Child Carrier Guide / Minimum age
Minimum age and weight for a hiking child carrier, by manufacturer
Osprey, Thule and LittleLife list a minimum age of 6 months for their hiking child carriers. Deuter lists about 9 months. Osprey, Thule and Deuter also require a child who sits upright without help.
Minimum age, minimum weight and wording by manufacturer
| Manufacturer | Minimum age | Minimum weight | Manufacturer's wording |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey (Poco, Poco LT, Poco Premium) | 6 months | 7.3 kg (16 lb) | "Do not use carrier with child less than six months old." "Do not use carrier if child cannot sit upright unassisted." |
| Thule Sapling | 6 months | 7.3 kg (16 lb) | "The child must be 6 months old and be able to sit up unaided." |
| Deuter Kid Comfort models | about 9 months | Not listed | "Suitable for children from about 9 months. The child should be able to sit upright independently." |
| LittleLife | 6 months | Not listed | "Suitable for ages: 6 months - 3 years" |
Sources: Osprey: Poco and Poco Premium owner's manual (PDF at Aventure Nordique), Thule: Sapling instructions (PDF), Deuter: Kid Comfort product page, LittleLife: Voyager S5 product page.
Minimum age and minimum weight together
At 6 months, the WHO standard puts the median girl at 7.3 kg and the median boy at 7.9 kg. A girl on the 15th percentile weighs 6.4 kg at 6 months. That is under the 7.3 kg minimum that Osprey and Thule list. Both limits apply, so a baby can meet the minimum age and still be under the minimum weight.
| Weight at 6 months | 3rd percentile | 15th percentile | 50th percentile | 85th percentile | 97th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHO girls | 5.8 kg | 6.4 kg | 7.3 kg | 8.3 kg | 9.2 kg |
| WHO boys | 6.4 kg | 7.1 kg | 7.9 kg | 8.9 kg | 9.7 kg |
Source: WHO: weight-for-age expanded tables, girls and WHO: weight-for-age expanded tables, boys.
Sitting rule
The sitting rule is the manufacturers' own. Whether a baby sits steadily enough for a carrier is a question for the carrier's manual and the child's doctor.
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.