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Soft Structured Carriers for Newborns

nooscorner
Mar 21, 2016
2 min read

There are many soft structured carriers on the market, and many state they are safe and optimal for newborns. The reality is very few are optimal. Any SSC requiring an insert presents a potentially unsafe wearing situation- the risk of slumping and asphyxiation in an insert are high and the pressure on babies feet from being inside the insert triggers a reflex that can make them very tired. It's also near impossible to achieve and maintain the optimal spinal position in an insert. Carriers that have a cinchable base are by far the best newborn carriers. The image below shows my favourite two. The Emeibaby and the kokadi Flip. The manduca carrier has a built in infant insert, but also offers an accessory strap to cinch the base- this is a great tool and makes the carrier a better option.

The emeibaby

The emeibaby is a hybrid carrier, that buckles like a soft structured carrier but features a panel made of woven wrap fabric adjustable by rings on either side. It is suitable from birth with a guideline of 3kg. The waist belt and shoulder straps are foam padded for wearers comfort and are fully adjustable to fit most sizes. The emeibaby also features a hood that can be rolled up and used to offer additional head and neck support. The emeibaby carrier also comes in a toddler size.

The Kokadi Flip

The Flip is a full buckle carrier designed to be used from birth, with a minimum weight recommendation of 3.5kg. They are made from woven wrap material featuring kokadi's famous wrap designs and are an excellent mid range entry into the baby wearing world. The waist is padded with thin foam as are the shoulder straps and newer designs feature perfect fit adjuster on the shoulder, enabling the wearer to achieve a more comfortable fit. The width of the panel is 42cm, but kokadi also make a toddler (47cm) and Pre school (52cm) size. The Panel width is adjustable using velcro around the waist band and the shoulders also adjustable to desired length once buckled close. The flip features a hood made from woven wrap fabric, and this makes an excellent head support for newborn babies once rolled and secured into place. The kokadi Tai Tai is another great option with all the features of the flip but is a half buckle design, so features a buckle waist with mei tei style shoulder straps.