Baby carrier or sling for babies?
introduction
Around two thirds of parents in the world carry their children on their bodies. After the pram was increasingly used in the 19th century, this tradition declined. In the western industrialized nations, however, an increasing use of slings has been observed again since the 1970s. The advantages of wearing on the body are, among other things, that the child feels security through the physical proximity and can be taken to many activities without having to be ignored. What should be considered with a baby carrier or a sling is then discussed in detail.
When can my baby go into the carrier?
As a rule, there are manufacturer specifications that indicate the age from which the baby can use the carrier. With some baby carriers, the baby can only be carried in a baby carrier from the third or fourth month of life. In principle, however, it is possible to carry the baby in a sling or a carrier immediately after the birth. Correct posture and stability of the head are important here. There is a newborn insert for many carriers, which compensates for the small size of the baby. However, it is more advisable to use a sling after the birth as the baby sits more securely there. The baby's head and neck are also adequately supported with the sling. The baby should be tied to the stomach with a view to the mother.
Newborn insert - how do I attach it?
Some neonatal inserts have two tabs on the sides that allow them to be attached to the straps. First, the newborn insert must be placed in the carrier, then the straps are attached to the straps. In some cases, the seat reducer or newborn insert is already integrated into the baby carrier and only has to be folded out. As a rule, a push-button system is used to attach the seat reducer. Many inserts also have an adjustable head and neck support, which should be adapted to the size of the baby. Then the newborn insert should be firmly in place and the baby can be placed in it. The exact instructions for attaching the newborn inserts are usually also included in the instructions for use of the baby carrier.
You can also read more about specific diapering techniques: How do I swaddle a baby?
Will my baby get air when it is still very small?
Some parents have concerns that the baby will not be able to breathe if carried in a baby carrier or sling. In particular, because the mother's face is so close to the mother's body, it is feared that breathing could be impeded. However, it has been shown by medical studies that the baby is always supplied with sufficient air and oxygen, even when transported in a baby carrier or a sling. The age of the baby does not play a major role here, as the newborn insert brings the child into the correct height and position. In principle, however, you should ensure that the baby's nose or mouth is not covered with the mother's clothes or fabric. You should also be particularly careful if the child has a cold and generally gets less air as a result. As a rule, two fingers should always fit between the child's chin and the mother's chest.
Are slings better than baby carriers?
There are individual advantages for both slings and baby carriers. It cannot be said in general which of the two options is the better. You can say that a baby carrier is more comfortable to carry thanks to the padded shoulder straps and the padded hip belt. Especially when the baby gets a little older and reaches a higher weight, the carrier is more comfortable in the long run. However, the sling may be a little more cuddly for the babies, as the babies are almost completely wrapped in it. A counterpoint with the baby sling is that it takes time and practice to attach and swaddle. As a rule, tying the sling takes about two to three minutes, while putting on the sling only takes about one minute on average. With a sling, however, the sling adapts to the child's body and there is no need for a seat reducer or similar. used to properly position the child.
If one assesses the influence of the two variants on the health of the child, there is actually no winner to be named. The prerequisite is, of course, that the sling has been wrapped correctly. It is important that the baby is in the "squat-spread position" (the legs are slightly crouched and spread sideways so that the legs form an "M"). The baby carrier is easier to use in this regard. On the other hand, a sling is very easy to stow due to its flexibility and can be easily transported. In summary, it can be said that the choice between a sling or a baby carrier is a matter of taste. Both variants have various advantages and you should try both and form an opinion. If you feel overwhelmed by the wrapping techniques of the sling, you should perhaps resort to the carrier, as nothing can usually be done wrong with the position of the child.
What are the pros and cons of carrying it on your back or stomach?
Eye contact with its parents is very important for the baby because it receives facial feedback and can communicate with its parents in a certain way. Especially in the new, unknown outside world, eye contact with the face has a calming effect on the child. For this reason, it is often advisable to carry the child on your stomach where possible, where eye contact is possible. In principle, it can also be said that the child should not be carried with a forward-facing look when carried on the stomach. On the one hand, this is due to the overstimulation to which the baby is exposed. On the other hand, this posture is said to be harmful to the child's hip joints, as the legs only hang straight down in front and cannot assume the desired "squat-spread position".
One advantage of being carried on the back is that you have more freedom of movement in front of your body, you are less restricted by the baby on his stomach. However, one disadvantage of carrying it on your back is that you cannot see the baby. If you carry the child on your stomach you can immediately see if something is wrong or the baby is not sitting properly. It can therefore be said that carrying on the stomach has more advantages, especially with smaller children. For older children, however, carrying them on your back is advantageous, as you don't have to be as careful and the height of the child is less of a limitation.
What options do I have as a twin mom?
Carrying babies as a twin can get more complicated, but there are a few good solutions for this too. If the babies are still very small, it is possible to wrap both in an elastic sling. Both babies are wrapped in a cloth next to each other in front of the body. Due to the small body size, this is quite possible, the children get bigger, but must be switched to other systems. For example, a child can then be transported on their stomach and a child on their back. Alternatively, you can tie the sling on the side so that the babies sit on the side of their parents' hips. It is also possible to use two baby carriers. However, the many hip and shoulder straps, which are usually well padded, may be a nuisance. There are also special twin carriers where only a couple of shoulder straps are attached to two carrying devices.
