If you’ve ever looked at the huge range of baby carriers available and wondered which one is safest, how your baby should be positioned or whether you’re wearing them correctly, you’re not alone.
Babywearing can be a wonderful way to keep your baby close while giving you the freedom to move through everyday life. But choosing the right baby carrier and learning how to fit it correctly can feel overwhelming, especially for first-time parents.
In this guide, Babywearing Educator Sarah Mahri explains why so many families choose babywearing, how to choose the right baby carrier for your family, what a safe and supportive fit looks like, and the most common mistakes she sees parents make.
Babywearing is more than simply carrying your baby. It is a practice that honours the needs of both baby and caregiver while helping families navigate everyday life together.
Babies are born expecting to be held. After all, their parent’s chest is their natural habitat. Since the beginning of humankind, babies have been carried close by their caregivers, meeting the human infant’s innate need for proximity to their parent.
Babies are born with the need to be close to their caregiver in a way that signals to their brain they are safe. The human baby is a sensorial being. Your baby needs to feel you, smell you, hear your voice or heartbeat and see your face to understand that they are safe.
From a place of feeling safe and connected, a baby can then learn, grow and thrive.
Many new parents are surprised by just how much holding a baby requires. Wearing your baby in a well-fitted sling or baby carrier can sustain this closeness while giving the parent or caregiver some agency and their hands back.
Keeping your baby close has several proven benefits for both the primary caregiver and the baby. There are emotional benefits, positive impacts on physical development and even the ability to regulate physiological markers like temperature and heart rate.
Carrying your baby upright can also aid with digestion or reflux, as upright and squatting are the positions babies are naturally supported in whilst carried in a sling or carrier.
For a new parent who may feel anxious, knowing that their baby is safe and snug in the carrier on their chest can greatly assist their ability to cope.
Oxytocin, the hormone of love and bonding, is released in both the infant and maternal brain when there is prolonged contact between the dyad. The release of oxytocin through soft touch and closeness helps build a deep bond and sense of trust, laying the foundations for healthy attachment.
Repeated moments of responsive care meeting your baby’s need for closeness whilst still being able to meet your own needs also help build confidence in parents. They begin to trust that they are capable of caring for their baby and thriving in new parenthood.
Being able to carry your baby on your body greatly simplifies how you move through the world as a new parent. It makes public transport, walking the dog, navigating crowds, catching up at a café and walking on uneven ground much more manageable.
Babywearing can help balance the needs of the adult without compromising the needs of the infant. This can have hugely positive impacts on mental health for a new parent. Babywearing can also protect parents from the sense of isolation that has become all too common in the postpartum period, allowing them to interact with the world while their baby remains close, secure and content.
Many parents worry they’re doing something wrong, particularly when they first start babywearing. A well-fitted carrier or sling should support both your baby’s body and your own, while allowing your baby to breathe freely and remain comfortably positioned.
A well-fitted carrier or sling holds your baby high and snug against your chest and supports them upright in their natural spread squat position.
The carrier should create a seat where your baby’s thighs are supported all the way to the back of the knees. This squatting position helps keep their spine in alignment and, importantly, keeps their chin off their chest.
It is essential that the carrier can be adjusted so the fabric stays away from your baby’s face.
Your baby’s head must remain clear of the top of the panel supporting their back, allowing them to move their head freely.
Your baby’s position, combined with an even, snug pressure along their spine from the fabric, is imperative for protecting their airway and preventing slumping.
Supporting your baby’s thighs from knee to knee allows them to maintain their natural spread squat position.
Their spine should remain gently curved while being comfortably supported by the carrier, rather than forced into a straight position.
A correctly fitted baby carrier should feel secure and supportive for both you and your baby.
When fitted correctly, your baby should feel safely held against you, while the weight is distributed comfortably across your own body.
Safe babywearing comes down to correct positioning and regularly checking your baby’s fit, particularly as they grow or fall asleep.
One of the simplest ways to remember the essentials is the TICKS safety checklist.
The fabric around your baby’s body should be snug. This helps prevent your baby from slumping and supports their airway.
You should feel confident taking your hands off your baby because they are securely supported against your body. When you move, you and your baby should move together as one unit.
You should always be able to see your baby’s whole face.
Their face should never be obstructed by fabric or any part of the carrier. Their head should not be covered by the carrier panel or pinned tightly against your body.
Your baby should be able to move their head freely and turn from side to side.
Carry your baby high on your chest so you can simply lower your chin and kiss the top of their head.
This position keeps your baby’s face away from soft breast tissue while making it easy to continually monitor them.
Check that your baby’s chin has not tipped down so it is touching their chest.
