Cedric Brown will appear in court on Thursday after he allegedly carjacked a young mother's ford focus whilst her two toddlers were still in the back.
He is charged with two counts of kidnap and other offences after he dragged a woman from her car then sped away with her two young children still strapped in the back seats, West Midlands Police said.
It is alleged that the 44-year-old, of no fixed address, carjacked the young mother's Ford Focus in Somerset Road, Erdington, at around 11am on Tuesday in an attempt to escape pursuing police officers.
He was arrested a short time later and, after being questioned by detectives, was last night charged with robbery, two counts of kidnap, and possession of a knife, a police spokesman said.
He will appear in custody at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.
The two children - a one-year-old boy and his sister, aged two - were unhurt and later reunited with their mother by police officers.
Two other men arrested nearby - a 19-year-old from Perry Common and an 18-year-old from Bromford - have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Sergeant Nicholas Barnes expressed relief at the time that the children were unscathed.
"Thankfully, neither of them was hurt and we quickly reunited them with their mum who naturally was extremely relieved," he said.