How to Choose a Baby Carrier
Baby carriers make it easy for busy parents to multi-task while keeping their baby soothed. Carriers, which vary in style from frontpacks to slings to backpacks, not only leave y our hands and arms free to get things done but also help fulfill a baby's need for movement and touch. With so many different styles to choose from it can be confusing, but evaluating your lifestyle and your baby's personality can help you make a decision.
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Instructions
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Consider Your Physical Needs
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Decide who will be using the carrier most frequently. The type of carrier you choose will depend on what type of activities you plan on doing while carrying your baby and how much weight you can lift with ease. Men often find it easier to use outward-facing frontpacks or backpacks while many mothers prefer slings or inward-facing frontpacks for their ease in and out of the house.
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Choose a comfortable carrier. No matter what type of carrier you select, try to take it for a test run around the store--either with your baby or with a facsimile (doll). The baby carrier's cloth should be soft and non-chafing, the framework should be light enough to carry easily and the straps and baby seat should be padded.
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Select a carrier that will accommodate your infant's growth, both in it's ability to carry additional weight and in its ability to adjust to new positions. Slings tend to be very flexible and accommodating, but other baby carriers typically have a upper weight limit and may not adjust to allow for a baby who can sit up or hold up her head.
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Check the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's website for recall information before making a final decision (see Resources below). The agency keeps an updated list of all baby product recalls and the reasons for them.
Select the Type of Carrier
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Consider a baby sling if you have a premature infant and/or are breastfeeding. The sling is the most ancient form of a baby carrier. It allows a baby to be cuddled close to your body in a variety of different positions, provides privacy for public feedings and can be adjusted to fit even the smallest of babies. A premature infant can benefit greatly from the way a sling swaddles tightly, moves with the rhythm of your body and gives her a chance to be soother by the sound of your heartbeat.
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Choose a frontpack for your older baby. Though this type of carrier can be used to hold small babies, it's best suited to for an infant who can hold his head up independently. A frontpack also gives a baby a variety of different views of the world. He can be turned inward toward your chest while sleeping or fussy or face the world head-on when you carry him with his back to your belly.
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Invest in a backpack carrier if your family is active and outdoorsy. The carriers are designed for babies who can sit up without assistance. They have a lightweight, tubular framework with a fabric seat in which your baby can sit upon your shoulders. Many backpack carriers are designed to be used for hikes and have small storage spaces for snacks and other baby supplies.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're unsure how to use a particular type of carrier, ask an experienced parent to help you learn to use it. It's important to be able to put the carrier on quickly and safely. If it's too hard to figure out, it's probably not the right carrier for you!
Carriers with large leg-holes can present a danger for small infants. Little babies can slip down crookedly in the carrier and put undue stress on their hips. Make sure your baby is big enough for the carrier.
