Carriers for newborns: features, tips for selection and use

With the appearance of a baby in the house, various difficulties and questions of a very different nature arise: how and what to carry the baby around the house, on the street, transport it in the car, etc. Modern technologies have allowed young mothers to solve any of the questions posed by her, having come up with a wide variety of carriers. What they look like, how to use them, how to choose the right ones and what you should pay attention to - these are the main questions that parents need to find answers to.

Features:

The life of a modern mother is very eventful, therefore it can be difficult to have time to do all the things and at the same time have time to take care of the baby. In order to be able to combine both roles, a wide variety of devices have been invented in which you can carry your child next to you. The most commonly used carrier bag is for newborns, in which they can sleep comfortably for quite a long time. This option is convenient from birth and becomes small after a couple of months, which is not very convenient for low-income parents.

A feature of the carriers is the ability to keep the child near you in any situations. It is not always convenient to take a stroller with you, especially if you need to move by public transport or go to the clinic.

A wide variety of modern carriers allows you to choose them for children of different ages, sizes and health characteristics, therefore the choice helps parents find exactly what they need with their baby.

Advantages and disadvantages

Each carrying option has both positive aspects and disadvantages. With the help of the mobility of such a device for children, you can always be with the baby. Of the advantages of carriers, we can note:

The opportunity for the child to feel the mother's warmth and heartbeat, which calms him down and makes it possible to fully develop without emotional upheaval due to the absence of his mother.
The opportunity to do household chores and have free hands, while the baby will be there.
The ability to combine a carrier and a stroller while walking. If the baby starts crying, you can reach it and distract it.
All devices for carrying children are designed taking into account the peculiarities of the structure of their bodies, therefore being in them does not cause unpleasant sensations, they are safe for the child if they were initially chosen correctly.

Among the disadvantages are the following:

A lot of stress on mom, her back muscles and spine.
The discomfort of using some options in the summer in the heat, when the baby is too hot. He may sweat, which increases the risk of a cold, or have difficulty breathing if the carrier does not fit his size.
It is not always possible to hide a child from the outside world, especially if he is tired and wants to sleep. People, cars, sunlight - all this will interfere with the baby, annoy him, which will cause a lot of crying.
Some carriers are designed to be very short-lived and will not be affordable for mid-budget families.

The development of new options for transporting newborns and older children allows parents to get more freedom, and children do not part with them even for a minute when it is especially important for them.

Varieties

From the first days, a newborn feels the need for close interaction with his mother, and when he loses this, he becomes very nervous, which negatively affects his health. It is not always possible to carry a child in your arms due to different circumstances, therefore the presence of different types of carriers is very helpful for young parents. Since children may have different anthropometric or other characteristics, as for parents, the presence of only one universal option becomes unlikely. It is convenient for someone to carry a crumbs in front of them, someone from behind, someone has strong back muscles, and someone is weak in this regard. That is why there are many variations of carry.

The main ones are:

Kangaroo backpack. The baby is placed in a special product with straps that are worn on the parents' shoulders. Externally, there may be significant differences depending on the model and manufacturer. In case of twins, there are options for accommodating two children at once.

Sling. The kid wraps himself up with a large piece of cloth and becomes attached to his mother. Such devices can be on rings, twist like a scarf, be in the form of a pipe, where the two ends are sewn. For the safety of the baby, you can make a padding pad in the head area.

Carry cot. This is a bag that fits a child for transportation in any conditions. The baby bassinet is comfortable, but after three months it cannot be used as the baby grows up. The difference from the previous options is the absence of the same close contact between the newborn and the mother.

Ergonomic backpack. In fact, this is an improved variation of the kangaroo, which takes into account the peculiarities of physiology. In it, the spine of the crumbs is maximally unloaded.

Backpack. This is a special seat for the child, which is located behind the parent's back. Outwardly it looks like an ergonomic backpack, only more advanced. There is a sun shade and an extra backpack for all the essentials. You can use it from 6 months to five years.

Hip-sit. The design resembles a lightweight kangaroo. The difference between them is that it is attached to the hips and behind the neck, and the baby sits in front of the mother with his face or back to her. As a summer carrier, it is very convenient, as it allows you to well ventilate the body of both mother and child.

The choice of the option should be made consciously. Some carriers can be used only in one variant of the child's position - only sitting or only lying down, but if it is important to combine these possibilities, you should choose a transformer. Some models of kangaroos and baby slings can be classified as universal.

If we talk about the convenience of transportation around the house, then it is best to use a cradle. In the summer, a wicker variety is recommended, which will allow the baby not to sweat and feel comfortable.

Cradle

The cradle is a convenient means of transporting a child in different conditions. The horizontal design is ideal for newborns who sleep most of the day. The structure with a hard bottom can be used not only as a manual carrying option, but also installed on a stroller, which is convenient for walking with only one parent's baby, when both transport and a child need to be brought into a multi-storey building.

