
With babywearing in the news recently because of a very sad story about a six-week-old baby who died while being in a sling due to an 'unsafe' position, you may be questioning that baby sling purchase, or feeling nervous about putting your baby in their sling.
Baby slings or carriers are a great way to get some hands-free time whilst still giving your baby the closeness they need, but we all want to keep our child safe! I am going to try and put your fears to rest!
Is babywearing a new thing?
Nope! Some of the news articles covering this sad story state that babywearing is 'on the rise' or a 'new trend'.
Baby-wearing has been an essential part of human culture from the very beginning. Humans are described as 'carry mammals', our babies are born 'premature' meaning they cannot fend for themselves and must be fed frequently with low calorie low fat milk. Its for this reason that we have found ways to carry our babies with us!
50,000 years ago slings and carriers made with plants or leather allowed women to take their babies foraging and hunting with them.
Baby-wearing evolved in lots of different cultures, in hot climates it was a way of keeping the baby close and feeding frequently to avoid dehydration, in colder climates it was a way of sharing body heat.
However, as prams/pushchairs became cheaper and more accessible in the UK and the united states, baby-wearing fell out of fashion.
With attachment and reactive parenting becoming 'back in fashion' baby-wearing is making a come back!
Are there different ways of baby-wearing?
Yes! Different cultures have developed different traditions, and there have been many different commercial variations of baby carriers.
Woven wraps
Some cultures use a long strip of woven fabric, like a rebozo in Mexico or a Kanga in East Africa.
You can buy a commercial version of a woven wrap, they are versatile and the strength and structure of the fabric means they can be used from newborn to toddlerhood.
There are various methods to wrap them, including front-to-back, forward-facing, and side-facing.
They do require some skill to tie them though!
Stretchy Wraps / Baby Wrap
Long pieces of stretchy jersey fabric with instructions on lots of different ways to tie these to your body to support your baby.
These are ideal for newborns who lack neck control since they can be adjusted to provide the appropriate support. They are soft and comfortable.
However, they can be quite complicated to start with and can leave you wondering if you have done it right and worried about if the baby is safe.
Stretchy slings do have a shorter wear-life than other carriers as once the baby is heavy you may find you prefer more structure.
If you have bought a stretchy wrap get lots of practice putting it on with a teddy or baby doll before the baby arrives as you want to be quick and efficient at getting it on and confident you are doing it right.
Ring Slings
A long piece of woven fabric with two rings sewn into one end.
It is worn over the shoulder with the little one resting in it like a hammock or sitting on your hip.
They are easier to wear and adjust than a stretchy sling, and some may last into toddlerhood!

Buckle Carrier
These are structured and easy to take on and off.
Some come with newborn inserts but others are more suitable for older babies.
They evenly distribute weight, but due to their straps and buckles, they are less comfortable for wearing around the house. However, they are excellent for outdoor use!
Here I am with the Ergo Baby Omni 360. While I favored the wrap mentioned below, I found a structured carrier handy for outings. My husband liked this carrier's structure better, as he believed it made the baby feel more secure.
Hybrid Sling / Soft structured carriers

