Are you confused, too?
Does everyone tell you something different when you ask people if you can use the manduca for newborn babies? Even the experts don’t always agree – does your pediatrician have a different opinion from your midwife? You read forum after forum – do you keep discovering different views on how old babies have to be to use a manduca baby carrier?
It was just the same for me when I became a mother for the first time and wanted to do everything 100% right. So who should you ask? Our own mothers still know very little about carrying babies because when they were young mothers themselves, carrying your baby was still considered quite exotic.
“Trust your gut instinct!” said my midwife to me. At the time I didn’t realize how right she was and how valuable this advice would always be for me.
manduca for newborn babies
But we cannot just trust our gut instincts of course … so here are a few facts:
• Infant seat: with the help of the manduca’s integrated infant seat, you can carry your child in the ergonomically correct M-position from birth (from a weight of 3.5 kg).
The M-position which your child adopts in the manduca
is not just ergonomically correct but is also really comfortable!
•Back extension As your child grows, the manduca grows too: The patented back extension and the various ways of combining the snap fasteners of the infant seat allow you to constantly adapt the manduca to your child’s size.
• When do I no longer need the infant seat? You can use the manduca without a infant seat as soon as your child’s thighs have become long enough: when the manduca reaches from one knee hollow to the other knee hollow and the lower legs can dangle freely without the infant seat. (This is usually the case when the child is 4-5 months old and has reached clothes size 68.)
What else do I need to think about?
Now you are probably wondering why some people claim that the manduca is unsuitable for newborn babies because the legs are forced into a split? Well it is not always easy to find the right position. It is often only tiny adjustments that make a difference:
• Pull your little treasure’s bottom in close to your stomach before fastening the infant seat. Just a few centimetres can make a huge difference to the neck support.
• Bring your child’s arms into the centre so that he or she adopts a stable position.
• Find out how the back extension and the various different positions of the snap fasteners work together and discover the perfect combination for your child’s current size.
• Does your child wear cloth nappies or has he or she put on a fair amount of puppy fat? Then just use one snap fastener per side. That is enough because the infant seat does not support your child’s weight – it only ensures that the base is not under tension and can be gently pressed together by the child’s legs so that the legs are not forced into a split.
• Position the knees when your child is finally sitting upright in the manduca: gently push the knees upwards when you have tightened the straps so that the child adopts a perfect M-position and the back is round.
Position of the knees and the M-Position
• And now the main point: find the ideal position for the feet! Are they still inside the carrier or are they long enough to protrude from the sides?
Advice and help
Sometimes it helps to take a look at the manduca instructions for use.
There are many more tips and tricks and we are sure that you will understand how difficult it is to mention all these – sometimes very specific details – in one set of instructions for use. That is presumably the reason why people claim from time to time that it does not work.
And this is where gut instinct comes into play again:
Does it feel good to carry your child around like this? It does? Good!
No? Then contact us!
Simply write an e-mail to beratung@wickelkinder.de .
In most cases, we have usually been able to find a good and comfortable solution. As the manduca is almost as unique as your child – a great deal is possible! With so many possibilities, you sometimes need someone to help you find the right one. And we are happy to do that for you.
By the way: soon we will be launching another way to easily adjust your manduca to the size of a newborn baby! Keep an eye on our blog and then you will always be up-to-date.
Comments (20)
Hi, sent you an but no response so hope you get back to me here. Really need help with baby who wants carrying most of the time.
He is 8 weeks old and about 5kg so not a big baby. He doesn’t like newborn insert even with one popper done up. I want to try Size-it but can I use this without infant seat while he is so young? The carrier will have to be pinched quite small to let his legs hang outside. He doesn’t like them inside at all. Think it feels too crunched up on his tummy as he gets wind and colic.
Do I also need zipin ellipse? With the back extension done up and no newborn insert the carrier reaches back of his neck. I tried this with a ribbon pulling in the carrier as haven’t got the Size-it yet. Ribbon seemed to pinch his legs though so only tested it.
I used the Manduca for 2 years very happily with first daughter and loved it the whole time but she was a different baby. Have lost confidence figuring out his to make it work for my son. Please help!
Many thanks
Katie
Hi Katie,
Thank you for your patience and for contacting us again. Of course, we would like to help!
As your baby doesn’t like to be carried in the integrated infant seat, you can use the Size-It to adjust the seat of the manduca baby carrier (without using the infant seat). The Size-It is well cushioned and makes it comfortable for your baby, and it supports the M-Position (spread-squat position).
As for your other question – the ZipIn Ellipse is very useful for small babies, too: First, it adjusts the shape of the manduca to the natural rounding of your baby’s back. Second, the ZipIn Ellipse has an additional curving effect because it pulls the rim down, closer to your baby’s head. (Learn more here: http://manduca-blog.com/2015/well-rounded-thanks-to-zipin-ellipse )
Please let us know how it worked out for you. It would be great to see you continue your babywearing journey with your second child, too!
Should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get back to us again. You can also send us images (front and side views) to beratung@wickelkinder.de.
Looking forward to hearing from you! Cheers, Anja
Hi. Can I still use manduca at front if baby is over 12kg? Thank you.
