• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.504-514
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• 2017

Discomfort as well as muscular pain and musculoskeletal diseases occur in cases of stressed posture due to prolonged pressure. Therefore, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) recommend that bags that weigh no more than 15 - 20% of the wearer's weight. However, despite the prolonged pressure from using baby carriers, there are no recommendations and limited studies on how to protect wearers. Therefore, this study investigates subjective fatigue according to the usage of waist support and hip seat. Based on this, muscle fatigue and secondary subjective fatigue according to three types of currently commercial baby carriers (X-type, H-type, and H-hip type) were measured. Subjective comfortability was evaluated on a 5 point Likert-scale and subjective fatigue was evaluated on Borg's CR-10 scale. Objective muscle fatigue was also compared by measuring and analyzing electromyogram (EMG). The results of primary subjective fatigue showed statistically significant changes in the shoulders, waist, calves, and soles of the feet according to the usage of hip seats and waist support. Electromyogram measurements also showed less muscle fatigue at the upper trapezius muscle and thoracic erector spine muscle for the H-hip seat baby carrier, which has both waist support and hip seat, compared to an X-type baby carrier, which has neither. However, results of subjective fatigue showed opposite results at the waist despite having same results at the shoulders and beneath the shoulders. This show discrepancies between objective muscle fatigue and subjective fatigue; therefore, that both aspects must be taken into consideration when developing ergonomic baby carriers.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.17-28
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• 2021

The baby-tech industry, which combines IT with existing parenting product, is attracting increasing amounts of attention. Consequently various types of baby products incorporating functionality and design are being launched. In recent years, particularly as the market segments increases for babywearing products, parenting products that account for the child's comfort and parents' convenience are required. Therefore, this study examines the characteristics and consumer perception of babywear products, which are important for the emotional stability, development, and rearing of children. The study utilizes text mining and a network analysis by collecting unstructured text data. An examination of the network, based on the frequency of keywords for each babywear product and the degree of the connection to the centering index, revealed that consumers value convenience and price when purchasing products. The consumer perception and consideration factors that appear individually according to the product were also identified. In addition, studying body parts with high TF-IDF values revealed a difference in the body parts considered by consumers for each product. Lastly, through the visualization data based on the keywords that appeared in public, commonly appearing keywords, and those that appeared individually were examined. Through SNS, product characteristics as well as a new parenting culture that shared child-rearing routines were confirmed. This study suggests planning and marketing directions for the development of babywear products that meet consumer needs.