Babywearing can make life easier for parents who need their hands free while keeping their child close, but winter adds safety considerations for keeping a baby warm and carrying them safely.
Baby carriers are a multi-billion-dollar market, and their popularity is projected to only increase, with the industry expected to add a billion dollars over the next decade. Carriers let parents bring their child with them while staying hands-free to do other things or travel without a heavy stroller.
But, like everything with children, it comes with risks. Babywearing in the colder months can be convenient, especially when snow makes trekking around with a stroller difficult, but it needs to be done safely.
How to Safely Wear Your Baby in Winter
When temperatures drop, parents may instinctively bundle their babies in thick coats and blankets. However, Alisa DeMarco, a certified babywearing expert at Tushbaby, said bulky winter clothing can be a safety risk when you’re using a carrier.
“Winter and cold weather add another layer to babywearing safety because parents need to think about both warmth and visibility,” DeMarco said. “Be especially mindful of bulky coats, blankets, scarves and extra layers that can interfere with a carrier’s fit or positioning and make it harder to monitor your baby.”
She added that babies should remain “upright, kissable and visible,” with their face and mouth uncovered.
Rather than relying on bulky clothing, DeMarco recommends “dressing baby in thinner, appropriate layers underneath the carrier” and checking the child frequently to make sure they are comfortable and not overheating.
Several brands also make winter covers for carriers that work like sleeping bags. These insulated, often water-resistant covers attach to carriers and surround the baby to keep them warm without thick layers.
Parents should also follow the instructions for their individual carrier, including guidance about their child’s age, size and appropriate carrying position.
Benefits of Baby Wearing
Baby wearing offers a practical way to keep a child close while doing daily tasks around the house, like cooking, cleaning, or even working. While baby carriers are designed to be ergonomic and take pressure off parents’ backs and hips, DeMarco said parents shouldn’t sacrifice their health for the convenience of baby wearing.
The baby expert said carrying a growing child for extended periods can put extra strain on a parent’s back, shoulders and hips, especially if the child’s weight isn’t well distributed or the parent changes posture to compensate.
“I encourage parents to listen to their bodies, change positions, and take breaks when they need them,” the expert said.
Dr. Aimee Ketchum, a pediatric occupational therapist, told KLFY that babywearing can help strengthen the bond between a parent and their child. She also said it can help prevent flat head syndrome and decrease colic. However, if the baby is not positioned properly with their legs in an “M” shape, it can cause developmental problems with their hips.
“Babywearing is a tool to make parenting a little easier and keep our babies close, not an activity we need to do all day,” Ketchum said.
How Is TushBaby Different From Other Baby Carriers
Tushbaby, a company that started on Shark Tank, offers traditional carriers and a hip seat designed to support parents while carrying their child, with the flexibility to quickly put the child down or pick them up. Evelyn Eichler, director of Marketing at Tushbaby, told Newsweek the company’s goal is to always think about how to make parenting easier.
The hip seat is an open seat rather than a traditional strap-in carrier, which can sometimes be a little more cumbersome to put a baby in place by yourself. According to the company, its ergonomic design and built-in lumbar support are intended to distribute a child’s weight and ease strain on the caregiver’s back, shoulders and arms.
The company says the product can also be used as children grow, from feeding support for newborns to carrying toddlers.
The idea came from founder Tammy Rant’s own experience as a parent. Her children wanted to be carried, but she found strap-in carriers complicated and wraps hot and sweaty. Constantly holding her children, meanwhile, took a toll on her back, arms and hips.
That led to the Tushbaby Hip Seat, which combines a supportive seat with built-in storage.
Best Baby Carriers for Back Pain
For parents concerned about discomfort from routinely carrying a baby or toddler, weight distribution may be particularly important. There’s no single best baby carrier for back pain because what prevents it depends on a person’s body type and their child’s size.
However, there are a few aspects of baby carriers that parents should look for to reduce the likelihood of back pain while wearing their child. That includes:
- A wide waistband that doesn’t slip or dig into the parent
- Straps that are even and hold the baby in proper placement
- Lumbar support
DeMarco said the Tushbaby Hip Seat supports a child’s weight through the caregiver’s waist and hips while allowing the parent to keep one hand free.
“Babywearing can be a wonderful helping hand for parents, but I always remind families that their comfort and body mechanics matter just as much as the convenience it provides,” DeMarco said.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Sam Wilson.