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What does a good baby-carrier look like?
-A good spread-squat-position should be possible.
-The bar of the carrier should reach from one hollow knee to the other.
-The head should be protected.
-The spine should be supported well.
-The carrier should be comfortable for the person who carries.
-Protects through a good altitude of the mother the pelvic floor,which is very important after birth.
There are different carriers for different ages.I want to give you some basic knowledge,to deside for the right carrier.
Than a baby is born,his/her spine is rounded like a C and the legs are in the spread-squat-position.A carrier should support this natural position and protect the baby like a second skin.When a baby is 6 weeks old he/she starts to raise his/her head.The 7 cervical vertebras extend forwards und upwards.When a baby is about 7 months old,he/she can sit down on its own,the thoracic kyphosis is complete.The 12 thoracic ribs and thoracic vertebrae extend up and back.Then you carry your child in this age,the back will be strait,but if your child falls asleep,his/her back will be round.
A good binded woven wrap or Sling,will support the baby the best in the first 7 months,because a good spread-squat-position and a rounded back are possible.The baby is very good protected for that a woven fabric is tight on baby`s body and the head is protected.
In the age of 7 months,there is also the possibility to use a comfort carrier.Comfort Carriers are made out of one size,they don`t support such a good spreat-squat-position,babies back is strait and the upper spine and head are not so good protected.A bigger child can hold his/her head and the back will be strait,if he/she is awake,that`s why,in this age you can use comfort carriers.
Another problem of these ready made carriers is,that the legs are to much spread apart(more than 90 degrees) in small babies,the ligaments between the head of femur and acetabular wall can get overstretched. In a woven wrap or sling,this want happen,for the babies legs are pushed inside the fat of the person who carrys her/him.
From birth on:
A woven wrap is the best carrier for your child and you,because the baby has a very good spread-squat-position,his spine and head are protected and it is very comfortable for you.If you just want one carrier for a child from birth to a toodler it will be a wrap.You can carry your child in various positions(front,hip,back) and bindings.
A Sling is very easy to use and you can wear your child in front,on the back or on the hips with it,it supports the baby very good.A Sling is also practical for a toodler who wants to walk by itself,but wants to be carried between.
A disadvantage of the Sing is,that the weight of the child is just on one shoulder.
A Mei Tai is a good choice,if the wrapping is to complicated for you.The Dyade Mei Tai has a changable bar,so that the carrier can grow with your child.You can carry in front,on the back and on the hips with the Mei Tai.
A Podaegi can be used from birth on.The front position is easy to bind,for the back position you need some pratice.But ones you get used to a Podaegi,it is a quick way to wear your child.Specially for people with shoulder problems,it is very comfortable to wear the child one the back,because the weight is on the breast and lower back/hips.
From 7 months on or than the child knows how to sit by himself:
A Comfort Carrier can be used from the aged the child sits by himself.The spread-squat-position is not so good,which causes,that the back is strait and the legs are spread to much apart for smaller babies.
The Carrier is easy and quick to use and very comfortable for the person who carries.
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