The Half Buckle carrier or sometimes called a hybrid carrier has the same padded waist as the full buckle carrier, it helps redistribute the weight of your child to your hips and away from your shoulders. This carrier has long straps much like a traditional Mei Tai that you wrap around your body and child and then tie to secure it. One of the major benefits to this are being able to tie the straps in various ways to help offset the weight of a heavier child. Another great thing about the half buckle is that wearers of vastly different sizes will find it just as comfortable to wear because they will be able to tie the straps in various ways to suit their body style. The half buckle may be more comfortable for some wearers using the carrier in a front carry because there will be fabric straps going across their back rather than the webbing from the full buckle. One of the other great benefits to the half buckle is that it can be worn with a much younger child because the straps can be crossed over the baby's back much in the same style as a Mei Tai, this provides the needed back support and narrows the gap at the edge of the carrier.
Body Sizes
We offer two sizes for our carriers so that you can choose the size that will best fit your needs. Some children prefer to have their arms out of the carrier while others prefer the snuggled in feeling of having their arms in. As a general rule, an average sized child will fit in the 16 inch body with their arms in until around 16 months. After that they can still ride safely and comfortably in that same carrier, but will be tall enough to have their arms out. The larger 18 inch body size is more suited to larger, older children that still would like to ride with their arms in. With my two boys, pictured at 1 1/2 and 3 years old, both can ride in the 16 and 18 inch bodies. With the 16 inch my 1 1/2 year old can snuggle his arms in if he chooses, or can ride with his arms out. My 3 year is of course riding either way, he can still get his arms in the carrier, it is just shorter on him. In the 18 inch body my younger son can only ride with his arms in, and is quite snuggled down inside of the carrier. My older son can ride with his arms in or out of the carrier but prefers to have his arms in. Both carriers are suitable for as long as you are comfortable carrying your child, it's mostly a matter of preference on the part of the child.
The standard 16 inch body is on the top, the extended 18 inch body is on the bottom. In these pictures Nathan is 18 months old and 30 1/2 inches tall and Trey is 3 and 36 1/2 inches tall.
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