Which Babywearing Positions Are Available?

There are several ways to carry a baby. Which carrying position is suitable depends on the child's age and stage of development, the baby carrier or wrap being used and the individual carrying situation.

As a general principle, we recommend carrying your baby close to your body and facing the wearer. For newborns, babywearing begins with a front carry facing inwards. As the baby develops, hip and back carrying can be introduced when the child and the particular carrier are ready for these positions.

Babywearing Positions at a Glance

Front Carry: the most important carrying position for newborns and young babies – with the baby facing the wearer.
Hip Carry: allows an older baby to see more of their surroundings while maintaining contact with and the ability to turn towards the wearer.
Back Carry: a practical carrying position for larger and heavier babies and children.
Forward Facing: not recommended by us. When a baby wants to see more of their surroundings, we prefer hip or back carrying as suitable alternatives.

Which Carrying Position Is Suitable When?

Carrying Position	Suitable For	Key Features
Front Carry	newborns, babies and, depending on comfort, larger children	baby faces the wearer and can be supported close to the body
Hip Carry	babies with sufficient head and trunk control	allows a wider view while maintaining close contact with the caregiver
Back Carry	larger babies and children according to their development and the carrier being used	particularly practical for longer carrying periods and increasing body weight
Front Carry Facing Outwards	not recommended by us	we recommend hip or back carrying as alternatives

1. Front Carry – Baby Facing You

Upright front carrying with the baby facing the wearer is the primary carrying position for newborns and young babies. The baby remains close to the wearer's body and can be supported according to their individual stage of development.

Front carrying offers:

close physical contact between baby and caregiver,
easy monitoring of the baby's head position and airways,
support for an age-appropriate spread-squat position,
even support across the baby's back,
easy recognition of the baby's signals,
the opportunity to withdraw from stimulation when tired or overwhelmed.

With newborns in particular, it is important that the baby is not positioned too low and does not slump down inside the carrier. The nose and mouth must remain unobstructed at all times and the baby's chin should not drop onto the chest.

For Newborns: Close and Facing the Wearer

Newborns should be carried upright and facing the wearer in a suitable baby carrier or wrap. The carrier must fit the baby's individual size and provide appropriate support for the back, pelvis and thighs as well as the head and neck while this support is still required.

2. Hip Carry – See More and Still Be Able to Withdraw

As babies develop, they become increasingly interested in their surroundings. For curious babies, hip carrying can be an interesting alternative to the traditional front carry.

The baby has a wider field of vision and can observe their surroundings. At the same time, the caregiver remains immediately accessible. If the baby becomes tired or overwhelmed by their surroundings, they can turn back towards the wearer's body.

Hip carrying may be suitable if …

your baby has developed sufficient head and trunk control,
your baby wants to observe more of their surroundings,
you want to provide a wider field of vision without carrying your baby facing forwards,
your baby carrier or wrap is suitable for hip carrying.

Because weight is distributed more asymmetrically when carrying on the hip, some wearers find this position particularly comfortable for shorter carrying periods.

3. Back Carry – Practical for Larger Babies and Children

As a child becomes larger and heavier, back carrying can become particularly comfortable for the wearer. The child remains close to the body while the front of the wearer's body stays free.

Advantages of back carrying:

a useful option for larger and heavier babies and children,
greater freedom of movement in front of the body,
practical for walks and longer carrying periods,
the child can observe their surroundings over the wearer's shoulder,
depending on the carrier, effective weight distribution across the back, shoulders and hips.

There is no single age at which every baby should begin back carrying. The child's stage of development, the type of carrier and the manufacturer's instructions should all be taken into account.

Learn to Back Carry Safely

Moving a baby safely onto your back requires some practice. When learning, practise the movements in a secure environment and consider guidance from a qualified babywearing consultant if necessary.

Why We Do Not Recommend Forward-Facing Babywearing

Some baby carriers allow a child to be carried on the front with their back against the wearer and facing outwards. We do not recommend this carrying position.

