In reply to JoH:
in my experience the needs of the carrier change rapidly as kiddie grows.
At six months, sleeping loads and not too active longer days are more feasible. By 18 months toddlers are more restless, which is more tiring on your back and they complain more as they want to walk themselves. Also much more capable of throwing themselves about and tipping the thing over when it's stood on the ground.
We have littlelife voyager now which is the mutts IMHO but very similar to bushbaby,macpac etc. Vaude seemed especially heavy and the legs are of limited use re tipping over (see above).
'All weathers' is tricky as all the rain covers are very claustrophobic and my boy cries when the front cover is closed, doesn't mind the sides. But it is in their face and mists up etc so perhaps an umbrella would be better.
We also have an older mothercare jobbie which has fold out wheels so converts to a buggy. this has proved excellent cos there is normally an amount of footpath/roadwork involved, also doesn't tip so kiddie can sit in when you get to the pub/cafe. We visited the cafe walking back from the mer du glace Mont Blanc once and the french were amazed to see a buggy turn up there - even more amazed to see it fold up and get carried off. The suspension system wasn't the best but cos you push them some of the way it was less important.
