Many baby backpack carriers can be used from when the child is around six months old until up to age four. A four year old can weigh in excess of 20 kg. Carrying that kind of weight can put a significant strain on the spine. Choosing the wrong baby carrier, lifting or fitting it incorrectly can damage your spine health and give you low back pain.
Choosing the Correct Size of Baby Carrier
It is important that the back length of the baby carrier is compatible with the length of the spine of the person carrying the baby backpack. Over the course of its life and even during one hike the baby carrier may be carried by more than one person. The best baby carriers have an adjustable back system to protect the spine health of all who carry it.
To determine what size of back length on the carrier is needed perform the following measurements on all who will be carrying the child carrier regularly
- Find the spinous process of the C7 vertebrae. This is the most prominent knobble at the base of your neck just above the level of the shoulders.
- Find the iliac crests of the pelvis. Do this by standing with hands on the waist then sliding them hands down until they reach the top of your pelvis. Project a horizontal line from here to the lumbar spine.
- Use a flexible tape measure to measure the distance between the two points.
Make sure the baby carrier to be purchased has an adjustable back system whose length can be adjusted to accommodate these measurements for all who will be using it.
The back length is only likely to be changed in the field if it is easy to do so. Choose a carrier where the adjustable back system is easy to access and quick to adjust. Consider marking off on the child carrier where to set the adjustable back system to for each regular user.
Picking Up and Putting Down the Baby Carrier
The most likely maneuver to precipitate low back pain is lifting and twisting with a bent spine. To avoid this when lifting the baby carrier it is best to get someone to help.
Stand with the baby carrier behind the person who is going to be carrying it and the second person behind that. Loosen the hip belt and shoulder straps of the carrier. The helper can now bend their knees and do a straight lift to get the carrier up to the level of the back of the person who is putting the carrier on, who can then simply slide their arms into the shoulder straps. The best child carriers have handles at the front and back of the child seating area to help this lift.
If there is no helper to hand it is best to do a two part lift. Face the child carrier and do a straight lift onto an object of a suitable height, this could be a car bonnet, a handy boulder or a style. Then, supporting the child carrier so it doesn't fall, turn around and put the shoulder straps on.
Reverse this process when the child carrier is taken off and lowered to the floor as spine health is a likely to be compromised on lowering as on lifting.
To protect spine health keep the weight of the child carrier down as much as possible. This can be done by not carrying unnecessary additional extras. If hiking with someone else they can carry a backpack with everything else that is needed for the outing
Minimize the number of times that the child carrier is lifted up and put down. Put anything that needs to be accessed often somewhere that can be reached without taking the child carrier off. This may include clipping the camera to the rucksack harness, and choosing a child carrier with side pockets for snacks and drinks or carrying an additional bum bag.
Adjusting the Baby Carrier
Once the baby carrier is on the back it needs to be adjusted to give maximum comfort and to protect spine health.
- Tighten the hip belt. This should go snugly around the top of the pelvis, not around the stomach. It should be tight enough to facilitate the load transfer to the legs, but not so tight as to be uncomfortable Without the hip belt correctly adjusted more weight will be taken through the spine
- Tighten the shoulder straps. Do not over tighten or the hip belt will be lifted upwards and away from the pelvis.
- Tension the load adjusters: These are found on the shoulder straps and the waist belt, they need to be tightened to stabilize the pack
- Fasten the chest strap: this can be uncomfortable especially in women if it is too low. The chest strap should be roughly level with the bottom of the arm pit.
Keeping the Child Comfortable in the Baby Carrier
An unhappy or uncomfortable child won't sit still in a baby carrier. A heavy child shifting their weight from side to side stresses the spine, causes low back pain and could lead to a fall.
Features to look for on a baby carrier to keep the child comfortable include;
- A well padded adjustable seating area. Adjust the child's height in the carrier so they can see out and don't have the pressure of the sides of the carrier under their arm pits. However a child who is sat too high will unbalance the baby carrier
- Padded head and side rests
- Accessories to keep the child warm and dry
- Accessories to keep the child cool and out of the sun.
The best baby carriers will facilitate outstanding days out and travel opportunities for both child and parents. The lifelong memories will be of places visited and incredible sights and not of the low back pain experienced.
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