Are you looking to invest in a baby carrier but don't know how to choose? From price to online reviews, the number of carrying positions, and recommendations from friends, this article is here to help you sort through the questions you need to ask yourself before purchasing.
1 – Respect for physiology
Let's start with the basics: respecting physiology is one of the criteria to keep at the top of the list! It impacts both your comfort and that of your baby . The carrying system must be flexible to respect the natural curve of the baby's back , allow him to be grouped with his knees higher than his hips, and promote body-to-body contact and proximity . Beware of ambivalent mentions of the "ergonomic" type, which are not really in line with true physiology (often slightly wider crotch, but always rigid backrest for example)
2 – Security
Another important point: the baby carrier must comply with safety regulations . The main points to check are:
- Compliance with current standards which guarantee safe manufacturing, strong seams, etc.
- Textile standards guaranteeing the absence of toxic products in materials (Oekotex for example)
- The baby must be able to be carried upright with clear airways (no lying position, no material behind the head)
3 – Facing the world
The forward-facing position is not recommended in the field of physiological babywearing. Indeed, it is a posture in which you cannot really allow your baby to sit in a squat position without ending up parallel , squashed, or arched because of your chest behind his back. The forward-facing position offers far too many stimuli that your little one cannot handle. And above all, it is a posture in which he is not one with you: he pulls you forward and obstructs your field of vision, thereby increasing the risk of falling with him.
Brands offering forward-facing babywearing are responding to a public demand to open babies outwards to stimulate them, but at the expense of safety and respect for their physiology . This is a good way to assess the brand's overall ethics!
4 – The “Swiss army knife” baby carrier
Being aware that buying a good baby carrier remains a significant budget, it is very logically tempting to invest in the model that will offer the most possibilities . We will then look for the baby carrier that allows carrying from birth to 4 years, in front and back, adapted to the mother of 1.50m but also to the father of 1.95m, which is practical and quick to install but comfortable, suitable for both everyday use and hiking, breathable in summer but warm in winter and which protects from the sun, wind and rain, and if it could also make coffee that would be perfect !
Consider a newborn, a one-year-old, and a four-year-old, and see the enormous disparities in their sizes, weights, motor development, and needs. No baby carrier can perfectly meet such different requirements!
The same goes for uses , we could compare the baby carrier to a pair of shoes, we will not use the same pair depending on whether we want to go to the beach, just do a little shopping, or go hiking.
It is therefore advisable to target the main need that we will have as well as the age of the baby to be carried, to look for a model that will adapt precisely to these criteria and not to be caught up in the illusion of the baby carrier that does everything (and which in fact does not exist).
5 – Too much simplicity
Conversely, a carrying system sold as too simple should always be questionable. What has been cut to simplify its use ? Can the system still be properly adjusted to the size of the wearer and their baby?
One-size-fits-all systems without any adjustment will never provide you with a satisfactory carrying experience ; they will always be too big or too small , leading to questions about the safety of their use.
6 – Anticipation of needs
As we saw in point number 4, it is important to target our desires and constraints to choose the model that will be the most suitable. Be careful, however, not to anticipate too much! No one can know how it will wear 6 months or 1 year later and the risk is to make a choice that will not suit the needs of the present moment, nor later , and from which you will not benefit.
Choose according to the needs you know, in order to fully enjoy these sweet moments with your little one and make the experience as pleasant and helpful on a daily basis as possible.
7 – Advice from friends and other internet comments
Your friend whose baby is a few months older than yours assured you, " the Model X is gen-ial " and she swears by it! But on the internet, the Model Y also seems to be well-rated and has lots of good reviews.
Who to believe? No one.
Choosing a baby carrier is extremely subjective . It depends on the sensations you like and your body shape (preformed carriers have different cuts depending on the brand, for example, like clothes ). The Model X may have suited your girlfriend perfectly, while you will be terribly uncomfortable in it. Online reviews are also biased because they are rated by people who are mostly just as new to the subject as you are and will not have been able to try other systems to have points of comparison. Would you be as satisfied with the comfort of your 2CV if you had also tested a Mercedes before choosing?
8 – The price
Quite counterintuitively, price is not necessarily a good selection criterion . While a low cost should indeed alert you to the overall quality and place of manufacture of the product, a high cost does not guarantee that the model is comfortable, physiological and safe!
9 – The soft textile
Your baby seems tiny and fragile, and you dream of wrapping him in a cocoon of softness. Your choice might then fall on a very soft sling, so pleasant to the touch. But your cute, tiny baby will soon grow up. He's expected to gain about 1 kg per month and quickly start to kick more vigorously!
A material barely thicker than a bodysuit or pajamas will quickly become difficult to handle and unusable in good conditions (we are looking for a baby carrier and not an item of clothing). A firmer fabric poses no problem on a newborn and will provide more lasting comfort.
10 – The baby carrier that stays in the closet
Last but not least: the best baby carrier is always the one you REALLY see yourself carrying your little one in! While the baby sling is often cited as the ideal system, if you're not comfortable with it staying at the bottom of the closet, the benefit will be very limited.
As long as the system is age-appropriate and safe for your baby , the main thing is that you are comfortable with it and comfortable using it.
In short, choosing a baby carrier is very subjective and personal. Take the time to assess your needs and constraints, and don't hesitate to contact a baby carrier instructor for more specific advice, to try out different models, and to learn how to use them!
