A harness for carrying small children on the shoulders of an adult includes a belt of adjustable length worn at groin level fitted with at least one closing buckle, two bands to be wound round the ankles of the child and two chest straps of adjustable length, similar to braces, that join the belt to the two ankle bands. These latter can be fitted with Velcro strips or with straps each with a buckle to adjust the degree of tightening. The chest straps have two sections joined by a buckle to allow for adjustment. The upper end of each chest strap is stitched at the center. The lower end may be of different designs in accordance with the various ways of connecting it to the belt in one way two sets of stitching are separated by a central spring-catch buckle another way features connection to a central plate in yet another, connection is made by snap-closure hooks and rings.