Just like placing your baby into a pram, cot, or if you have chosen to co-sleep, we do need to follow guidance to ensure safety. When done correctly babywearing is not inherently dangerous.
Mission
Do your checks with each & every carry
There are several babywearing safety frameworks you'll come across, including TICKS and ABC-style checks. The wording varies, but the underlying principles are similar: your baby's airway, position and support matter.
Scroll down to see below...
Mission
Secure baby's airways
Your baby's face should remain visible and their airway should be clear. Fabric should be into the nape of the neck, no higher, things like fabric flips with certain carriers, using baby's hands, and doing a pelvic tilt can help to align the head and give you a clearer view. You should be able to check on them easily throughout the carry.
Mission
Body Positioning
Your baby's position on you needs to be up high (aiming for good clearance of breast tissue and/or the hard part of your chest) a naturally curved spine J shape (baby is unfurled, chin-off-chest), and their knees higher than bottom, in their naturally seated positioning (narrower for newborns and wider as baby grows – M shape / pelvic tuck. Baby will usually be upright, their tummy to your tummy (with some sling-types however you can backcarry from newborn, and there are other positions you can carry baby in on your front with consultant guidance - such as seated sideways). To maintain good positioning their body needs to be well supported by a correctly tightened carrier. The position you opt for should be appropriate for their age and developmental stage, and/or sling-type you are using.
Mission
Fit & Comfort
The carrier should be adjusted correctly to fit both your baby and the wearer. A carrier can be technically suitable but still be poorly fitted, which will not just be uncomfy, it will cause baby to slump, placing their chin onto chest and potentitally compromising the airways.
Consider baby's temperature – you and your baby's clothing, light, easily adjustable layers are best. Your carrier is at least one layer – do not layer bulky items like coats under it, but place around, more like a carseat if needed.
Mission
Regular check-ins and monitoring
When baby is in the carrier have little check-in's on the above, and if anything has changed look to adjust.
Babies move, grow and change quickly. A fit that worked beautifully a few weeks ago may need adjusting now.
For younger babies especially, don't rely on simply checking that the carrier is within its stated weight range (instead always take these with a pinch of salt here's why).
Mission
Sleeping & Breast/Chest Feeding
Sleeping If baby is parent facing, you are confident on the fit, and there are no medical issues such as prematurity at play then they can stay sleeping in your sling for as long as you are both comfortable. World facing is a position baby should NEVER sleep in - as their chin will droop onto their chest, not to mention this is a much harder position for monitoring – do regular check-ins for relaxed or drowsiness and stick to world-facing carry's short bursts (this will be more comfy for both of you too!)​
Breast/Chest feeding – only HAND free and never HANDS free. If baby falls asleep during a feed you will need to reposition them upright and either retighten your sling safely, or remoe them altogether - you need to ensure you can remain alert and monitor baby throughout the whole feed (for example if the doorbell goes don't walk to the door while nursing) ensure you can do regular airway checks and ensure fabric remains clear of. Feeding in a carrier needs to be done safely, and even more so when baby is 0-4m due to lack of head control and other developmental factors, so please check in with a consultant / sling library if you are unsure where to start.
Mission
Still not sure
Safety guidance online can tell you what to look for, but it can't see your particular baby, carrier and body together. If you're unsure whether your carrier is fitted correctly, something feels uncomfortable, or you're wondering whether your baby is ready for a new carrying position, a personalised fit check is really valuable as it will give you reassurance as well as practical help.
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Need a quick check?
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Want to explore carriers or several carrying options?
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Not sure which you need?
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Further reading
Discover my babywearing guides →
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This is general educational information, and I'd still recommend that all parents new to babywearing get a fitcheck to ensure optimal wearing. For premature babies or medical considerations, seeking professional support is even more important.
