MiniMeis G4, Dark Grey - Lightweight Child Shoulder Carrier - for Kids 6 Months to 4 Years Old

Pros: construction, stability, design, ease of useCons: a bit of discomfort by putting your kids weight high up, need for good shoulder posture, being in decent upper body shape is a major plusThis thing is right up there with my Osprey pack in terms of quality, intentionality of function, and thoughtful design.I saw some of the bad reviews before I bought, and I'll address the issues simply:You need half-decent posture to use the MiniMeis for an extended period. For reference, I have a 15month old, about 25lbs. Over a few days, we've done several 1-2mile hikes, as well as going up the stairs at Seven Falls, Colorado. The MiniMeis worked wonderfully, but you are putting that weight high up on your back, and youre gonna feel it in your chest and shoulders.It's best if your kiddo is leaning all the way back, and for everyone I imagine there will be a different sweet spot of where to rest the pack.I saw complaints about the seating space, which are ridiculous. There is no seat, not really. There is a bit of padding for your child's hamstrings to rest against, but mostly once they are up there they're meant to lean back and sit. My child was perfectly comfy up there, even taking a nap during our hike!The MiniMeis has thoughtful design in the way it folds up for storage into the included bag, and as it folds up you can unzip a little pouch that has a shoulder strap. There is also included a small pouch on the shoulder with a mirror so you can check on your kiddo!I was able to set the pack up, lift my child into it, and get everything strapped just fine by myself. I also bought the separate sunshade, which works really well and simply too!Bottom line- pack works great, but your kid is still on your shoulders, it doesn't magically take away any discomfort but definitely secures them for hands free day-hikes.

My 18 month old was a little hesitant at first, but as soon as we were out and about he loves being up high and able to see everything! He’s so expressive and excited up there. It’s super secure on my shoulders and it’s nice not feeling like I need to hold him up there, I can keep my hands free. My shoulders were a little sore after a 45 minute hike, but not the fault of the carrier, I’m just getting used to having the weight in my shoulders for that long!

Well, they got me. I was inundated with social media ads for this unique, fun-looking contraption so I finally caved and bought it for my 12 month old. I had visions of strolling through the farmer’s market or art festivals with my hands free and my baby gleefully smiling above my head. Nope.First, the instructions are pretty nonexistent, especially if you want to try the shoulder straps to provide extra security for your little one. My guy’s a preemie so I wanted him secure. Well, those shoulder straps are for miniature humans, not reality-sized humans. They were so tight and yet at the same time oddly loose. And to hook them up you have to twist the strap in the back which just looks cheap.Then, try getting this thing on and getting your baby up there unassisted. Yeah right. I hope you have good insurance. It took two of us. Me, wearing the thing and sitting on a chair, and my wife, shoving the squirmy baby in and trying to hook him up.The part where the baby sits his butt is comically small. The instructions say not to have the baby’s butt between the material and your skin, but the space it provides for their butt is like 1.5 inches wide. Again, miniature alien species might fit their butts in that space, but no human baby. And this thing claims to go up to age 5–hahahaha!Once I finally wobbled myself to a standing position, the carrier never felt secure. I tightened all the straps and watched all the instructional videos to no avail. You have to stiffen your neck and basically hunch over while wearing it. Not exactly the sexy, carefree look you want when out and about in town.And like others said, it hurt to wear this. The baby wasn’t secure even with the waist strap. The leg straps kept riding up to his thighs or falling down off his toes, so they did not provide a sense of safety or security. So think loosey-goosey baby on your head with a painful device digging into your shoulders, and straps pulled so tight you can’t take deep breaths. Fun times abound. Not.We got duped by the happy parents strolling through the woods with big smiles in the social media ads. Our experience was nothing close to this. We returned this the very next day and will settle for the stroller or our baby bjorn until another company finds a way to make this concept workable.Sigh.

We bought this shoulder carrier for our autistic child, who loves being held or riding on our shoulders. It has been a game-changer—especially for longer outings or events.This carrier has truly saved my wife’s shoulders and back. It provides great support, distributes the weight well, and makes it much more comfortable to carry our child for extended periods. Our kiddo loves it, and it gives us peace of mind knowing they’re secure and happy.The only minor downside is that it’s a bit bulky, but that’s a small trade-off for the comfort and support it provides.Highly recommend for any parent in a similar situation!