Average height and weight of your baby and guidelines for choosing a baby carrier

Have you ever heard of a baby's "growth curve"?
This shows the growth estimates for each month and age for men and women, and allows you to see how your child's growth rate compares to the national average. In addition to reading the graph, let's also check what kind of baby carrier is suitable for each stage of growth.

What is a baby's growth curve?

It is a graph of the baby's height, weight, motor function, etc., and allows you to know the approximate growth rate at each age for both genders. The "Infant Physical Growth Curve" published in the Maternal and Child Health Handbook is exactly that.
The data is based on the Infant Physical Development Survey Report, which is conducted and published every 10 years by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

This graph is expressed in "percentiles".
Percentile indicates what percentage the data falls in by arranging it in order from smallest to largest. The top line of the graph is 97% and the bottom line is 3%, so 94% of the baby's values ​​are included between these lines.
The ``Infant Physical Development Survey Report'' also includes a list of average values ​​for each age, that is, values ​​that correspond to exactly 50%. For example, the average weight for boys at birth is 2.98 kg, and at 6-7 months it is 8.01 kg.

Reference: Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare “Infant Physical Development Survey”

By recording your baby's actual measured height and weight on the ``Infant Physical Growth Curve'' graph in your Maternal and Child Health Handbook, you can get an idea of how much your baby is growing compared to other babies nationwide.

What number is the guideline for choosing a baby carrier?

According to the data published in the ``Infant Physical Development Survey Report'', the main factor related to baby carrier selection is weight.
The load capacity varies depending on the product. There are some that can handle up to 20kg or more, but most common baby carriers are limited to around 15kg.
The load capacity is specified for each product. For safety, do not use on children over this weight.

On the other hand, the reality is that more mothers and fathers find it painful to hold their children for long periods of time when their child weighs around 12 to 15 kg. There are differences depending on your physical strength and muscle strength, but if you exceed the load capacity of mom and dad, you may injure your body, so don't overdo it.
If the weight becomes too much of a burden, it may be a good idea to use a stroller depending on the situation.

What is the best baby carrier for babies up to 6 months old?

Of course, weight is not the only thing you should check when choosing a baby carrier. Newborn babies have underdeveloped muscles and bones, so care must be taken to prevent unexpected injuries.

Until your baby's neck is completely seated, use a baby carrier that supports side-carrying, or if you want to hold your baby vertically, choose one that firmly supports the baby's neck.
The standard time for a child to be able to sit up is around 4 months old, but this varies from person to person. If you force your child to overdo it while it is not fully developed, it may lead to serious injury. Observe your baby carefully to find out.

Also, even though the baby's neck has settled down, the baby's body is still growing. In order to not hinder growth and maintain a comfortable posture, it is necessary to frequently check that the back is in a natural C curve and that the legs are spread in an M-shape while being held.
When purchasing a baby carrier, choose one that wraps around the baby's buttocks and provides firm support without putting strain on the hip joints, and that doesn't stretch the baby's back or arms.

Which baby carrier is suitable for children who are almost 1 year old?

When your baby is about 7 months old, the muscles around the waist and back will develop, allowing them to sit upright. If you can sit your child on the floor and maintain the posture on their own without having to use your hands, this is a sign that your back is sitting properly.

At 7 months old, your baby will weigh around 8 kg, and by the time your baby turns 1 year old, the average weight will be around 9 kg, and early babies will weigh over 10 kg, so we recommend choosing a highly functional baby carrier that can further reduce the burden of weight. If it is a type with a waist belt, the weight will be distributed and the burden will be reduced. With the hip seat carrier type, the pedestal (hip seat) supports your child's butt, making it easy to maintain posture and carry your child comfortably.
Check points include the stability of the shoulder straps and waist belt, and the cushioning of the hip seat that rests on mom and dad's stomachs. In addition, the baby carrier is designed to hold the baby close to the center of gravity of the mother and father, making it easier to hold the baby without feeling the weight.

Should I replace the baby carrier as it grows?

The functions required of a baby carrier change during the younger stages, when the baby's body is not fully developed and requires a variety of support, and when the baby's body is getting stronger and gaining weight.
Therefore, many moms and dads buy new baby carriers as their baby grows.

However, they are not cheap, and they are bulky, so finding a place to store them can be a headache. If possible, you'd like to just use one baby carrier without having to buy a new one or buy more.

BABY&Me's BELK-S first set is recommended because you can change the shape just by switching parts and it can be used from newborn to around 4 years old.
Until the baby's neck is seated, the carrier part that wraps around the baby's upper body can be used in combination with the waist belt-type first part that gently supports the baby's bottom. After the baby's head is seated, the first part can be switched to the hip seat and used as a hip seat carrier.

It can carry up to 20kg either as a waist belt type or as a hip seat carrier, so you can conveniently switch between them depending on the usage situation.

In addition, since the hip seat can be used alone, it is convenient during times when you will be carrying your baby a lot, such as when you start walking, and you can also use it to hold your baby on your side before you sit down, making it useful for breastfeeding and putting you to bed.

In addition to being able to try on BABY & Me products at stores that carry them, trial rentals and subscription rentals are also available at the official online store, so be sure to experience how easy they are to use.