Tummy to tummy- legs out
Posted on July 5, 2008 by Orit Filed Under carrying positions | Leave a Comment
Somewhere between 1 and 4 months you’ll find that your baby has become too big for the frog legs position. If you have a big and long baby you will notice it sooner. If you think that tucking his legs inside the carrier is becoming uncomfortable, try carrying him in the tummy to tummy position as seen in the picture above, with the legs spread apart and hugging your body, knees at the same height as the bottom, and the carrier supporting the thighs at least as far as the knee.
Some parents recoil from spreading the baby’s legs. Actually, it is a position recommended by Orthopedists as a way of preventing and treating problems with thigh joints. Most babies I’ve seen don’t objects to having their legs spread, but if they do, listen to them. It would be better to wait a couple of weeks and then try again. However, if your baby persists in refusing to have his legs spread, you might want to check whether he has high body tonus.
Taking the legs outside doesn’t necessarily mean taking the head outside as well- you may continue supporting the head inside the carrier all or some of the time, with or without frog legs position. You can use the same carrier as before, be it a sling, a mei tai, a podegi or a wrap. If your baby holds his head by the time you switch to tummy to tummy with legs out, you can start using a soft backpack as well.
This position is also possible in rigid traditional carriers, such as the Baby Bjorn, but as you can see in this picture, in this type of carriers the baby is supported only under the crotch and his legs are dangling unsupported. There are certain argumentations against this mode of carrying babies, especially very young.
Facing Forward: the “kangaroo” Position
Posted on June 27, 2008 by Orit Filed Under carrying positions, carrier info | Leave a Comment
Facing forward is not my favorite position, because there are several arguments against it.
However, some babies start showing signs of interest in the world before they are big enough to hold their heads firmly and be carried without head support in the tummy-to tummy position. If such a baby refuses to be carried facing inward while awake, you can either avoid using the carrier until he becomes tired again or carry him in what I call the “kangaroo” position, that is facing out with the legs folded on baby’s tummy inside the carrier (as opposed to this facing out position), so it is actually a more erect form of the cradle hold, with most of its benefits. It is not a good position for a nap though- so if you see the little head starts nodding, it would be best to switch to another position (either tummy to tummy or cradle, whichever you and your child prefer).
Kangaroo position is possible in most carriers- ringslings, pouch slings, Mei tai and wraps.
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