Babywearing is an ancient practice that has been done for a long time. Different colours, shapes and patterns have been passed down from generation to generation from ethnic groups and tribes to modern societies. Asia’s and Indonesia’s babywearing culture has rubbed off on the West. However, many urban moms wonder “What should I look for when choosing a baby carrier?” when their natural habitat is the urban jungle instead of the real one.
Besides the obvious benefits of keeping your hands free, research shows that young babies in carriers fussed and cried less. Also, skin-to-skin contact has been shown to strengthen the bond between parent and infant. In addition to this, a baby carrier is very practical for breastfeeding.
In spite of their many perks, many of them are not completely harmless for both mother and child. Hence, knowing what to look for in a newborn carrier is crucial.
Ergonomic Padded Shoulder Straps
sourse: babygadgetlist.com
One of the first concerns that come to mind is the load you’ll be carrying. Although a sweet one, it can affect your posture, fatigue and general mood. As the importance of this topic won’t tone down anytime soon, researchers have been trying to find the design that will make the baby carrying experience as enjoyable as it should be.
One study analysed and compared the features of a front-worn harness baby carrier with the traditional sling style. In addition, the front worn-harness could be a classic type with no extra padding or a newborn carrier with ergonomic padded shoulder straps. These are the 3 most common types of baby carriers. The traditional sling is usually made out of 100% cotton while the front-worn infant carriers were made out of polyester.
As it turns out, a classic non-padded baby carrier produces the highest shoulder pressure and while the padded produced the lowest peak shoulder pressure. Logically, the baby weight effect, a higher baby weight caused higher shoulder pressure and peak shoulder pressure which is why it’s recommended to start wearing your baby on the back when it reaches 12-13 kg.
When using padded infant carriers, the upper trapezius muscle (the triangle-shaped muscle that spreads out from the base of your neck, across your shoulders and to the middle of your back) showed higher activity than using the other two baby carriers meaning that a baby carrier with padded shoulder straps could release and even out the pressure in the shoulders, thus, providing a more comfortable carrying experience.
In the muscle usage aspect, the traditional baby sling had a similar performance to the two front-worn harness carriers. Even so, when the participants of the study were asked which of the 3 types of baby carriers made them feel tired after usage, the newborn carrier with padded shoulder straps was declared as the least fatigue-causing.
In addition to shoulder pain, many parents experience back pain. The forward-facing position can cause stress on your lower back and pelvic floor, leading to back pain and even urinary incontinence, especially if you have an old injury or had surgery. Still, you can swear your baby in a carrier as long as you choose one that distributes your baby’s weight evenly across your hips and shoulders or one with a lumbar support waistbelt.
Even so, parents still come with the complaint: “Why does my baby carrier hurt my back even after I’ve changed it?”. The most common reasons are a loose or ill-fitted baby carrier or positioning your baby very low. Choose one with buckles on the front for easy adjustability.
Cushion Materials with Effective Heat Transfer
source: thetopmoms.com
In order for a newborn carrier to be called ergonomic, it should not only have larger and wider padded shoulder straps but the fabric and cushion materials should effectively transfer heat. This is especially important for women as research has shown that both the abdominal skin temperature and average heart rate rise more while using a baby carrier. Thus, proper regulation of body temperature is very important for a comfortable experience.
A front-harness baby carrier produces a higher while the classic front-harness and the baby sling produced lower upper back skin temperature. This would indicate that padded shoulder straps do increase skin temperature and a meshed fabric or the single-layer cotton sling might be more suitable for warm climates.
Luckily, nowadays you can buy baby carriers made with a breathable 3D air mesh panel. Cooler for both you and your baby, this newborn carrier is ideal for warmer temperatures or for those leading an active lifestyle in spite of its padding. Also, some even have clever foam cutouts in the waist belt and lumbar support create airflow where it matters most.
Gender-Specific Newborn Carriers
When using a front-harness baby carrier, men use both their upper and lower back muscles more. Contrary to males, females use their belly muscles. Baby carrier design should be focused on relieving the upper back stress in males and lower back stress in females.
Interestingly, it’s been found that dads who carry their infants in a newborn carrier have higher activity in their amygdala. The amygdala is our integrative centre in the brain for fear and emotions. This indicates that spending time in physical contact with the infant may inspire focus and attention in dads and thus, an accurate perception of their baby’s signals and state. Interestingly, fathers with more adverse childhood experiences were more responsive than others.
Soft baby carriers could enable an adaptive transition to fatherhood and designing male-appropriate baby carriers will not only take some weight off their shoulders but also their chest.
Hip-Healthy Positioning
source: mothercare.com.sg
Did you know that in Australia 8 infants a day are diagnosed with hip dysplasia? In spite of this, the chances that the parent is aware of the condition prior to diagnosis is only 57%.
As a ball and socket joint, the hip is more likely to be loose during the first few months of life. Hip dysplasia can happen either when the socket is misshapen or when the hip is dislocated. Forcing a baby’s hips in the straight stretched-out position too early can deform the edges of the socket or cause the ball to slip out of the socket altogether. As it’s not painful, a hip dislocation may go undetected until adulthood when it’s already too late and it’s manifested as painful arthritis. Hence, taking care of your baby’s hips is very important.
So, what is bad for babies hips? First and foremost, being stretched out during infancy in a position opposite of the fetal one. This would mean holding the legs brought together and straight in extension with the hips and knees stretched out. The risk to the hips is greater when this unhealthy position is maintained for a long time.
The healthiest position for a baby’s hips is apart to the sides, with the hips and knees bent and supported thighs. This position is known as the M-position, jockey, straddle, spread-squat or human position. It allows for free movement and promotes natural hip development.
So, when you’re trying to find which baby carrier is best for baby hips, look for one that doesn’t only include multiple carry positions but is also specifically designed for the hip-healthy “M” shape position.
Hassle-Free Maintenance
source: freeyork.org
No matter how adorable, our bundles of joy are still messy. Also, no matter how practical and convenient modern baby carriers are, a spill will happen eventually, especially when breastfeeding. Hence, you need something that’s low maintenance: easy to clean and quick to dry.
Can baby carriers be washed in a washing machine? You bet they can be. Polyester dries ultra-fast and it can easily be cleaned with a wipe as well, for those little spots and phases in between washing cycles. Choose an infant carrier that allows for easy and discreet breastfeeding and a tuck-away baby hood that not only offers privacy but also sun protection.
