How Should a Baby Sit in a Carrier?

The position of your child in the baby carrier is critical, especially for newborns. Here’s how to carry your kid safely with any carrier, wrap, or sling.

Your baby should be seated in an ergonomic position that promotes healthy hip and spine development while also preventing hip dysplasia. Therefore a newborn baby will be sitting in a front inward facing positioning. Besides making sure the legs are forming the letter M, you must also be careful with the following factors, such as how long you’re carrying your child.

Uncertain about which baby carrier to get? Take a look at this list of the best baby carriers. I have put lots of hours into this baby carrier buying guide, and you’ll find the ideal carrier for your child!

🤗 Transparency Statement: This page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, I only promote products I trust. Thanks for your support!

Parents often find themselves a little bit lost when trying to figure out what position their baby would be most comfortable in their new carrier.

Do they prefer sitting with their legs spread apart and facing forward, or they prefer to stay snug with his face against my chest?

Knowing the right answer is absolutely crucial for the comfort of your child and your own peace of mind. However, finding out this answer poses quite a challenge considering how babies can’t talk!

In my experience, at first, I try to understand the cues from my babies when I placed them in the carrier. However, that ultimately failed me because my children are different; one will cry at the slightest discomfort while the other will bear with the most uncomfortable position.

Experimenting was definitely not the way to go, so I was back to the drawing board. I eventually find the right position after reading the owner manual, watch tones of video on YouTube, and read (almost) every single article on the Web.

Learn how you can keep your child happy and comfortable while sitting in a carrier.

How to Sit a Baby in a Carrier?

There are different positions that a baby can adopt in a carrier. The most critical factor is whatever position you’re opting for should permit healthy hip and spine development of your child. All of the following sitting positions work well for a specific age range.

1. The Frog Position, also known as the M-Shaped or Fetal position

It seems like all newborns remember the time pass inside the womb, which is why they take their time learning how to adapt to other positions. If you’re carrying a newborn fresh out of the womb until around 6 months of age, there’s a good chance that he will prefer the frog position.

Your baby’s legs should be forming the alphabet letter ‘M’. The legs can be inside or outside the carrier, with the knees higher than the rear. Also, the arms should be inside the baby carrier. However, as your baby gains proper neck control, the arms could go out.

Many newborn or infant carriers will have a design that will support this specific position as it promotes healthy hip development and prevents hip dysplasia.

In fact, the frog position is considered the safest position for a newborn, according to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, and should be the only choice in the first few months of life.

For more information about hip dysplasia, visit The International Hip Dysplasia Institute website here!

2. C-Shaped Spine Position

When placed in this particular position in the carrier, the baby’s spine will make a natural ‘C’ shaped curve and cuddled close to the mom or dad.

Although an excellent position, sometimes this position can get too suffocating for the baby leading to a risk of overheating the child or even restricting the airways.

It’s a good idea to keep the straps of your carrier slightly loose to allow the spine of the baby to relax comfortably.

The C-Shaped position is best used after the baby can distribute at least some amount of weight to the feet. This is usually after 9 months to 1 year.

3. Legs-out Position

Finally, the legs-out position apparently looks like the most relaxed position. However, it should only be used when your baby is naturally ready and strong enough to have his legs out comfortably.

For some babies, this can be as early as a few weeks after birth, but others might take a while. Nevertheless, forcing your baby to stay in a legs-out position in a carrier for too long is never a good idea. Chances are it will only risk nerve injuries or hip dysplasia in the long term.

Carriers that support a baby’s hip with the legs splayed out on opposite sides are made for the legs-out position.

Different Baby Carrying Positions

A baby can sit in several different positions in a carrier, but the best position will be determined by the weight of your baby, its age, and the developmental stage. These parameters will help you figure out the healthiest position for your baby in a carrier to promote healthy hip and limb development.

Generally, there are 4 main positions for a carrier: front inward, front-outward, hip carry, and back carry.

