We recently wrote an article about how to properly lift your child, carry your child, and push a stroller without causing injury to yourself. As mentioned in the previous article, these mundane tasks can cause injury if they’re not performed properly. What about using baby gear such as car seats? How do you choose the right stroller? Here are some tips for safely using baby gear.
Pick a Stroller That’s Right for You
Of course you should pick a stroller that’s comfortable for your child, but you should also take your own comfort into consideration. Look for a stroller that is appropriate for your height and allows you to walk or run comfortably. Another important consideration when choosing a stroller is the terrain that you’ll be using it on—for example, if you live in a city, you should look for a stroller that can easily navigate curbs.
How to Push a Stroller Correctly
In our previous article, we wrote about the importance of keeping your back straight, staying close to stroller, and using your whole body to push the stroller—but what position should your arms and wrists be in?
It’s very common for parents to push a stroller while hunching over it with their elbows locked and their wrists bent backwards. Instead, keep your head and chin up with your ears directly above your shoulders. While holding the handlebars of the stroller, it’s important to keep your wrists straight with your arms slightly bent, but keep your arms relaxed and don’t lock them.
How to Properly Handle Car Seats
To properly pick up a car seat, stand directly in front of the car seat. Bend at your hips (not your back!) and use your arms to bring the seat in close to your body. Push your feet into the floor and tighten your core and pelvic floor muscles. Carefully straighten your hips to return to an upright standing position. Using this technique makes sure that your legs and hips are doing most of the work, rather than your back.
When taking your infant out of their car seat, try to avoid squatting down. Squatting down multiple times a day to take your child out of their car seat can cause stress and strain on the body. Instead, before taking your child out, place the car seat on a sturdy surface that is about waist height.
Always Hold Your Baby Close to Your Body
If you take anything away from this article, we hope that it’s this: when lifting, carrying, or holding your child, the less distance there is between your body and your child’s body, the better it is for your back.
The safest way to carry a car seat is by holding it at the center of your body and placing one arm on either side of the carrier, similar to the way you would carry a laundry basket. An alternative way to carry a car seat is by grasping the handle with both hands, bending your elbows, and carrying the car seat in front of you.