You can start carrying your baby in the first months of life. Most carriers are suitable for a weight of 3.2 or 3.5 kg or more. Carrying your young baby can provide a sense of closeness and security that can be very comforting. It can also help young babies with reflux and help them fall asleep better.
There are baby wraps and baby carriers specifically designed for small babies. These carriers are often worn higher up so that your baby is at "kissing height." The weight of your baby is then largely carried by your shoulders. Since your baby weighs so little, this should not be a problem.
There are also baby carriers like the NIMBEL that are suitable for a longer period: from birth to around 3 years old. This requires an adjustment (adjusting the back panel) and usually also a special insert for small babies. This is a kind of cushion under the baby's buttocks that ensures that your baby sits higher and comes out above the fabric with their face.
Unfortunately, there are also baby carriers on the market (and also very popular ones...) that claim to be suitable from birth to 2 or 3 years old but do not have adequate adjustment or an insert. You may see people wearing them on the street: you can only see the carrier but not the baby's head above it. That's not the way it's supposed to be! To carry your baby safely, their nose and mouth should always be free and visible.
In the NIMBEL carrier, we have an insert for small babies and an adjustable back panel.
What should you pay attention to when carrying a young baby?
- That your baby is high enough, with their head at kissing height
- That your baby's nose and mouth are always free and visible. This is important to ensure that your baby can always breathe properly.
- That your baby's chin never falls on their chest
- That there is a neck support that supports your baby's head well. This support should come up to under the ears.
- That the legs are in the ergonomic M-position: buttocks lower than the knees
- That the feet do not rest on an edge, as this can cause a reflex to push away