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- When can I start to carry my baby?
- How many hours per day can I carry my child?
- Until what age can I carry my child?
- Can I begin to carry my child later?
- Can I carry my baby in the winter?
- Can I do something wrong with the baby wrap?
- Aren't there different sizes of wraps?
- Isn't the wrap too narrow? What technique is the fabric woven with?I'm totally confused with all the winding techniques and names
- How can I learn how to wrap my baby properly?
- Does the baby get enough air?
- Does carrying spoil the baby too much?
- Isn't carrying unhealthy for my back?
- What about the child's back?
When can I start to carry my baby?
Women have worn their baby throughout the whole pregnancy, so why should you stop it at once? From the time of birth on you can use the baby wrap-around. What specific techniques are suitable for what age you will find out on the instruction page.
How many hours per day can I carry my child?
As long as you and your cheeky monkey feel comfortable with it.
Until what age can I carry my child?
In general children from the age of 3 usually grow too heavy and the wraps are becoming too short. For some this will happen earlier and for others later. As long as your little rascal isn't getting to heavy and the wrap is fitting safely there aren't any concerns against still using the baby wrap-around.
Can I begin to carry my child later?
Why not? It may require some time getting used to it from both sides, but your offspring will still have to learn so many new things in his life, why not to be carried in a wrap, too?
Can I carry my baby in the winter?
Of course you can! The baby wrap-around doesn't change either in summer or winter time. Only your tyke should be dressed up well, but you know that. Who wears wide jackets or coats should try to carry the offspring under it, because then the child will be warmed by your own body. But also when carrying over the coat our baby wrap guarantees through its special high-tech material with its water repellent properties, that it can be used even in the most unpleasant windy and rainy conditions.
Can I do something wrong with the baby wrap?
There are a few things to look after.
The wrap should be tied tightly and support the back and head sufficiently. For older children, you should try so, too, if they are asleep. Legs should not hang straight down and the wrap should be fanned out so that it never cuts into the legs or something else. This should always be checked regularly just like the position of the wrap and child, especially when carried on the back.
In front of the tummy the child must not be tied too high, so that the child's head doesn't bump against the chin of the wearer.
Otherwise, the babies bottom should be slightly lower than the knees.
In no case shall a child be carried on your tummy with its face forward looking, because this may lead to orthopaedic problems in the long run.
Aren't there different sizes of baby wraps?
That's true, but the smaller the fabrics are, the shorter the period of time you can carry the children in it. The size of the wrap-around should always be guided by the tallest carrier.
The size of our baby wrap is on the upper end of available sizes. This is because long ends can be easily put away and the little groovers are growing so fast, that you will have fun for much longer with a larger wrap-around.
Isn't the wrap too narrow?
That is probably more a matter of opinion than a serious issue.
There is no standard that dictates how broad a wrap-around should be. And if you look at the different wraps used around the world, you quickly realize that from very narrow, like a sling, as used in Southeast Asia, to square wraps in South America, where the children are simply wrapped in, anything is possible.
While we were travelling, we had a traditional wrap with a width of 70cm. This meant for us that we always had to fold the wrap in the longitudinal direction and at some point the question came up why a wrap must be so wide?
With a width of 47cm you haven't any restrictions. All all age groups are easily to carry. The only significant difference from the usual Western Standard width is that you don't have to wrap so much fabric around you. But with almost everything it is a matter of habit.
What technique is the fabric woven with?
The weaving technique used is a linen weave, where two warp threads are interlaced. This technique is also called Half-Panama or Panama-like.
I know that now for some of you their hair stands on end, because in the baby wrap community linen weave is frowned upon. The only question is why?
The outdoor wrap is a high-quality high-tech fabric, which is produced in Switzerland and has nothing to do with the cheap materials being imported from Asia, which are of course quite inappropriate for baby wraps.
It is just the same as in the case of the wrap's width. There is no rule saying how a wrap must be woven. Also there is no right or wrong here, even if the big baby wrap producers want to make you believe so.
