News

Visible & Kissable: 5 Safe Babywearing Tips

by Bryant Figueroa on Sep 04, 2017

All of my children were snugglers. They loved to be held and carrying was one way I did that so I could still have free hands to keep tabs on my other children or if I needed to get something done. One of my twins, more specifically loved being carried. She didn’t get on the move as quickly as her sister and she loved being able to snuggle up close, or observe the world around her from the carrier.

When we were getting ready to move again, I remember carrying her the entire day as our packers worked on getting our home ready. Her sister spent a lot of time in activity seats or bouncers, but she loved the carrier.

There are many benefits to babywearing, one of them being that it is such a lovely opportunity to bond with your children and enjoy having them close.

So, how do you ensure you are safely wearing baby? Follow these 5-safe babywearing safety tips to ensure baby is snug and secure.

1.  Always have baby visible and kissable

When wearing your little one in a carrier or sling baby’s head should be high enough to kiss and face in view at all times. This will allow you to ensure that baby always has an open airway, with chin not resting on his/her chest and face free of fabric.

2.  Choose a properly fitting carrier

No matter which carrier you have, you need to ensure it is fits properly, according to manufacturer instructions. This will ensure baby’s safety and proper support for you.

With the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier, use our sizing tool to determine the best carrier size for you. Your carrier should fit snuggly to ensure that you are securely carrying your child and in order to provide proper back support for you.

3.  Keep it hip healthy

When wearing baby, support healthy hip development by placing baby in a natural “M” or “squat” position (knees at or above the level of his/her bottom).

 

Did you know that the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier is approved as Hip-Healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute? Check out our blogpost to learn more.

4. Practice

Try your carrier with a weighted doll or sack of potatoes. Practice everyday movements like bending at the knees, passing through doorways and getting ‘baby’ in and out of the carrier. Practice in front of a mirror to get a sense for how your carrier is adjusted and baby is positioned. If you are beginning your Babywearing journey with an older baby, build up your endurance over time with short sessions before planning a longer day.

5. Remember T.I.C.K.S.

Familiarizing yourself with this acronym will help you keep baby safe in your day-to-day babywearing. Use it as a helpful quick-check tool to ensure you are wearing baby safely and you are both comfortable.

  • Tight carrier with no loose fabric
  • In view at all times.
  • Close enough to kiss
  • Keep chin off chest
  • Supported back.

Looking for additional Babywearing tips? Check out the following resources on the Baby K’tan site:

Carrier Safety Check – take a look at our visual guide for safe Babywearing as well as a list of additional safe Babywearing tips that we offer.

Safety Q & A – Want to know more about the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier and how to use it safely? This Q & A is for you.