Baby Carrier FAQ's

Trips and falls can happen whether or not your baby is in a carrier or in your arms. One reason why trips while wearing your baby can be more common is because when they are worn on your front you cannot see your feet so you can be caught off guard when the ground is uneven. Some say that falling with your little one in your carrier than in your arms can be safer as you will have your hands available to stop yourself falling on your baby, however, every fall is different and we do not know how we will react in the situation. Let’s face it, accidents do happen, but we can take precautions to try and reduce this risk for us and our little ones.

To reduce the risk of trips when carrying your little one in your carrier we recommend:

• Ensuring you are wearing well-fitted shoes
• Looking ahead when walking to ensure that you have a clear view of where you are walking so that you can see the hazards before you get to them
• Take care on gravel paths & avoid rocky or uneven surfaces
• When walking down a steep path/hill, walk sideways so that you can see where you are putting your feet
• Make sure that you have not overloaded yourself
• Ensuring your carrier is well-fitted so that your centre of gravity is not thrown off
• Don’t walk where you wouldn’t walk if you had your baby in your arms
• Do not baby wear when intoxicated
• Utilise hand rails when walking up or down stairs

If your baby is happy to be snuggled on your chest facing you then a carrier should be right for your baby. Sometimes it can take a few goes in the carrier before your baby will like it and get used to it, so don't assume that if they cry the first time they won't like it.

Yes! Keeping fit & getting out and about has great mental health benefits and a safe & supportive baby carrier is a great way to exercise whilst still keeping baby close. Look for a baby carrier that has good support for both you as the wearer and your baby and ensure you follow the T.I.C.K.S rules for safe babywearing, to position your baby properly. Ensure that your carrier supports your little one from knee-to-knee in the carrier as this will offer them more support during your exercise, and will in turn will reduce strain on your body.

Consider the warmth of the carrier as well. You’ll likely need to reduce the amount of layers you wear when working out to prevent overheating. Many carriers have mesh panels, so consider a carrier that has mesh or is designed for breathability. It’s important to be mindful of the types of exercise you’re doing. You may feel most confident starting with a daily walk and then some simple stretches or squats as it can take time to recover post-birth. Speak to a post-natal fitness expert or your health provider for specific advice.

You sure can! Some carriers are more comfortable than others when it comes to sitting down while wearing them. Ring Slings and wraps are great options if you need to sit down a lot with a carrier on as they have no waistband.

Yes, as long as you have no medical reason not to babywear and you feel comfortable carrying your child in a carrier, then it is fine. Back carrying or wearing on your hip is more comfortable with a growing bump as you can wear the carrier above, below or to the side of your bump to keep pressure off of your tummy. You can wear the waistband above or below your bump, just go with whichever feels more comfortable.

If you are finding the waistband to be too uncomfortable you could look at some other carrier options such as a ring sling, onbuhimo or a woven wrap.

Every baby carrier fits differently just as everyone's body shape differs, so there is no hard and fast rule on what will work best. However there are many carrier options out there for plus-size wearers that work well, so don’t let size stop you.

For a larger wearer, there are some features in a carrier that you need to take into consideration when buying to ensure that it will fit.

• How long is the waistband? Will it fit your waist?

• If the waistband is not long enough, can you get an extender?

• Can you wear the shoulder straps H-style? Most carriers do but it pays to check

• How long are the shoulder straps?

• Does it have PFAs?

Do remember that a waistband is designed to sit around your waist and not your hips, so this measurement is usually a but smaller. Some carriers have the option of purchasing a waistband extender, so keep this in mind if needed.

A carrier with shoulder straps that can only be worn in the X-style can limit the length that you can get the straps. This style is ideal for those with smaller frames as you can get the straps tighter, whereas the straps worn H-style on your back can be extended further to fit larger sizes.

Most buckle carriers have similar-length shoulder straps. Having PFA's on your carrier can allow you to have a wee bit more length. Meh Dai carriers have different length straps depending on the brand. These are still much longer than the straps on buckle carriers.

