How Long is it Safe to Carry a Baby in a Carrier?

Baby carriers make life easier for parents, allowing you to comfortably carry your little one while keeping your hands free. Beyond convenience, baby-wearing can also help strengthen your bond with your child, with immense overarching benefits for both of you.

It's reasonable to wonder how long you can baby-wear safely and comfortably. If you're following baby-wearing best practices and using aan appropriate carrier for you and your baby's developmental stage, you can have your baby in the carrier for as long as you are both comfotable.

There are no official time limits, but you do need to pay attention to markers of safety. Additionally, your baby's development and your lifestyle may also impact how much time they should spend in the carrier, or how often you should take breaks. In this post, we'll cover it all, so you can find the right balance for you.

Table Of Contents

1. Benefits of Baby Carriers
2. Health and Safety for Long Baby-Wearing Periods
3. Other Factors Influencing Carrying Duration
4. Baby-Wear Safely for as Long as You Like

Benefits of Baby Carriers

Baby carriers offer immense physical, emotional and mental benefits to both caregivers and babies.

Soothing and bonding: Baby carrying facilitates close contact and connection between caregivers and babies, which is incredibly beneficial for soothing your baby. Studies show carrying can reduce baby crying by 43% and that it promotes more secure attachment in the long term.

Hip-healthy: Studies show that baby-wearing in the hip-safe M position may reduce the risk of hip dysplasia.

Ergonomic, hands-free carrying: For parents, hands-free carrying offers a lot of convenience. The right carrier will protect your body by healthily distributing your child's weight. It'll allow you to participate in activities, do chores, or tend to other children easily while maintaining your bond with your baby.

Promotes breastfeeding: A well-designed baby carrier offers the option to breastfeed while baby wearing which can be more convenient when out and about. Please note that it is important however if adjustments are made to the carrier to accommodate for breastfeeding, that the baby is repositioned into the correct, upright, safe position after breastfeeding and the carrier is adjusted back to the original fit.

Engage with the world: As your little one gets a little older, baby-wearing allows them to gain exposure to new experiences while being held close and securely in contact with you, which allows you to explore, discover and reinforce new experiences together.

Health and Safety for Long Baby-Wearing Periods

If you're planning to have your baby in the carrier for long periods, it's incredibly important that you know all of the safety guidelines:

• When initially securing your child in the carrier, make sure the fit is tight and secure, with your baby positioned high enough that you can kiss the top of their head. Be aware that certain carriers or wraps may begin to sag or loosen after longer periods of wearing, so be sure to tighten it back up if this occurs.
• Your baby should be sitting with their legs in the M-position, meaning with their bottom in a deep seat and their knees positioned higher than their bottom, to create an M-shape. Check periodically that your child's position hasn't shifted when baby-wearing for a long time.
• Your baby's face should be visible at all times without anything obstructing their airways. Check frequently when baby-wearing for longer periods of time, especially in the early months and ensure that baby's chin is lifted up off its chest as apposed to tilted forward and down which could potentially restrict airflow.
• Make sure your baby has appropriate head and neck support, especially if they haven't developed their head control yet. if the baby falls asleep after wearing for a long period of time, you can make use of the extra head and neck support options provided by the carrier.
• Be aware of temperature regulation. Make sure the carrier is made from breathable materials, and consider your local climate when choosing fabrics and dressing yourself and your child. Think of the carrier as a layer of clothing, so throughout the day, be aware of baby's temperature so as to avoid overheating. Throughout the day, watch out for signs that they're overheating.

For a more in-depth guide on how to use a carrier, review our baby-wearing 101 guide or check out our video tutorials.

Other Factors Influencing Carrying Duration

While basic safety is key, here are other factors that may play a role in how long your baby can be in the carrier.

Baby's Age and Development

Newborns (0-3 months)

In the first months of your child's life, your baby can stay in the carrier for extended periods. Breastfeeding is a skill that is still being established in these early months. Mothers are still adjusting to this newborn phase so best to not suggest that both breastfeeding and babywearing be done simultaneously here. Also falling asleep while breastfeeding in a carrier is not recommended, baby needs to be repositioned to an upright position after breastfeeding. I'd avoid using breastfeeding and napping while carrying them in the same sentence.

During the day, you only have to take them out of the carrier for diaper changes and tummy time 2-4 times a day. That said, this is also the age when your baby is at the greatest risk of suffocation or other complications, so pay close attention to their safety and comfort.

Infants (3-6 months)

As your little one becomes more aware of their surroundings, you'll want to increase play and tummy time frequency. Additionally, as your baby becomes more mobile, they might get restless while in the carrier. At this stage, they can comfortably spend several hours in the carrier throughout the day, but with more frequent and prolonged breaks.

Older Babies (6-12 months)

At this age range, your baby may spend less time in the carrier as they learn to crawl and eventually stand and walk. You'll want to alternate carrying them and letting them down to explore and move freely. Since they'll be a little larger, taking breaks for your comfort and physical safety is also very important.

That said, you can still use the baby carrier, especially when out and about, or when your baby is tired and needs some comfort and more contact with you. Contact naps work well in the carrier as well as breastfeeding on the go as long as baby is repositioned to the upright position in the carrier after breastfeeding.

Toddlers (12+ months)

The need for a baby carrier doesn't disappear, even once your child reaches toddlerhood or learns to walk! Depending on your physical health and strength, it might be difficult to baby-wear for long periods of time, so having an ergonomic carrier is especially important for a comfortable experience for both you and your baby.

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Baby's Mood and Activity Level

Fussing is a sign that your baby might be uncomfortable or hungry. If some movement like walking or rocking in the carrier doesn't help, try taking them out the carrier to identify their reason for fussing (it might be time for a burp or a diaper change!), and let them have some tummy time.

Weather

Prolonged baby-wearing may not be comfortable in extreme weather. Always check your little one for signs of overheating, especially if it's a hot day or if it's a cold day and you're both wearing a lot of layers. Take them out of the carrier if you think they're too hot or too cold so you can make the necessary adjustments.

Caregiver's Comfort

You might experience strain and fatigue if you don't consider your own well-being when baby-wearing. Carriers with sturdy shoulder straps and waist belts offer a much more ergonomic fit that's more suitable for prolonged use, especially as your baby gets heavier. Spend time fitting and adjusting the carrier so it fits your body snugly and distributes your child's weight evenly.

Type of Carrier

Technically, the type of carrier isn't necessarily a factor, however it is important that it is Hip Dysplasia Institute-approved and follows safety regulations. That said, there are a few aspects of different carriers that may impact comfort during prolonged wearing:

• Slings or wraps may need more frequent adjusting. As your little one grows, you may also find that baby-wearing in a wrap or sling for a long time puts strain on your back and shoulders due to lack of a waist belt or lack of lumber support.
• Buckle wraps or soft structured carriers are usually more suitable for long baby-wearing periods, as they're less likely to need adjusting and they provide parents with better back and shoulder support.

Baby-Wear Safely for as Long as You Like

There are no recommended time limits when babywearing as long as you use a safe, hip-healthy carrier, and follow all of the baby-wearing safety guidelines. At WildBird, we've set you up for baby-wearing success with our flexible range of baby-wearing options!

From our Ring Sling and Buckle Wrap to the Buckle Carrier, all of our designs are CPSIA and ASTM-compliant and acknowledged as "Hip-Healthy" by the Hip Dysplasia Institute. To keep your baby comfortable, they're made with breathable, temperature-regulating natural materials like 100% linen or our custom CloudBlend™ blend.

Whether your baby likes to spend hours in the carrier or is constantly in and out, any one of our carriers will support you throughout your baby-wearing journey!