Infant car seats or carrier can be a handy way to transport baby short distances. It avoids the need to disrupt a nap or have to wrestle a cranky baby in and out of straps and buckles. This recent viral video shows one option that is appropriate. Another option is to hold both ends of the car seat, evenly distributing the load to both arms & keeping the weight close to your body.
Infant car seats vary in weight from 10 - 20 pounds. Add that to the weight of the baby and you have created a significant demand on the musculoskeletal system. There aren't many circumstances in normal daily life when we would walk several hundred feet (think a far away parking spot into a grocery store for example) or travel up and down stairs carrying a 30 pound (or more) load with us. Babies, however, are a different matter. If you will be carrying baby in the car seat, here are some important tips to remember:
Carry only for short distances
Keep the infant carrier as close to you as possible to reduce strain
Seek alternatives to carrying long distances like wearing baby, bringing a cart to your car if shopping to put the carrier in, or using a stroller
If your childcare tasks are causing you pain or discomfort, give us a call at Jade. We can help get you moving comfortably again!