How to Successfully Breastfeed in a Baby Carrier

Key Takeaways

• Start with confidence. Get comfortable breastfeeding and babywearing separately before combining them. Feeling secure in both helps you and your baby stay calm and connected.
• Find your perfect fit. Wraps, ring slings, and buckle carriers each support nursing in their own way. Choose the carrier that feels most natural for your body, your baby’s stage, and your daily routine.
• Keep safety close. Always support your baby’s head, keep their face visible, and return them to an upright position once feeding is done. Nursing in a carrier offers support, but your touch still matters most.
• Practice, breathe, repeat. Try nursing in your carrier at home first and give yourself time to adjust. If you need guidance, a babywearing consultant or our WildBird team is always here to help.

Table of Contents

1. How to Choose the Right Baby Carrier
2. Best Breastfeeding Positions in a Baby Carrier
3. How to Nurse in the Carrier
4. FAQs

It is well documented that breastfeeding has many long-term health benefits. Breast milk provides your baby with the optimal nutrients for growth and development and being able to breastfeed promotes bonding and connection between mother and baby. Babywearing is a tool that allows for increased attunement to your baby's needs because you are wearing your baby close and therefore able to respond to her needs more readily.

Babywearing offers an opportunity to nurse more frequently and is convenient, especially when out and about or traveling. It is, however, very important to know how to correctly and safely breastfeed in a carrier, as well as understand that both breastfeeding and babywearing are two separate skills that need to be learned and practiced separately.

It is crucial that the mother establishes a good breastfeeding relationship with her baby and feels confident and secure with nursing before adding babywearing into the mix. Once breastfeeding is established and mom also feels confident babywearing, then you can combine the two skills.

Breastfeeding in a baby carrier should also not be understood as a "hands-free" activity, especially in the newborn phase. It is important to always keep an arm around your baby and support the head and neck while nursing.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you should know about nursing in a baby carrier. 

How to Choose the Right Baby Carrier

With some adjustments, most baby carriers are suitable for breastfeeding, although some styles are better than others. Here is a brief outline of how breastfeeding can be achieved in 3 different carrier types. Note there are always nuances and individual needs to take into account when deciding how to nurse in a carrier.

Wrap carriers offer a snug and adjustable fit that parents can create through tying. They’re a little less convenient for breastfeeding, but you are able to loosen the fit and move your baby down in line with the breast to nurse in an upright position. It also depends, as woven baby carrier wraps can be worn in a ring sling style; therefore, a cradle position of nursing can be achieved. The Wildbird Aerial Buckle Wrap, which is a hybrid carrier and intended for babies less than 15lbs, is able to accommodate nursing.

Ring slings like the WildBird Aerial Ring Sling offer the convenience of a lightweight wrap with easier adjustability thanks to the two rings. Adjusting from the rings to loosen and maneuver your baby into a cradle or cross-cradle breastfeeding position can be a much easier option. It is important, however, after your baby is done nursing, to readjust your baby and the carrier back to the upright position.

Soft buckle carriers like the WildBird Aerial Soft-Structured Carrier are excellent if you’d like ultra-simple adjustability and minimal need for tying or wrapping. They make it simple to loosen straps and maneuver your little one with security at breastfeeding time. They accommodate upright breastfeeding and using this carrier is a great option for older babies.

Best Breastfeeding Positions in a Baby Carrier

There are many different breastfeeding positions, but they don’t all work in a baby carrier. The two most convenient, practical and recommended positions when using a carrier, wrap or ring sling would be either the upright position or the cradle/cross cradle positions.

• Upright: This position keeps your little one upright and is typically used when wearing your baby in a soft-structured carrier, like the Aerial Buckle Carrier, or a hybrid wrap carrier, such as the Aerial Buckle Wrap. You can also adjust the rings of a Ring Sling to lower your baby down to nurse in an upright position. All you have to do is slightly loosen the baby carrier to lower your baby to nipple height while maintaining the hip-healthy seat. 

• Cradle or cross-cradle hold: Breastfeeding in these horizontal positions can easily be achieved when wearing your baby in a ring sling. The Wildbird Ring Sling offers easy adjustability when transitioning from an upright position to a cradle position and back to an upright position.

How to Nurse in the Carrier

Here are the basic steps to breastfeeding in a carrier:

Preparation
Make sure you're wearing a top that will allow for easy breastfeeding access — loose enough for lifting, or low-cut enough that you can pull it down.

Adjusting a Buckle Carrier
If using a buckle carrier, loosen the shoulder straps to create more room to maneuver your baby and have them reach nipple height. You may want to lower the waist belt, as well. How much you loosen the straps also depends on the height of your nipples. Always keep one hand under your baby's bottom while adjusting and lowering baby.

Adjusting a Ring Sling
With a ring sling, you can simply loosen the ring to lower your child to breastfeed upright. Always have a hand on baby when loosening the fabric at the rings. A cradle or cross-cradle hold is often better suited for infants or younger babies. To adjust at the rings when wearing your baby in an upright position and wanting to transition to a cradle position, you will pull up on the top ring with one hand to loosen the fabric (while the other hand supports your baby's bottom) and then shift your baby by bringing your hand under his bottom and legs into a cradle position (on the opposite side to the rings). Bring him with the fabric into that horizontal cradle position with your arm supporting, on the outside of the fabric now, around his head and body. 

Once your baby is latched in this position, you can gently tighten or readjust at the rings. One arm should always support your baby in this position. Using the carrier while nursing in this position should not be understood as a hands-free activity. The carrier acts as an added support around your baby's body while shifting your baby's positions and perhaps if you move between cradle and cross cradle, but the carrier does not fully support your baby throughout the feed. 

