How to choose a baby carrier for a newborn

A newborn is small, floppy and needs careful positioning. A carrier can make the first weeks easier for you, but only if it is used safely. This guide covers how to choose one. It does not replace the maker's instructions or advice from your midwife, health visitor or paediatrician.

Read the maker's age and weight range first. If a carrier says it is for babies over a certain weight, it is not for your newborn, whatever the photos show.

The decision rule

Pick the carrier that has a newborn range from the maker, holds your baby high and close with the face visible, and feels comfortable on you for the time you plan to use it. If any of those three is missing, keep looking.

Safety first

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has guidance on safe babywearing, including the risk of suffocation with some positions, and especially with very young babies. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute has guidance on positions and hip health. Read both. Your health professional can check your baby's position and answer questions that apply to your child, including babies born early or with medical needs.

General points that these sources and makers often repeat: keep the baby's face visible, keep the chin off the chest, keep the baby high enough to kiss on the head and check them often.

Ruling: if you cannot see your baby's face, change the position.

Types of carrier

Fit on you

• Try it on with a weighted doll or a bag of flour before the baby goes in.
• Adjust the straps so the baby sits high on your chest.
• Check for comfort across the shoulders, and across the waist if there is a belt.
• Ask about size. Some carriers fit a wide range of bodies and others do not.

Many parents also find that two adults can use the same carrier if the straps adjust easily. Check that before you buy.

When to use it and when not to

Do not use a carrier when cooking over a hob, riding a bike or doing anything where you may fall. Bend at the knees and not the waist, and hold the baby with a hand when you do. The maker's manual will list activities to avoid.

Heat and comfort

Babies cannot control their body temperature as well as adults. In warm weather, choose breathable fabric and dress them lightly. In cold weather, avoid bulky coats between the baby and the carrier and cover them over the top.

Secondhand

Check for recall notices, missing buckles, loose stitching and fraying. Make sure the manual and the age range are available. If the history is unknown, think twice. Our comparison of carrier or stroller for the first months explains when a stroller may be the better choice.

What to ask a professional

Take the carrier to a midwife, health visitor or paediatrician visit if you can, and ask them to check your baby's position. Some areas also have local babywearing groups that offer fitting sessions. Ask about their training before you rely on their advice. A professional can also tell you if your baby has any needs that change the answer, such as being born early or having breathing or hip concerns.

Common mistakes

• Choosing by photos. Look for the maker's weight and age range and read the instructions.
• Skipping practice. Tying a wrap or setting straps is much easier when no baby is in it.
• Letting the baby slump. The chin should not rest on the chest.
• Overdressing the baby. Carriers add warmth. Dress them lightly.
• Buying a second carrier too early. Try one for a few weeks before you decide it is wrong.

A worked example

Say you live on a third floor with no lift, and your baby settles only when held. A carrier lets you use the stairs with both hands free. If instead you drive to a park and push a stroller on smooth paths, a stroller may do the job and the carrier might stay in a drawer. These are made-up homes, but they show why your days decide, not the list.

Who else can use it

If two adults will share the carrier, check how fast the straps change. A carrier that takes five minutes to adjust will be used by one person only. Ask whether the maker offers a fit guide or a video, and try it with a doll before your baby arrives.

Once you have a carrier, you may still need a bag that stays out of the way. Our comparison of a diaper bag and a backpack covers hands-free options, and the 3 am station is a short argument for setting up one corner of the home before the baby comes.

End of shift

• First to go: strap padding and the buckle clips.
• Friday check: stitching at the straps and clips.
• Wash: by the label, and check the fit again after.