Top Tips For Buying Baby Carriers
Keywords: baby carriers, baby slings, baby pouches
So you want to go out, taking your little mite with you. But how do you carry him? Well it all depends really – there are endless variations of baby carriers out there in the marketplace. Which one you choose depends on the age of the baby as well as your lifestyle, attitudes and levels of activity.
Are you a new-age mom? Do you believe in old-fashioned values? Do you like to be seen in the latest new-mom designer paraphernalia? Do you research endlessly the best and most effective child-rearing and child development techniques? Your general outlook on life and parenting will affect the type of baby carrier you decide to choose. But don’t get too caught up in it – at the end of the day, all you are deciding on is a safe, comfortable transport mechanism for your little one for a few months. Remember that they grow so fast that you will probably have to replace it soon anyway.
So, how do you make a choice of the best baby carrier for you? Well remember first of all that a baby carrier is useful for outings where prams and pushchairs are impractical and for carrying your baby close to you when he needs comforting or won’t settle. There are essentially 3 types of carrier and the one you choose will depend on your lifestyle;
1. Front Carriers
Font carriers are great for busy urban moms and dads who want to look ‘caring but cool.’ These are great for carrying small babies and really useful for short shopping trips or for carrying baby around the house while you are doing your chores. Front carriers can be used for newborns and are useful up until you find that baby is really getting too heavy. Some front carriers can adjust to become back carriers, or enable you to carry baby on the hip or in a cradle position.
2. Back Carriers
Back carriers are suitable for older babies who can sit up and support themselves – usually from around 6 months old. Back carriers are great for more serious walking, or shopping trips, where pushchairs may be impractical or you may need to keep your hands free.
3. Slings
Slings are probably the oldest type of baby carrier, used in ancient cultures and still widely used today in many areas of the world where moms still carry their babies for much of the day often while hard at work. Western-style slings are designed to carry the baby in various positions – front, back or hip – whichever is most comfortable. They are usually made from thick fabric with some sort of fastening device – cloth straps and/or buckles.
Whichever type of baby carrier you select, here are a few quick tips for when you are buying:
1. Make sure its easy to put on, easy to adjust and easy to get the baby in and out of. Can it be transferred to another wearer, without removing the baby?
2. Ensure there is good (adjustable) support for the baby’s head, neck and back.
3. For your own comfort, ensure there are wide, well padded shoulder straps and back straps. This will help to distribute the weight, and prevent the straps from digging in.
4. Make sure leg holes, etc are well padded.
5. Make sure its easy to clean – machine washable or wipe clean.
6. Does it have detachable rain and sun covers and storage areas? These are really useful extras.
One final tip – when you are buying a baby carrier, always try it on first. If it doesn’t feel comfortable, try another one. If you haven’t had the baby yet, check with the store if you can bring it back at later date if you find that it’s not comfortable with the baby in it. You will also find that the first time you try a baby carrier, it will feel really fiddly with lots of straps, zips, fasteners and buckles. But worry not – after a while it will all feel as easy and comfortable as putting on an old favorite pair of shoes.
Michael Barrows’ website has great advice for choosing baby names, baby name lists and lots of great baby resources. Get your free ebook packed with baby tips for new parents, visit www.all-about-baby-names.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Dog Training Tips For The Beginner (1)
A dog may be a man's best friend, but that may not be the case if that dog hasn't been trained. Please look into training your dog to get the best out of each other.
Want To Know The Secret Of Making Money Online? (2)
There's nothing else like it in the world. I have a site that helps people find ways to make money online. I make money with information products, and help others learn how to make money online doing the same thing.
Some Excellent Website Design Tips (3)
Google became popular because it provided better content and loaded much faster than competing search engines at the time. Sites such as eBay, hotornot.com and papal all have simple designs but still look professional.
Starting And Running A Home Based Business (4)
That means any windfalls a new product or service you create or resell belong to you! That also means all the overhead and other expenses belong to you too.
