Joint/ back problems

Jennifer - posted on 01/11/2009

I had lower back issues. I find it helps to wear the baby high.  I got a carrier as a gift that wans't tight enough for me, and it caused my back to hurt.  When I use my wrap or sling, I tend to have him in a possition where he's hugging my breast, and I'm able to walk a couple of miles with him like that without problems.  As was mentioned before, make sure you are using the carrier correctly.  If I don't spread out the sling, or if the wrap is not spread out properly, it starts to bother my upper back and shoulder(s).

Kateryn - posted on 12/05/2008

thanks its been really helpful i have a sling atm that seemed to work ok but now she has gotten heavier so im hoping to egt a wrap and have that instead :) thanks again

Colleen - posted on 12/04/2008

Back problems. Look for a carrier that lets you wear your baby close and high, keeping his centre of gravity above yours and as close in as possible. Your babycarrier should distribute your baby's weight widely to reduce strain. A well-adjusted sling or pouch should not cause back strain but may aggravate an existing problem. Adding a second sling helps distribute the weight over two shoulders and if you wear the rings on your hips (or waist), the two tails can be tied together, effectively allowing some weight to be transferred to your hips as well. Wraparound carriers can be a good choice, as they spread the baby's weight widely over both shoulders as well as to your waist/hips. Soft carriers vary considerably. Look for one with a waist/hip strap that effectively transfers much of your baby's weight to your hips (see reviews to check these out). Unstructured or (Asian-style) soft carriers are flexible enough to hold your baby very close to you and are generally a better choice than the structured soft carriers if you have back problems. (http://www.thebabywearer.com/index.php?p...)

Colleen - posted on 12/04/2008

Here is another really great site: http://www.thebabywearer.com/

They have a lot of research posted about babywearing devices, techniques, etc.

Kateryn - posted on 11/29/2008

thanks for all the suggestions i have ordered a moby which should arrive soon and my doula has suggested another sling to try thanks again its been great to have so much advice
xox

Lalla - posted on 11/29/2008

the comfort isnt the only issue with bjorns, when a baby is hanging by their crotch, this cn also cuse spinal compression, as their little back isnt being supported properly. with any carrier, please ensure that your baby is being supported by his/her thighs and bottom! their legs should be horizontal against wou, not vertical, and dangling.

and with a sling, make sure its cupping your shoulder, like in Ems pic! and it should be spread out across your back, this will also make it comfier for bub, having it spread!

good luck!

Tammy - posted on 11/18/2008

I also have back problems, and find that the Moby wrap minimizes the pain by evenly distributing the weight of your baby over both shoulders and your whole back. My baby and I LOVE the Moby - I wear it for hours each day because it is the one thing that settles my colicky baby.

Em - posted on 11/18/2008

A yes, I noticed in your post below that you use a baby bjorn. I had a carrier like this before I really discovered babywearing. The bjorn is not built for your (as you have discovered) or your baby's comfort (how would you like to be dangling there by your crotch!). A properly fitted baby carrier should NOT hurt. If you want to try the ring sling again, make sure you are using it properly. The fabric should be completely spread out across your back, and the sling should be worn high enough so baby's bum is above your bellybutton.



I love the ring sling because they are so quick and easy to use, but if I'm going to carry for a long time, I use my mei tai. It's super comfortable and distributes baby's weight across your shoulders and waist. I've gone on 6 miles hikes carrying my 5 month old in a mei tai. Some common brands are FreeHand, BabyHawk, Kozy, but there are lots of others.



Someone mentioned the Moby wrap. This is a nice wrap for a young baby, but it's a stretchy wrap, so not good for older, heavier babies. There is a bit of a learning curve with a wrap, but it will absolutely make is seem like your baby is weightless. Plus, if your back is particularly bad, there are a ton of different carry styles that you can use to find what's most comfortable.



A soft-structured carried like the Ergo, Beco, Connecta, Calyx (there are a ton of others) might be another thing to try. These are the same idea as the mei tai, but with buckles instead of ties and many of them have extra padding in the waist or shoulders.

Allie - posted on 11/11/2008

I've been told Mei Tai's are quite good for people with back problems. If you want to try one i'll happily let you try one of mine

Auntie - posted on 11/10/2008

ERGO PACK!!! It doesn't hurt my back at all and it can be a front or back carrier! I love it! I used a sling with my first 2, but by the time my 3rd came, my back just isn't what it used to be. I found the sling to be too lopsided. Check out the Ergo.... If you find a helpful store, they'll let you try it out!

Lyndsey - posted on 11/10/2008

Ergos and beco baby carriers are wonderful for minimizing any back pain.

Alicia - posted on 11/10/2008

try ebay....they have the cheapest prices....standard retail is like $70....yikes! but i got mine a lot cheaper...

Kateryn - posted on 11/09/2008

i have a baby bjorn baby carrier and a traditional sling ill have a look at the moby thanks

Alicia - posted on 11/09/2008

hello....i also have joint and back problems....i use the moby wrap...i have tried the ring sling and an infantino carrier but the both really hurt my back....the moby is the best so far.....what type of carrier do you have?