Are Baby Front Carriers Best For Baby?

Having had seven daughters and owned a childcare center for seven years, I have experienced a lot of equipment and accessories intended to make caring for babies just a little simpler.  If I had to do it all over again and was told I could only have one piece of baby equipment, without wavering, I would select a baby sling.  I did not own a sling for my first two children. I had never heard of them before, I had seen other parents using them but never made the connection with myself. I always thought they looked so challenging to use and to be honest they didn’t look to secure! It was only after reading reviews in the popular baby magazines and on the Internet that I decided maybe I should give one a try.

There are other hands free ways to hold your baby that I had examined; mainly front baby carriers and baby backpacks.  Some people really like these options, and they may be perfect for you, so let’s take a look at some of their features.

There are many brands of baby front carriers with slightly different features.  Graco and Baby Bjorn are two of the more fashionable brands.  With these carriers, two padded shoulder straps go over your shoulders and criss-cross your back. The straps adjust to accommodate various sizes and shapes that men and women tend to be.  The baby is then slipped inside a supporting pouch with leg holes.  The baby’s final position is against the chest with the feet dangling.  As the baby grows and gets bigger, many carriers let the baby face outward.  The things I did not like about the Baby Front Carrier is that it appeared uncomfortable to me.  If the baby fell asleep while in the carrier, it was challenging to gently remove her to lay her down in the crib.  Also, because the baby was in the front, she was in the way both physically and visually, making the accomplishments of such tasks as sewing, meal preparation, cleaning, caring for older children, et cetera more difficult.

Another option is a baby backpack, which is stood on the frame in order to insert the child.  Then the frame is elevated and slid onto the back of the mother.  I discovered that the baby got heavy quickly with this method.  Also, I didn’t like the fact that I had no visual contact with the baby while she was on my back.  Another challenge that I had was that I couldn’t just sit down and take a rest without having to first take off the backpack.  I personally didn’t like the functionality of the backpack for times when the baby fell asleep.  To Boot, it was rather bulky and took up quite a bit of space when it was not in use.

The greatest disadvantage with a sling is that, for some people, they take some getting used to.  Some people practice with a small dog or life sized baby doll.  It is easiest to look at videos or pictures of how others are using them to get ideas.  It may take a some time, but I personally feel it is well worth the adjustment period.
As you can see, I am a bit biased toward slings, but the other hands free baby carriers may be absolutely ideal for your requirements.  Look at all options and try a few out.  Whichever you select, you will be a happier, more productive new parent as you learn to incorporate the joy of raising your newborn with the other long list of tasks that you have.