5 tips to carry a baby and not die trying
Carrying babies instead of carrying them in a chair is becoming more and more popular, but it is easier than it seems, you just have to follow these tips.
Carrying a baby is something that in principle should be innate in moms. However, if we don’t do it right, it can have negative consequences for both us and them. We leave you with five tips to carry a baby and not die trying.
Index
1. DON’T CARRY YOUR BABY FACE OUT
By carrying the baby in this position, they do not support their feet: by hanging down, neither their spine nor their hips are supported, so they can end up developing problems such as hip dysplasia. The baby’s back is arched, putting unstable pressure on his back. On the other hand, this position exerts unadvisable pressure on the baby’s groin, and by not supporting the head and neck, it can lead to positional asphyxia : as it does not yet have control over the movement of the neck, the chin it falls down, pressing against their throats. Finally, this position makes thermoregulation difficult, since in the position of flexion towards the mother or father’s chest, heat is preserved much better than when the baby is out with the chest exposed.
In addition, it is more difficult for the wearer, since it is always more natural to carry something that hugs your own body. We end up arching our own back to compensate for the weight, causing low back pain.
2. FIND THE MOST SYMMETRICAL POSITION POSSIBLE FOR TRANSPORTATION
Spreading the weight is something that will help us to have greater control of the baby and also to avoid back pain. This type of system is called ergonomic carrying, which basically helps to integrate the baby’s weight with the carrier’s center of gravity, since there is a distribution of weight between hips and shoulders, thus achieving that the muscles of our torso are more balanced.
For this reason, the most inadvisable is carrying with a shoulder strap. Try to use this ergonomic carry only when you are going to carry a short time or we see that our little one will demand to raise and lower the arms very frequently. If the baby falls asleep when we have him in the sling, try to change shoulders frequently so as not to overload.
3. MORE CONTACT SURFACE, LESS PAIN
A simple trick that can save us more than some pinching is to spread the fabric of the baby carrier for as much contact surface as we can. If, for example, we use a shoulder strap or scarf, we must try to move the fabric away from the neck and spread it over the back and shoulders. In the case of ergonomic backpacks, the lower the strip that connects the back straps, the better.
4. DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
There are things that by common sense we would not do while carrying our baby. However, there are others in which you may not have fallen. For example, swimming is prohibited while carrying . There are baby carriers for water, but they are designed only to enter the water, without more, they are not designed to perform swimming movements.
It is also forbidden to carry the baby while riding a bike . There are approved transport systems for this, such as car seats or trailers. And always, always, always wear a helmet.
Finally, the happy theme of sport . Here we always find some controversy, but the truth is that the baby carriers to use are not designed to withstand sudden movements or blows. This will hurt your back and possibly your baby’s as well. For some specific sports there are specialized baby carriers: yoga, hiking or dancing are some of the most recommended activities to maintain the line while taking care of your little one.
5. A CARRYING SYSTEM FOR EACH AGE
It would be great if the same carrying system would be valid for the entire childhood of our baby … but it is not like that. The child is growing and we have to change the transport system for his sake and ours. Thinking of buying only one type of baby carrier until the age of three would be like thinking of buying only one pair of shoes, it does not make any sense! There are three basic types according to their use.
On the one hand, we have the scarf . The wrap is versatile, and since there are different lengths, it can be used from newborn. The trick of the scarf is the knot that is made to hold the baby. For example, when it is newborn we will use the enveloping cross, the kanfuro or the double cross. For slightly older children, the “kangaroo behind” technique is recommended. When the baby is already bigger and we need to distribute the weight in a more ergonomic way, it is best to use the cross backpack, triple cross or double hammock systems. As you can see, it is a whole world, but there are many tutorials on YouTube that will explain how to tie the different knots. In any case, having the advice of a professional porter never hurts.
The ergonomic backpack has two variants . On the one hand, we have the one that is rigid or not adaptable. We will only use this until the baby knows how to sit up by himself, up to 9 months maximum. On the other hand, we have the backpacks without the preformed backrest, which have seams that allow creating a curvature in the backrest to accommodate the baby’s buttocks. These backpacks are less advisable because, due to this characteristic, it is more difficult to achieve the frog position. We also have the muchilas-scarf, a highly recommended option for transporting our newborn baby. The maximum recommended weight in this case is 14 kilos.
Lastly, we have the mi-tai . The mei-tai is a baby carrier system that is traditionally used in Asia and we have adapted it to the Western way of life. Without a doubt, it is very similar to rigid backpacks in its usefulness and use. Perhaps one of its most flattering aspects is that they are very aesthetic: we can get it in a wide variety of fabrics and colors. In the end you will want to buy more than one!
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.