Kangaroo for newborns - baby carrier: from how many months to use, selection rules

As a modern and active mother, even during pregnancy, I began to study different types of kangaroos for newborns. It turned out that not all of them are equally safe for children.

Important points that I found out:

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it is better to choose a carrier made from natural, breathable materials;
When shopping, you should go not to children's department stores, but to specialized stores for mothers;
if you need a kangaroo for a short period of time (on a trip), you can rent it.

Pros and cons of using a kangaroo

The baby, being in a backpack, feels warmth and parental care, even if mom or dad are doing their household chores. While walking in the park or going to the store, the baby has no discomfort, because he can fall asleep at any moment, lulled by the measured rocking movements.

For residents of high-rise buildings without an elevator, kangaroos are a lifesaver. Having it, mom doesn’t have to worry about lifting and lowering the stroller to the floor. For families on a small budget, purchasing a backpack is affordable; it costs less than any quality stroller.

At what age are kangaroos used?

Carrying newborns in kangaroos is allowed from birth. For ages 0-5 months, products are produced in which the child is in a horizontal position facing the mother.

Vertical models are suitable for babies aged 6 months and older.

A six-month-old child tries to sit independently; his spine can support his body weight. The older the baby, the less often parents use the backpack. When a child masters walking, the kangaroo becomes irrelevant.

From how many months can it be used?

A kangaroo pouch for a child can be used from 6 months. This is due to the formation of ossification nuclei in the hip joint. My son did not have them at this age yet (this is not considered a pathology, they may appear later). Therefore, the option with kangaroo was no longer available to me. But if the ossification nuclei are formed and the muscles are strengthened, the use of this model is not dangerous.

Attention! It is not recommended to carry your baby in a carrier for more than 40-60 minutes. After this time, you need to take it out and stretch it a little by doing a massage or exercise.

Also, from the age of six months, the baby develops an interest in the world around him. Then you can wear it for a while facing away from your mother. But neurologists say that this position should not be abused: due to the excess of emotions received, the child’s nervous system is under severe tension. In this case, parents will be provided with evening hysteria before falling asleep and frequent night awakenings.

Criteria for choosing a kangaroo

Friends and acquaintances from social networks can advise you on which backpack to buy. But when purchasing, parents themselves need to evaluate the reliability of the carrier and the ease of use.

High-quality and safe materials

Kangaroos made from fabrics treated with water-dust-repellent impregnations are suitable for frequent use. They are easier to care for and get dirty less. Areas in contact with the child’s body are made only from natural, breathable materials:

cotton;
linen;
fleece

It’s a big plus if the kangaroo can be machine washed.

Reliability and comfort always come first

The child should be comfortable and comfortable in the carrier. This is ensured by belts adjusted to the required size and the backrest having the required rigidity. Model requirements:

All fastenings should be easy to fasten and unfasten.
The length of the belts is designed for any type of clothing (summer, winter).
Carrying parts should not rub, press, or cut.
The seat width is sufficient for the child to spread his legs wide. This is the prevention of hip dysplasia.
Durable headrest to secure your head while sleeping.

Product size

The guideline for choosing is the weight of the newborn and his age. The weight category is indicated in the instructions for the product.

Age (month)	Weight, kg)
0-4	6
4-12	12
24	15-16

Kangaroos designed for heavy weight are hip-type models and are worn on the side.

Ease of putting on

The kangaroo model with a large number of belts, straps, and various types of fastenings should be abandoned. They are difficult and take a long time to put on; mommy may not have enough patience for this.

Strength of straps and fastenings

The belts should have a reserve in length so that there are no problems with adjustment and customization to suit your figure. It is worth paying attention to models that have a waist belt and a thick corset insert on the straps. These details reduce the load on the mother's spine. For ease of use, it is important where the fasteners are located. It is convenient if they are placed in front or to the side.

The most comfortable models include a kangaroo with a detachable seat. It is hooked after the straps are adjusted. From a safety point of view, carabiners and latches come first; Velcro and buttons are less reliable.

Not fatal

A favorite argument in defense of any carry is “nothing has been proven.” No wonder. It is difficult to imagine a mother who would agree to participate in a study about the dangers of anything for her child. But that's not the point. The fact is that, despite all the complaints about hanging on the crotch, about the curvature of the still fragile spine, about the inconvenience for the wearer, incorrect carrying, let’s be honest, is not a reason to sound the alarm and rush at the unfortunate (and also happy) owners of kenugryatins.

Well, it's not the car seat that's a matter of life and death. This is a carrier, and the actual harm depends significantly on the conditions of use and even the individual characteristics of this particular child. Therefore, our position looks something like this: to talk not about the harm of some kind of carrying, but about the position of the child - what is it and, most importantly, why is it this way?

