If you’re asking which baby Bjorn carrier is best, I wrote this article to answer your question.
First, where do you mainly see yourself using the baby carrier at home or outdoors? Your answer would determine which baby carrier you buy.
Do you mainly want to use the baby carrier at home to give your newborn closeness while leaving your hands free for other things?
Or do you want a baby carrier that you can take along on family days out once your child can walk for short distances?
The Best BabyBjorn carrier is One Air, which is designed to be ergonomic and has a soft and airy mesh for the comfort of your baby. One Air Bjorn allows you to hold your baby close to your heart while using your free hands to attend to other things.
The Convenience of the Carrier
A newborn needs a lot of closeness, and you’re likely to be babywearing for shorter sessions, mostly at home, at all hours of the day and night.
One feature that is super-important in this scenario is how easily and quickly you can put on and take off the baby carrier.
It’s also convenient if you can unfasten the entire front section of the baby carrier when you want to lift out your sleeping baby.
If you want to be able to keep using the baby carrier as your baby grows, you can choose a baby carrier that adapts to your growing baby.
While most baby carriers can be used from birth, the subsequent period of use will vary. With a more advanced baby carrier, you can vary the babywearing position, and some even allow you to carry your child on your back!
Which babywearing options do you want the baby carrier to give you?
Do you want to carry your baby facing in, facing out and maybe even on your back eventually? Different baby carriers offer different babywearing positions and height positions.
For the first few months, you should always carry your baby in the facing-in position.
This strengthens the bond between you and your baby, and the warmth of your body, your breathing and your heartbeat are reassuring to your baby.
Some baby carriers have different height positions that allow you to carry your newborn higher up on your chest at first.
This strengthens the bond between you and your baby, and the warmth of your body, your breathing and your heartbeat are reassuring to your baby.
When your baby is about five months old and their neck muscles are strong enough, you have the option of carrying them in the facing-out position.
It’s fun for a slightly older, more curious baby to able to join in and see what’s happening.
Some baby carrier models also allow you to carry your child on your back. This is a more pressure-relieving babywearing position once your child has grown heavier.
We suggest that you wait to carry your child on your back until they’re about one year old since you won’t have the same degree of supervision.
How long do you plan on babywearing in the baby carrier?
Think about your specific needs and the length of time you plan to babywear. Do you want a small and easy-to-use baby carrier for the early days or one that you can use for several years?
A simpler baby carrier is suitable for your baby’s first year when they have a great need for security and closeness.
A high babywearing position means that your newborn can rest against your chest and hear the comforting sound of your heartbeat.
You will usually babywear a newborn for shorter sessions, but possibly at any hour of the day or night.
Adapting the baby carrier as your grows
If you want to be able to carry your child over several years, some baby carriers can be adapted as your baby grows.
Carrying a larger and heavier child places other demands on the baby carrier, such as being ergonomic.
A waist belt and sturdy shoulder straps provide comfortable pressure relief and distribute your baby’s weight more evenly.
Once your baby develops an interest in the surrounding world, you have the option of babywearing in the front-facing position so your baby can see what’s happening around them.
Once your baby develops an interest in the surrounding world, you have the option of babywearing in the front-facing position so your baby can see what’s happening around them.
Is an ergonomic baby carrier important for your baby — and you?
Regardless of how you plan to use your baby carrier, what is most important is that it is comfortable for both your baby and you, the babywearer.
An ergonomic baby carrier should mimic the way you carry your baby in your arms your baby’s hips, neck and back need to have good support. The natural sitting position for a newborn is a slightly curved back and knees level with the bottom.
Perhaps you’d like to be able to switch between the stroller and baby carrier or let your child walk for short periods?
If so, you should invest in an ergonomic baby carrier with wide shoulder straps and a waist belt for good pressure relief and even weight distribution — essential for longer babywearing sessions.
Once you’ve made your choice and purchased a baby carrier, its well worth taking the time to read the owner’s manual carefully to make sure that you know how to correctly adjust the settings.
Which is the best baby carrier fabric for you and your baby?
Different fabrics have different properties, so think about what feels important to you.
Do you want a baby carrier that dries quickly, or do you want the baby carrier to feel super-soft against your newborn’s skin?
Choice of colors and accessories
Baby carriers come in many different colours and patterns from basic colours to temporary, trendy collections.
Bib for Baby Carrier Mini and Teething Bib for Baby Carrier One are soft dribble bibs that absorb moisture. It’s so convenient to pop only the bib in the washing machine, rather than the entire baby carrier!