Here are some popular carrier options for plus-sized wearers:

1. The Beco Gemini and Beco 8 - these are our most popular carriers for larger wearers. Their simple long shoulder strap design coupled with the ability to purchase a waistband extender means that they are often the go-to option.

2. Meh Dai carriers - they have long waistbands and shoulder straps that you tie, so you are not restricted by buckles. The straps are usually generous and you can tie the shoulder straps in different ways to get the right fit.

3. Ring slings - these are a one-shoulder carrier with nothing around your waist. They usually have a generous amount of fabric to fit all sizes.

4. Woven wrap - there is a variety of sizes available. For larger wearers, a size 6 or 7 would be most appropriate as they would have some length left to be able to try a few different carriers.

As long as the carrier is fitted well and is following all of the safe carrier guidelines (close enough to kiss, airways clear, supported hips and spine, in view at all times and carrier is tightened and secure) then you can carry for as long as you wish to. Usually we are maxed out at a few hours at a time needing to take baby out for a nappy change or toilet break, or to feed. So if your little one and you are comfy then keep on wearing them.

This comes down to personal preference. The benefit of a newborn-specific carrier is that it will fit your baby from the start supporting them in the newborn scrunched position. There is less bulk to the carrier and they are usually lovely and soft. The benefit of an adjustable carrier is that you only need to buy one carrier for your whole carrying journey and you can share it between siblings. Like all OSFM items, it will have an awkward stage at some point where it doesn’t fit perfectly but it won’t be for too long.

Most of the time it’s possible to babywear after a c-section, however you need to listen to your body and you may need to make a few adjustments for comfort. Talk to your midwife or health provider about how to safely start babywearing post c-section. A soft, stretchy wrap, such as a Boba Wrap is likely to be a better option than a structured carrier, as it doesn’t have a thick waistband. Pay attention to positioning so that the waist is tied high above your scar and start with only babywearing for small amounts of time, gradually building up as your recovery progresses.

Treat your carrier as one core layer of clothing for your little one, then dress around that. Long pants and jackets are perfectly fine to use for warmth, and merino layers are always recommended for their breathability and moi ture wicking properties.

Outfits with closed toes are best to avoid when using a carrier as when your child is put into the sitting position the ends of the pants pull up and can curl your little ones toes, so if you choose to use them ensure that there is plenty of room for little toes. Puffy jackets are also not ideal as the puffy filling can result in your carrier not being tightened enough and being a fall risk.

Sometimes spot cleaning just isn’t enough to get our carriers clean, so a full wash is necessary. When your carrier is brand new you also might want to wash it before use, especially if it is made from woven wrap fabric as this will help to soften it up. The washing process does depend on the type of carrier that you have.

It is best to use a gentle washing powder or liquid if your little one has delicate skin, but normal washing powder is fine. If you are unsure about your detergent then be sure to check with the carrier manufacturer. Always avoid washing with fabrics that have colour that can run, sharp objects like zips that could catch on the fabric and or anything that will shed as it will go all over the carrier.

• Pop in the wash with other soft items (no zips or sharp objects) either loose, in a large laundry bag or in a pillowcase with the ends tied shut.
• Put through a delicate cycle with your usual washing powder/liquid.
• Dry on the line out of sun to avoid sun fade.

More often than not families with twins go for two separate carriers instead of a twin specific carrier. This is because often parents will carry one baby each or only one twin needs to be carried at one time.

If you wish to wear both babies at the same time there are a few different options.

- Minimonkey twin sling - this can be used from newborn until 12kgs for each baby.

- Two ring slings - one baby in each sling.

- Boba wrap or Love Radius wrap - when young you can have both babies worn in these stretchy wraps at the same time, you just need to consider the weight limit is 16kgs across both babies.

- A woven wrap - you can wrap both babies with a long woven wrap with one on your front and one on your back. This does take quite some practice at first but is a great option.

- A combination of carriers such as buckle carriers, onbuhimo, meh dai, half buckle carriers, ring sling, stretchy wrap or woven wrap with one on your front and one on your back.