Child Carrier Guide / 6 to 12 months
Hiking child carriers for babies 6 to 12 months old
Between 6 and 12 months, two limits decide which hiking child carriers a baby meets. The minimum age is 6 months, or about 9 months for Deuter. Osprey and Thule also list a minimum weight of 7.3 kg (16 lb).
WHO weights from 6 to 12 months
| Age and WHO table | 3rd percentile | 15th percentile | 50th percentile | 85th percentile | 97th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 months, girls | 5.8 kg | 6.4 kg | 7.3 kg | 8.3 kg | 9.2 kg |
| 6 months, boys | 6.4 kg | 7.1 kg | 7.9 kg | 8.9 kg | 9.7 kg |
| 7 months, girls | 6.1 kg | 6.7 kg | 7.6 kg | 8.7 kg | 9.6 kg |
| 7 months, boys | 6.7 kg | 7.4 kg | 8.3 kg | 9.3 kg | 10.2 kg |
| 8 months, girls | 6.3 kg | 7.0 kg | 8.0 kg | 9.0 kg | 10.0 kg |
| 8 months, boys | 7.0 kg | 7.7 kg | 8.6 kg | 9.6 kg | 10.6 kg |
| 9 months, girls | 6.6 kg | 7.3 kg | 8.2 kg | 9.3 kg | 10.4 kg |
| 9 months, boys | 7.2 kg | 7.9 kg | 8.9 kg | 10.0 kg | 10.9 kg |
| 1 yr, girls | 7.1 kg | 7.9 kg | 8.9 kg | 10.2 kg | 11.3 kg |
| 1 yr, boys | 7.8 kg | 8.6 kg | 9.6 kg | 10.8 kg | 11.8 kg |
Source: WHO: weight-for-age expanded tables, girls and WHO: weight-for-age expanded tables, boys.
At 9 months, a girl on the 3rd percentile weighs 6.6 kg, under the 7.3 kg minimum. At 12 months she weighs 7.1 kg, still under it. A boy on the 3rd percentile reaches 7.3 kg at about 10 months.
Carriers by minimum age and weight
- The Osprey Poco, Poco LT and Poco Premium and the Thule Sapling list 6 months and 7.3 kg.
- The LittleLife Voyager S5, Cross Country S4 and Ranger S2 list 6 months and no minimum weight.
- The four Deuter Kid Comfort models list about 9 months and no minimum weight.
Sitting rule
Osprey, Thule and Deuter also require a child who sits upright without help. LittleLife's pages list the age range only. Each manufacturer's wording is on the minimum age page.
The manufacturer's current manual sets the limits for each carrier. A pediatrician answers questions about whether a child is ready to ride in one.