When the time comes to go to specialized childcare stores to start seeing the things that the baby needs, it is very common to start with the cart. Most parents spend more time choosing the stroller than on all other items combined, including such important things as the car seat or crib mattress, on which the baby will spend many hours. We do not intend to scold you if you are one of those dads or moms who have spent hours looking at the latest car models, seeing differences between this year's model compared to previous editions. Everything is faced with enthusiasm and you want the most beautiful car for your baby, but the most beautiful car is not always the best option.
You will be surprised that in most stores it is the carrycot that is displayed, and sometimes they don't even show you the chairs. Do not forget that despite this, it is your car seat that you will use the most, and therefore do not leave the store without also seeing the features of the seat, which will be an element that will accompany you and your baby for many months. Do not hastily transfer the child to the chair, and when you make this decision (which may be at 6 months, a little earlier or a little later, depending on each baby and their development), make sure your baby is able to control his head. Don't force him into a reclined position like a chair if the baby isn't ready, and to find out, try sitting him up and holding his hips. If his spine is maintained and supported, you can progressively transfer him to the chair; And if you have doubts, there is no one better than your pediatrician to advise you. Since you have gone to see cars and the carrycot is the piece in which your baby will go for a walk in his first months of life, allow us to accompany you on that visit and give you advice for the best choice of car, from the point of view of the carrycot.
The carrycot should be comfortable, spacious and light. Think that the child will be inside for many hours, and it will be his world. He still has very limited movement capacity and his senses are not yet developed to perceive many external stimuli.
The hood must be extendable to regulate exposure to the sun, and to control freshness or drafts. An extendable hood is ideal to protect it from the sun when it is extended, but also so that it receives some sunlight, also beneficial for health as it actively participates in the synthesis of vitamin D. Without forgetting that it also protects from cold and rain.
Textiles must be breathable, even more important if you live in an area with a warm climate or if the baby will be in the carrycot during the summer months, depending on his or her date of birth. This last consideration serves to remind all parents in general that the choice of many of the things that the baby needs depends on the season and the geographical area in which the child is born. We insist that we are not trying to tell you that aesthetics do not matter, but a child born in June in Seville is not the same as a child born in November in Teruel: do not let aesthetic criteria lead you to choose an inappropriate textile. There are also many textiles with anti-allergy treatments. This is especially important nowadays, in which allergies to certain materials translate into long-lasting dermatological problems. Lastly, mention this topic., It has become very fashionable lately, by some brands, for the hood of the carrycot to have UV protection with an SPF protection factor greater than 30. Really think that if you have the hood open and the child is in the shade, why do you need the textile to have sun protection? Leave everything you need to know about protection factors for when you start using pediatric protection creams, and question the effectiveness of a label on the hood with the indication SPF30 or SP50, because it obeys more marketing criteria than reality.
From a practical point of view, pay close attention, and if you have doubts, ask the store, to ensure that the textiles of your carrycot, especially the interiors, are washable. A newborn baby has a tendency to soil himself, both from small vomiting and from relieving himself. A removable and washable textile will make your life much easier.
There are rigid carrycots and others that are not, the latter being those of very practical cars called convertibles. In both cases it is necessary for the carrycot to have a mattress, and since your baby will be face up, the importance of this is even greater in terms of firmness and quality. The mattress must be breathable and you must also take into account its texture and quality to avoid, as far as possible, cranial deformation known as plagiocephaly, or flat head. This represents an increase in its price, so you must assess whether the duration of the carrycot is really worth it. If the child has reflux or the pediatrician for another reason tells you to lift the child up a little, there are more economical ways to achieve this, for example by using a special tilting wedge that will allow your baby to be more upright and with more movement capacity and with more possibility of observing the world that opens before his eyes.
In short, the carrycot, despite being a piece of ephemeral use, is a fundamental piece in the development of the first months of your child's life, it is comfort, health and rest for him and with an appropriate choice you will be the happiest mother or father in the world.