Lightweight options are most often designed for babies up to three months old, and more solid ones are designed to accommodate babies 0-6 months old, that is, until the moment when the child learns to sit and does not want to lie down anymore.

There are special devices that are used to move a newborn in a car - an infant car seat. It is quite different from the simple version in that it has a reliable attachment to the car and completely fixes the little passenger in place. Some models can also be installed on strollers and used for walking.

Carrying cocoon is a special carrying option where the mattress follows the curves of the child's body, which ensures a comfortable sleep.

It is especially important to use such a device for cases when the baby was born prematurely. "Cocoon" mimics as much as possible the conditions that a newborn had before birth.

Backpack

In order to be able to quickly and mobilely travel with a child, a special bag was invented, which is attached to the mother on the belt and on the shoulders, inside which the child is landed or placed. For babies, this is not the best option, because the use of such a device is designed for children under one year old, which means that the crumb will simply drown in it and will not be in quite the correct position. To avoid such consequences, they came up with a variant of the lying position of the child, which removed all the inconveniences and dangerous moments.

You can use a kangaroo at any time of the year, since the straps on the backpack can be either pulled up or released depending on the thickness of the clothes. It is recommended to wear small children facing their mother, and for older children to turn their backs for a full contemplation of the world around them. Much more can be seen from the parent's height than from a stroller or any other carrier.

Basket

If a baby is born during the hot season, a basket is the best option for sleeping for the first months of life. It is most often made from braided fibers, which are completely safe for a newborn. The composition and other indicators will not cause any harm to the child during sleep or wakefulness.

It is convenient to use the basket in nature, when traveling to the country house or other not too distant place from home. The child will feel comfortable and the parents will ultimately remain calm.

It is best to place a moderately soft mattress inside, and close the sides with a not too dense fabric that will protect against gusts of wind, but will allow air to pass through.

Armchair

For those parents who have a good income and have their own car, quite soon they have to face the problem of transporting a child. If the trip is carried out by the whole family, then the mother can hold the baby in her arms, although this is not correct. That is why car seats were invented.

They have the correct shape for transporting a child, securely fixed in the car, hold the little passenger with belts, of which there are most often five. For convenience, there are several modes of their use - for wakefulness and sleep, which can be easily adjusted. In order to use the car seat more widely, they came up with options for installing it on a stroller or even on a cradle, which automatically shakes the baby, giving him the opportunity to fully sleep.

It is important to choose chairs according to the age of the child. There are options only for toddlers, and there are those that can be used until adolescence. Each manufacturer has its own characteristics, which is also worth considering.

When choosing a chair, it is important to see the documents for it, quality certificates and crash test results to be sure that in any situation on the road nothing will threaten the baby.

Sling

Slings are the oldest baby carriers. They appeared in hot countries. In order to be able to work normally with the child in her arms, through trial and error, the optimal option for tying the newborn with cloth was found. This method does not require large financial costs, only natural and pure matter is needed, which can be used to tie the child to the mother.

There are many options for sling now. For their design, a ring can be used, or special pockets for small things can be sewn, it is only important to learn how to put on this device correctly and conveniently place a child in it. Its advantage is that in such conditions the child can eat, sleep, look at the world that will be available to him, and all this - being close to his mother, feeling her, hearing her voice and heartbeat.

Dimensions

They may have different sizes depending on the model and type of carriers. Most often they are used for babies and are used for discharge. For these needs, the carrier should be made only of natural materials, have everything you need inside and fit the child in size. The average length is 70 cm and the width is 30 cm, which allows a newborn child of any height to fit comfortably in it.

Infant car seats will have a wide variety of dimensions depending on the age for which they were purchased. For newborns, they are usually 75 x 32 x 20 cm, which is suitable for use up to 9 months. You can buy other options, but the comfort and safety will be slightly lower.

If we talk about a kangaroo, then its size can be different depending on the model and manufacturer. Most often, the height of the backrest is 25-30 cm, but it is possible to install a headrest, which is comfortable for the newborn's sleep and the safe position of its head. The width is adjustable with straps, so you can put both a very thin baby and a larger one inside, while fixing it securely.

The sling can also come in different sizes. The maximum length of such a scarf is 6 meters. It is used by mothers of older children. Depending on the size of the mother and child, it is worth choosing the size of the sling, which is:

for a mother with a size 42-44, this is the 5th size, where the length is 4 meters and the width is 70 cm;
for size 46-48 this is the 6th size of the sling, where the length of the canvas is 4.6 m, and the width is the same;
for women of size 50-52, you should choose a sling with number 7, where the length is 5.1 meters with the same width;
for moms with sizes 54-56, a size 8 sling is suitable, the length of which will be 5.6 meters and a width of 70 cm.