One important reason for our recommendation is the reduced opportunity for the baby to withdraw from their surroundings. When carried facing forwards, the baby is directly exposed to what is happening around them. If they become tired or the amount of stimulation becomes too much, they cannot simply turn towards the caregiver's body and withdraw from those impressions.

Why we prefer not to use this position:

the baby has less opportunity to withdraw from environmental stimulation,
direct face-to-face contact between baby and wearer is lost,
subtle signs of tiredness or discomfort may be more difficult for the wearer to notice,
depending on the carrier, supporting the pelvis, thighs and back in the desired ergonomic position may be more difficult,
hip and back carrying provide alternatives for curious babies who want to see more.

A baby does not need to face forwards in order to discover the world around them. As development progresses, hip and back carrying can provide a wider view while maintaining close physical contact and the possibility of withdrawing towards the caregiver.

Our Principle: Want to See More? Choose Hip or Back Carrying

If your baby becomes increasingly curious and wants to observe more of their surroundings, we do not recommend switching to forward-facing carrying. Instead, once your baby's development and the particular carrier allow it, hip or back carrying can provide suitable alternatives.

Correct Positioning in a Front Carry

Regardless of the babywearing system being used, an inward-facing front carry should provide a stable and age-appropriate position.

Pay particular attention to:

an upright position close to the wearer's body,
a completely unobstructed nose and mouth,
a secure head position,
age-appropriate support for the back,
a suitable seat width,
well-supported thighs,
lower legs that remain free to move,
an age-appropriate spread-squat position.

Which Carrying Position Is Suitable for Sleeping?

Many babies fall asleep while being carried. An inward-facing position close to the wearer's body is particularly suitable, with the head, neck and back supported according to the baby's stage of development.

If your baby falls asleep while being carried, check the position again. The face must remain visible, the nose and mouth must remain completely unobstructed and the baby's chin should not drop onto the chest.

Which Position Is Suitable for an Older Baby?

As babies develop, their needs change. They become heavier, develop greater body control and show increasing interest in their surroundings.

Depending on the carrier, several options are then available:

Front: continues to provide close physical contact and is particularly suitable for closeness and rest,
Hip: offers a wider view while maintaining the opportunity to turn back towards the wearer,
Back: can be particularly practical for larger and heavier children and longer carrying periods.

There is therefore no need to switch to forward-facing carrying simply because a baby becomes more curious about their surroundings.

Baby Carrier or Baby Wrap – Are the Same Positions Possible?

The available carrying positions depend on the individual babywearing system. A woven baby wrap, for example, offers numerous wrapping techniques for front, hip and back carrying.

With a structured baby carrier, the design of the individual model determines which carrying positions are intended. Not every baby carrier is suitable for hip or back carrying.

Only use carrying positions and adjustments that are specifically intended for your baby carrier or the particular wrapping technique you are using.

Which Carrying Position Suits Which Stage of Development?

Newborns and Young Babies

Our recommendation: upright on the front and facing the wearer.

Baby with Increasing Head and Trunk Control

Possible additional option: depending on the baby's development and the carrier, hip carrying can be introduced.

Older Baby or Toddler

Practical additional option: back carrying can be particularly comfortable as the child's weight increases.

Curious Baby Who Wants to See More

Our recommendation: rather than carrying the baby facing forwards, choose hip or back carrying when developmentally appropriate.

Which Babywearing Position Is Right? – Our Conclusion

The appropriate carrying position develops together with your baby. For newborns and young babies, upright inward-facing carrying on the front is the primary position. Hip and back carrying can be introduced later as the baby's development and the carrier allow.

We do not recommend carrying a baby on the front facing outwards. If your baby becomes increasingly interested in seeing the world around them, hip and back carrying provide alternatives that maintain close contact and the opportunity to withdraw towards the caregiver.

Front Carry = closeness & security
Hip Carry = wider view & opportunity to withdraw
Back Carry = freedom of movement & comfort with larger children
Forward Facing = not recommended by us

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