You should be able to comfortably slide a finger beneath their chin. If needed, reposition your baby or tighten the carrier to restore safe positioning.
Your baby should be sitting into a supportive seat with the fabric extending beneath their thighs and supporting them from their bottom through to the back of both knees.
Their legs should naturally form an “M” shape, with their knees sitting higher than their bottom.
Viewed from the side, their spine should have a gentle “J” shape, with their pelvis curled towards you and their torso supported snugly against your body.
An active, awake baby in the carrier can feel quite different from a baby who has fallen asleep.
Once your baby falls asleep, you will often need to readjust and tighten the carrier slightly.
This is simply because, like all humans, babies lose muscle tone when they sleep. They become more relaxed and floppy, which can change how they are sitting in the carrier.
Whenever your baby falls asleep, go through the TICKS checklist again and reposition or retighten the carrier as required to ensure they remain safely supported.
With so many baby carriers, wraps and slings available, it’s no surprise that many parents feel overwhelmed by the options. The “best” baby carrier isn’t necessarily the most popular one, it’s the one that fits your baby’s body, your own body and your family’s lifestyle.
The right carrier for your family will support your baby in their natural positioning, hold a relaxed baby in the spread squat position and distribute the weight comfortably across your body.
Every family is different, and so are their babywearing needs.
Think about where you’ll be using your carrier most often. Whether it’s walking the dog, catching public transport, getting out into nature or simply navigating everyday life with your hands free, choosing a carrier that suits your routine can make all the difference.
It can be incredibly helpful to try a few different styles of baby carriers before making a purchase.
Most parts of Australia have a thriving babywearing community that gathers for free meets. These are wonderful opportunities to meet other parents, ask questions and trial a variety of carriers before deciding which one feels right for you.
You can also book one-on-one time with a Babywearing Educator, where you’ll work together to find the best fit for your family and your unique needs.
Learning to use a baby carrier takes practice, and it’s completely normal to need a little guidance. These are the most common mistakes I see when supporting families.
The most common mistake parents make is choosing a carrier simply because another parent or someone on social media with a large following recommended it.
I often meet families who have purchased three or four different carriers before coming to see me for support. It can be incredibly frustrating to spend a significant amount of money on carriers that simply weren’t the right fit for their family.
Every parent’s body is different, every baby’s body is different, and every family has different needs. What works beautifully for one family may not work well for another.
Unfortunately, I often see families wearing their babies in ways that don’t support their baby’s body well.
One of the most common fitting issues is wearing the waistband too low, which affects the baby’s overall positioning and makes achieving a supportive fit much more difficult.
Another common mistake is wearing the carrier too loose.
A well-fitted carrier should hold your baby high and snug against your body. When the carrier is loose, babies are more likely to slump, reducing the support provided to their body and making it more difficult to maintain optimal positioning.
Many families underestimate just how much holding a brand-new baby will need.
Choosing the right carrier to support both your body and your baby’s body, along with learning how to position your baby correctly, can make babywearing truly joyful and wonderful.
Many parents assume they should simply buy a carrier and work it out themselves. In reality, having someone check the fit, answer your questions and build your confidence can make a significant difference.
Seeking education during pregnancy about normal infant needs for proximity can be a wonderful way to prepare for life with a new baby.
It is a great dream of mine to help more expectant families accept that their baby will want to be held, and to have this expectation before their baby arrives.
Babywearing Educators and Consultants can support and guide you to find the right carrying tool for your family, teach you how to use it, ensure you are confident in the steps needed to achieve optimal positioning and give you the empowerment you need to lean into the cuddles your baby asks for.
If you’re ever unsure whether your baby is sitting comfortably, take a moment to check your carrier. Your baby carrier may need adjusting if:
If you’re ever unsure, seeking support from a Babywearing Educator can help you feel confident that your baby is positioned safely and comfortably.
Babywearing isn’t about buying the most expensive carrier or choosing the one everyone else seems to have. It’s about finding a carrying solution that supports your baby’s body, supports your own body and fits naturally into your family’s everyday life.
With the right carrier, correct positioning and a little guidance, babywearing can become a safe, comfortable and enjoyable way to keep your baby close while giving you the confidence and freedom to move through early parenthood.
If you’re preparing for your baby’s arrival, or you’re already babywearing and would like reassurance that your carrier fits correctly, working with a Babywearing Educator can help you choose the right carrier, learn safe positioning and enjoy all the benefits that babywearing has to offer.
Find out more about how Sarah Mahri Babywearing can support you here
Sarah is an experienced babywearing mum of five and a certified babywearing educator. She provides in home consultations where you can try on multiple carriers from her extensive demo kit and figure out your best fit before you buy. If you already own carriers she can show you how to use yours safely and educate you on all the features.
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