our OBI really comes into its own. At that point, rather than put Jacob or Nathan on my shoulders ( which is what I used to do ) they have the choice of walking or coming in the belt. Of course they always choose the belt!

I though I would share just such a perfect walk from here in Alaro in Mallorca. Up in the mountains there is a little town called orient set in a valley. If you drive past the village after about 5 minutes you come to a sheep farm set in a wood. Park the car there and you will find a path sign posted for Santa Maria.

The first part of the walk is along some fields but then you quickly come to a wood path which is lovely. Then for the big suprise....at the end of the wood path, over a gate you find a river flowing through the top of the mountains which ends in a stunning set of waterfalls. These are not normally flowing in the Summer ( they need about 4 days of solid rain to get going in the autumn ) but even without water they are a lovely place for children to play in the smooth rock.

The walk takes about 25 min there, and 25 min back, so ideal for toddlers and young children, but slip one of our baby carriers into you bag just in case they run out of steam.

A baby carrier is one of the great products for making life with a newborn baby that bit easier. Useful for outings when pushchairs are too impractical, perfect for keeping baby close when you’re doing chores and ideal for comforting baby when they won’t settle. But how do you choose the right baby carrier?

Why use a baby carrier?

The advantages of a baby carrier are numerous and only fully appreciated when you start using one. For baby, a carrier keeps them close to the parent and helps them to settle, particularly useful for a baby who dislikes being put down. For the parent, not only do you have the added security of having your little one close, you’ll also be hands-free allowing you to get on with other tasks.

When transporting your baby, a carrier ensures they are kept warm in the winter months and covered from the sun during the summer. A baby carrier also removes the hassle of pushing a pram up and down the high street or struggling with it around a busy shop. And as baby gets older, being transported in a carrier means they can interact with you and the people around them while getting a good view of the big wide world.

When can you start using a baby carrier?

You can begin using a baby carrier from birth. For the first three months of baby’s life you’ll need to use a carrier that allows your baby to face you. This will keep them in close contact giving baby reassurance from the sound of your heartbeat and providing plenty of protection and warmth.

From three months, baby can be carried facing forwards so they can start to be involved with their environment. When baby reaches six months and is able to support themselves, you can use a back carrier or hip seat.

What type of baby carrier should I choose?

The three common types of baby carrier are the Front Carrier, Back Carrier and Hipseat. When buying your carrier, there are a few things you should consider:

Comfort and support for baby

Your newborn baby can’t support the weight of their own head so you’ll need a carrier that supports their neck and back correctly. The best position for comfort, support and development of your baby’s pelvis is in an upright carrier which spreads the baby’s legs wide apart. The seat, arm and leg holes should be cushioned for added comfort.

Comfort and support for you

Your comfort and safety are equally as important when choosing a baby carrier as you’ll be bearing the weight. A baby carrier should have wide adjustable straps to keep baby held high and tucked in close. This is the most supportive and comfortable position for you both. The carrier should distribute baby’s weight evenly across your back and torso.

Ease of use

The baby carrier you buy should reflect the needs of parent and child. An inward facing carrier will be suitable for the first three months but then you’ll want baby to face outwards so does the carrier allow both positions? If you’re moving around the house and need to put baby down, does the carrier allow for easy detachment without having to undo buckles, poppers and straps? Is the fabric easily cleaned or machine washable?

Types of baby carrier

Now you’re armed with some knowledge of what to look for in a baby carrier, let’s explore the three popular types.

Front Carriers

From 0-12 months front baby carriers are ideal as they keep baby close to you while moving around the house or on a shopping trip. A front baby carrier provides the right support to baby’s head, neck and back and the right support and weight distribution for you. We used a baby bjorn for all of our kids.

Back Carriers

When baby reaches six months, they’ll be able to support themselves so you can consider buying a back carrier. Back carriers are best suited when you have some long walks ahead of you such as on a holiday or day out. They allow the child to be completely supported even when asleep and are ideal up to 2 years. Since the original solid frame carriers these have become a lot more produced, but for me the original is still the best. Lightweight, rigid and strong, it can double up as a seat for feeding the baby or toddler.

OBI baby carrier

When you dont want to carry your baby all the time but would prefer them to be walking then our OBI baby carrier really comes into its own. It means that you are not carrying around a bulky backpack carrier just our compact bag ( probably on your waiste with our clip ) or inside a rucksack, and you can take it out and use it just as you need it.

HIP carrier

In these carriers the child is sitting supported on your hip. This can be very useful for short times allowing you to talk on the phone or stir the cooking - however for extended periods it can produce back ache as the spine is not set straight.

As with any type of baby carrier, always inspect your OBI Baby Carrier for damage before using and follow all instructions. Never perform any task that could be dangerous with your child in the OBI Baby Carrier. Use common sense! Always double check that the buckles are connected properly. Never unbuckle the waist belt while the baby is in the carrier. If you are starting out with babywearing, do so over a soft surface such as a bed, sofa or carpeted floor covered with a blanket.

By purchasing this product, you acknowledge that the Manufacturer or Distributor accepts no responsibility for injury/damage due to the use/misuse of this product. Your child's safety is your responsibility. Be sure you have help getting your baby into and out of the OBI Baby Carrier until you become comfortable with it. Please observe the following while wearing your baby:

Please support your baby with a hand or two while you and your baby are getting used to the sling. You and your baby will become more comfortable in time and you'll be able to free one or both of your hands. Please, DON'T GIVE UP! Babywearing takes practice just like all other parenting tasks. You can make the process easier by making sure that baby is fed, rested and happy before you try the carrier the first few times. Also, be sure to pull the top rim of fabric up to cover the entire back of your baby to avoid a "backdive." Never wear your baby when cycling or riding in the car. While cooking at the stove, use only back carry position. A sling doesn't substitute for a car seat. When bending, please bend at the knees, not at the waist, and hold the baby with one hand while reaching with the other. Never drink HOT beverages when wearing baby, although your sling will come handy for eating, especially in restaurants.

Write a blog post about a cool walk for toddlers or children together with a photo of your child in the OBI baby carrier and we will enter you into our November competition where you can win a brand new obi - . you can then have 2 obis of different colors, or give one away for christmass to a friend you have in need!

The multi lingual sections of the site are now on line so you can find out about the OBI belt even if you only speak spanish or german.

Hello everyone -

After much planning, tweaking and consideration, we have set up a community section of OBI users. The primary aim is to share tips and hints about the obi, travelling, walking ....anything that you think is useful for other people to know.

If you have any questions about how to use this then just write to me, martin watts , on martin@obi-baby-carrier.com.

Best Wishes,

Martin Watts