As your baby grows, it may become necessary to use more than one type of baby carrier. The sling is great for newborns that like to be held close in the cradle position. It is easy to get on and off. However, the sling is supported by only one shoulder, which isn’t ergonomically ideal. The mother can switch shoulders, but that can feel a little awkward due to right or left-handedness. The sling can also be used when carrying a toddler or older baby on your hip. But, as your baby grows, the one shoulder carry position tends to overuse and strain muscles. I am right handed and found it most comfortable to carry the sling over my left shoulder. After experiencing sore and overused muscles in my left shoulder I tried switching to my right shoulder…not an easy adjustment.
The baby wrap carriers solved this problem for me. Having the weight distributed across my back and over both shoulders was amazing. My baby felt lighter. The wrap is comfortable for the wearer in that it crosses in the back and offers symmetric support to the body. It offers one size fits all just by its nature. Nursing your baby in the wrap is simple and discreet. Once tied on you can leave the wrap on your body and take your baby out and put her back in if necessary. The options for positions are limitless in that mothers come up with their own ideas for the best position for themselves and their babies. As my baby grew I also felt the baby wrap was more secure and offered more ergonomic options for carrying an almost toddler. Your baby is in a womb-like environment with the wrap and will sleep for extended periods.
Once your baby can go to the back position (generally around 9 months) the mei-tai baby carrier becomes a great option. The front and back carries are both simple and comfortable for mother and child. With your baby on your back it becomes easier for you to do things in the front…cooking, laundry, vacuuming, bending over to garden, whatever you need to do. With the mei-tai front carry, the straps cross in the back, which gives support and comfort for the wearer. The back position has the straps coming around the shoulders (like a back-pack), which can pull and be uncomfortable after longer periods of wearing. There are Mei-Tais that have padded shoulder straps that offer a little more support. A Mei-tai provides holds for infants, but they don’t seem to hold the head in positions as well as a baby wrap or a soft structured carrier with a hood. Your older baby will still enjoy the front position (facing you) for nursing, sleeping and snuggling and the wrap seems to give the best support and comfort for mom and baby in the front carry. Finally, as your baby grows into a toddler there is still the need for carrying. My daughter still goes in her baby wrap at 2 ½ years old. She loves to snuggle, nurse and still naps in her wrap.
When she is awake and playful, but still wants to be carried, I use a soft-structured carrier to wear her on my back. At 30+ pounds I don’t get the support that I need from the mei-tai carriers. The soft-structured baby carriers offer more waist support and many adjustments to help support your toddler in a way that is most ergonomically correct for you. The extra clasp that links the shoulder straps together is extremely important to use for taking pressure off the shoulders. These carriers sometimes offer infant inserts for carrying young babies, but seem to be best suited for older babies and toddlers. With lots of padding in the shoulders and hip belt this type of carrier can be worn for extended periods of time. Many of them also have pockets in a few places for carrying extras such as money, keys, water bottles, etc.
I am not saying you need to have four carriers to enjoy carrying your baby and to do it successfully. Much depends on the length of time you will wear your child. I would carry my daughter for 3+ hours some days and for that I could only recommend the wrap (especially for naps) and the soft-structured carriers. The baby wrap also seems to be my daughter’s favorite…probably because she is the closest to me and can nurse and sleep with ease while in it. The most important thing about baby wearing is to do it! If you are unfamiliar with baby carriers it all can seem a bit overwhelming as far as usage and different positions. Practice and perseverance is necessary for all carriers. Lugging a car seat on your arm or pushing an unruly stroller doesn’t get easier…but lovingly carrying your baby in a carrier does.
*Note: Some parents place their baby in the forward facing (legs hanging down) position. This position does not offer the maximum support for your baby’s spine. A baby’s spine should have a c-shaped (convex) curve which naturally occurs when they are facing you with feet in a frog-like position. The forward facing upright position forces all the weight of the baby on the hips and crotch area. Even facing your baby forward in a Buddha like position (with their legs pulled up in front of them) in the sling or wrap will make the person carrying the baby try to compensate for the awkward load, subsequently placing additional stress on the carrier's back.
by Rebecca Staron (©2009 NAP, Inc.)
© NAP, Inc. All rights reserved.
