Making sure that babies and children are safe is our top priority. We feel that keeping safety information as simple as possible is important so that it is not confusing, and is easy to achieve. In all the safety information from every source in the carrying industry, there are three key factors to ensuring safety. These are the ABS of carrying safely:
Aware
- Carer is attentive and responsive
- Child is accessible to be monitored
Breathing
- Free air circulation
- Unobstructed face
- Chin off chest
- Supported upright
Secure
- Close carry
- Hands on until secure
- Adjust with care
- Remove slack
- Minimise gaps
- Support bottom and back
Cautions: keep up usual care
In addition to these key safety issues when carrying, normal cautionary parental practice needs to be maintained, including:
- Sober enough to care for the child
- Follow safe sleep guidelines
- Avoid over-stimulating your child
- Take care that activities are sensible
- A sling or carrier is not a safety seat
- Protect your child from the elements
- Maintain temperature regulation
Checks
Be sure to check:
- Sling is fit for purpose
- Hydration is maintained
- Around you for hazards
- With a professional if you are not sure
Child's comfort and development
Although these are not in relation to safety, they are important factors in optimising the way that you carry your child for their comfort, and their development.
- Support the neck appropriately for the age and development of the child
- Hands up with access to the face
- Smooth material over the spine with excess supporting neck or under the bum
- Pelvis tilted into a deep squat position
- Material forms a seat in a triangle with the tailbone and from knee pit to knee pit
- Feet are uncovered and free to move
Carer's comfort
If you are not comfortable when carrying your child, it will not be a positive experience for either of you. To optimise your own comfort, consider the following:
- Buckles and knots placed comfortably
- Material is smoothed out where possible
- Straps or passes are comfortable
- Shoulders and neck are able to relax
- Awareness of centre of gravity changes
- Footwear is comfortable
Important
All of the elements we have described here will optimise your carrying experience, making it beneficial in all possible ways in the long and short term. However, it can seem like a lot to remember. The most important things to remember are the ABS of carrying safely:
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