The places you’ll go with a standing child carrier
Posted by Amanda from Houston New Mom's Blog on 18th Apr 2019
Toddlers are funny little people — especially when it comes to adventuring. They want to be in the thick of things, but they don’t always have the skills to be there, and if they do have the skills, they maybe don’t have the stamina or sense of danger that’s required.
That reality came home to roost during a recent trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park outside of Amarillo, TX. If you haven’t been out that way, you definitely should. It’s the second largest canyon in the US — the Grand Canyon is the biggest — and it is gorgeous.
It’s also pretty rugged.
While Handsome was fine in his carrier, Little Bit decided he wanted to walk on his own — and he refused to hold hands — which was fine for the first 10 minutes, but quickly became a problem as the trail got a little more adventurous and a little closer to the edge.
And my three year old got a little more tired.
It wasn’t long, and my husband was carrying Little Bit on his back, and then his shoulders, and then his back until we finally turned around.
But, before we turned around, our adventure in Palo Duro Canyon State Park had been pretty amazing. The boys were fascinated by the prickly pear cactus and the colorful hoodoos, and nearly lost their minds when a roadrunner jumped out of the underbrush in front of us.
Going on outdoor adventures with kids can be awesome, but it can also be pretty challenging.
One of the biggest challenges is figuring out how to carry them while still allowing them a sense of independence and ensuring their safety. A great solution is the Piggyback Rider® — the world’s first and only standing child carrier for kids ages 2 and up and weighing under 50 pounds.
A solution to adventuring with toddlers
The story behind Piggyback Rider® begins with Wayne, Jonny and Bryan Lifshitz. With eight children between them, the brothers had done their fair share of carrying kids, and quickly realized there had to be a better way.
“We couldn’t find anything on the market to help with all the ‘heavy lifting’, explains Bryan Lifshitz, Managing Partner at Full Sail International, LLC, the parent company of Piggyback Rider®.
Despite having no knowledge of how to bring a new product to market — and living in three different parts of the country — the brothers set about creating a safe, mutually enjoyable and effortless standing child carrier for an adult to carry a child on their back — a modified approach to a traditional piggyback ride that would avoid putting too much strain on the parent’s shoulders and back.
According to Bryan, the first design was based on military backpacks the brothers cut up and reworked using rope, metal rings and PVC.
“They worked great,” he says, “but the safety features were not there.”
To solve that issue, the brothers developed a comprehensive safety system that included a child safety harness, a sturdy non-slip aluminum bar, hand holds and bar-tacked seams.
“We tested the standing child carrier prototype with our own children,” says Bryan, “but we could only move forward once our wives had approved everything — the product and the business plan.
“We say the Piggyback Rider® is Dad-Invented,” he laughs, “but Mom-Approved!”
Better experience for the whole family
The Piggyback Rider® is the ultimate solution to adventuring with toddlers. After all, as parents our goal is to make every trip enjoyable for everyone — and that’s a lot harder when our toddler is waffling between wanting to walk, wanting to be carried and wanting to be pushed ad nauseam.
“Whether you’re negotiating about using a stroller, a carrier or something else, you should both be happy,” says Bryan. “But, often that’s not the case — someone didn’t get to do something they wanted to do. They didn’t see the elephants at the zoo, or the parade as it passed by or —from the parent’s point of view — they weren’t able keep their toddler a safe distance from the edge of the cliff.”
The Piggyback Rider® goes a long way in eliminating those issues. The standing child carrier allows the child to see better and from a perspective they’re not used to seeing. There’s nothing between them and the elephants at the zoo, or the parade as it passes by, for example.
“Standing in one place is never fun,” says Bryan, “so allowing your child to pick blueberries, apples or even just a leaf off a tree they wouldn’t normally be able to reach — or making sure they see the special event happening right in front of you even if you’re not in the front of the crowd — lets your kid see what’s going on in the world.”
This height advantage also keeps them more engaged and involved, according to Bryan.
“The unique position provided by the The Piggyback Rider® means your child’s face is closer to your face,” he explains. “You can hear them better, and communicate with them easier — avoiding the game of ‘what did you say?’ that’s so familiar for most of us.”
And the ease of use means your child can get off and on at different exhibits which is fun for them and — thanks to the Piggyback Rider®’s unique standing child carrier design — not a hassle for you.
