Baby Carriers

A diagnoses of hip dysplasia can be very upsetting to new parents.  Although it is a relatively common condition, no parent wants to hear that their child has a physical challenge.  Babywearing can still be practiced if your baby is diagnosed with hip dysplasia; in fact, in Europe, woven wrapping is often the only treatment used to correct dysplasia.

Each baby’s condition is unique, so it is essential that you discuss all products you intend to use during the course of your baby’s treatment, including baby carriers.  Babywearing is compatible with treatment for hip dysplasia; you might note that the most common treatments, including the Pavlik Harness, place the baby in the same spread squat position recommended as optimal by most babywearing educators.

It is essential that babies with hip dysplasia be extremely well supported in their carrier.  Fabric must spread from one knee to the other.  The baby should be in the spread squat, with legs flexed and knees up at the level of the baby’s belly button.  The fabric of the carrier needs to be carefully tightened around the baby to provide support to the joints and muscles as well as to maintain the baby’s correct position.

Woven wraps and ring slings made from woven wrap fabric ( SBP made with Girasol fabrics) are recommended for carrying babies with hip dysplasia.  They are woven in such a way that allows the fabric to move with the baby without losing the ability to support the baby’s body.

Sharing your carrier and your babywearing plans with your child’s health care provider will allow them to incorporate babywearing into the plan for your child’s treatment.  Many parents find that the benefits are babywearing are especially important for their children with health concerns like hip dysplasia.

Your premature baby decided to make an early entrance into the world!  Research is clear that skin to skin care is the standard for optimizing the growth and health of preemies[1].  Kangaroo Care helps parents as well, allowing parents to care for their new baby’s needs in a way that is empowering.  While skin to skin care does not require a baby carrier to implement, it is not practical without one, especially outside of the hospital setting.  The right baby carrier lets parent keep their baby in Kangaroo Care in the hospital as well as once they are at home.  Premature babies can have some special considerations, so choosing the right carrier is an important step.  We recommend using stretch wraps or ring slings with your preemie.

Stretch Wraps

There are several different brands of stretch wrap, any of which will be appropriate for your premature baby.  Made of soft cotton knit (Gypsymama, Moby) or cotton blend (Sleepy Wrap), stretch wraps conform perfectly to you and your babies bodies.  The easy to care for fabric can be quickly washed and dried so you can get back to wearing your preemie as quickly as possible.  Carefully tied, stretch wraps can even be worn in place of your shirt, allowing your baby to be directly skin to skin with you, maximizing the impact of kangaroo care.

Ring Slings

Quick adjustability can be an asset when you are caring for a new baby, which makes ring slings a good choice for premature babies.  A wide variety of fabric choices are available, including cotton, linen and even silk, so you can choose the type that suits your baby the best.  Small babies can be hard on fabrics, so you may want to consider a brand that is easily washable, such as Maya Wrap or Sleeping Baby Productions.  Ring slings are the best carrier for nursing in, so your baby can stay in continuous skin to skin care if you choose.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9628303

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/110/1/16

Parents of twins are used to everything done in twos- babywearing is no exception!  Parents of twins are often in situations where they need to carry both babies at once; choosing carriers that facilitate that will go a long way towards making life with 2 as hands free as possible.

Do I Need 2 Carriers?

In a word, yes.  While it is possible to wear 2 babies in one carrier in some cases, we recommend each baby be placed in his own carrier for his comfort and yours.  It is important to properly position and to carefully tighten each baby in the carrier; that is not possible to do when they are in one carrier.  Another consideration is the ability to remove one baby from the carrier without disturbing the other; this is possible only when they are each in their own.  If you have 2 carriers, you can also share the babywearing duties with another person.

What carriers do you recommend?

When shopping for 2, the key considerations are flexibility and avoiding bulk.  This means you will want carriers that allow maximum adjustment with minimal construction, which allows you to choose different positions for your babies as needed.  Virtually all carriers meet those requirements, with the exception of bulkier, heavily constructed carriers.  Pouches, ring slings, mei tais and wraps are all good choices for use with twins.

What are some combinations that work?

Some popular carrier/positioning combinations are:

-2 pouches or ring slings, worn over each shoulder with babies in a hip carry

-2 mei tais or woven wraps, worn with one baby on the front and one in the back

-1 mei tai and 1 wrap, worn with one baby on the front and one in the back

-1 mei tai or wrap for the back carry and one ring sling for a front or hip carry

Wearing 2 babies certainly does take practice, but once mastered it is a skill that will be appreciated for years to come!



Your premature baby decided to make an early entrance into the world! Research is clear that skin to skin care is the standard for optimizing the growth and health of preemies[1]. Kangaroo Care helps parents as well, allowing parents to care for their new baby’s needs in a way that is empowering. While skin to skin care does not require a baby carrier to implement, it is not practical without one, especially outside of the hospital setting. The right baby carrier lets parent keep their baby in Kangaroo Care in the hospital as well as once they are at home. Premature babies can have some special considerations, so choosing the right carrier is an important step. We recommend using stretch wraps or ring slings with your preemie.

Stretch Wraps

There are several different brands of stretch wrap, any of which will be appropriate for your premature baby. Made of soft cotton knit (Gypsymama, Moby) or cotton blend (Sleepy Wrap), stretch wraps conform perfectly to you and your babies bodies. The easy to care for fabric can be quickly washed and dried so you can get back to wearing your preemie as quickly as possible. Carefully tied, stretch wraps can even be worn in place of your shirt, allowing your baby to be directly skin to skin with you, maximizing the impact of kangaroo care.

Ring Slings

Quick adjustability can be an asset when you are caring for a new baby, which makes ring slings a good choice for premature babies. A wide variety of fabric choices are available, including cotton, linen and even silk, so you can choose the type that suits your baby the best. Small babies can be hard on fabrics, so you may want to consider a brand that is easily washable, such as Maya Wrap or Sleeping Baby Productions. Ring slings are the best carrier for nursing in, so your baby can stay in continuous skin to skin care if you choose.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9628303

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/110/1/16