Being attentive to your baby while nursing is crucial. Readjusting your baby back up to the upright position after nursing in the cradle position is extremely important. This can be achieved by pulling up on the top ring, creating some slack in the fabric and then bringing your baby out of the cradle position, back into the upright position, high and secure with a deep seat, knees higher than bottom and following TICKS guidelines for safe and comfortable wearing.

Latching & Nursing
Make sure to support the back of your baby's head as you guide them towards the nipple. If necessary, use your hand to maneuver your breast towards their mouth and to help them latch. You can lean forward slightly if that will help create a deeper latch.

Be very careful to ensure that the carrier's fit isn't too tight while the baby is nursing. You should be able to see your baby's face as they feed to ensure that their airways are unobstructed. your baby's head and airway should never be covered or obstructed. Baby's face and airway needs to always be visible to the mother. You also need to be attentive while your baby is breastfeeding and consistently check in to ensure that your baby is actively nursing and has not fallen asleep at the breast.

Finishing to Nurse
Once your baby is done nursing, carefully release the latch from the nipple lift and readjust your baby back to the proper high, upright and secure and position in the carrier. Re-tighten all of the straps so they’re back in a safe and secure baby-wearing position with their head close enough to kiss. Follow the acronym TICKS for safe and secure positioning, which can be found in the link to the above mentioned article.

Safety & Problem Solving for Breastfeeding in a Carrier
When you're nursing in a baby carrier, keep the following safety and problem-solving tips in mind!

• While breastfeeding, keep an arm on your little one at all times, especially when adjusting the carrier.
• Pay attention to ensure that your baby's airway is clear and he is able to breathe easily while nursing.
• Never let your little one stay in a nursing position once your baby is done feeding, especially if your baby falls asleep. Always shift your baby back to a safe upright babywearing position once you're done to prevent asphyxiation risk. Adjust and tighten the carrier accordingly.
• Make sure you've mastered both nursing and babywearing independently before attempting to nurse in the baby carrier. It is important to understand that breastfeeding and babywearing are two separate skills that need to both individually be practiced established,ed and confidently executed before deciding to combine them.
• Practice breastfeeding in the carrier at home before attempting to do it on the go. It's okay to try different techniques and nursing positions to find the ones that work best for you.
• It is beneficial to reach out to a babywearing consultant to assist with babywearing while breastfeeding if this is a skill you are needing help with and are wanting to achieve, especially if you are in the newborn season. Please reach out to us at Wildbird if you are needing help finding a babywearing consultant.
  

FAQs

What should I wear when breastfeeding in a carrier?

Ideally, wear a nursing top or nursing bra that can be pulled down or to the side to give access. Tops that must be pulled up can work but are less comfortable when nursing in a carrier.

How do I know if my baby is latched correctly in a carrier?

Even when breastfeeding in the baby carrier, you should still be able to see your little one's face. You may want to speak to a breastfeeding consultant if latching is a struggle. A babyweairng consultant can also help guide this process.

Note: It is important to achieve a good breastfeeding relationship without the use of a carrier before introducing nursing in a carrier.

Can I switch positions while breastfeeding in a carrier?

Yes, although you'll need to unlatch your baby before you can change their position. Remember to always support their head and body when shifting them

Can I breastfeed in any type of baby carrier?

Most carrier types, as mentioned in the above article, can be adjusted to position your baby into a nursing position. It may take some time and practice. It is important that you ensure that whichever carrier you are using, that you always readjust your baby to an upright position after nursing and then retighten the carrier. If you are needing assistance with your particular carrier please reach out to a babywearing consultant who will be able to guide you.

How do I ensure my baby's airway is clear while breastfeeding in a carrier?

Your baby's head and airway should never be covered or obstructed while in a carrier. Although you may feel tempted to cover up while nursing, baby's face and airway needs to always be visible to the mother. Often there is enough coverage from the position of the baby in the carrier so that you are not exposed to others but you still have a direct view of your baby's face and airway while your baby is nursing. Being attentive will ensure that your baby is breathing easily while nursing.

Can I breastfeed in a carrier while on the go?

Yes, while out and about and tending to other tasks, you can breastfeed in a carrier however it is important to not become distracted while breastfeeding and babywearing. You need to be attentive while your baby is breastfeeding and consistently check in to ensure that your baby is actively breastfeeding and has not fallen asleep at the breast.

Are there any safety tips I should follow when breastfeeding in a baby carrier?

Yes! Breastfeeding while babywearing can be helpful, however there are important safety precautions to follow:

• Breastfeeding while babywearing should not be interpreted as a "handsfree" activity. The carrier acts as a support however, you need to still support your baby's head and or cradle your baby especially in the newborn phase when your baby does not have full head and neck control.
• Your baby's head and airway should never be covered or obstructed. Baby's face and airway needs to always be visible to the mother.
• You need to be attentive while your baby is breastfeeding and consistently check in to ensure that your baby is actively breastfeeding and has not fallen asleep at the breast.
• If your baby falls asleep at the breast and or is done feeding, it is vital that you take your baby off the breast and readjust your baby and the carrier to the correct, upright position, against your body. Follow the safety checklist outlined using the acronym TICKS to ensure safe positioning. (Tight, In view, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off chest, Supported back)
• Note: It may be tempting to leave your baby sleeping in the carrier after breastfeeding (especially if in a cradle position) however this is unsafe! ALWAYS reposition your baby to an upright position after nursing and adjust the carrier accordingly.