Babywearing is such a special way for you to connect and bond with your baby. It also makes it much easier to do other tasks since your hands are free! As a postpartum doula, I have been wearing babies for years since babywearing has many benefits. However, many people struggle with wearing a newborn because new babies don’t have head or neck control just yet.
There are many ways to wear your baby, and babywearing schools worldwide teach different standards. Everyone has their own personal experience when it comes to babywearing. It’s important to do what works best for you and your baby.
Of course, some standards are universal and very important, such as keeping baby’s airway open and having baby’s butt lower than their knees (the ‘M’ position) if the legs are out. But I’m not here to tell you what’s right and wrong regarding babywearing. I am sharing my experience and what works for me. There is no such thing as one perfect way to wear your baby or one perfect carrier to have. Hopefully, the Facebook Live video below will help you feel comfortable to get your wraps out and try!
Step 1: Find the Center
Find the middle of the wrap by looking for the tag or the logo. Fold your wrap in half longways.
Step 2: Create an ‘X’
Place the center of the wrap (where the tag is) on your navel and wrap the two ends around your back, crossing them behind you and over your shoulders. This should create an ‘X’ shape on your back.
Step 3: Make Pockets
Once the two ends are over your shoulders and in front of you, make sure there are “pockets” in the wrap facing you. This is where your baby can sit. (Watch the video below to see what I am talking about!)
Step 4: Wrap It Up
Put the two ends under the horizontal material around your abdomen, which I call your “seatbelt.” Once under your “seatbelt,” cross the two ends behind your back again and tie them together in a knot. If you have a lot of extra material left, cross it back in front of you and tie the ends of the fabric in a knot in front of you. Now you are ready to get your baby!
Step 5: Froggy Style
Pick up your baby and place your baby on your dominant side. Get the material on the opposite side ready by opening “the pocket” to ensure there is material between you and your baby. Place your baby’s legs and bum inside that pocket—have your baby facing you. Baby’s feet should be in a froggy or fetal position, and baby’s knees should always be above his bottom. Pull that material under his feet and bottom and over his back for full coverage.
Step 6: Full Body Support
Place baby’s upper body onto the other side of your chest and shoulder and pull the other pocket open, placing baby inside. Pull the fabric over to cover his body. You want to make sure that the material of the wrap is pulled all the way up to baby’s back on both sides, providing full-body support.
Step 7: Grab Your “Seatbelt”
Grab the horizontal material—your “seatbelt”—and pull that over your baby’s body to the neck of baby. You can even pull the material over baby’s head for more coverage. There you go! You are now wearing your newborn baby!
In this Facebook Live video, I demonstrate how to use a standard wrap carrier (I am using the Solly Baby wrap and a Baby K’ Tan) with your newborn. Here are the steps that I did when wearing the Solly wrap:
