The problem: The school run. Sound familiar?

We’ve all been there. Watched our children finally gain the confidence to take those first steps, beg to walk to the local shop with you, then get bored and insist you carry them home.

Image Source: Davee Blu Photography

I walk Dexter to nursery everyday (I can’t complain as the school run is literally under five minutes). Dex is super capable and responsible on the roads and will often take his balance bike or scooter, yet Heidi (at 2 years old) is an absolute nightmare. The walk there tends to go to plan (unless she sees a cat and decides to chase it), but the walk home takes anywhere from 15-30 minutes where she’s in a strop that her brother has left her to go and play with his friends.

90% of the time I’ll find myself having to drag / carry / bundle her home any which way I can. There are screams, sit-on-the-pavement protests and tantrums. Oh so many tantrums.

The thing is Heidi loves to be carried, but she’s so heavy I can’t manage it the entire way home. Not only is it uncomfortable for her, and she’ll arch her back and make like I’ve kidnapped her, my back simply can’t take the strain.

The solution: The Hipseat from Hippychick

I’ve tried slings and child carriers plenty of times with Heidi, but am yet to find one to really suit me. I hate being swathed in fabric on a sweaty day, and big bulky backpack-style carriers aren’t exactly convenient for a quick school run.

Thankfully, once again, the guys at Hippychick have smashed it and brought about a solution to this age-old problem. Their Hipseat is a lightweight and portable solution for carrying children aged 6 months-3 years.

What is it?

Put simply, it’s a fully adjustable band (42 inches maximum, extensions available for sizes 20+) that sits atop your hips. On one side there’s a padded seat with a non-slip pad for your child to perch on. It can take the weight of heavy 3-year-olds, and is designed specifically to load-bear so your child’s weight is distributed more evenly. If there’s any doubt, the Hipseat is endorsed and recommended by osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists and health centres, and has won tons of awards to boot.

Specifically designed to address one of the root causes of adult back pain, the hipseat supports {a child’s] increasingly heavy weight from underneath. Instead of twisting the spine, the parent’s back stays straight and the child is tucked into the chest, providing comfort and security for both adult and child.

How did we get on?

I LOVE it! I had worried it would be bulky to haul around, but it comes in a cute little drawstring dust bag and the lightweight seat is actually removable too. This means you can simply detach the seat and pop it under your pushchair when your tot decides to go for a stroll.

Not only this, but it’s sooo easy to use - unlike slings, you won’t need to watch dozens of YouTube videos to get it right. You just secure it around your waist, swivel the seat into position, place your child on the seat with their legs astride if facing in, or bottom firmly on seat if facing out. The flexibility to allow your child to sit however they are most comfortable is really handy. Obviously you’ll have one arm around your child at all times, but the other is completely free to hold another child’s hand, or your handbag.

My back problems are notably improved. I’ve managed a yoga DVD every night with none of the pain or stiffness I usually get after a long day with Heidi.

The Hipseat is also fully machine washable in case of leaky nappies or long sweaty walks, and I’ve been really impressed by its durability. There’s no puckering or twisting inside the band so it’s retained its shape superbly. It’s also surprisingly comfy to wear allowing me to walk considerably longer with Heidi. My Fitbit is testament to this, and I’ve been regularly managing those all-important 10,000 steps a day.

I picked a neutral purple shade, but there’s 7 different colourways in total. Most of the colours are priced at £39.95 with free standard delivery, however the ditsy Liberty print and coffee coloured seat are currently on sale at £25.00. If you compare this to slings, that’s some 50% below the average RRP (even more so for the hipseats priced at £25.00). For something that works so perfectly and allows you better freedom of movement with your child, it’s a no-brainer.

Buy yours direct from Hippychick

Find out more

Web: www.hippychick.com / FB: @Hippychick / Twitter: @hippychick_com YouTube: @HippychickLtd