What You Need to Know About Baby Carrier Safety

If you are considering purchasing a baby carrier, you may be making a wonderful decision for both you and your baby. Baby carriers were created and designed to make life a little easier on moms and dads by allowing them to conveniently tend to other tasks. Baby carriers make it possible for parents to keep their baby snug and warm against their chests while keeping their hands free to do other things. This is very handy when you need to go grocery shopping or just need to tidy up the house. As wonderful and convenient as baby carriers are, there are still certain safety precautions to which you must adhere in order to ensure that your baby is safe. Thought a carrier will allow you to do many things that you otherwise would be unable to do if holding your child, there are certain things that you should never do while wearing a carrier.

First and foremost, put the baby carrier on your body and adjust all straps and latches accordingly. Ensure that the carrier fits snug and secure against your body. Once you have achieved a safe and comfortable fit, place your baby inside the carrier. If there are child safety straps or harnesses, be certain that you strap your baby in according to the manufacturer's instructions. Always be sure that the straps are no looser or tighter than the instruction manual instructs. Failure to follow the manufacturer's guidelines could result in injury to either you or your baby. If you need to adjust the harness straps around your shoulders, be certain to support your baby with one hand while adjusting the straps with the other.

Let us consider a few things that you may do around the home. Preparing meals and cooking dinner are things that you would normally do, however you should never wear a baby carrier while doing these tasks. There is a potential risk of the carrier catching on fire if it were to get too close to stove burners. You must also consider the element of heat. Stove tops produce an amazing amount of heat which could easily burn your baby if he or she is put too close to the stove.

Never attempt to reach an object that is on a high shelf, or is beyond your reach. If there is someone else available to reach the item for you, ask them to. Attempting to grasp an object in this scenario can result in the object falling and striking your baby. Never attempt to climb a ladder or use a step stool while wearing a child carrier. Carrying your baby on your chest adds weight to the front of your body, shifting your center of gravity and can potentially cause you to lose your balance.

Use your legs and knees to kneel down instead of stooping over. If you bend straight over from your back, your baby could slide out of your baby carrier and become injured.

If you are getting back into your physical workouts, that is excellent. However, remember that you should never participate in physical activities while wearing a carrier. Never wear a carrier when you are jogging, playing sports or riding a bicycle, this also goes for elliptical machines and stationary bikes. If you must go up and down stairs, be certain to hold onto the guardrail and step slowly and carefully.

Baby carriers are a wonderful tool that will make your life a bit easier after baby is born. Always remember to read the manufacturer's owner's manuals and adhere to the safety guidelines within. Most carriers will only support your baby's weight up to 35 or 40 lbs, so be sure that once your baby starts approaching those weights that you stop using the carrier. When used correctly, both you and your baby can benefit from the use of a baby carrier.