Cover for Baby Carrier is windproof and has a soft, cozy fleece lining perfect for chilly and wet days.
There’s a lot for you to keep in mind when choosing a baby carrier. Think about what is important for you and your baby, and hopefully you will find your favourite carrier in our wide selection.
When we look at durability, we strap the baby carrier to a test dummy, load it with a 15 kg baby test dummy, and then jolt it up and down for around 50,000 cycles to check the carrier is secure.
We see how safe the baby carrier is by checking it for choking hazards and trailing cords, and looking at whether the instructions contain all the relevant safety advice.
We also check how comfortable the carrier is for both you and your baby, using ergonomic experts to assess each model.
They check how supportive it is for the head, back and spine, and what position it holds your baby’s legs and hips in.
We have a user panel of parents who look at how easy the carrier is to put on, put their baby into and adjust if needed, and whether the instructions that come with the carrier are clear or confusing.
After pulling together the scores for the different test areas, we come up with a final score, which excludes price. A baby carrier needs to score 80% or more to be a Best Buy.
Why you should consider babywearing options
1). Bonding
When you carry your baby close to you, they feel safe – the baby feels the warmth of your body and hears your breathing and your voice.
At the slightest feeling of uncertainty, your baby can look up at your face and be reassured that you are close at hand and they are safe. This also applies to a very young baby who is not yet able to see very far.
Babywearing means you automatically have more nurturing physical contact as you gently pat and stroke your baby or kiss their forehead.
All this strengthens the important attachment between you. More about bonding: Infant attachment explained
2). Your baby’s development
Babywearing means your baby is always with you, whatever you’re doing. The two of you naturally communicate with each other, you look at each other and you chat to your baby. It helps in your baby’s development.
You may comment on what’s happening around you, explain what you’re doing, etc. Your baby watches and listens, and this encourages your baby’s language development.
3). Calms colic
Babywearing a colicky baby in an upright position may help to ease their symptoms. Being carried and feeling the safety and closeness of mom or dad may also have a soothing effect on your baby.
Many parents of babies with a colic report that a baby carrier has been a life-saver!
Babywearing is practical because it leaves your hands free to do so many other things! You can enjoy closeness with your baby while you go shopping, take the dog for a walk or perform household tasks.
It also makes it much easier for you to tend to older siblings who also require your attention.
4). You can leave the stroller at home
A stroller is practical – but there are situations in which you can’t use it. Babywearing allows you access to places where you can’t use a stroller.
On a path through the woods or in buildings where strollers are prohibited – a baby carrier is a brilliant alternative!
5). Toddlers with tired legs
If you have a baby carrier you can use for a toddler, you can take it with you in a bag and use it when your toddler’s legs get tired, e.g. when you’re walking home from the park.
Can I spoil my child by babywearing?
Some people may tell you that too much babywearing can spoil your child. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
Every time you carry your child close to you, you reinforce your child’s sense of security that will stand them in such good stead when it’s time to explore the world on their own.
It’s impossible to spoil a child with too much closeness and love.
Important considerations when you start using a baby carrier:
- Always make sure you can properly supervise your baby in the baby carrier. Never allow any fabric or clothing to cover your child so you can’t see their face.
- Carry your child close to your body and in an upright position that ensures free air passages.
- Don’t dress your baby too warmly in the baby carrier. Remember, your child will also feel the heat from your body.
- Check that all of the buckles are securely fastened/locked when you use the baby carrier to ensure good support for your baby’s body and neck.
- If you need to bend down, bend at the knee and not the waist so you keep your baby in an upright position.
- Never carry your child in a baby carrier during sporting activities, such as running, cycling or skiing.
- Never lie down while carrying your baby in the baby carrier.
When is it safe to start using a baby carrier?
You can pack your baby carrier in your hospital bag. You can use a baby carrier as soon as your baby is born!
Check the Owner’s Manual for your baby carrier to make sure your baby meets the minimum weight requirement for your baby carrier, as this can vary between models.
Closeness to mom and dad is particularly important for a newborn baby, so carry your baby as much as possible in the early days.
There are different types of baby carriers, so choose a model suitable for a newborn baby – a small baby carrier that encircles a very young baby’s body and gives wide enough support to the baby’s bottom.
Conclusion
You can choose from several different types of baby carriers.
From easy-to-use models most suitable for newborn babies to more ergonomic baby carriers that can also be used to carry toddlers and give better pressure relief so you can carry your child for longer.