Our "baby wrap-around for all weathers" pursues the goal of facing bad weather and for that the fabric must be woven very dense. Thus it loses some elasticity, but it still meets the general requirements for a good baby wrap, such as comfort and shape retention. The child is optimally held and supported and it is virtually impossible to wear out.
Linen weave is not synonymous with cheap and non-functional materials!
I'm totally confused with all the winding techniques and names
Me too!
My research in German as well as in English has shown me that the names of the individual winding techniques are used inconsistently. Probably in order to maximize the confusion. In addition, many winding techniques differ only marginally from each other, but are often listed as a separate winding technique, without pointing out that it is the same approach.
So don't get nervous just try different techniques. It will be one for sure that fits your needs.
How can I learn how to wrap my baby properly?
Admittedly, at the first glance I was totally confused about all the different wrapping techniques, too.
As with so many things, it requires some practice. Apart from the winding techniques shown here, there are excellent winding instructions on Youtube. (backpacker-kids takes no responsibility for the accuracy and proper use of the winding techniques shown on Youtube).The wrapping techniques shown here represent only a small selection of the many possibilities. They are by no means exhaustive.
Take some time. It is best to practice with somebody else (plus the baby, of course) as it will be much easier to put the baby into the wrap with some help at first. And with a little practice and confidence you will soon realize what a great benefit it can be to have such a small cloth to pack together in contrast to a bulky stroller.
Does my baby get enough air?
First of all baby wraps are made from a breathable fabric. Second, the movement of the carrier allows the air to circulate under the wrap so that air is coming through to the baby.
A study of the University Hospital of Cologne in Germany (Stening W, Nitsch P, Wassmer G, Roth B. Pediatrics: Cardiorespiratory stability of premature and term infants carried in infant slings. 2002 Nov;110(5):879-83.) was able to show that the oxygen supply of a baby in a wrap is only 1% lower than in the comparison group. This amount is negligible and poses no danger for the child. Moreover, there is the effect that if the oxygen concentration in the blood decreases and carbon dioxide content rises a wake up reaction would be the result. A baby would start to move or cry.
Does carrying spoil the baby too much?
A question which surprised me very much when I first stumbled over it. I never had thought about it that way, that carrying a baby could have any negative impact on its development.
I am also more inclined to feel that such a question can only arise in regions of the world where people have the time and financial resources to worry about such things. For me it is hard to imagine that people in less privileged countries, where baby wrap-arounds are much more common than in Europe, consider this aspect seriously. Somehow, the kids have to be carried with you. The generations before have already done so and the kids will learn fast enough about the hardships of life. So or somehow similar I imagine the response of a hard working indigenous women from Central America would be.
Babies need physical proximity and with increasing mobility they let you know if they want to explore their environment on their own.
And just as babies need the closeness of the parents, the parents need the closeness of their offspring. Don't let this much too short but memorable time be taken away from you.
Isn't carrying unhealthy for my back?
There are back problems and other medical concerns which would disallow the carrying of a baby. Those are rare, though. Anyone who feels uncertain about this issue should consult a doctor.
Otherwise, a healthy back should have no problems with carrying. Maybe an untrained back, but if you start from birth on then the muscles increases with the weight of the child.
If your child is older already and you want to begin carrying then you should carry the child only as long as both the carrier and the child feel comfortable about it. The muscles will then build up.
In contrast to the usual way babies are carried on the arm the great advantage of techniques that fix the child centred on your tummy or back is that the child's weight is optimally distributed across the entire upper body, so that not only the shoulders or only the hips are burdened.
What about the child's back?
The answer is simple. Nothing!
Carrying the baby in a wrap-around does not harm the baby's back at all. It optimally corresponds to the anatomical conditions of the baby and can even help to prevent hip dysplasia. Therefore the baby wrap-around can sometimes be used as a therapeutic aid.