From biking and hiking to walking and jogging, today’s parents are keeping fit and bonding with their babies in the process. While baby carriers, joggers and trailers can make life easier and more enjoyable, they can cause pain and injury if not used properly.
Jogging
If you wish to go for a job and bring your child along, the baby jogger is your best option. A baby jogger is a stroller that a parent can jog behind, using handlebars to maneuver. Here are some rules of thumb to consider:
- Make sure the handlebars of the jogger are large and adjustable, to fit comfortably into your hands for complete control. Handbrakes and a locking mechanism are a necessity.
- Large, bicycle-style tires offer more control and stability.
Walking or Hiking
For walking or hiking, backpack-style or front-side baby carriers work well for the baby, helping you watch to make sure the child’s head is stable. Remember, however that these products decrease a parent’s stability. Get into shape before attempting to use them—and consider the following tips:
- Choose a carrier with wide straps that fit comfortably over the center of your collarbone.
- Never run or jog while carrying a baby in a backpack-style carrier, front-side carrier or baby sling. This can damage the baby’s neck, spine and/or brain.
Biking
When biking with a child on board, use a trailer. This is a safer option than a carrier or “passenger” seat. To further ensure the child’s safety while biking, remember the following tips:
- Equip the trailer with a harness that can be placed over the child’s body. The harness should be complicated enough that the child cannot unhook it or wiggle out of it.
- Protect your child’s head with a sturdy, properly fitting helmet.
- Only an experienced rider should attempt to bike with a child on board at all. And even then, practice with a ride-along trailer for two weeks before riding with a child.