Southern Living Magazine - 40 Years And Still Going Strong... (5)
Its also the 7th largest monthly consumer magazine (by readership) published in the US, with a circulation of around 2.8million and an estimated readership of about 16 million. Southern Living magazine is now ubiquitous - a product that is immediately identified with the all that is best about the Southern States.
Is The Low Carb Diet Right For You? (6)
Glucose is primarily used for energy and some is also stored in our muscles. Your body can only store about 2,000 calories of glucose and the rest as you might have guessed is turned into fat.
Popular Baby Names - Changing Times, Changing Cultures (7)
William, 2. John, 3. George, 4. Thomas, 5. Arthur. Popular baby boy names - 2004: 1. Jack, 2. Joshua, 3. Thomas, 4.
Top Tips For Buying Baby Monitors (8)
However, the important thing is to always make sure that the microphone attached to the camera is ultra sensitive so that you can even hear a pin drop. This is much more important than the quality of the picture display.
The Danger Of Cute Baby Clothes (9)
For winter wear, bundling babies in layers is a good way to combat the difference between heated buildings and the outside. Warm socks, mittens, and hats are also essential for keeping in most of the baby's body heat.
So, What The Heck Is An Emo Hair Style Anyway? (10)
"Emo style" has also been described as a buzz haircut. Confused? You will be! It all goes to prove that in reality, there isn't one specific Emo hairstyle.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Are Disposable Diapers Dangerous? (1)
Disposable nappies use 90 times the amount of renewable resources (e.g. wood pulp) and 8 times the amount of non-regenerable resources (e.g. one cup of crude oil is needed to make one disposable nappy).
Are Baby Blankets Dangerous? (2)
Keywords: baby blankets, baby bedding, baby cribs Baby blankets - beautiful, soft, cuddly, warm and comforting. Yes all of these - but also possibly deadly. This may sound alarming, but its true.
The Dilemmas Of Choosing African American Baby Names (3)
Jamal is another very popular African American name which is actually an Arabic name, meaning "Pretty." Many African-American names are derivatives of African names, or just "African-sounding." But the problem is that African-American names can also "stigmatise" the owner in the wider world.
So What Were The Top Baby Names For 2005? (4)
So what can we expect for 2005? Well, in the absence of official figures, one indicator comes from a very popular baby name website that has conducted a poll which suggests that in 2005, Jacob and Emily will be beaten into second place by Aidan and Emma.
What Can I Do To Improve My Credit Rating? (5)
Pay on Time Yes, it may be basic but you'd be surprised how many people don't make their credit payments on time. If you're late in paying your fees, you will be charged an additional fee, not to mention you will be damaging your credit rating.
Are Used Car Seats Safe? (6)
Keywords: car seats, used car seats, baby car seats, used baby car seats With the advent of eBay and other auction sites, the buying and selling of used items has completely lost any kind of social stigma - no-one need be ashamed of buying something that has been used by someone else.
Great Baby Shower Games Ideas (7)
What baby shower games to choose? The best place to search for ideas for baby shower games is the Net. Even a quick search will reveal lots of ideas, lots of sites, books and downloadable games for you to consider.
Baby Jewelry - A Gift To Last Several Lifetimes! (8)
Alternatively, my Zodiac sign is Sagittarius, which has the following birthstones: 1. Zodiac stone: Topaz, 2. Talismanic stone: Beryl, 3. Birthstones: Blue Topaz, Blue Zircon, Ruby, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Citrine.
The Many Pleasures Of Bird Watching (9)
First is a hat (any hat will do) The hat is mainly to do with protecting yourself from the sun, but believe me when I tell you that you wont be complaining if a bird decides to poo on your hat instead of your head!
Some Birdhouse Building Tips (10)
When building your birdhouse, make sure there is a large enough space for easy access. The best method is to make the top or side of the birdhouse hinged so you can easily gain access to the birdhouse for cleaning and monitoring.