7 Dangerous Baby Carrier Mistakes Parents You Need to Avoid
Becoming a parent is the biggest joy of life, as many people suggest. In India, when we think of starting a new family, it is never just about two partners. It is always about a healthy relationship with children, which is a major part of the vision. Welcoming a newborn into the family is a joyous moment, both for the parents and the families. When a new life is born, it is like a whole family being reborn. The fresh energy, the happiness, the nurturing, and the joy can be felt in the family. When you ask any parent what is paramount for them from that day on, the answer will be ensuring the comfort and safety of their child or children. A parent would never make any compromise with their child’s safety, whether it is sterilising every object around the child or giving them only the best nourishment they can.
An infant will always need their parents around them. It is practically impossible for parents to keep their hands occupied for years to come because their child needs constant attention. Hence, baby carriers are a popular choice among parents, as they allow the parent to keep their child close while still having their hands free. But merely having a baby carrier is not enough. Parents often make a lot of mistakes while choosing a newborn carrier wrap. They need to know the right choices they need to make while buying a baby carrier, so let us understand the top 7 dangerous mistakes parents need to avoid while choosing the best infant carrier
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Mistake 1: Incorrect Positioning: One of the most common mistakes parents make is improper positioning of the baby in the carrier. A baby’s delicate body is just taking shape and position with time. Incorrect positioning can lead to permanent displacement or dysplasia-like hip issues. Hence, ensuring that your baby is in the correct posture and position is crucial for their developing spine and hips. The right way to position your baby is by keeping their legs at least at a right angle, which means that their knees should be at the level of the child’s bottom. Newborns cannot hold their heads for a while and require a headrest. So, the baby’s back should be slightly arched, and their head should rest on your chest for a balanced posture.
Mistake 2: Loose Straps and Buckles: Correct positioning can also be ensured if the baby wrap is tightly secured. If any strap or buckle is loose, it will not just compromise the positioning, but it will also compromise a baby’s safety as they will be at risk of snapping and enduring an injury. The parents must focus on checking and adjusting all the straps and buckles to achieve a snug and secure fit, ensuring that both the parent and baby are comfortable.
Mistake 3: Ignoring Weight Limits: A growing baby goes through several fluctuations in their weight. You should not just buy one baby backpack and expect it to sustain itself through all those stages. Every carrier comes with a certain weight limit that should not be ignored. Using a backpack with the wrong weight bandwidth can lead to accidents, incorrect positioning and bad posture, which can hinder a baby’s growth.
Mistake 4: Facing Forward Too Early: A baby's neck muscles are delicate while they are developing. This is the reason why they always need proper support for their neck. But some parents think that a carrier can support the baby's neck muscles, and they put them in a forward-facing position, excited for their baby to see the world. But it is dangerous, as a developing neck cannot take the strain of a forward-facing position so soon.
Mistake 5: Not Checking Carrier Condition: Over time, every object goes through wear and tear when used. But a lot of the time, parents miss inspecting the state of baby carriers and keep using them regularly. It is a common mistake that should be avoided at all costs because any damage to the baby carrier can lead to damage to the child, forfeiting the whole point of having a genie bag for your baby.
Mistake 6: Not Maintaining the Correct Temperature: Parents may tend to forget to regulate the temperature while using a baby carrier because of the changing seasons. Sometimes, they tend to overdress kids to protect them from the cold, and sometimes they do not take care of enough ventilation in the infant backpack, which might make the baby uncomfortable. Maintaining the correct temperature inside the backpack is essential for a comfortable experience for the child.
Mistake 7: Prolonged use without proper breaks: A common mistake that parents make is to use the carrier bags for a very long period of time. This will lead to discomfort for the baby and the parent and will also hamper the blood circulation in the baby’s body. Hence, it is crucial to take the baby out of the backpack after small intervals and allow their body to move freely in between.
A baby’s safety is of the utmost importance for any parent, and a baby carrier is one such tool that ensures the sound physical health of the baby, provides an intimate bonding opportunity for the parent and the child, and is a safe alternative if the parent wants to free their hands when busy. However, picking the best baby carrier requires an assessment of some common mistakes that parents tend to commit. Like improper positioning, incorrect temperature, using for longer durations, ignoring the weight limits, etc. By avoiding these common mistakes, parents can create a safe and comfortable environment for their little ones while enjoying the many benefits of babywearing. By being mindful of these small but important aspects, parents can confidently navigate the world with their hands free and minds relaxed, ensuring that their bundle of joy is bundled up safely with them.
