Baby carrier

Right close to your body

Suitable for babies and infants from about 3.5 kg – for “Back carrier for children” see here

It’s hormones that have the greatest influence on people’s emotions. This applies particularly to the close proximity between young parents and their baby. Evolution has created a perfect chemical basis with the love and bonding hormone oxytocin. Mothers and fathers have experienced it all themselves. If possible, they’d keep their baby close to them all day long. Perhaps that’s also why baby carriers play such a literally supportive role in many young families.

Enhanced bond between parent and child

As well as being extremely practical, they also enhance contact to the child while out and about. Children love being really close to their parents - this makes them feel safe and secure. Carrying their babies right up close to their bodies also gives fathers a unique opportunity to create a strong bond with their child.

Adapted to child and user

But even young babies already weigh a few kilos so that the wrong carrying aids can mean torture for the user's back. It is therefore very important when selecting the right baby carrier to pay attention both to the position of the child and also to the comfort aspects for the parent doing the carrying. As so often where the back is concerned, here again the baby carrier has to be adapted to the user, and not vice versa. Adjustable straps or different fits are just as important as the baby carrier itself being light in weight: after all, who willingly wants to carry more than necessary? The strap system must be wide enough and well padded to minimise the pressure on the shoulders.

Positioning of the baby

In terms of comfort for the child, the most important thing is to ensure that the child can be positioned in the carrier system safely and easily. After all, the system will only be put to frequent use if it is easy and fun to handle. A baby carrier must allow the baby to sit in what is known as the frog-leg position* which is so important for healthy development of the hips and spinal column. Furthermore, the leg sections must also be well padded on both sides. Another important aspect is to have an adjustable head support that gives the child a clear view of its surroundings.

Selecting a baby carrier system that complies with the following points will result in an all-round feel-good package for parent and child. Both the child and your back will be grateful.

Hint:
Do not carry your child in the same position for a longer period of time. Children temporarily absorb environmental stimuli and also process them unconsciously. From around the 5th month, they also develop more and more interest in the environment. Therefore, observe what your child signals to you: Does it kick joyfully and look interested? Does it turn its head away or cry?
In order to protect the little ones from sensory overload, carry your child temporarily facing you.

So it is important to

• Enable alternating postures - for postural physiological development.
• Allow temporary environmental stimuli - for brain physiological development
• Isolating stimuli - for processing, rest and relaxation.

*When you pick up a new baby, it automatically pulls its legs up. This natural position is known as the frog-leg position that allows the child to practically sit on the hips of the person carrying it. The child’s legs are bent at an angle of 90 to 110° in the hips and spread between 30° and 55°, depending on the age of the child, girth of the person carrying the child and the carrier system. As far as possible, the legs should not be brought together as this in combination with the nappy results in a “lever effect” in the hip joint that can cause dislocation.

The most important criteria for the user

• Various fits or adjustable harnesses can adapt the baby carrier to the different body sizes of the adults involved.
• It should be possible to carry the baby in front of the body and also on the back, unless the stretcher is designed exclusively for newborn. These are only carried in front of the belly.
• The baby carrier itself should weigh as little as possible (about one kilo): it must also be safe and easy to put the carrier on and off again.
• An adequately wide and well padded system of straps measuring at least six or preferably eight centimetres in width helps to reduce pressure. The harness system must also carry the child close to the body and keep it firmly secured.
• Any compression and tensile forces generated by the weight of the child should be distributed by the carrier system in back-friendly fashion across the shoulders, torso and pelvis.
• All adjustments must be possible without needing additional tools; it should be easy to replace and wash the textiles, which must naturally be free of pollutants.
• Unmistakable handling elements and easily accessible pockets for storage round off the ideal baby comfort carrier.

The most important criteria for the child

• For babies, a comfort carrier should be both comfortable and ergonomically designed. Newborn babies grow quickly, so that it helps if the comfort carrier adapts to the child’s development status. Various solutions are available from different manufacturers, such as inserts for newborn babies or other possibilities of adjusting the actual carrier system.
• Make sure that the frog-leg position is warranted by the carrier system. This is important for healthy development of the child’s hips and spinal column.
• A head and neck support is necessary from about 3.5 kg until the baby can hold its head up safely (about 5 to 6 months).
• The leg sections should be padded on both sides to relieve pressure.
• The washable textiles used in the carrier system ensure the child is always sitting in an ideal climate.
• Folding headrests should ensure the child can have a clear view to take notice of the surroundings.

Minimum requirements

• Adaptable to baby and user
• Suitable for carrying in front of the body and on the back
• (Exception are comfort carriers for newborn, these are carried exclusively before the belly)
• Low carrier weight
• Safely put on and off
• Harness system (possibly with additional hand loops)
• Warranted frog-leg position
• Pressure-reducing padding for the legs
• Optimum sitting climate
• Clear view forwards for the child
• Easy to handle

Also appropriate

• A rain cape to offer protection from wind, rain and snow.
• Bags that offer easy storage options

Ergonomic and comfort for wearer and baby