The Cursed "Crotch Dangler"

I said I would dedicate a post to this, and here we are. Crotch danglers. Baby Bjorns, Snugglis, and Infantinos are the most common. This is one of my soap-box issues. There are 4 main reasons why I really hate these carriers: 1) overstimulation of baby, 2) possible damage to the normal development of baby's hips & spine, 3) uncomfortable for parent, and 4) limit of uses.

Let's explore those a bit more, shall we?
First, overstimulation of the baby. In a Baby Bjorn or similar carrier, the baby can ONLY face out, away from the parent. They are unable to turn into the comfort of mama's chest when the surrounding environment becomes too much. They cannot interact directly with the parent, because they cannot see the parent. When carried facing the parent, the baby can still turn her head, see the world and external stimuli, and then snuggle into mama or daddy when she needs to.

Second, issues with normal development of baby's hips and spine. Admittedly, since there has been so little scientific research done, this is under debate. But the idea is that the natural position for a baby to take has his knees above his bum. Think about when a baby curls up. His legs are froggied under him. With an older baby, when you pick him up his legs go around your waist and your arms/hands go under his bum. Pay attention to his position--you'll find his knees are up above his bum.

This is my incredibly cute older sister, Sharon, and her youngest girl, E.

Super cute, right? Yeah. Here she's trying out my new Ergo, which worked really well for them, even though she's half a foot shorter than I am. Now, below, I've pointed out how E is positioned in the Ergo.

See how comfy mama and baby look? Beautiful! (And I don't mean JUST the models...the carry looks great, too!) Now, compare the above picture to the picture below.

Picture from lilsugar.com

Also note the relaxed, bent leg in the first picture, compared with the straight, stiff leg in the second. The first has fabric from knee to knee, fully supporting baby E's bum comfortably. The second has a narrow strip of fabric covering only the crotch and causing the crotch to take the full weight of the baby, hence the term "crotch-dangler".

There are indications that wearing baby in a crotch-dangler can cause or contribute to hip dysplasia. The unnatural position pinches nerves and arteries in the legs and creates pressure points in the spine. So, basically, lots of badness and discomfort for baby.

Point #3: Discomfort for the wearer. Crotch danglers offer little to no back or waist support, which means the weight of the baby is pulling on the wearer, which puts strain on the shoulders, neck, and lower back. Ouch. Also, the outward-facing carry puts the baby even further from the wearer's center of gravity, which puts even more strain on the wearer's back. This increases with heavier babies, who would be worn much more comfortably in a back carry, which is not an option with these carriers.

Fourth, the crotch-dangler is a front-carry-only device. No hip or back carries, which limits its usefulness as the baby gets heavier.

Please, please, please, please, PLEASE do not use these types of carriers. Spend a little bit more money and get a carrier that will be more comfortable and more versatile!