Babywearing Without Back Pain
By Sara Butler
October 5-10 is International Babywearing Week! In celebration of all of you who have discovered the joys (and the hands-free benefits) of babywearing, here’s how you can wear your baby without wearing out your back!
A Caveat
It’s important to note that every body and everybody is different when it comes to babywearing. Your body may respond differently to different carriers and different positions. The most important thing to remember is to listen to your body. If your back starts to hurt, then you need to give it a break and check in with your chiropractor to make sure everything is where it should be!
Prevention is Key
The best way to keep your back from aching when babywearing is to take steps to prevent it in the first place. Backs can be injured in many different ways, but following a few simple rules can help you avoid these problems. You should remember:
- Start slow – You shouldn’t try to tandem wear your 30-pound toddler and your 45-pound preschooler! While excitement is certainly admirable, you won’t do your back any favors by not easing into babywearing slowly over time.
- Lift carefully – Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers weigh enough to injure you through improper lifting techniques. You lift them several times a day so it’s really important to do it right by keeping them as close to your body as possible and bending at the knees, not with your back.
- Make good choices – There are some activities you just can’t do while babywearing. Twister, for example, will be a disaster and you will not emerge unscathed. Sure, it might be funny, but it’s really important you pay attention to how you move your body when you’ve got the added weight of a child strapped on to you.
Babywearing is Exercise
All you need to do is use your common sense to avoid hurting your back when babywearing; the more you babywear the stronger you will become. Babywearing is a weight-bearing exercise that strengthens your core, and that helps you to avoid back injuries in the long run. Plus, carrying your child in a carrier that is close to your body and offers structure and support is a lot better for your body than carrying them on your hip or in your arms.
If you have questions about the correct way to wear your baby, discuss it with your chiropractor during your visit to The Joint Chiropractic!
