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Baby carriers (view report contents)

Keeping Safe

We asked a child safety expert for advice on the safe use of baby carriers. Here it is.

Accidents can happen to parents and babies when using baby carriers. If you trip and fall, both of you can be hurt. Babies have fallen from carriers when being put into them or when parents bend or lean down – to attend to another child or dog for example. Babies can also hit their head when being carried in a back carrier.

All baby carriers

  • With a new carrier practise using it first without your baby – use a teddy bear, doll or cushion
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, making sure that the carrier fits you and your baby
  • If the carrier is difficult to put on or to get your baby in or out, arrange for somebody to help you. (Better still is a carrier you can manage independently.)
  • Adjust the size of the carrier to suit your baby’s growth. Take particular care with very small babies – a carrier that is too large may not support them
  • As far as possible make adjustments to the straps before putting the baby in
  • Each time you put the carrier on before putting the baby in, tug the straps to make sure all the fastenings are secure
  • Remember the baby will be affected by extremes of weather before you are – heat and sun as well as cold and rain
  • Be aware that your balance may be affected by movements of the baby in the carrier
  • Wear shoes that reduce the chance of tripping
  • Take care bending down or leaning forward, both to protect your baby and keep yor balance, which may be affected by the weight of the carrier and baby
  • Do not use a carrier in a car
  • If any part of the carrier becomes damaged, stop using it and contact the manufacturers for advice straight away

Soft carriers

  • Only use a carrier with your baby facing outwards if it is designed for this and if the baby can support his or her head
  • Never use a front carrier on your back unless it is designed for this

Framed back carriers

  • Do not use a back carrier if your baby cannot sit unaided
  • If the carrier has a stand, only use this when putting your baby in it and doing up the harness. Never leave the baby sitting in the carrier. Do not use the carrier as a child seat
  • The baby must be harnessed in the carrier and the harness adjusted to fit. Apart from growth, adjust the harness according to the baby’s clothes
  • The baby’s head may be higher than yours. Take care when going through doorways and walking under things, like overhanging branches of trees

Of the carriers tested

All but a couple of people were totally confident with the Baby Bjorn and Evenflo Snugli front carriers and Vaude Jolly framed back carrier, but only around half or less felt their baby was secure in the Earthwise and Huggababy slings and the Kipling Heartbeat front and back carrier. Both framed back carriers had full child harnesses attached. A separate harness was available with the Huggababy safety harness but it did not increase everyone’s confidence and some parents found it time-consuming to use.

‘Baby was facing forward when my shoulder straps slipped. I went to catch her as she slipped and found I had my hands round her face and throat’.

Baby harness

Baby harness

 

Report Contents

About this guide
Baby issues
How to choose a carrier
Ability issues

Types and what to look for

Buying guide
Guide to summaries

Front carriers

Slings

Framed back carriers

Keeping safe
Helpful Organisations
Suppliers list