Reviewed by Vanessa, Mabē's certified babywearing consultant
Babywearing is the practice of carrying your baby against your body in a sling, wrap, or structured carrier so your hands stay free. It's one of the oldest parenting practices in the world, and it solves a very modern problem: your baby wants to be held, and you would like to eat lunch.
Here's what nobody tells you about the fourth trimester. Your clothes don't fit yet. There's spit-up on your shoulder more or less permanently. Confidence doesn't show up on schedule. A carrier hands you back two free hands — and with them, the ability to walk around the block, finish one thing, or get ready without setting your baby down. Contact naps don't have to mean the day stops.
This guide covers what babywearing is, the three positions you can use, the safety rules that actually matter, and how to choose a carrier that fits your body and your baby's stage.
- What is babywearing?
- What are the benefits of babywearing?
- What are the 3 babywearing positions?
- When can you start babywearing a newborn?
- Is babywearing safe? The TICKS rule, explained
- Does babywearing cause hip dysplasia?
- How long can a baby stay in a carrier?
- How do you choose a baby carrier?
- How to start babywearing: your first week
- Which Mabē carrier is right for your baby?
- Babywearing FAQ
What is babywearing?
Babywearing is carrying an infant or toddler against your body using a sling, wrap, or structured carrier rather than holding them in your arms or transporting them in a stroller. Carriers hold the baby in an upright, supported position — usually on the front or back — leaving the wearer's hands free. The practice is documented across nearly every culture in human history.
Most carriers fall into one of four types:
- Buckle carriers (also called soft-structured carriers, or SSCs) — a padded panel with buckle straps and a supportive waistband. Fastest to put on and take off, which matters more than you'd think at 6pm. The Monarch Buckle Carrier is this type.
- Toddler slings — a single-shoulder design for quick up-and-down carrying with an older baby or toddler. The Monarch Toddler Sling is this type.
- Stretchy or woven wraps — a long piece of fabric tied around the body. Highly adjustable, longer learning curve.
- Ring slings — a shorter length of fabric threaded through two rings and worn over one shoulder.
What are the benefits of babywearing?
The main benefits of babywearing are hands-free mobility for the caregiver, easier soothing for the baby, and simpler movement through spaces where a stroller is a burden. The most cited research on soothing is a randomized controlled trial published in Pediatrics in 1986, in which infants who received supplemental carrying cried and fussed 43% less overall at six weeks of age, and 51% less during evening hours, compared with a control group.
Hands free, get your day back. Cook, work, walk, answer the door, chase a toddler around the yard — all while baby naps against your chest.
Closeness that does something. Your heartbeat, your warmth, your movement. It approximates the environment your baby left a few weeks ago, which is part of why fussy stretches and growth spurts are often easier in a carrier than out of one.
Days out that don't require logistics. No wrestling a stroller up subway stairs, onto a bus, or down a crowded aisle. A carrier goes where you go and weighs almost nothing when it's off.
A piece of yourself, kept close. Finishing a task. Stepping outside. Feeling like a person for twenty minutes. Babywearing gives back some of the capability that having a baby quietly takes away.
What are the 3 babywearing positions?
The three babywearing positions in the Monarch Buckle Carrier are inward facing, back carry, and forward facing. Inward facing works from newborn through toddlerhood and is the position we recommend for the widest range of ages. Back carry and forward facing are both suitable from around 6 months, once your baby has strong, steady head and neck control.
| Position | Suitable from | Best for | Wear time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inward facing | Newborn (9 lbs through toddler) | Everyday carrying, naps, soothing, longest wears | No specific limit (comfort is your guide) |
| Back carry | Around 6 months, with steady head and neck control | Chores, cooking, walking, hiking, when baby wants a view | Extended wear |
| Forward facing | Around 6 months, with steady head and neck control | Short bursts of curiosity (errands, people-watching) | 20 minutes or less at a time |
1. Inward facing — our favorite
Baby faces your chest, legs spread around your torso in a seated "M" shape. This is the most comfortable position for long wears, and it works across the widest age range, from newborn through toddlerhood.
It's also the position the International Hip Dysplasia Institute specifically recommends for the first six months of infancy to support hip development. More on that below.
2. Back carry
Around 6 months, a lot of babies start wanting to see more of the world. You'll notice it — more squirming, more craning, more general objection to your sternum. That's when back carry earns its place. Baby moves to your back, you get your full range of motion for meal prep, laundry, walking, or hiking, and they get a much better view of what's happening.
