Babywearing Safety

I can not stress enough how important safe babywearing is. It is by far the most important thing we teach as educators.

 

Here are the guidelines Babywearing International teaches. Its a nice and simple acronym and easy to remember ABC.

 

Airway
Making sure your baby can breathe is the #1 thing we teach. Make sure your baby does not fall chin to chest. If a baby's chin falls to their chest it can cut off their airway causing them to suffocate. Another way to make sure the airway is not restricted is by making sure that there is not any type of fabric covering their face. This is especially important when you're wrapping your baby in a stretchy wrap or woven wrap.

 

Body Support
You want to make sure that your baby is properly supported. You don't want them slouching down in the carrier (which can cause problems with airway) as this can cause the weight to be wrongly distributed. You want your baby to be supported knee to knee. This should make their bottom look like an M position. This will cause the weight to be placed on their bottom and not their feet. Your baby should always be high enough that you can kiss the top of their head.

 

Comfort
Babywearing isn't fun or helpful if it isn't comfortable for wearer and baby. Making sure that your carrier is properly put on and adjusted can help correct that. If you're having a difficult time using your carrier or learning a new carry use a spotter or check out your local group for help.

 

Wrapping Tips

• Babies should be arms in until they get proper head control 
• Never never NEVER using a stretchy for a back carry.
• The tighter you are able to get the wrap while you are wrapping, the comfier its going to be for every one. Take your time wrapping and get a nice and tight wrap job. 
• If baby is on your back you should be able to lean your head back and touch the top of their head. (this has exceptions) 
• To get wrap more comfy on the shoulders you can always spread the rails and make them wider. 
• Back wrapping can be very intimidating. It is best to master front carries before you attempt a back carry. The first time you try a back carry have a spotter to help you and do it away from hard surfaces. 
• Use a mirror

 

SSC Tips

• Babies should be arms in until they get proper head control
• Make sure you do not have a counterfeit carrier.
• Always check carrier for signs of wear and tear.
• Master front carriers before you attempt back carries.

Ringsling Tips

• Make sure your sling has weight tested rings. Rings from a craft store are not safe. Slingrings.com is a great place for rings.
• Always check sling for signs of wear and tear.
•  Make sure you're not using a recalled sling. Bag style slings should never be used for risk of suffocation.
• Master from carries before you attempt back carries.

 

 

You should only wear your baby while doing activities you would do when holding your baby.

1. Don't cook while wearing
2. Don't jump around, go jogging, ride horses, etc.
3. Watch to make sure baby wont grab anything dangerous
4. Never wearing your baby in the car

 

 

ATTENTION

Narrow based carriers (Bjorn, Snugglie, Infantino, etc.) are NOT considered dangerous. They are weight and safety tested to the same standards as carriers like Ergo, Boba, Beco, etc. There is information being spread that these carriers cause Hip dysplasia. This is not true, there are no studies out there to confirm this. There are a few studies out there showing that it can cause issues for babies who are already susceptible but they do not cause it. Narrow based carriers are not dangerous and they were a stepping stone for many of us.

 

 

 

Intro to Soft Structured Carriers

Soft Structured Carriers (aka Buckle Carriers) Is a type of carrier that buckles onto you. The carrier consists of a body (the panel of fabric where baby goes), a waist strap, and two arm straps. These Carriers are normally pretty heavily padded in the waist and shoulders for added support.

SSCs tend to be thought of as a more 'mainstream' carrier. This makes them easier to find in chain stores such as Babies R Us, Walmart, and places like TJMax and Marshalls. The simplicity of them makes them a favorite among many parents. Buckle carriers aren't nearly as daunting as some other choices like wrapping. They are quick and easy. A lot of SSCs are capable of front, hip, and back carries such as the Ergo.

The difficult things about Buckle Carriers is that they have sized bodies, so usually its not a one stop shop. You'll need a regular standard sized one, some type on infant insert, a Toddler size, and a preschool size if you continue wearing an older or bigger baby. It can also be difficult to find a good fit for the wearer. They do have webbing that adjusts but sometimes they don't don't go small enough or big enough. Some brands have extra accessories to combat this like waist extenders or perfect fit adjusters (they make the arm straps smaller).  However once you find a good fit for baby and wearer they are amazing!