Patent ID: 8590757

Claim:
A child carrier adapted to be worn by a human wearer for carrying a child, the child carrier comprising: a waistband comprising a padded section, the waistband having an adjustable length positioned to be securely worn about the waist of the wearer and rest on the hips of the wearer; a flexible main panel having, a bottom edge and opposing side edges, the flexible main panel adapted to form a child carrying area in cooperation with the wearer's torso that is open to the wearer's torso the main panel having the bottom edge joined to the waistband, the main panel so dimensioned to overhang the waistband to form a sling adapted to support a majority of the child's weight through the child's hips and thighs; a first shoulder strap having an adjustable length forming a loop along a first of the opposing side edges, wherein an upper end of the first shoulder strap is coupled to the main panel to a first side of a vertical axis of the main panel and a lower end of the first shoulder strap is coupled to the main panel away from the bottom edge of the main panel to the first side of the vertical axis of the main panel; and a second shoulder strap having an adjustable length forming a loop along a second of the opposing side edges, wherein an upper end of the second shoulder strap is coupled to the main panel to a second side of the vertical axis of the main panel and a lower end of the second shoulder strap is coupled to the main panel away from the bottom edge of the main panel to the second side of the vertical axis of the main panel; wherein: the width of the bottom edge of the main panel is greater than a distance between the upper ends of the first and second shoulder straps; and the child carrier is adapted to allow the wearer to selectively support the child in a position facing a front side of the wearer's torso or in a position facing a back side of the wearer's torso, wherein the upper ends of the first and second shoulder straps are coupled to the main panel at a position that is on a side of the child carrying area that is away from the wearer when the child carrier is worn and wherein the child carrier is configured to distribute at least a majority of the child's weight to the wearer's hips through the waistband.