Baby Backpack Carrier
5 TIPS FOR SELECTING THE RIGHT BABY BACKPACK CARRIER
So, you thought you were all set for your new bundle of joy. After agreeing on a name, you picked out the new furniture, panamas, bedding, and just the right color for the nursery. But of all the choices new parent must make, few are more bewildering than what baby backpack carrier to buy. The number of brands and different designs of baby backpack carriers is dizzying.
Parents must consider safety. Over the years there have been baby backpack carrier recalls. Beyond safety, there are considerations such as comfort, durability, and, of course, price.
Here are 5 tips for picking the baby backpack carrier that will work best for you.
- Before you buy, walk around the store for a few minutes with the baby in the backpack carrier you are considering. This is a big help in gauging comfort level. A few extra minutes here can benefit both your baby and your back!
- Read and follow directions. Some baby backpack carriers are simpler to use correctly than others. Certain models must be adjusted in a specific way in order to position it as recommended.
- Some backpack carriers come with a video; take the time to watch it! Of course youre busy, but this will save time (and possibly literally a pain in the neck) in the long run.
- Do a dry run. Some models require you to do little more than plunk the baby in the backpack carrier before youre ready to go. Others require you to manipulate zippers, latches, ties, or hooks while you balance baby. By placing the baby in the backpack carrier before you pay for it, youll get an idea of how easy or awkward a process it is. Remember, this is the routine youll be repeating a couple thousand times over the next year or so. Make sure you can handle it comfortably.
- Before buying a baby backpack carrier, think about what you will most often be using it for. Will you frequently be somewhere it becomes important to simply fold up the carrier and put it in a diaper bag? If so, you might want to consider a sling of some sort. Even the best baby backpack carrier will require a place to store it once baby is off your back.