Babywearing helps parents to bond with their babies and to adapt to the world at large. It allows a baby to hear a heartbeat and familiar voices, which are comforting and reassuring and foster the natural bonding process.
Parenting on Female First
But there comes a time, normally when a baby is bigger and stronger, can sit up comfortably on their own and enjoy the world around them, that parents should consider a back carrier.
Transitioning from babywearing with a soft front carrier to popping them on your back is a proud moment but it can also feel quite daunting. Below LittleLife, the experts in outdoor and travel gear for the family, explore some of the many benefits of using a child back carrier.
Exercise and health
A brisk walk with your baby in a carrier is considered by many fitness trainers as great cardio and good for your health. Walking while carrying your child in a back carrier will increase your heart rate and at the same time, release those all-important endorphins. It also puts less strain on the wearer and can help improve posture. Carrying home your shopping in the large pocket, as well as your child, will certainly raise a sweat, burn calories and build core strength.
Hands free
Back carrying is one of the most liberating types of carries – it enables you to be hands-free and keep your little one stimulated by their surroundings and safe all at the same time. Back carriers quite simply allow you to remain active and get around places that might otherwise be tricky - crowded shopping centres, cobbled streets, airports, museums and castles - the list is endless and there is no need to compromise when you have the option of using a baby carrier.
Physical closeness
Even as your baby grows, they still have a fundamental need for physical contact with their parents and caregivers. It’s proven that little ones who are carried sleep better, cry less, feed and gain weight better. They also tend to be more alert and interact with the world around them.
Development and awareness
Carrying your little one on your back enables them to take in all the sights and sounds of the world at large. Babywearing allows for both closeness and mobility for the parent but the back carrier can open up an entire world for both baby and parent.
When they realise they can see what you see, babble to you, and still have a wriggle, they usually love it. Often, children are lulled to sleep by the gentle sway of your walking, resting their heads on the pillow. And when it all goes quiet, you can check on them using the pocket mirror.
Explore and adventure
With a back carrier, you can plot an off-road route, taking your usual kit – snacks, drinks, nappies, wipes, phone and a friend – and go for it! There are apps, like the OS maps app, that are brilliant for discovering new parts of the countryside. Being out in the fresh air will literally lift your gaze from the floor to the sky and you will feel better for it, freeing your mind from the repetitive mechanics of life at home.
Not just for summer
Chiller weather is no excuse – your well wrapped-up baby will be snug as a bug in their carrier, and with the waterproof cover they will stay dry. Venturing off the beaten path (or the pavement) with your carrier is liberating. You can go so much further than even an off-road buggy will allow – not limited by rocky paths, stiles or even muddy bogs.
Safe and sound
According to LittleLife, always make sure your carrier fits well, with the lower edge of the waist strap resting on your hips, allowing them to take most of the weight, rather than your shoulders. It’s also a good idea to walk with your back straight and shoulders back. Resist the temptation to strain your head forward, putting pressure on your neck and shoulders. Finally, keep ankles and knees flexed and responsive – ready for uneven terrain and wriggling cargo.