Only move to back carry once your baby has strong, steady head and neck control, and practice the transfer over a bed or couch the first few times, ideally with someone else in the room.
3. Forward facing (world facing)
Also from around 6 months, forward facing turns your baby outward to take in the world alongside you.
Two things to know. First, it's meant for short stretches — we recommend 20 minutes or less at a time. Second, it's the most difficult of the three positions to get right, because your baby can't tuck into you to signal that they're done. Between the two options at this age, we generally suggest back carry: it's more comfortable for you, easier to get right, and keeps your baby's hips in the seated position for longer wears. That said, forward facing is absolutely doable, and some babies are obsessed with it.
Our step-by-step tutorials walk through each position. Not sure which one fits your baby's stage? Send a photo to @mabecarriers on Instagram for a fit check, or book a free live consultation with our certified babywearing specialist.
When can you start babywearing a newborn?
You can begin babywearing from birth in a carrier rated for your baby's weight, using an inward-facing position, provided your baby's airway is clear and their face is visible above the fabric at all times. The Monarch Buckle Carrier is rated from 9 lbs. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises extra care with newborns under four months, and specifically recommends consulting your pediatrician first if your baby was premature, is low birth weight, is a twin, or has any respiratory issue such as a cold.
With a newborn, three things matter more than anything else:
- Face visible, always. Their face should sit at or above the rim of the carrier, never buried in fabric or pressed flat against your body. You should be able to see it by glancing down, without moving anything aside.
- Chin off chest. A newborn can't lift their own head. If their chin curls down onto their chest, their airway narrows. Keep a finger's width of space there and check often.
- High and tight. Close enough to kiss the top of their head with a small tip of your chin.
Is babywearing safe? The TICKS rule, explained
Babywearing is safe when the carrier is used correctly and positioning is checked every single time. The most widely used safety framework is TICKS, a five-point checklist created by the UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers Consortium in 2010 and adopted as an industry standard. The primary risk with any carrier is airway restriction in young infants, which is why every point below traces back to keeping your baby's airway open and visible.
- T — Tight. Snug enough that your baby is held firmly against you, without slack. Loose fabric lets them slump, which narrows the airway and pulls on your back.
- I — In view at all times. You should see your baby's face by glancing down. Fabric should never close over their face.
- C — Close enough to kiss. Their head should be near enough to your chin that a small tip forward reaches the top of their head.
- K — Keep chin off the chest. At least a finger's width between chin and chest, so the airway stays open.
- S — Supported back. Their back should rest in its natural curve — not straightened, not slumped — with knees higher than their bottom in an "M" shape.
TICKS checklist used with credit to the UK Sling Consortium.
Two more habits worth building: check your carrier's buckles, straps, and seams before every use, and practice new positions over a soft surface until they feel automatic.
Every Monarch Carrier is independently tested by accredited third-party laboratories for strength and durability, buckle and hardware performance, seam integrity, and material safety, and is tested to meet applicable requirements in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Full detail is on our Safety + Testing page.
Does babywearing cause hip dysplasia?
No. Babywearing does not cause hip dysplasia when the carrier supports your baby's hips correctly. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute recommends the "M-position" — thighs spread around the wearer's torso, thighs supported to the knee, and knees slightly higher than the bottom — and states this position may support healthy hip development. IHDI advises against prolonged use of narrow-based carriers that don't support the thigh to the knee joint, particularly before six months of age.
The position IHDI describes is the same one TICKS calls "supported back," and it's the position the Monarch Buckle Carrier is designed to hold your baby in: seated, thighs supported, knees above bottom, back in its natural curve. Legs dangling straight down from a narrow seat is the pattern to avoid.
A 2023 study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research, led by Erin Mannen, PhD, used ultrasound to compare infant hip position in wide-base versus narrow-base carriers and found hips sat more fully in the socket in wide-base carriers. The difference was more pronounced in the infants who already had mild hip dysplasia.
If your baby has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia or is being monitored for it, talk to their pediatrician or orthopedist about carrier use before you start.
How long can a baby stay in a carrier?
There's no single time limit for inward-facing or back carrying — comfort is the guide, for both of you. Change positions and give your baby time out of the carrier across the day rather than wearing for one continuous stretch. Forward facing is the exception: we recommend 20 minutes or less at a time, because your baby can't turn away from stimulation or tuck into you when they've had enough.
