Storchenwiege Babysling, Инструкции по упаковке

Страница: 4 / 24

2
We are pleased to see you have chosen a Storchenwiege
®
sling and hope you and
your child will have a lovely time using it together. These instructions are designed
to give you some valuable information about carrying babies and toddlers before
going on to explain each carrying method step by step. With a little practice it will
not be long before you are expertly tying your Storchenwiege
®
sling, and soon it
might even become your constant companion.
But first let us take a look back through history. Human babies have always been
nursed and carried, even in our modern industrial countries, so you are not spoiling
your baby by carrying her. You are making your child strong. When you respond to
her needs, this confirms and builds up your child’s natural trust in you and boosts
her self-esteem.
In behavioural biology, babies fall into the class of “parent clinger”. The other two
types of young are altricial young and precocial young. Altricial young are born with
their eyes closed and unable to hear; they cannot move around and are only just able
to regulate their body temperature. They need the protection of the nest and can be
left there by their mother. They can go for long periods between feeds, and while the
mother is away they remain still. Precocial young, on the other hand, are a smaller
version of their parents; they can follow their mother around shortly after birth and
need her around at all times. Human babies fit into neither group. Until the class of
“clinging young” was introduced in 1970 by the biologist Prof. Bernhard Hassen-
stein, humans were considered altricial young and were treated accordingly. Clinging
young, such as the offspring of apes, koalas etc. can cling onto their mother’s fur
with their hands and feet. Human babies cannot do this; they need to be held and
supported. Leaving babies alone is the same as abandoning them. They perceive
being left alone as a life-threatening situation and suffer from extreme fear – it is no
wonder that babies start to cry when left alone in a room. Our clinging young are a
sign of our adaptation to a nomadic lifestyle. Human beings stopped roaming just
over 10,000 years ago, but this time is too short for biological or genetic adaptation
to our new living conditions (cf. Evelin Kirkilionis: „Ein Baby will getragen sein“ (A
baby wants to be carried), published by Kösel-Verlag GmbH & Co., Munich in 1999
and Bernhard Hassenstein, Evelin Kirkilionis: „Der menschliche Säugling, Nesthocker
oder Tragling?“ (Human babies: altricial or “clinging young”?), in: Wissenschaft und
Fortschritt 42/1992). Yet our anatomy shows that human babies are adapted to being
carried. The “spread squatting position” is the ideal posture for the young hip, which
is still cartilaginous, to mature (cf. Prof. Dr. med. J. Büschelberger: post-doctoral the-
sis, 1961). The development of the spine is also worth closer examination. Babies
are born with a rounded back, which is what causes them to take up the “spread
squatting position”. The spinal column develops over three stages during a period of
one year, stretching out from top to bottom. Well-developed muscles are required to
support the spine and keep it in shape. During the first few weeks of life, the cervical
spine undergoes initial straightening, moving forwards and upwards. Lying on her
tummy, the child can lift her head, move it independently, hold it up and turn it. Later
she can also do this lying on her back. The straightening of these seven cervical verte-
brae is known in the medical world as “cervical lordosis”. The baby now strengthens
the flexor and extensor muscles in her body (the flexor muscles are in the chest and
stomach area, the extensor muscles are at the back of the body). Gradually, the whole
central section of the spine with its twelve thoracic vertebrae can now straighten. In
orthopaedics this stretching is known as thoracic kyphosis. This second, backward
curve of the spinal column is complete once the baby can sit independently, on her
own. Children do not crawl until their spinal cartilage is strong and well-conditioned,
and their muscles are powerful enough. The muscles and spinal column are exercised
together. Now, the child pulls herself up into a standing position and tries out her first
steps. This takes strength and needs the five lumbar vertebrae to support her and
bear her weight. Gradually, the spinal column fully acquires its “S” shape and the last
phase is complete (lumbar lordosis) (cf. Renate Köhler: „Die Kunst das Bindens“ (The
art of tying), Renate Köhler publishing house, Münster 1995.) Some of the principles
of healthy baby carrying are derived from this process:
1. The sling must be somewhat elastic to support your baby firmly and safely at the
same time as allowing her back to take on a rounded shape. It becomes particularly
round when a child falls asleep and her muscles relax. However, your child must
not be allowed to slump down; she should be in a rounded, supported squatting
position in the sling. Your Storchenwiege
®
sling has a diagonal elastic weave, pro-
viding sufficient elasticity while at the same time giving your baby just the support
she needs.
2. The fabric needs to be tied so as to ensure baby’s legs are in a “spread squatting
position”. When your child is tied in properly and firmly, the sling should absorb
the movements and jolts from the wearer walking along, and transfer them away
from the child’s spine, back onto the wearer (a shock absorber effect). This pro-
tects the child’s delicate vertebrae and vertebral discs. At the same time, however,
the tying method should also support the wearer’s posture.
The tying methods described below will help you carry your child easily and smoothy.
If you follow the instructions correctly and carefully this will also help your pelvic
floor, which is subjected to huge stress during pregnancy and birth.
IMPORTANT
Always carry your baby facing you and never facing forwards. Other-
wise, her back will be pushed into a hollow shape, the “spread squatting
position” is no longer possible, and, not least, the child is constantly
exposed to environmental irritants.
This sling is not suitable for use during sports activities.
Closely connected, safe and sound … with your Storchenwiege
®
sling
!
!