An infant carrier or sling to hold your baby close – and keep your hands free – can greatly help a new parent, especially when other children are in the house demanding your attention. But, there are a few things to know when using these carriers.
Dr. John LaCount, a pediatrician with St. Elizabeth Physicians’ Florence office said most babies enjoy the comfort of being close to their parents in a sling or carrier and they can also make breastfeeding on the go easier.
Sling carriers – which are often used to carry a baby in a cradled position – are an option that many babies seem to love because it is a comforting position and is similar to being snuggled in your arms. For safety, ensure the baby’s head and neck are straight and their face is turned away from your body and is free from the sling’s fabric so they can breathe easily.
An easy tip to remember: make sure you can look down and see your baby’s eyes and mouth – and that they can see you. The baby also shouldn’t be in a curled position where their chin is compressed against their chest which could lead to suffocation, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
Other carriers hold an older baby more upright. Be careful using a carrier early on that positions the baby’s hips in an unnatural position such as forced together or dangling straight down which can center the baby’s weight directly on the hips and impact hip development.
With the larger, backpack-style carriers, older babies and toddlers can get a view of the world from your eye level. LaCount recommends being aware of how the child is strapped into a carrier and making sure they have what amounts to a five-point harness to hold them securely in place, particularly with the backpack carriers that keep them up high by your head. He also suggests a sunshade for the child if you will be outside with your carrier.
LaCount has a warning for the parents’ health: Don’t strain your back with the backpack-style carriers typically used with an older baby or toddler, who are getting heavier. Make sure the weight is distributed to your hips so you aren’t carrying all the child’s weight only with your back.
Whatever carrier you purchase, stick with the manufacturer’s recommended weight guidelines.
