Your child's safety is without a doubt one of your highest priorities, and it is also your responsibility. Particularly when you are new to babywearing it can be hard to know what to look out for and how to know you've got it right. There are a few simple things to look out for when you are choosing a safe carrier and a few simple rules to follow to ensure your child is carried safely. Baby carriers are like any other piece of baby equipment - if you have a good quality carrier that is used properly, it is perfectly safe and will bring you many benefits and beautiful times.
We recommend that newborns are kept in an upright position, such as 'tummy-to-tummy' carries. This position makes it easier to ensure that your baby does not have their chin tucked into their chest, which in a young baby can cause breathing difficulties or even suffocation. If you wish to breastfeed in your carrier you can lie your baby down in a 'cradle' carry for their feed, and then gently return them to an upright position when they have finished.
The TICKS guidelines below provide you with some excellent and simple rules to follow to ensure the safety of your little one. In addition to this you may also want to check out this great article on correct positioning of newborns or this detailed article on Strollers, Baby Carriers and Infant Stress. We can also recommend looking into possible issues with outward-facing positions, and this article by ERGOparent magazine is a great place to start.