“The Piggyback Rider® makes holding your child so much more ergonomic than traditional ways of carrying or holding your child,” Bryan explains. “You don’t have to hold your toddler in an awkward way or become uncomfortable with the side carry or traditional piggy back ride — hunched over, arms locked behind your back while you’re either being chocked or your ears or hair are being grabbed and used as handles.”
Better safety while out and about
Whether you’re maneuvering through a crowded amusement park or exploring a natural wonder like the Palo Duro Canyon, safety is always a top concern when adventuring with toddlers — and a concern Bryan and his brothers recognized when they were designing their one-of-a-kind toddler carrier.
“With the Piggyback Rider®, you always know where your child is — especially in crowds and in dangerous situations,” says Bryan. “They’re still on your back.”
No more worries about your toddler getting too close to the edge of a cliff, touching things that shouldn’t be touched or running off in search of a solo adventure.
And, unlike with strollers, a child riding in a Piggyback Rider® will never get spilled on, tripped over or even stepped on.
No limits adventuring
When Wayne, Jonny and Bryan first conceived the idea behind a standing child carrier that would become the Piggyback Rider® they wanted a carrier that would go places strollers couldn’t, and allow parents and their toddlers to bond over adventures — whether those adventures took place in far off lands, the local park or the backyard — safely, comfortably and easily.
Bryan is a happy to say the product they created does all that and more.
“There’s a Dr. Suess book titled, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!,” he says, “and it talks about all the places and things that can happen to you in a lifetime. We see those same possibilities with the Piggyback Rider® child carrier.
“We’ve had people use the Piggyback Rider® on international vacations, weekend hikes, and going to the mall or grocery store,” says Bryan, “We’ve had stories about standing in DC watching President Obama’s inauguration, women’s marches, and a sports team’s title parade. There’s so much that can be done — even things as common as yard work or cleaning the house — which is where it all started in the first place.”
How the Piggyback Rider® works
Remember when you were little and your parent gave you a piggyback ride? You were hoisted up on their back, wrapped your legs around their waist and arms around their neck and set off on adventures. The Piggyback Rider®standing child carrier basically recreates that experience — only in a safer, easier and more comfortable way for both parent and child.
The carrier has two parts — one worn by the parent and the other by the child.
The parent wears a backpack-like harness to which is attached a sturdy non-skid aluminum foot rail for the child to stand on. It can be adjusted depending on the height of the child.
The child wears a crisscross Child Safety Harness that’s tethered to the parent’s harness near the shoulders, and prevents the child from leaning back too far and falling off.
When it’s time to start adventuring, the parent attaches the tethers, the child steps onto the foot rail and off they go — at an adult pace instead of a toddler’s pace.
“The Piggyback Rider® is just like a traditional backpack,” says Bryan. “Even though many adults haven’t worn one in a long time, you get used to it very quickly.”
And kids love it. It allows them to see and experience the world in new and exciting ways, while staying close to mom or dad where all the best memories are made.
Making memories
Since the first Piggyback Rider® rolled off the line in 2010, the Lifshitz brothers have heard from countless other families who’ve made wonderful memories while using the product they invented. From mountain hikes and amusement parks to busy airports and serene beaches, the Piggyback Rider® is making it possible for both parents and toddlers to make every adventure an enjoyable one for everyone.
The multi-award winning and viral sensation, Piggyback Rider® standing child carrier backpack is a compact, lightweight child carrier for toddlers 2-4, up to 50lbs that creates a mutually enjoyable, effortless way to carry a child on your back, replacing bulky backpack carriers and strollers. Standing firmly on a shoulder-strap mounted bar, with integrated grab handles and safety tether for security, children love the height advantage and rest.
The sturdy, unisex design functions like a standard backpack, distributing the child’s weight at your core enabling a natural upright posture. Dad Invented, Mom Approved, parents and kids are engaged in active transport with the Piggyback Rider® backpack carrier. The durable, built-to-lasPiggyback Rider®er child carrier will be the last piece of kid gear you need to buy.
Thank you to Amanda from Houston New Mom's Blog for writing this awesome piece on us. Find the original blog here...https://houstonnewmoms.com/the-places-youll-go-with-the-piggyback-rider/
