The Beginner's Guide to Baby Carriers: Dos, Don'ts, FAQs, and More!

As first-time parents, you and your spouse may be excited to take your baby with you wherever you go. To start your adventures with your little bundle of joy, you purchase a baby carrier to give you an easier time keeping an eye on them, no matter what you’re doing.

A baby carrier is a useful product because it helps keep your baby’s natural posture, prevents them from crying, and improves your relationship with your baby as they grow up. If you and your partner are looking forward to introducing your baby to the great outdoors, you can still bring them with you so long as you use a suitable adventure baby carrier.

What Are My Options? 

Baby Sling

A baby sling is a baby front carrier with a strip of fabric, which you can turn into a pouch. You wear it by looping it over your shoulder and wearing it across your torso at the most comfortable angle for you and your child. You can only use a baby sling one way to ensure you support your baby’s neck and protect them correctly, all while cradling them against you to keep an eye on them.

Baby Wrap 

A baby wrap can accommodate a child weighing up to thirty-five pounds. It involves using a long expanse of fabric that you cover around your body in multiple ways to create various carrying positions. 

A baby wrap offers the most comfort for your child because you don’t always have to stick to one angle; you are free to change your baby’s position to spread out their weight evenly, especially when you get tired after spending a long time carrying them.

Baby Carrier

Another option you can think about getting is a baby carrier, which is perfect if your child has grown a little bigger and is at least four or five months old. By then, their neck muscles have developed, making them strong enough to carry their own head. 

Baby carriers for men and women contain soft pads to add more comfort for your baby. You have the option to wear it on your front, back, or hip, depending on what feels the best for you and your child.

Should You Get a Sling, Wrap, or Carrier? 

It has been a long-running debate whether a baby sling, wrap, or carrier is the best baby wrap carrier for you and your child. While they may all seem like the same thing in terms of function, certain differences shine through when it comes to actual application and comfortability. By looking at these factors, you can easily pick which one is most suitable for your needs.

If you’re looking for support for your baby that focuses on comfort, you could opt for a baby wrap instead of a baby carrier because it fits around your body perfectly. The only hurdle with this is that you will have to practice wearing it until you know the steps by heart to really master how to fully utilise this product. 

Unfortunately, a baby wrap won’t provide the support that your lumbar and shoulders require—which is something that a baby carrier can easily offer. If you want more structured support since you’ll be carrying your child for an extended period, a baby carrier is the better option. 

If you have the luxury and the finances to pull it off, then you may want to get all of them to accommodate you and your baby’s specific needs. You can use a baby wrap or sling when you’re travelling because it’s lighter and will fit in your luggage better, as a baby carrier tends to be bulkier than the rest. Meanwhile, when you have the space and the time to set it up, a baby carrier may be your best option! By having all these items, you have the best gear to bring along your baby for any scenario.

What to Do When Carrying Your Baby With a Carrier 

For parents looking to purchase an infant carrier, you mustn’t select one simply for its affordable price. Its functional features have to be your priority for you and your baby to avoid experiencing any unwanted incidents in the future!

When you wear a baby carrier, it should allow you to position your baby at your hips without compromising their comfort and yours. It needs to keep your child safe without giving you a hard time balancing them or carrying them wherever you go. 

There are several rules for carrying your baby correctly, and keeping them safe is your number one responsibility. Keep reading below to learn what to do and what not to do when using a baby carrier and bringing your child with you wherever you go.

Do Carry Your Baby Correctly 

The right way to carry a baby while using a baby chest carrier is sitting them upright while ultimately supporting their neck. Their airways should be free from any potential blockage, and their chin should not be touching their chest. Instead, they should be close against your body right above your torso. 

You know your baby maintains the correct position if you can bend down and kiss their head without struggling.

Do Position Your Baby Appropriately

The way your baby is sitting should look natural and proper while in an infant carrier. Their legs need to be open wide and in a squat position, placing their knees higher than their bum. That way, you’re incorporating an ergonomic position when securing your baby in a carrier to support their spine, hips, and legs correctly.  

Do Double Check the Carrier Locks 

Before you go on with your day while you tuck your child in a baby carrier for mums or dads, you should guarantee that your baby is safe and secure. Go over the buckles, wraps, and locks, and check to see if they’re fastened tightly to prevent any accidents from happening.

Do Inspect the Carrier For Issues

If you’re using a newly bought baby carrier wrap, it’s still integral to make sure its material does not contain any potential risks in the form of tears and holes you may have overlooked. After using the carrier for some time, it can undergo wear and tear, so you should make an effort to take care of it to keep your baby safe.

Do Learn to Be Careful and Alert  

You should always expect your centre of gravity to become different when you put on a customisable baby carrier and bring your baby with you to places. As a result, you have to be more careful because you increase the risk of falling and potentially hurting yourself or your baby. 

It’s best to focus on your responsibility of protecting your baby by being more aware of your environment, especially when you use the stairs or walk over unreliable pavements.

