Feeling unsure about babywearing is completely normal. Questions about safety, fit, comfort, and support can make it seem overwhelming at first. The good news is that with clear guidance and a few simple checks, it quickly becomes intuitive – not to mention incredibly convenient and rewarding.
A well-fitted carrier or sling not only keeps your baby close and secure but also frees your hands, supports bonding, and can make everyday life a little easier.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the TICKS safety guidelines developed by the UK Sling Consortium to help you carry your baby safely and comfortably.
Plus, we’ll share valuable advice from the chiropractic expert who helped us develop our new baby carrier, Kudo, on how to improve your posture – from babywearing to daily habits like how you sit, stand, and sleep. And yes, we’ll answer the question we all want to know… what is the best sleeping position for your back? Read on to find out.
Babywearing Advice to Support Little Ones
Like most new skills, confidence in babywearing grows with practice. Once you’ve practised putting your carrier on and taking it off a few times before placing your little one inside, you can use the TICKS guidance as a simple mental safety checklist to feel reassured that your baby is positioned correctly.
With these foundations in place, using a baby carrier can become what it’s meant to be – a safe, comforting and relaxed way to stay connected while keeping your hands free for everyday life.
TICKS stands for:
Tight
In view at all times
Close enough to kiss
Keep chin off the chest
Supported back
Here’s how to use TICKS to check you’re babywearing safely:
T – Tight
Your sling or carrier should hold your baby snugly against you. If the fabric is too loose, your baby can slump down, which may affect their breathing and strain your back.
“Tight” doesn’t mean restrictive; it means supportive. Your baby should be held close to your body without sagging, and the carrier should feel secure enough that you’re not constantly readjusting. A well-tightened carrier distributes weight evenly and makes babywearing far more comfortable for you, too.
I – In view at all times
You should always be able to see your baby’s face simply by glancing down.
Fabric, your clothing, or your baby’s position should never obscure their face. This is especially important for newborns, who don’t yet have strong head control. Being able to see their face means you can quickly check their colour, position and breathing – offering peace of mind without constant handling.
C – Close enough to kiss
The guidance states that if you tilt your head forward, you should be able to kiss the top of your baby’s head.
This positioning keeps your baby high on your chest, where their airway is more likely to stay clear and supported.
Keeping them close enough to kiss also naturally supports bonding, placing them in the same instinctive position many parents hold their babies in their arms.
K – Keep chin off the chest
One of the most important safety points is ensuring your baby’s chin is not tucked down onto their chest.
There should always be a small gap (at least a finger’s width) underneath your baby’s chin. If their head tilts forward so that their chin touches their chest, it can restrict their airway. Good positioning, proper carrier tightening, and adequate head support (without covering the face) all help this safe alignment.
S – Supported back
Your baby’s back should be well supported in their natural position.
In most upright carriers, this means their chest and tummy are against you, with their back supported in a gentle curve (especially for newborns). The carrier fabric should support your baby’s thighs, spreading their weight evenly and helping maintain the healthy ‘M’ hip position – with their knees slightly higher than their bottom so their legs naturally form an ‘M’ shape.
And it’s not just babies' backs that need support…
Babywearing Advice to Support Parents
Keen to make babywearing comfortable for all, we developed our new baby carrier, Kudo, with expert insight from Professor Christina Cunliffe, Principal of McTimoney College of Chiropractic, ensuring healthy posture alignment for parents.
Here, Christina shares her top tips for healthy babywearing, plus the most common posture complaints she sees in parents and what can be done day to day to avoid common aches and pains.
Christina’s top three healthy babywearing tips
1. Get the fit right
Make sure your carrier is snug and secure. A well-fitted carrier supports your upper body, helping the weight move naturally through your posture and down into the rest of your body. When it feels secure, you’ll feel more confident and comfortable too.
2. Stay centred
Once your baby is in the carrier, try to stand with your weight balanced through your centre of gravity. Avoid leaning forward or backwards, as this puts extra strain on the lower back. Instead, think about carrying the weight down into your pelvis, where the body is designed to manage it best.
3. Keep moving
The body loves movement. Standing still for too long can lead to locked knees and tension in the back. Gentle movement – swaying side to side or rocking slightly forward and backwards – helps keep your body relaxed and supported.
Common posture concerns seen in parents
One of the most common issues parents come to me with is lower back pain. This can sit centrally in the lower back, radiate into the hips, or affect the joints at the back of the pelvis. These areas tend to hold a lot of strain, leading to muscle aches, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Another area that’s often overlooked is the neck. As the body compensates for the pelvis, tension can travel upwards. Add stress into the mix, and shoulders start to lift, which can lead to neck and shoulder discomfort, and even headaches. Often, these issues can be linked to carrying their baby and the postural habits they naturally adopt over time.
What can parents do to improve posture?
Heat can be very helpful for relaxing muscles, particularly around the lower back. But good posture starts with everyday habits – standing, sitting, and sleeping – all of which centre around the pelvis.
Standing
Try to distribute your weight evenly across both feet. Standing on one leg shifts the pelvis, and the rest of the body, especially the neck and shoulders, follows.
Sitting
We all love to slouch, but sitting back fully into your chair gives your pelvis natural support. When your pelvis is supported, your spine, neck, and shoulders can settle into a more comfortable position.
Sleeping
Sleeping on your back is ideal. If you sleep on your side, avoid twisting by bringing one leg over the other. Instead, keep your knees together in a gentle foetal position to prevent the pelvis from rotating overnight. If this feels uncomfortable, try placing a pillow – or your pregnancy pillow – between your legs for extra support.
How does Kudo help support healthy posture?
Mamas & Papas’ Kudo baby carrier supports the upper body while allowing the lower body to move freely and naturally – a balance that’s key to comfortable babywearing.
The focus is on distributing weight evenly through the pelvis and across the hips, supported by Kudo’s pelvic support panel to help reduce strain. Pull-forward adjustments let you fine-tune the fit yourself, without awkward reaching and twisting. And the Posture Align™ click dial gently draws the shoulders back, encouraging a healthier, more aligned carrying position tailored to the individual.
How can parents check their posture when wearing Kudo?
It’s all about alignment. So, from a side view looking in the mirror, imagine a straight line running through your ear, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle. They should all sit comfortably in line with one another – you’re avoiding leaning forward or backwards. When you’re in that position, your body is in a strong, supported posture for carrying your baby.