The choice of carrying can be carried out according to a variety of parameters. It is not necessary to buy only one type, and if there is an opportunity, it is better to please the comfort of the child in all possible variations, this will result in the health and proper development of the baby, which is invaluable for any parent.

Colors

Due to the fact that now there is a huge variety of materials, it is possible to build baby carriers from the safest, most pleasant and comfortable fabrics. Due to the large number of allergens, it is necessary to select materials that cannot cause allergies. The soft and delicate fabric will be pleasant to the baby's skin, which will not cause the desire to get out of the carrier.

The convenience of the fabrics of portable devices lies in the fact that they try to make them non-staining so that you can easily clean up dirt of any kind, which is especially important in the case of small children.

The color variety is now striking in its variegation. You can choose carriers for a boy, girl, twins so that it reflects the inner world of the parents and shows all their love for children. Bright devices on the outside are completed with quieter fabrics inside so as not to distract the baby and not irritate his eyes. In addition to plain fabrics, various prints, combinations of textures and other techniques are also used that make carrying a real work of art, convenient for both parents and children.

Age restrictions

For each age of the baby there is the most suitable type of carrying. For the little ones, this is a portable cradle in which the child is comfortable and is always close to his parents. Kangaroos or baby slings are recommended to be used closer to six months. The sling does not have a rigid frame, therefore its long-term use can affect the fragile spine of a newborn, therefore it is best to start using it no earlier than four months.

The kangaroo is best exploited from 6 months of age, when a small child begins to sit on his own and it is not difficult for him to keep his back upright. A car seat can be used from birth, but you need to choose it correctly.

It is important that the child is reclining. Upright chairs are designed for older children. For each age there are limitations that you need to know about in order to acquire everything on time and actively use it without harming the child.

How to choose?

When choosing a cradle for a newborn, you should pay attention to the quality of the entire product, assembly, sharp corners, removable parts. It is important that the frame of the carrycot is strong and rigid, so that the back rest is on a level surface. When deciding on the dimensions, it is best to look for a wider model that will give the baby more room for movement.

Textiles used for interior decoration must be hypoallergenic, and the product frame is painted with harmless paints or varnishes. The summer cradle can be wicker, which allows air to circulate more freely in it. The price of such a product will depend on the brand, the possibility of fixing the cradle, motion sickness of the baby and other options. The choice must be made, starting from the necessary and important components, and preference should be given to the highest quality models.

When choosing a kangaroo, it is worth giving preference to models in which it is convenient for both the child and the parents, so that the straps do not press, fix well and hold the baby. The belts should be on the mother's back, and in addition also on the waist, in order to reduce the load on the spine. A roller or hood should be located under the head of the crumbs, which will help keep it in the correct position. The seat for the baby should be more than 16 cm for convenience, and on the sides of the kangaroo there should be belts that tighten the entire structure and the baby is pressed against the mother, which relieves his still weak spine.

When choosing a sling, you should pay attention to the material from which it is made. It is better if it is a double-weave scarf fabric. For the smallest, you can use the knitted version, which is more comfortable for the child himself. The option and color should be chosen depending on the frequency and place of use, and it is best to buy from trusted brands of children's accessories.

The car seat for newborns resembles a cradle in structure and is placed in the car in the back seat, securely fastened with belts. This option is much safer for the child, but after three months it will be necessary to change the device to a chair in which the baby will already sit. It is important that the place is located against the movement of the car and has reliable attachments to both the car and the child himself.

The presence of hypoallergenic materials, a high-quality frame, five-point belts with soft pads is a must for any quality product.

Operating tips

Any infant carrier should be used very carefully and carefully. It is worth watching the reaction of the crumbs in the new device. If discomfort is evident, it is worth trying a different mode of transportation. Before use, you need to check the technical condition of the carrycot, car seat, kangaroo and sling to avoid unexpected and unpleasant situations.

It is important to use the carrier correctly so as not to disrupt the physiology of the child, not to create uncomfortable conditions for him and not to interfere with good rest. The first months of a baby's life are the most important for the correct laying of the work of all organs and systems, which means that you need to show maximum attention to him at this time.

How to do it yourself?

Of all the possible carryings with your own hands, you can only make a cradle bag for the baby, in which it will be possible to transport him over short distances. The first step is to find the right material and a design drawing with the right dimensions so that the child is comfortable. During work, it is important to provide a hard bottom and side boards, put several layers of padding polyester on the bottom so that the mattress is comfortable. Do not make it too soft. The fabric is chosen not for color and design, but for quality.

Only natural options are welcome without dyes and unknown additives that will not cause any allergic reaction or discomfort in the child.

As soon as the frame is prepared and the pattern is made, the outer and inner parts of it are sewn together, and two handles are attached to them from above. It is important to especially carefully monitor how well they were sewn, because it is with the help of the pens that the crumbs will be transported. If something happens to them, it will jeopardize the safety of the child.