Hi Michaela,
If you still find it comfortable, you can carry your child on the front (the manduca baby carrier is recommended for babies and children up to 20 kg). If you find it too heavy, however, it might be a good idea to try out carrying him/her on your back, especially when your child would like to see more of his/her surroundings. Best wishes, Anja
Hi,
My Bub is 54cm / 5kg / 3months old.
Should I be using thr newborn instert still?
I put her in it but her legs just don’t seem comfy smooshed in there. But I think she’s too small to have them out?
Hi Ashleigh, thanks for asking! You seem to be confused as to whether the legs should remain inside the infant seat. PLease note that (as stated in the manduca instructions) “only the feet of the very young babies are inside the carrier and then start to grow out of the carrier.” You will find a more detailed information on the manduca blog:
manduca infant seat
Please get back to us if you still have questions. Best wishes, Anja
Hi! I have a reallly tall 13 weeks old, he’s already 68, his feet can’t stay in any more so I’ll let them out with the size it. The question is, do I still keep the zip opened? At what point should I close the zip? He still dose not hold his head perfectly….
Hi Mara,
Thanks for your comment! We recommend to keep the back extension (zip) opened until your little one has full head control. Please see also http://manduca-blog.com/2016/manduca-back-extension-for-babies-of-all-ages.
Please get back to us should you have more questions.
Best wishes, Anja
Hi, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but my little doesn’t want to be carried in Manduca. He is 4 weeks old, weighting 4,5 kg, tall around 54cm. It seems the newborn seat (inside Manduca) is already too small and he doesn’t fit there anymore. I tried different positions but he is very nervous…always looking for my breasts….he stretches himself and pushes against my body. He is always fed before..not hungry. However his legs are not big enough to be located in M position.
Thanks for your advice.
Gabriela
Hi Gabriela,
if you have this problem also with another sling (maybe you have the possibility to try), it might be have another reason. Reasons for not wanted to be carrying: Hungry (what it isn’t in your case), problems with closeness (Osteopathy brought success by many babies) or a full bladder (which is really a point in the first 3-4 months).
You can send me photos of your baby in manduca, so I can look, if the position is right: beratung@manduca.de
Best regards,
Dunja
I have just purchased a manduca for my 4 month old baby who weighs just over 7kg. I feel like his legs want to hang out a little with infant insert and seem to stretched without it. Any tips not sure i am doing it right
Dear Sally,
We think that you don’t need the infant seat anymore. Try the manduca Size-It, an accessory which makes the seat of the manduca smaller. Pass the Size-it around manduca’s seat and adjust it to the right size: the baby carrier should span from one hollow of your baby’s knee to the other. The lower legs should be freely dangling below the knee. More information on manduca Size-It: http://manduca-blog.com/2015/carry-a-newborn-with-size-it-manduca
Kind regards, Anja
I’ve been using my manduca all wrong.. I always thought bubs legs looked over extended :((
Will I have damaged his hips?
Dear Steph,
Please don’t worry too much. Babies are being carried in so many different ways – and of course, there as some ways that we recommend more than others.
But the most important thing is: you have given your child a lot by carrying him! The benefits of babywearing are many and varied.
For your question as to the hip development of your baby, please turn to my colleague Andrea at beratung@wickelkinder.de
Kind Regards, Anja
hi, my baby girl is 2 months old and weight 6.5kg, tall 63 cm. i use to wear her in manduca from birth but now she is not staying comfortable anymore. i use infant seat. what should i do?
Dear Laura,
Thanks a lot for your message! First, we should find out why your baby girl is not comfortable. And comfort depends also on the length of the baby’s thighs (You don’t need the infant seat anymore, when the manduca reaches from one knee hollow to the other knee hollow and the lower legs can dangle freely without the infant seat.) To find out what is best for you and your baby, please send us a picture – either to beratung@wickelkinder.de or to my colleague Dunja d.reichardt@wickelkinder.de. We are glad to help!
Kind Regards
Anja
Hello – my baby is 3 weeks old, weighing 3.2 kg. Is it OK to put him in his Manduca carrier, even if he is still under the recommended 3.5 kg? Many thanks!
Has this new way for infant carrying mentioned in the article been released yet?
My little one does not seem to want to adopt the M position. He always tucks his legs and feet under his bum and I have no way of fixing it. He wears modern cloth nappies, maybe his bum is just too big for the infant insert? When you say to only fasten one button to address this, what do you mean? Is there a photo somewhere to show this?
Dear Mandy,
Thanks for your message!
The new way for carrying newborns is our easy-to-use accessory manduca Size-It, which reduces the width of the manduca’s seat. Images and information can be found on our website , and also in the manduca blog.
And we have another brand new device that is particularly designed for newborns: The manduca ZipIn Ellipse – which adapts the shape of the the manduca: http://manduca-blog.com/2014/zipin-ellipse-for-small-babies
Should you have further questions, please contact us at beratung@wickelkinder.de.
Kind Regards,
Anja
Great information ! Love the Manduca it has helped me to travel Sri Lanka and Singapore when my baby was 3 months old. She fed, slept and grew in thus amazing carrier. Now at 6 months she still loves it! We use now fir market shopping, walks in the park and school drop offs. These days we don’t use the infant seat and cross the straps as she is nearly 9 kg..
Thanks for such a versatile and comfortable carrier .
Samantha Melbourne Australia