Signs it's time for a break: fussing that doesn't settle with movement, arching, or a baby who has fallen asleep forward-facing (move them to inward facing).
How do you choose a baby carrier?
Choose a baby carrier by matching four things: your baby's current weight and stage, how quickly you need to get it on and off, how well it supports your back and shoulders, and whether it holds your baby in a seated M-position with thighs supported to the knee. A carrier with a wide weight range costs more upfront and less overall, because you're not buying a second one at eight months.
- Weight range and stage. Check the rated minimum and maximum weight, not just the age guidance. Newborns need more support; older babies and toddlers need more structure. A carrier that adjusts across stages saves you buying twice.
- How fast can you get it on? Wraps are highly adjustable and take practice. Buckle carriers are quicker on and off, which matters on the days you have nothing left in the tank.
- Support for you. Wide padded straps and a structured waistband move weight off your shoulders and onto your hips. On a 45-minute wear with a 20 lb baby, this is the whole ballgame.
- Hip positioning. Look for a seat wide enough to support your baby's thighs to the knee, so their knees sit slightly higher than their bottom.
- How it makes you feel. Comfort matters, and so does confidence. Wanting a carrier that looks good on you is not a shallow ask. It's part of feeling like yourself.
How to start babywearing: your first week
You don't need to be an expert to start. Practice at home, over a bed or couch, before your first outing. Run the TICKS check every single time you put your baby in — every time, not just the first few. Start with 10 or 15 minutes and build from there. Most parents find it becomes automatic within a week or two.
If it's not clicking after a few tries, that's normal and fixable. Send a photo to @mabecarriers for a fit check, or book a free live consultation with our certified babywearing specialist.
Which Mabē carrier is right for your baby?
| Monarch Buckle Carrier | Monarch Toddler Sling | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight range | 9–45 lbs | 16–45 lbs |
| Stage | Newborn through toddler | Older baby through toddler |
| Best for | Everyday carrying, naps, long wears | Quick up-and-down with a walking toddler |
| Shop the Buckle Carrier | Shop the Toddler Sling |
If you're starting from scratch, our best-selling Monarch Buckle Carrier is built for exactly this stage. It carries from 9 to 45 lbs — newborn through toddler — across three positions, with a fully adjustable fit, in a breathable, durable build that holds up to actual daily use.
Here's to your journey — Mabē you're just getting started.
Babywearing FAQ
Can you babywear a newborn?
Yes, from birth in a carrier rated for your baby's weight, using an inward-facing position with the face visible above the fabric at all times. The Monarch Buckle Carrier is rated from 9 lbs. The CPSC advises consulting your pediatrician first if your baby was premature, low birth weight, a twin, or has any respiratory issue.
What is the TICKS rule?
TICKS is a five-point babywearing safety checklist created by the UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers Consortium: Tight, In view at all times, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off the chest, Supported back.
When can a baby face forward in a carrier?
Around 6 months, once your baby has strong, steady head and neck control. We recommend forward facing in stretches of 20 minutes or less.
Is back carry or forward facing better?
For most babies over 6 months, back carry is more comfortable for the wearer, easier to position correctly, and better suited to longer wears. Forward facing is best for short bursts of curiosity.
Does babywearing cause hip dysplasia?
No. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute recommends the M-position — thighs supported to the knee, knees slightly higher than the bottom — and advises against prolonged use of narrow-based carriers that don't support the thigh.
How much weight can the Monarch Buckle Carrier hold?
9 to 45 lbs, newborn through toddler.
Sources
- Hunziker UA, Barr RG. "Increased Carrying Reduces Infant Crying: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Pediatrics, 1986;77(5):641–648. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3517799
- International Hip Dysplasia Institute. "Baby Wearing." hipdysplasia.org/baby-wearing
- International Hip Dysplasia Institute. "Baby Carriers & Other Equipment." hipdysplasia.org/baby-carriers-other-equipment
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "CPSC Educates New Parents on Safe Babywearing." cpsc.gov
- UK Sling Consortium. "The T.I.C.K.S. Rule for Safe Babywearing." babyslingsafety.co.uk
- International Hip Dysplasia Institute. "Babywearing Research Confirms Hip Healthy Position in Wide-Base Carriers" (Mannen et al., Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2023). hipdysplasia.org