An excellent choice for newborns and older, offering the convenience of a structured carrier combined with the coziness of a stretchy wrap.
The Close Caboo was my top choice for both of my babies because it was easy to wear, ensured proper positioning, and was comfortable enough for use around the house.
I loved this soft structured carrier so much that I bought two of them in case one needed a wash. It's the one I recommend to everyone, it goes on like a t-shirt and has a separate section that ties around the baby.
There are also specific toddler carriers on the market.
How do I know which type is right for me?
The best thing to do is to visit a local sling library where you can try out or maybe even rent a sling.
They will also be able to show you how to wear the sling and get the baby in and out safely, as well as checking your baby is in a good position.
The staff at the sling library will have been on specific training courses in safe baby-wearing.
Babywearing safely
The BBC news article I talked about at the start states:
Ms Brown called for industry standards promoting the safe use of slings.
"There appeared to be no helpful visual images of 'safe' versus 'unsafe' sling/carrier postures," she said, adding that "the NHS available literature provides no guidance or advice".
However there is an industry guideline created by the UK sling consortium to help keep baby safe, you can see it below:
TICKS
Tight - The material or straps are pulled tight so that once the baby is in the correct position they cannot move or slouch.
In view - You can see the baby at all times, their head/face isn't hidden from view.
Close enough to kiss - If you bend your head you can kiss your baby easily.
Keep chin off chest - To ensure your baby's airway isn't restricted, make sure you can place one finger between their chin and chest.
Supported back - again to protect your baby's airway we need to ensure their head isn't extending backwards.
Healthy hips
Look for a carrier that is certified as hip-healthy, your baby's knees and hips should be in an 'M' position, with the portion of the material supporting your baby's bottom wide.
This is particularly important if your baby has hip dysplasia.
If you child has any conditions always seek medical advice.
Temperature
It is very easy for a baby to overheat in a carrier, even in cold weather.
Your baby shouldn't wear a snowsuit in a carrier, multiple thin layers are much better.
The material of the carrier counts as a layer of clothing and your body heat counts as another, add babywearing coats over the top, that is 3 layers of clothing before you even count the vest and outfit your baby is wearing, often a light coat, thick socks, and a hat is all a baby needs even in winter.
If you are going to be babywearing in winter this coat is my recommendation!
In summer babywearing can be sweaty, cotton clothes in between mum and baby can help keep you both cool and soak up any sweat!
Follow manufacturers guidelines
Some carriers advertised as 'from newborn' may have a recommended minimum weight, while others may only be suitable for newborns in certain positions. Always check the instructions and labels.
Some carriers are only suitable for babies a few months old.
Most carriers are not suitable for premature babies.
Safe sleep
Many carriers are safe for your baby to sleep in, as long as you are following the manufacturer's instructions and TICKS.
Babies should never sleep in a forward-facing position as this could restrict their airway, if they fall asleep you should turn them to be facing towards you.
You should never sleep with your baby in a carrier, if you wish to co-sleep with your baby following the Safe Sleep 7 is the best way to do this.
Can you breastfeed in a carrier?
You can breastfeed in many carriers, but for some to do so you have to change your baby's position in the carrier.
It is ok to do so if you are keeping a close watch on your baby, and you may find that you need to use your hands to support the baby - making it not truly hands-free.
The most important thing is to ensure that once your baby has finished feeding you move them back into a safe position following TICKS, this might be annoying as you have to disturb them but safety comes first.
There is even evidence that baby-wearing increases breastfeeding duration.
What are the benefits of babywearing?
There are so many!
The first one for me was that I could let my baby nap on me (let's face it it's all they want to do!) and be hands-free. Don't get me wrong, I did my fair share of sitting on the sofa, but If I needed a drink or a wee I could get up without disturbing their sleep.
And if I fancied being more productive I could cook and clean whilst they were napping!
Baby wearing was also magic for calming down a cross, overstimulated baby, and it's not just me, evidence shows that babies who are worn regularly cry less!
Having your baby close at all times gives you that oxytocin boost, improving mother-baby bonding!
Wearing your baby means you are more reactive to your baby's feeding cues, and the additional oxytocin means that wearing your baby for even an hour a day increases the length of time you will breastfeed!
If your baby hates tummy time, it might help to know that wearing them in the carrier makes them use the same muscle groups!
Carrying your baby in a sling is much more flexible than carting a pram around with you, if you like walking you can use routes that aren't pram-friendly!
Both parents can wear their infant, families sometimes find that when a baby settles better with one (usually mum) they settle better with the other parent in the carrier instead of just being held.
When I talk to my Virtual Doula families about planning for their postpartum I always include how baby-wearing can make life significantly easier. I support all my families to at least 2 weeks postpartum and during this time baby baby-wearing is often a hot topic, asking for reassurance on positioning and recommendations for trying different options.
If you want to know more about Virtual Doula support you can see more here:
What if my baby hates the carrier?
Often babies do cry initially when you put them in the carrier.
They might still require the classic settling techniques such as shushing, bouncing, and movement to settle initially.
You can preserve building up the amount of time they spend in the sling gradually.
Hopefully, I have helped you feel at ease with trying or continuing baby-wearing! Id love it if you could recommend your favorite carrier!
Who am I?

I am Charlotte, a Virtual Doula, providing bespoke evidence-based pregnancy support to families who want an empowering birth.
With 10 years + of clinical research experience, a biomedical science degree, and two hospital births under my belt, I use my knowledge to provide pregnancy support to help you make informed decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
I provide pregnancy support for all types of births, including hospital births, helping you to navigate NHS guidelines and have an empowering positive birth.
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