Babywearing consultant, Maria.
It makes me incredibly happy that Pilar (Founder of Somomu) has given me the opportunity to help her make ergonomic and safe babywearing accessible everywhere, and in this case through the use of her baby carriers.
My name is María Barreras, and I'm an early childhood educator and babywearing consultant. Both professions are truly vocational, and that's why I pursue them with genuine passion. Even though my work sometimes lacks financial compensation, I don't mind, because there are many ways to "get paid," and if that means getting certain information to as many people as possible, money is priceless. So, let's get to it:
An ergonomic baby carrier does not mean ergonomic babywearing, since we will give it ergonomics according to the use we give it.
To ensure that we are carrying the baby optimally, we must make sure that we are following the guidelines for safe and ergonomic babywearing.
If these are done correctly, we will guarantee a long-lasting babywearing experience, as both the baby's physiology and the adult's body will be 100% protected, avoiding possible interferences caused by different reasons that could lead to the end of the babywearing.
SAFE BABYWEAR
Safe babywearing is based on applying the three key elements that make it safe.
1. KNOW THE ERGONOMIC POSITION:
Knowing how to properly tilt the pelvis is essential to ensure the correct positioning of your baby. The baby rests on your body at the point midway between the pubic bone and the pelvic floor.
If we tilt the pelvis properly, the knees will rise, so that they are higher than the buttocks.
As a consequence of the above, the back will round out, forming a "C" shape.
2nd CORRECT TENSION:
Babies aren't stupid; if the baby carrier is too tight, the baby will fuss because they'll be uncomfortable. But if it's too loose, they won't.
When we make a correct adjustment, the height and position we initially set will remain; therefore, if we lose the position of the baby carrier, it means we have adjusted it incorrectly.
It's a matter of safety. A bad position with good tension will be safe for the baby. But a good position with bad tension will not be safe.
3. CLEAR AIRWAYS
Clear airways are not the same as visible airways.
Chin away from the sternum.
Head tilted.
If the airways are properly positioned but there is insufficient tension, the position will be lost.
ERGONOMIC BABYWEARING
Ergonomic babywearing is ergonomic because it respects the baby's natural posture, adapting to each stage of development, distributes the baby's weight evenly on the adult, and ensures continuous contact with the caregiver.
But ergonomic babywearing doesn't always mean an ergonomic baby carrier; we will determine the ergonomics based on how we use it.
It's true that some baby carriers, although marketed as ergonomic, are not, and we must be careful with these items because their use could be harmful to our babies' physical development and to our own physical well-being. This is because they force babies into awkward positions and unevenly distribute their weight. Therefore, the guidelines to follow are:
1st Well adjusted.
It should fit snugly enough so that the baby doesn't move away from your body if you bend over, but with a little slack. A good trick is to make sure it allows you to fit a finger between you and your baby.
If it's too loose, the baby will adopt an incorrect posture and it won't be ergonomic or safe.
And if it's too tight, you'll force your shoulders forward due to the pressure of the fabric and flatten the baby's back, making it unsafe and non-ergonomic again.
It needs to be adjusted as many times as necessary until we are comfortable and secure.
2nd Height of kisses.
The baby should be positioned high enough so you can kiss their head but not so high that you can bump them with your chin. When they are newborns, the general guideline is to place them above the navel, but as they grow, you will need to adjust the height and they will be positioned lower.
3. Clear airways.
Avoid tucking your chin to your chest, as this closes your airways.
Your face should not be completely covered.
We will check the position of the head; it should be tilted to the side and looking slightly upwards.
4th C-shaped back.
It is important to take into account the developmental stage the baby is in and always try to respect what their nature allows them to do at that moment.
5th Pelvis in retroversion.
The pelvis should be positioned with the lower part forward and the perineum supported on your body.
6th Legs in M.
"Frog position." From the front, it should look like an M. Respect the baby's developmental stage.
7th Comfortable Adult.
Safe babywearing also includes the adult doing the carrying. If we are not comfortable and start to experience pain due to poor technique, we will stop babywearing but we will not stop carrying the baby in our arms, so we will do everything possible to prevent this from happening because it will be of great help to us.
Straight back.
Centers of gravity as close as possible.
Pelvis aligned with your legs and feet parallel.
PERSONALIZED CONSULTING
I hope this information is helpful; I share it with all my love. However, if you feel you could improve your babywearing skills, or if you want to be sure you're doing it correctly, you can contact me to book a consultation for a more personalized approach.
second.to.the.right.star@gmail.com
Telephone: 659655930