In the ocean of information that is the world of babywearing , it is often difficult to extricate oneself, especially when the notions are collected through the web or social channels and therefore without the possibility of touching or, better still, trying out the different supports. Among the most popular and most controversial supports we find theergonomic baby carrier which most of the time is not "ergonomic", either because it is not produced according to the basic rules of ergonomics or because it is marketed to be used improperly. We sincerely hope that by the end of this article your ideas will be much clearer than before!

In general

The ergonomic baby carrier is a structured support . This means that it has a well-defined structure as opposed to a band, for example, which is a long rectangular piece of fabric to be tied and "structured" each time and according to the anatomical characteristics of the baby and the bearer. Basically it has a panel (a square of fabric) where the child will sit, a padded belly band that closes with a snap buckle and two padded shoulder straps that also close with a snap buckle and can be adjusted. The pouch is a quality support, easy, fast and versatile. By unloading the weight of the carried both on the shoulders and on the hips of the bearer, it can be used to carry even when the child reaches a significant weight (20 or more kg) .

Hybrid or half buckle fanny packs

The normal fanny pack is defined full buckle as it has two buckles to fasten. Today on the market we also find half buckle pouches that have only one buckle, at the level of the ventral band and the shoulder straps typical of the mei tai . This gives it the innovative feature of unloading the weight on the lumbar area and on the hips of the bearer in an optimal way but also having the personalized and homogeneously distributed unloading through the wide and enveloping shoulder straps of the mei tai.

The materials

The fabric of the pouch can be plain canvas or made using a bias weave weave, such as that used in the rigid sling. The latter turns out to be much more comfortable because, despite being very supportive, the diagonal weave tends to adapt to the weight, welcoming it rather than responding to it with rigidity. We tend to prefer organic fabrics and certified materials.

The adjustability

Within a few years baby carriers made a leap in quality and while before we could find 2-3 brands of non-adjustable carriers, today almost all baby carriers have the panel adjustable both in height and in width by means of drawstrings, Velcro or small buttons . The adjustability allows the child to always be comfortably supported along the entire back and from crook to crook of the knees.

The sizes

Also as regards the sizes, over the years we have gone from one to five different sizes :

1. Baby carrier suitable from approximately 4 to 12 months.
2. Standard baby carrier suitable from approximately 4 to 18-24 months.
3. Toddler carrier (also known as XL in Buzzidil ​​) suitable from 8 months to approximately 2.5-3 years.
4. Preschooler baby carrier suitable from 2 to 5 years.
5. One-size fanny pack . Here is a new type of pouch that welcomes all these measures put together, the one-size of the Isara The One , useful from 3 months to 5 years!

Ergonomic features

To be not only considered ergonomic but also to be used in an ergonomic way, the baby carrier should respect some essential parameters:

• It should have a seat wide enough to go from hollow to hollow of the carried knees which allows the child to maintain its physiological "M" position.
• A soft panel will be a panel that respects the baby's natural kyphosis , the "C" back characteristic of newborns. Rigid, padded and straight panels are not the best!
• The baby should only be carried tummy-to-tummy or on the back . Some baby carriers allow you to carry them on the side , even if, by discharging all the weight asymmetrically, they can be uncomfortable after a few minutes. Why not face the world? In summary, the position is not recommended for various reasons: it is not a physiological position for the hips, for the posture and for the neck; it affects thermoregulation, communication between the wearer and the patient and postural stability by moving the center of gravity of the wearer.

Carry safely

As with all carriers there are certain rules set out by the Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers which, if followed, allow babywearing to be practiced in complete safety :

• The baby carrier should be tied tightly to be comfortable and to prevent the baby from collapsing in it with the risk of affecting the air passage.
• You should always be able to see your baby just by glancing without having to move the backing fabric.
• Your baby's head should be as close to your chin as possible and you should be able to kiss it, so-called " at kiss height ".
• At least one finger should be placed between the baby's chin and chest to ensure that the air passage is free .
• Adherent bodies and back supported in its physiological position helps to keep the air passage open.

Nastasia Morin

Babywearing School Consultant

I hope my article was helpful to you. If you have any questions, concerns or would like to offer feedback you can write to us! The Millemamme association primarily cares about the well-being of babies and those who carry them and is keen to disseminate the right information . This is why we have activated a purchase consultancy service.