When kids get tired from walking, they often end up on their parents’ shoulders. “The downside is you have to hold them and your hands get occupied,” says Julius Winger, a father of three who invented MiniMeis, a lightweight, foldable and ergonomic shoulder carrier that is comfortable for both parents and kids. The MiniMeis comprises a seat with a backrest and a system of straps to attach the child securely to the parent. Unlike front or back carriers, it distributes the child’s weight squarely over a parent’s center of balance and kids as old as 5 can ride with an unobstructed view. At $149, it’s similar in cost to other carriers, and parents are jumping at the opportunity to free up their hands; in three years, the company has grown from 7,000 sales a year to 15,000 a month online and in Europe, and the carrier is expected to hit U.S. stores this winter. —Emily Barone
Buy now: MiniMeis