Babies & Toddler Information

For ages caring parents have carried their babies with them as they completed errands, chores and daily tasks. In case you haven't heard, there are multiple benefits of carrying your baby with you for a good part of the day. Some of these benefits include:

• Stimulating your baby's development.
• Raising your baby's social awareness.
• Reducing colic and stimulating quiet awareness.
• Freeing your hands to take care of daily chores or tasks.
• Simplifying shopping trips without having to worry about placing your child in an unsafe shopping cart.

You'll find often an infant carrier or baby back pack is much more convenient that a stroller or shopping cart to tote your child around in. Selecting a baby pack doesn't have to be a challenging task if you know what to look for. The first thing you will need to decide is whether you need a front pack or infant carrier or a baby back pack. Let's look at each of these choices in greater detail below.

Front CarriersFront infant carriers, packs and baby slings are the only choice for babies under 5-6 months of age. Before this your baby simply won't have the head and neck strength to sit upright in a baby backpack. Front packs offer all the same advantages of a baby backpack. Most will hold your baby up to 25 to 35 pounds, so you can use them for an extended period of time. Still others convert from a front pack to a back pack, allowing extended use.

The biggest difference between a front carrier and a sling is that most carriers evenly distribute your baby's weight between both shoulders. This helps reduce strain and neck discomfort. However, many moms prefer the simplicity of a sling for the first few weeks of their baby's life. You'll find that everyone has their own opinion about carrying their baby around. You are certain to find a carrier that will work best for you. Most slings are relatively inexpensive. You might consider buying a sling for your babies first weeks and then an infant backpack when you baby is old enough to ride in one.

Baby BackpacksBaby back packs are perhaps the most clever invention on the market today. What baby doesn't enjoy riding around with mom or dad on any given day? One of the best benefits of wearing a back pack is they leave your hands free to tend to any errands or chores you have to accomplish. Many assume that baby backpacks are only suitable for camping.

This is simply not the case. You can use a baby backpack anywhere you would plan to take your stroller or carry your child.

It does take some time to get used to wearing a baby backpack. Once you figure it out however, chances are you will wonder how you ever got along without one before. Most back packs are the perfect accessory through the toddler years. Most will carry your toddler up to 40 pounds, though some will carry your child to 70 pounds. (That however, is a LOT of weight to carry on your back). This means you can probably carry your baby around the first few years of life with a back pack. So now that you are excited about a back pack, how do you know which one is best for you? Here are some considerations to think about before buying a backpack:

• Think about what you plan to use your backpack for. If you plan to hike a lot, you'll need a more durable and expensive model than a casual backpack for just running errands. You may also need some added features like a rain hood or sunshade.
• Consider your height and weight requirements. If you plan to use a pack and are relatively petite or very tall, make sure the straps are adjustable enough to accommodate extreme sizes. This is also a consideration if you plan to share your pack with a large or small partner.
• Decide what features you prefer on a pack. Some packs come with a variety of features including a detachable diaper bag, toy loops and holders, bottle holders and more. The more features the pricier the bag. If you are working on a budget, decide what must have features you should look for.