The infant carrier, a must-have item

Manufacturers of child restraint systems, in general, offer a variety of solutions to parents, since, after all, they understand that the parents buy the product and are the main users, whereas the baby is “only” a secondary user.

Let’s see what a restraint system should provide if we put the baby at the center of the decision.

The baby’s needs include:

• A space appropriate for its dimensions, in other words, a relatively small space in which it can feel protected.
• An appropriate tilt angle that puts their head in a resting position and, given how difficult it is for them to hold their head up, that prevents their head falling forward due to their weak neck muscles.
• A level of restraint that is adequate, but not overwhelming. We all know what happens when babies feel uncomfortable…
• A system that guarantees good ergonomics to ensure comfort and correct positioning.
• Adequate head protection to avoid contact with any part of the car in the event of a collision.
• And finally, and most importantly, a system that offers the greatest possible safeguards in the event of a collision, whether from the front, side or rear.

Well, only one child restraint system gives the baby everything it needs, and that system is an infant carrier.

There are thousands of different options available on the market for transporting newborns, but all of them, even in the best of cases, only manage to “imitate” the conditions offered by a baby carrier, without ever being as good.

 In fact, in countries like the United Kingdom and Portugal, parents are not allowed to leave the hospital with their baby unless it is in an infant carrier, which is why the use of these devices is so widespread in these countries.

That is why we believe it is important when choosing a child restraint system to think about the needs of the real primary users (the children), and somewhat less about the needs of the real secondary users (the parents and caregivers). The needs of the child must come first when these conflict with those of the parents, which will be the majority of the time.

If we decide on a baby carrier, we must make sure that it meets all the baby’s needs and that the manufacturer has taken into account all the variables mentioned above. In general, we recommend that you choose a reputable brand and discard any that do not guarantee that the product has been designed with the baby in mind. Buying the product in a specialized store, avoiding second-hand products with little or no warranty, and asking the seller about how each manufacturer solves the issues mentioned above, will give us a clear idea of the best option.