Front-worn baby carrier

Baby carriers which permit a user to transport a child on one’s back supported by the user’s shoulder and back are well known. Baby carriers, wherein the child is held within a carrier that is attached to a harness worn by an adult such that the child is carried proximate the adult’s torso region, are used and loved by millions of moms and dads. These devices allow the caregiver to be able to hold the child using the caregiver’s body to support the child instead of predominately the arms and shoulders. These carriers typically comprise a rigid frame fabricated from aluminum tubing, a cockpit in which a child is secured, typically through the use of one or more belts, and a mounting portion to which shoulder straps are attached by which the carrier is supported on the back of a user. Additionally, many baby carriers include waist belts that allow the user to secure the lower portion of the carrier firmly against the user’s back. Known infant carriers include back infant carriers and front infant carriers. Back infant carriers carry the infant in an infant-carrier pouch on the back of an adult, and front infant carriers carry the infant in an infant-carrier pouch on the front of the adult. Some pouches allow the infant to be carried facing forward, and some pouches allow the infant to be carried facing rearward.

Various front infant carriers are known and are generally categorized as cloth apparatuses which conform to the infant’s body and have plural straps attached thereon for placement over the shoulders and around the waist of the wearer. Conventional front infant carriers include those having a shoulder harness including left and right shoulder straps which go over, respectively, the left and right shoulders of the adult who is carrying the infant. Some infant carriers have an additional strap in the form of a waist belt. The shoulder straps have ends which are attached to the infant-carrier pouch. One popular front-worn baby carrier includes two padded straps and a child carrying pouch. The two straps cross over each other in the middle of the back of the wearer. One strap extends over the right shoulder and crosses over to the left side of the body behind the back of the wearer, and then extends around the left side of the midriff of the wearer, and then attaches to the child carrying pouch 4 in the vicinity of the stomach of the wearer. Similarly, another strap extends over the left shoulder and crosses over to the right side of the body behind the back of the wearer, and then extends around the right side of the midriff of the wearer, and then attaches to the child carrying pouch 4 in the vicinity of the stomach of the wearer. Baby carrier has arm openings through which the arms of the baby extend, as well as leg openings through which the legs of the baby extend. In another front-worn baby carrier, the baby’s head is being supported by the neck rest portion of pouch. The baby’s legs are hanging down through the leg openings, and the baby’s bottom is being supported by the base of pouch. Baby can also be carried in an outward-facing position such that the back of the baby’s head rests on the wearer’s chest. The neck-rest upper portion of pouch can be folded down so that the baby can look out to the front. There are numerous other similar types and brands of front-worn baby carriers available on the market today.

The chief benefits of frontal carriers are that the bearer and the baby can together enjoy the warmth of frontal contact, with the baby feeling the heart beating. In traditional frontal carriers, the top of the baby’s head reaches at or below the neck level of the bearer. The bearer can see and stroke the baby from head to toe. Because it is often enjoyable to carry an infant or small child on excursions, carriers which hold the child within easy reach and allow for wearer-determined speed of travel are common. Frontal carriers are typically utilized from birth until the baby becomes to heavy to support, at about four months of age. By that time, most babies have learned to hold their heads upright with sufficient strength to be moved into a back-mounted carrier. Back-mounted carriers are recommended for carrying babies from about four months old to toddler age. Nevertheless, both baby and parent often tire quickly of the device. The sheer weight of the baby causes a strain on the parent’s lower back that only increases as the little one gains weight. There are additional disadvantages of frontal carriers. In most cases the bearer needs to hold the frontal carrier with one hand to keep it from swinging about. As a result, tasks requiring the use of both hands must wait. Back-mounted carriers correct many of the problems of frontal carriers. They offer an improved view of the world to the older baby and alleviate lower back strain to the bearer. They free the bearer’s arms and hands and allow the bearer to perform tasks in front of the body.

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May 31, 2008 | Filed Under Baby carrier