Although every child is different and will reach developmental milestone ages at his own pace. Most of them will be ready to be positioned in a front inward facing positioning starting from day one. This position will help stabilize your child’s neck, all the while providing close physical contact, bonding, and nursing position.

The front-outward position is typically adopted when the baby can support its neck. This is usually around 6 months for most children.

The ages for hip carrying and back carrying positions vary considerably. Therefore, it’s up to your own parental judgment to know if your baby is ready for those positions. My baby, for example, was ready around 9 months for both hip and back carry.

How to Position the Baby Properly?

Believe it or not, your baby will be the best and ultimate guide for optimal positioning. They will indicate and adopt a position they are naturally suited in, so you won’t have to do a lot of experimenting yourself. Learning the ages and weights appropriate for each position is excellent knowledge to have, but the key in babywearing is to follow your child’s lead.

One way to quickly determine what position they will be comfortable in is by holding the baby high and noting how their legs hang below. If they cross over like in a fetal position, then you know exactly what position and carrier you need. If the legs are naturally extended, then your baby will be comfortable in a legs-out position.

It’s important to never force your child into a position that they are inherently not comfortable with. Going with the flow is the best tip to remember!

How High Should a Baby Sit in A Carrier?

At first, I felt confused by the exact height my baby should be in a carrier. Because the carrier could be adjusted at various height.

After reading the recommendation from the manufacturer, I leaned the golden rule; make sure the baby’s airways are not obstructed no matter the carrying position. The best way to keep tabs is by always being able to look into your baby’s eyes. This means your baby should be positioned high enough for you to see his face.

Another vital factor to consider is to place your baby at a height where his neck and back are properly supported.

The bottom line, by placing them too low in a carrier might obstruct the airways, and setting them too high, might not give adequate support. Meeting in the middle is the way to go.

How Do I Wear My Child Safely?

Safety first! If you’re considering babywearing, always remember that your baby’s safety should be your first priority.

Always make sure the baby carrier is fastened correctly. At first, you might want to put your baby in the carrier while being over the sofa or the bed (just in case).

You should never drink hot beverages while carrying your child.

Moreover, you should also not force your child into a carrier or position they are clearly uncomfortable with.

It’s also important that whatever carrier you decide to use, it should provide adequate support to your baby’s neck and back.

Are Baby Carriers Safe For Your Baby’s Hips?

There’s a lot of debate about carriers not being the best for healthy hip development. I call BS. If you select the right baby carrier and place your baby in a natural position (frog position for the newborn), then there’s no need to worry about the carrier hindering healthy hip development.

For more information about hips safety, check out this article I created about baby carriers causing hip problems.

How Long Can You Carry Your Baby in a Carrier?

There’s really no sure-shot answer to this question. Parents can carry a baby as long as they are comfortable with it, and as long as the baby enjoys it.

There will come a time when the baby will become too heavy to carry around like you once used to, but until that time comes, there’s no indication to stop babywearing. It all depends on your personal preference!

How Long Can a Newborn Sit in a Carrier?

Newborns can go into an appropriate infant carrier immediately after birth, and there are no rules when it comes to carrying them for a particular duration of time. Some parents will carry their babies for hours, while others won’t.

Safety-wise, there are no contraindications to carrying newborns for a long time. But it’s always a good idea to give yourself and your baby a break. Changing positions is healthy for anyone, babies, or adults!

How Long Can You Carry Your Baby in a Sling?

Slings are a different form of carriers that do have certain set restrictions for the duration of babywearing. It is generally recommended to not carry a baby in a sling carrier for over 2 hours because remaining motionless in a sling for a baby for long periods is deemed unhealthy. It’s a good idea to switch positions or remove them from a carrier after a while.

Takeaway

There’s no such thing as perfect parenting, and we all learn from trial and error to a certain extent. But if you know your carriers and the correct positions, then you’ll have less of a chance to make errors.

It’s always a good idea to be well-prepared and knowledgeable on the ABCs of babywearing should you embark on that journey!