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Considerations For the Baby
A chiropractic exam right at birth will help determine if there are any spinal misalignments contributing to potential postural deviations. Addressing these issues as early as possible with specific chiropractic adjustments can prevent abnormal developments of the spine and cranium.
For continued support in the care of your infant’s spine and nervous system, your family chiropractor will discuss variations of postures for your baby’s optimal development as well. This includes sleep, play time, breastfeeding, and baby-carrying positions. Incorporating proper baby positioning and carrying early on will offer your child the best potential for normal, healthy, structural development.
Choosing a single carrier that offers maximum diversity with all of these considerations is not easy. It is therefore advisable that parents have a variety of carriers on hand for various stages of baby development, weight gain, and mutual comfort for parent and child. Parents should also vary the use of their carriers on a daily basis. Alternating carriers and maintaining awareness of postures will offer both parent and baby the maximum benefits of baby wearing.
Considerations for choosing a soft–body carrier:
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Does the carrier offer various carrying positions for the baby on the wearer? (Front, sides, back?)
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Does the carrier offer numerous positions for the baby: forward-facing, chest-facing, vertical, horizontal, legsfolded, straight, or frog-like position? (A carrier with limited positions for the child will affect your baby’s postural development.)
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How long will the carrier accommodate the child’s growth and postural development? For several months, the entire first year, into the toddler years?
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Can the child be transferred from one wearer to another without disturbing the baby?
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How comfortably can a sleeping baby be laid down or removed from the carrier without waking?
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Can the baby be breastfed while being carried?
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Is the carrier easily cleaned?
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Does the carrier require the wearer to support the baby with one hand or does the wearer have both hands free?
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Can the baby be put into all carrying positions by the wearer alone, or is another person’s help necessary?
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Is the weight of the baby evenly distributed for the wearer’s comfort while using the carrier?
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Does the carrier cause repetitive stress and postural compensations to one area of the wearer’s spine?
About the Author:
Dr. Ohm is a practicing DC in a family, wellness based practice since 1981. She is an international lecturer on the topic "Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy and Infancy" to practicing Chiropractors and affiliated Care Providers. A Post Graduate Instructor for numerous Chiropractic Colleges, ahe is also the author of many papers on pregnancy, birth, children and chiropractic.
Dr. Ohm is the founder of Makin' Miracles...Connecting Kid's n' Chiropractic, a community outreach program to educate children and adults about the life saving benefits of chiropractic. Ahe is also the producer and writer of the children's chiropractic song, "Power On!" and educational video, "Birth Trauma: A Modern Epidemic." In addition, she is the Executive Coordinator for the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, and editor of the I.C.P.A.'s bimonthly newsletter. For references and additional information about the author and topic, please visit: http://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/references.html
 This article appeared in Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, Issue #10.
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