Having a family does not mean that you have to give up your life. If you are planning on being an active parent then you will need a backpack baby carrier.

An uncomfortable baby carrier will soon put you off going out at all, so below I have details the three most important aspects to check before you buy a backpack baby carrier.

1. Baby Comfort – Firstly, you dont want your baby to be crying. You want a happy baby who is enjoying the ride. You also want to know that if the baby falls asleep that they will be comfortable and not wake up with a stiff neck and sores from straps which have rubbed.

Tip – The backpack needs to have good padding everywhere there is contact between the baby and the carrier. There should also be suitable cushioning for the babies head for when they fall asleep.

If you are thinking of carrying a slightly older toddler, then you should check out the foot straps as these secure the babies legs, lower back and pelvis to be in a comfortable position.

2.Adult comfort – It is all well and good to have your baby comfortable, but if your back carrier is not comfortable then you will not be going far (or you will only be doing it once!)

Tip – The shoulder straps should be wide and well padded, as should the hip support. All straps should be adjustable while the carrier is on. Finally the length of the carrier should be adjustable. If the length of the carrier is incorrect the weight of the carrier will not be correctly distributed between the hips and shoulders.

3. Essential accessories – Some things are definitely a luxury, but others are essential. You do want you child getting weather beaten.

Tip – Make sure that your backpack baby carrier has good covers for wind, sun and rain. As conditions change these should be easy to fit and they should be secure so that the person carrying the child will have confidence in the safety and comfort of the child. The storage space on a baby carrier is important as you will almost definitely have to take spare clothes, snacks and nappy change equipment with you (as well as anything you may want).

I became very attached to the mirror which comes with the Bushbaby carrier. This is attached by a tie to a pocket on the waist support and allows you to check on your baby. Sounds totally unnecessary, but it is great to be able to see you baby either sleeping soundly or see them giggling as you enjoy the countryside.

Finally, a child learns more in their first two years than at any time in their life, so sharing the great outdoors with them is a wonderful start.

Find out more about backpack baby carriers….. If you want to see a selection of everything your baby will need visit http://www.greatbabysupplies.com/