We have all lived that moment of wanting or needing to do something, and not being able to because our baby constantly demands us. For them, the arms of mom and dad are a necessity because they protect them, fill them with love and are their refuge when they need to feel safe.
And although we would love for time to stop and we could hold them to our chest without remorse, the truth is that on many occasions we feel overwhelmed because we also need to do other things such as work, cook, play with our older children, take a shower. …
Indoor porting – or porting indoors – is the solution we need in these cases , and especially now, when we spend the entire day indoors and many children seem to be more in need of physical contact than ever. By carrying our baby at home we will not only be taking care of all his needs, but we will be able to continue doing most of our routines. They are all advantages!
What are the benefits of indoor porting?
We have already talked on numerous occasions about the benefits for the baby of being carried in an ergonomic and respectful way (because we remember that not just any baby carrier will do):
- Helps you calm down and feel more confident in direct skin-to-skin contact
- Holding our baby in your arms helps him improve his brain development
- Improves the physical development of the baby since the natural posture of the back is respected (arched in the shape of a C), which is the same as it had inside the mother’s womb
- Relieves symptoms of reflux and colic in the infant
- Prevents plagiocephaly
- Prevents hip dysplasia
- The baby has everything he needs: warmth, security, comfort and love
- If the baby is breastfeeding, the breast will also always be within reach (although breastfeeding while carrying requires some practice)
- The affective bond between the carrier and the baby is strengthened
For the mother or father who carries, having your baby well attached in a light carrier or backpack also has advantages, because while your hands are free to do what you need , you will be aware of your baby at the same time, immediately attending to any need you present (or even anticipating them)
What activities can we do at home while carrying the baby?
When we carry abroad we do it for sheer pleasure ; that is, we simply enjoy walking while we feel our baby close to our chest.
Some time ago I told you about my three carrying experiences, and what each of them meant to me. I discovered indoor carrying with my middle daughter, who needed to be carried constantly to alleviate her reflux symptoms , but it was with my third child that I really discovered everything I could do while carrying her indoors:
- Play with my other children, do homework, bathe them, take care of them … Even take care of the specific needs of my middle daughter who at that time was also a baby. In addition, the fact of being able to continue to maintain the same routines and activities with her, without neglecting my baby, helped us a lot when it comes to overcoming the jealousy that initially appeared
- Working in front of the computer, taking phone calls, receiving orders …
- Preparing food or cooking cold (if you are going to cook hot you should never carry your baby on you, not even on your back, as there is a risk that it may splash oil or boiling water and cause it to burn)
- Doing housework such as putting washing machines, ironing (in this case I recommend carrying on the back), folding clothes, sewing, making beds, sweeping, scrubbing …
- Eat without interruption, and even breastfeed while you carry and continue eating
- I’ve even gotten to the point of showering with my baby in a water sling
Requirements to bear in mind to carry respectfully
But as we mentioned at the beginning, not all baby carriers allow a respectful and ergonomic carrying, so we must take into account a series of indications to know if we are carrying correctly:
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To begin with, let us remember that ergonomic baby carriers and backpacks do not allow the baby to be placed facing out , no matter how old he is.
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When sitting in the carrier / backpack, the baby should have his legs in the M or “frog” position , which will allow him to maintain the natural C-shape of his back and raise his knees above the bottom. Their legs should never be forced open, nor should they be stretched leaning on their genitals, as this impairs the correct development of their back and hips.
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If you carry in front, his head must be at the height of your kisses ; never above our chin (since this interferes with our angle of vision and could cause us to fall when walking) nor below our chest.
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Ergonomic baby carriers and backpacks must adapt to the baby as if it were a glove , without buttresses, zippers, snaps or rigid structures that touch their body and can make them uncomfortable or hinder their natural position.
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Supporting the baby’s head : the ergonomic backpack should also support the baby’s head, providing enveloping support when the baby falls asleep and thus preventing his head from falling.
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For the carrier, the backpack or baby carrier must respect its physiognomy and not carry clasps, supports or straps that dig into the back, shoulders or lumbar area. In addition, you can put on and take off the carrier without help, as well as adjust the straps and straps regardless of your physiognomy and height.
What is the most suitable baby carrier to carry at home?
As long as it is a respectful and ergonomic baby carrier, the answer will depend on tastes:
- We can opt for carrying shirts, although this solution will only serve us for the first months
- Lightweight baby carriers such as scarves, meitais or shoulder straps offer the advantage of being very warm, and even allow the child to be carried during all its stages and in various ways. But their main disadvantage is that they are not easy to use and require some practice. In addition, some are asymmetrical, that is, all the weight falls on a single shoulder, so if you do not have previous experience in this type of carrying, they can become uncomfortable for the wearer if they are used for a long time.
- Baby carrier backpacks: there are those that allow carrying from birth and adapt to the growth of the baby, and others indicated for children from six months or even older.
Photos | iStock
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