Don’t Wear the Wrong Clothes

Since you’re carrying your baby against your body, they can tend to experience more heat while they’re in their carrier. You have to pay more attention to the season and time of day and focus not only on what your baby’s wearing but also what clothes you have on. That way, you can avoid making your baby uncomfortable—and at the same time, help make your job easier too!

Don’t Lie in Bed With a Carrier 

Just because your baby is safe in their baby carrier, that doesn’t mean you can lie down on the bed or sofa with them. Your baby must maintain an upright position inside a carrier, so you should remove them out of the baby carrier first before thinking of lying down.

Don’t Bend Down at Your Waist

Never bend down at your waist if you’re trying to pick something up from the floor and you have your baby with you in their carrier. Instead, you should bend at your knees to keep your baby in the proper upright position at all times.

Don’t Forget to Support Your Baby’s Head 

If your child is still a newborn, you have to be more careful of their head because they are still at the stage of their life where they’re extra fragile and will require your utmost care. 

Regardless if you’re carrying your baby with your hands or you’re wearing a sling, you should always watch out for their head—place them against your chest or use your hand to hold them upright.

You should avoid letting your baby slump forward as well. While wearing an infant sling, remember to keep your baby’s spine straight with their hips and legs forming an M position, letting their body continue growing healthily. 

Don’t Pick a Baby Sling With Loose Fabric 

Even though a baby sling with a loose fabric leans towards a more comfortable baby carrier, you might put your child at risk because it doesn’t offer adequate support. As a result, they could slump forward and disrupt their breathing. Using a sling correctly involves looking at your baby’s face every time you glance down at them without changing their position and continue keeping them close to your chest. 

Ways to Keep Your Baby Safe in Their Carrier 

Before you decide to wear the best baby carrier and start bringing your child along with you wherever you go, you must first guarantee that the carrier has the correct dimensions. It should match your baby’s height and weight perfectly to ensure they’re tucked safe and sound.

If you still haven’t gotten used to placing your baby in its carrier, it will help to have someone assist you until you get the hang of it and can do it independently. If you want, you can try using a stuffed toy to practice handling the baby carrier until you’re ready for the real deal.

In addition, don’t put your baby in the carrier without checking if the straps are properly tightened to avoid accidents. Once everything is set, and your baby is in place, you can adjust the straps using one hand and add or decrease the tightness until it fits just right. 

Every time you need to use a baby front carrier, you should make an effort to inspect the straps for any damage before you go ahead and place your baby in it. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially if your child is involved. 

If there’s something wrong with the straps, buckles, or material, you should call the company where you bought the carrier right away.

How Long Can You Use an Infant Carrier? 

There are different kinds of baby carriers available in the market that can accommodate various maximum weights. However, most carriers can cater to a full load that’s between thirty-five to fifty pounds.

Keep in mind that even though a carrier indicates it can handle a significantly heavier baby, it will be quite difficult for you once you wear it. If you’re using a baby carrier for hiking, while they are designed to favour a forty-five-pound child, you still have to think about whether you’re strong enough to handle the weight involved!

Following The T.I.C.K.S. Rule

If you’re worried that one day you’ll forget the proper way to use a baby sling to carry your baby safely, you may want to keep the T.I.C.K.S. rule in mind. 

T.I.C.K.S. stands for:

Tight

Always remember to tighten the baby sling, with your baby placed upright while you support their head. Avoid using loose fabric to prevent your baby from leaning forward, which could hurt their spine and give them a difficult time breathing.

In View 

No matter what you’re doing, you should be able to glance down at your baby and see their face clearly every time. Their nose and mouth should always be free from obstructions, such as the baby sling or your body, to give them a comfortable time breathing regularly. 

Close Enough to Kiss 

You will know your baby is in the right position while in an infant carrier if their head is a few inches below your chin. If you can reach out to them and kiss their head when they look up at you, you don’t have to make unnecessary adjustments anymore.  

Keep Chin Off the Chest 

When inside a carrier, your baby’s chin should always be upright the same as the rest of their body. The last thing you want to happen is to find your baby slumped forward, restricting their breathing and ending up hurting themselves.  

Supported back

No matter what you’re doing, you need to guarantee you’re providing adequate support for your baby while they maintain a natural position. Their stomach and chest have to be against you to keep them secure. Every time you find yourself bending over to reach something on the ground, you should keep one hand on your child’s back and never forget to bend at the knees instead of the waist.

Conclusion

Now that you’re more familiar with using a baby carrier to keep your child safe and comfortable, you should always remember the tips above to prevent encountering any problems. Parenting is challenging, but it’s also an enjoyable and memorable experience that you should learn to love and cherish. And what better way to be closer to your baby than using a baby carrier to keep them with you every day!

Whether you decide to get a baby sling, wrap, or carrier, you must take the time to learn how to use them to maintain the safety and welfare of your little one. If you want to bring your baby to your outdoor adventures, you can use a baby carrier for hiking or fitness to guarantee your baby is well-protected and ready to appreciate the outside world with you!

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