Is there any harm from using kangaroo

Experts do not prohibit carrying children in a kangaroo; during operation, you need to take into account their recommendations on limiting the duration of the child’s stay in the carrier. Reasons for time restrictions are design flaws:

the pose does not provide the desired angle between the legs;
load on the baby's fragile spine;
Mom has tension in her back muscles, stress on her spine.

A kangaroo model selected according to age reduces negative aspects. From birth to 4-5 months, the child is carried only in a horizontal position.

How can a kangaroo pouch be dangerous?

If you start carrying a child in a kangaroo before the age of three months, there is a risk of harming the spine and creating additional stress on the delicate and not yet strengthened spine. After all, the curves characteristic of the spine, which evenly distribute the load, will form only at a later age. Therefore, you should not abuse the use of baby carriers, because the baby’s health is more valuable.

Remember that only carrying children older than 6 months into a kangaroo will definitely not affect the correct development of his spine.

The danger of kangaroos may come from low-quality materials that can be used to complement the elements of the bag. This is especially true for children with allergies.

In hot weather, the baby may suffer from abrasions from the straps and diaper rash, because the dense material of the kangaroo does not allow air to pass through well.

Advice! In summer, it is better to take regular breaks, removing the child from the carrier for 5 minutes.

What kinds of slips for newborns are there and how to choose them. At what age can you give cubes to your baby? Find out in this article.

How to properly feed a baby in a public place? Find out by following the link

Rules of operation and care

The children's backpack includes instructions for use. It needs to be studied in detail. When operating any kangaroo model, you must adhere to the following rules:

Before use, check the integrity of belts and fasteners;
be especially careful when ascending (descending) stairs;
gradually increase the time the child spends in the kangaroo, start with 10 minutes, then limit it to 2 hours;
remove the baby from the carrier every 20-30 minutes;
do not use the product in a position in front of you when preparing food or ironing clothes;
monitor the condition of the baby’s skin in the groin area (there should be no redness).

Rating of the best models

The list of the best models will help you make the right choice. Italian and Swiss manufacturers guarantee reliability and convenience.

Baby Bjorn Miracle Organic

The model is made in Switzerland and is designed for ages from 0 to 18 months. Recommended weight from 3.5 kg at birth, the upper limit is 12 kg. All seat parts are made of cotton. Adjusting the slings is easy. The product is convenient to use. Estimated cost 7800 rubles.

Chicco YOU & ME

The Italian backpack is designed for babies 0-9 months, the child’s weight is limited to 11 kg. The baby can lie (sit) facing in 2 directions: towards the mother, towards the world. The kangaroo model is equipped with a double strap adjustment system, with its help you can change the dimensions of the backpack (width, height). You can use the carrier from birth, as it comes with a mattress. The device costs about 5,000 rubles.

Chicco Go Baby

The product is made of cotton, designed for a child weighing up to 9 kg. The design of the carrier does not allow the baby to be carried in a supine position; he can sit in it facing the mother or away from her. The kangaroo has wide straps, they do not put pressure on the back while walking, and the set includes bibs (2 pcs.). Carrying costs 1500 rubles.

BabyBjorn Original (Air)

The Swiss product can be used in two versions. The child can sit either facing the mother (father) or in the opposite direction. The design provides a leg spread angle of 45°. The minimum weight of a newborn is 3.5 kg. The baby carrier is designed for ages from 0 to 12 months.

The product is made of mesh, which makes it breathable. The baby is comfortable to carry in an apartment or on the street. The design easily adjusts to the size of a growing child. Approximate cost 6000 rub.

Baby Bjorn Active

The design takes into account all the physiological characteristics of infants aged 0-12 months. The carrier is ideal for active parents; the child can stay in the backpack for a long time. Minimum body weight 3.5 kg, maximum - 12 kg, angle between legs 45°, estimated price from 7,000 to 8,000 rubles.

Which bag should you choose?

The BabyActive baby carrier is a convenient, universal 3-in-1 option and is suitable for newborns, as the bag can be transformed into a fully reclining position.

The carrier is one of the most universal, as it meets all the basic requirements for quality kangaroos:

two levels of insurance: from the side of the head and the design of the shoulder straps, a special hood and a cushion under the baby’s head
Side child restraints in the bag
Harness length is adjustable at the front
there is a hard headrest and special protection from rain
presence of a side pocket and bib
summer and winter bags for legs.

The Chicco baby carrier is a great find for mothers whose baby weighs less than 9 kg. Let's look at the obvious advantages of such carriers:

There are several interchangeable bibs
wide headrest – 26 cm
Convenient cross fastening of harnesses
2 carrying positions adjustable according to baby's height and weight
mesh ventilation inserts on the side.

The BabyCare kangaroo carrier is an excellent inexpensive option for babies under 9 months that meets all modern requirements. Let's look at its features: