The carrier mum can
A baby carrier gives mothers the freedom to move while having their babies with them. One carrier helps Syida Lizta Amirul Ihsan navigate shopping trips and more with her son
THE indispensability of the Ergobaby Omni 360 to me, my husband and our son Murshid was proven one fateful day when he had his cranky episode at the babysitter. At 5 months old, he is a bundle of joy and energy, laughter and screams all rolled into one tiny human being.
And as parents, we know that one of the ways to pacify him is to take him for a walk. So after a whole day of infant tantrum, I strapped him onto the carrier after work and texted my husband: “We’re following you to the Ramadan bazaar. I need to take him for a walk.”
True to form, Murshid was quiet all the way, enjoying the sights and sounds of the bazaar, and the vehicles that zoomed along the road. My aim was to pacify him and stop his crying so that he can fall asleep easier at night.
There is something about savouring the sights and sounds of the world that keeps him peaceful. It can be a park, a pasar malam or even a mamak joint (he once had his eyes fixed on Devi’s Corner staff buzzing around picking and sending orders on a weekend morning).
What we love about the carrier is the ability for the baby to do just that ― observe his surroundings. My son likes to face out while being carried, instead of facing the person carrying him. And for that, this black-coloured carrier is a lifesaving device — it saves us from hand cramps and back pain due to unfair distribution of weight brought on by carrying a baby without a carrier.
A week before that Ramadan bazaar trip, I used the carrier to take him to watch his father run the Rimba Alam Ultra Relay. Murshid likes the outdoors and we often take him to the park on weekend mornings. That day, he looked at trees and flowers, and was happy all day (until he grew tired six hours later).
WHY CHOOSE A CARRIER
Even while I was preglooking nant and for a way to transport my child, I know I would be more inclined towards a carrier than a stroller. I like it because it’s very practical.
You carry the baby like a kangaroo carries her joey, have your hands free and the baby, I assume, can see a whole lot more of the world than being strapped to a stroller. The Omni 360 Pure Black has all the carry positions and is newborn-ready. Hownot ever, I did carry my son in it until he was 4 months old. He was born small, at 2.75kg and he didn’t have the height for it.
The carrier also has crossable shoulder strap to give a personalised fit. But what I like the most is the ergonomic feel of the carrier — it feels like carrying a hiking bag on the front. It has lumbar support for your back so there is no back pain even if I carry him over an extended period.
There are other options to carry a baby in it but I have not ventured into them yet. Maybe in a few months. For now, the position that makes Murshid happy is good for me.
The carrier also has a detachable storage pouch for keys and phone if we take a short walk, for instance, when I pick him up from the babysitter’s.
This has changed the game for me. I no longer have to lug a folded stroller and end up having to carry him when he wants to be carried. With this carrier, he would just fall asleep when he wanted to. No fuss, no muss.
Once you get the hang on tightening the strap and making sure he is comfortable, the carrier is very easy to wear on your own.
The carrier is well-made and sturdy. But at RM949, it’s pricey. You can get different prices at different outlets but it will still be over RM800. But if you appreciate the freedom of your hands and are keen to take your baby everywhere (this one’s great for grocery shopping), it’s worth forking out money for. After all, a good quality stroller is also on the four-figure mark.
So strap on, and take your baby and yourself to places strollers cannot reach, like hiking trails. And if your baby is anything like Murshid, he will enjoy every bit of it.