Of course, ergonomic carrying is safe! As long as it is used well

Surely you have heard of ergonomic carrying, and the advantages (compared to the 'colgonas' backpacks) it has both for babies and for the people who carry them. Recent information from the Spanish Society of Primary Care Pediatrics, concludes that on rare occasions, this traditional transportation system is inadvisable; What is more, the deaths that have occurred in the United States (last 20 years) due to porting have all been due to misuse of the device.

When carrying, contact is maintained between the baby / child and the adult carrier, a priori there is no weight limit; An ergonomic baby carrier not only respects the baby's physiology, but also that of dad, mom, or anyone else who carries the little one.

I have tried three different types of ergonomic devices with my two children, and in all three cases, they were better than a backpack of those that they sell in commercial surfaces. The advantages are very clear to me, and if I had to advise, I certainly do not recommend anyone to buy one of the latter. With the ergonomic porting (well used, it is understood), the baby is more comfortable, and the back of the older does not suffer.

It goes without saying that a baby needs contact and warmth with his mother, or his father; The benefits of 'carrying arms' have been widely described, and the carrying systems are designed to facilitate the task, leaving the arms free

Carrying (or arms) makes it easier for the baby to cry less, since he is comfortable and enjoys well-being, it makes no sense to subject the little creature to levels of stress caused by a separation that he does not understand, and suffers . On the other hand, it is easier for the baby to adapt to the environment in this way, since - as you can imagine - the field of vision is smaller when confined to the stroller.

Furthermore, carrying favors breastfeeding, because 'skin-to-skin' contact stimulates milk secretion, due to an increase in the presence of oxytocin and prolactin; baby can suck on demand, just as recommended. And if it was not enough the nervous system of a newborn, also develops optimally, due to visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile and vestibular stimulation, facilitated by the fact of being attached to the adult.

Carry yes, but safely

Among the advantages we also find that by facilitating attachment processes, carrying improves physical, intellectual and emotional development; Of course, when we carry, we must always do so safely (below, the SEPEAP recommendations):

The baby should ideally go vertically, since in a lying position the knees cannot be kept apart from each other. Also, babies with reflux are uncomfortable lying down.

The correct physiological posture is described in the following drawing

The baby's hip must be tilted forward, with its perineum partially supported by the adult, not supporting the entire pubis. This way your back and hips will be positioned correctly.

The baby carrier must be very tight, supporting all points of the back (If the baby falls to one side or rounds excessively, it will be necessary to retension). It must also adapt to the growth of the baby, using the mechanisms incorporated for this purpose.

The head of the newborn or a sleeping baby must be firmly but gently held against the body of the adult. And the chin has to be separated from the sternum to avoid the risk of suffocation due to airway blockage.

There will be room in the baby's nose for air to circulate, even if the baby is with his forehead resting on the adult.

The baby's abdominal region should being in contact with the adult's body, never the side or the back. Thus, the adult's body prevents the baby's head from flexing towards its chest, avoiding the risk of suffocation.

The adult must be very aware that the mouth and nose do not hit the adult's body and that the baby's breathing is rhythmic

It's better than back support be adaptable, so that a baby with a higher degree of mobility, can have greater freedom of movement. But you must always be able to support the baby's entire back, even the head, if he falls asleep.

Last but not least: the carrying device has to be comfortable for the wearer and easy to use.

This system favors the prevention of the appearance of postural plagiocephaly and hip dysplasia. It also improves the quality of life in mothers with physical disabilities. Safe carrying contributes very satisfactorily to the care of premature babies with early discharge; and also from SEPEAP they state that it should be recommended as part of the treatment in cases of postural plagiocephaly, infant colic and hip dysplasia.

On the other hand, the disadvantages of a 'colgona' backpack are several: to begin with, the legs are stretched, so that the head of the femur can rub against the edges of the opening, it is even possible that it leads to the appearance of hip dysplasia. They are not comfortable for the baby (who supports his weight in the genital area) or for the carrier, because it increases the discomfort in the dorsal area of ​​the same.

Image - uppy mamma