Baby carrier in winter - what protection is there from the cold?
The baby can also be transported in a carrier in winter. However, to ensure that it does not freeze, a few points must be observed. First of all, there should be as few layers of clothing as possible between the baby and the parent. As a result, the baby gets a lot of body heat from the parents and is warmed by it. So it's best to carry the baby under your jacket. However, this requires a jacket that is sufficiently large. If you don't want to get a special jacket, you can simply use an XXL jacket, which can also be closed over the child's body. Alternatively, there are so-called carrying jackets or carrying covers.
The babywearing jackets have a device that can be closed over the child (usually at the front). As a result, the jacket also keeps the child warm and it is close to the parents' body. The babywearing jackets can also be put on like a normal jacket without being used for a baby.The carrying covers are only attached around the baby and have a warming and often water-repellent function. This gives the baby its own jacket, so to speak. You should still check regularly that the baby's feet are warm enough. If the baby is cold, this is the quickest place to notice it. In order to keep the baby's legs and feet warm, there are also so-called “baby-gyms”. These are placed over the baby's legs.
Which carrier should I use so that my child's gaze is directed forward?
So that the children can look forward, some manufacturers have developed carriers that carry the child in a forward-facing sitting position. The child is carried on the parents' stomach and can look straight ahead. However, this wearing position is said to be very bad for the back and hips of children. On the one hand, the babies sit in the hollow back, which can lead to incorrect posture. On the other hand, the legs are not in the desired position (squat-spread position), which can be bad for the hip joints. In addition, it is often criticized that babies are exposed to a certain overstimulation. The world has many sensory impressions to offer and babies can quickly become overwhelmed by them. For these reasons, baby carriers that point the children forward are not advisable. As an alternative, the babies can be carried on the hip. Here the baby can see more than when it is being transported on its back or on its stomach with its eyes to the parents.
How long can I carry my child in a sling / sling?
It is possible to carry the child in a baby carrier or cloth for several hours a day. Carrying it is not harmful to the baby if the correct posture is observed. However, you should also take care of your own body so that the person carrying does not get back pain. As a rule, it is not common for carrying babies with the correct technique to cause back pain, as carrying them tends to strengthen the muscles of the back. If back pain does occur, a baby carrier with a hip belt is helpful, as the weight is distributed over the hip through the hip belt and does not put so much pressure on the shoulders and spine. It can also be helpful to change position in between, so that, for example, it is sometimes carried on the hip. In the long term, it is relatively open until when the child can be carried in a sling or a shawl. In most cases, the child is no longer carried from the age of 3-4 years, as it becomes more and more flexible and can walk better. However, it should be decided according to the child’s own feelings and the liking up to what age.
What do I do when it rains?
If it rains and you still want to go outside with the baby, there are ways to protect the child from rain. The options are similar to protection from the cold. Here, for example, the carrying cover is used again. When it rains, this is pulled over the baby carrier or sling and thus surrounds the baby. There are covers that are water-repellent and can therefore be used as a rain jacket for the child. These rain covers usually also have hoods, so that the children's head is also protected. Alternatively, you can go out with a babywearing jacket when it rains. This primarily protects against the cold, but also against rain due to its water-repellent properties. Alternatively, of course, a very large rain jacket can be pulled over the parent and child. If you do not have the mentioned equipment at home, an umbrella should also be sufficient to protect the person carrying it and the child. Of course, it must be ensured that only one hand is free afterwards and certain activities can only be carried out to a limited extent.
Wear for hiking
If you want to take the child with you on a hike, you should make sure that the head and neck of young babies are adequately supported. By hiking in partly uneven terrain, there is a lot of movement. Since newborns are difficult to support their own head, it is important that the baby sits securely in the sling or that the baby carrier is equipped with an insert and a headrest. As soon as the child has good head control, a child carrier designed for hiking can also be used. These are also called "Kraxe". The advantages are that the person carrying the baby sweats less because the ventilation is more guaranteed than with a sling. In addition, particularly good padding on the back and shoulders is a good prerequisite for long hikes. The "Kraxe" also often has pockets and additional storage space in which provisions can be stowed.
Are there also baby carriers with a Velcro fastener?
There are also baby carriers with Velcro on the market. The Velcro fastener is closed around the hips, the shoulder straps are continuous. As a result, there is no risk of the Velcro fasteners coming loose and the baby falling off. One advantage of these baby carriers is that they can be opened and closed quickly and easily. Manufacturers of baby carriers with Velcro are for example Marsupi or Bondolino.
Baby carriers are easy on the back
Carrying baby carriers or slings is not in itself harmful to the back, as the load is gradually increased and the trunk and back muscles usually adapt to the load. Nevertheless, it is important that the slings are wrapped correctly. Wrapping the towels incorrectly can lead to pain or health problems for the baby and the parents. Baby carriers also have the advantage that they usually have a well-padded hip belt on which the weight is shifted. This puts minimal strain on the back and makes the baby carrier more comfortable to wear.
