How Do I Fix My Baby Carrier Fit? Common Babywearing Problems & Solutions
The Short Version
- Small tweaks make a big difference. Most baby carrier fit problems have a simple, easy solution!
- Baby too low in the carrier? Tighten up until they're close enough to kiss with a gentle bend of your neck.
- Shoulder strap neck creep is the most common fix we see in the Lark and Sprout: move the slack down and across your back before tightening. Don't just pull the buckle.
- Rings moving down after you're done putting baby in your sling? Start with a smaller pocket and always push up on baby's bottom to unlock the rings.
- Leg support matters: look for knee-pit-to-knee-pit coverage for the safest, most comfortable fit across every carrier.
- This guide covers every hope&plum carrier. If you still need help after trying these fixes, book a free fit check with our educator team!
Common Baby Carrier Fit Problems
Before getting into the specifics of each of our carriers, let’s go over some common baby carrier fit problems that occur across carriers:
Baby is too low
Baby’s legs are not supported correctly
Your back or shoulders hurt
Let’s look at each one separately:
Baby is too low - Your baby should always be close enough to kiss, and the bottom of the earlobe should always be visible over the top of the carrier. If baby isn’t close enough to kiss, you likely have too much slack in your carrier. Snug it up until baby’s head is easily kissable with a gentle bend of your neck. If baby is sitting so low in the carrier that you can’t see their earlobes, make sure they’re sitting upright in the carrier and that the carrier is supporting their head, neck, and trunk.
Baby’s legs are not supported correctly - Ideally, your child’s legs will be supported by the carrier from knee pit to knee pit. We can break this problem into two issues: the carrier is too wide and the carrier is too narrow.
If you think the carrier may be too wide, check where it hits baby's legs. The carrier should not extend past baby’s knees. If it is, adjust baby’s seat to be more narrow if possible. If the carrier still extends past baby’s legs, baby is too short for the carrier.
If you think the carrier may be too narrow, again, check where the panel is hitting your child's legs. the carrier doesn’t extend all the way to knee pits, make sure it’s spread as much as possible. If you have an older baby or toddler and the carrier is no longer supporting them knee to knee, this is okay as long as they don’t have pre-existing hip conditions. They will likely keep their legs tucked in a spread-squat position even without the carrier’s support. If possible, size up your carrier.
Your back or shoulders hurt - If you notice new pain, check that your carrier is snug and sitting in the right spot on your body. As your baby grows, getting a “better” fit will be more important so the carrier does the work to distribute your child’s weight without putting undue strain on your body.
Most Common Fit Problems by Carrier
- 1Push up on baby's bottom with one hand to take the weight off.
- 2With your other hand, pull up the slack in your shoulder strap.
- 3Pass the slack hand-over-hand down and across your back to the buckle.
- 4Pull straight back on the webbing to tighten. Repeat on the other side.
- 1Reach into the bottom of the panel.
- 2Gently curl baby's pelvis toward you (a "pelvic tuck").
- 3Baby's head will naturally rest on your chest, forming a soft C-shape from head to knees.
- 1Start with a pocket smaller than you think you need.
- 2Stay deliberate about keeping the rings in place until baby is fully tightened.
- 3Push up on baby's bottom while tightening (this unlocks the rings so the slack moves easily).
- 1Tie the wrap as tight as a snug t-shirt, tube top, or bathing suit.
- 2Place the X where you want baby's bottom to sit. Too high = baby's head sits too high.
- 3Remove all slack before securing baby, then finish with a tight double knot.
- 1While supporting baby with one hand, reach across your back with your other hand and pull the opposite shoulder strap down, then across.
- 2Hold that tension while you repeat with the other shoulder strap.
- 3Tighten further by pulling each strap at an angle away from your body and shrugging your shoulders, THEN tie off.
A Deep Dive into Our Most Popular Baby Carrier Fit
- 1Push the sides of the panel in along the waistband.
- 2The bottom of the panel should bunch up and narrow.
- 1Center baby's bottom on the warning label when positioning baby in the carrier.
- 2Gently walk the panel up baby's back, keeping their bottom on the warning label.
- 3Fold the top of the panel in.
- 1Push up on baby's bottom with one hand.
- 2Stand straight up and use your other hand to pull straight up on the same-side shoulder strap.
- 3Take your hand from baby's bottom and use it to move the slack around your armpit.
- 4Use the same-side hand to tighten out the slack through the webbing.
- 5Repeat on the other side. *With practice, you can do both sides at the same time!
Baby Carrier Fit FAQ
Why does my baby keep sinking too low in the carrier?
This usually means there's extra slack in your carrier. Snug things up until baby is close enough to kiss with a gentle bend of your neck and make sure the bottom of their earlobe is always visible over the top of the carrier. For wraps, make sure you're tying as tight as a snug t-shirt before baby goes in!
What is shoulder strap neck creep and how do I fix it?
Neck creep is when your shoulder straps slide toward your neck instead of sitting comfortably across your shoulders. The fix? Don't just pull the at the buckle or panel — isolate the slack and move it down and across your back to the buckle before tightening. This works for the Lark, Sprout, and meh dai!
How do I know if my baby carrier fits correctly?
A well-fitted carrier checks three boxes: baby is close enough to kiss, their earlobes are visible over the top of the carrier, and the carrier supports them from knee pit to knee pit. If something feels off — for you or baby — it's worth doing a quick fit check!
Why do my ring sling rings keep moving down and out of place?
Ring placement is the most common ring sling fit issue! Keep your rings between your shoulder and chest, start with a pocket that's smaller than you think you need, and always push up on baby's bottom when tightening — this unlocks the rings so you can move the slack without fighting the weight.
How do I get a deep seat in a ring sling?
All you need is a straight line of fabric from knee pit to knee pit, hammocking baby's knees above their bottom. A common misconception is that pulling more fabric up between you and baby creates a deeper seat — it doesn't! Load baby onto the sling like a tube of fabric and let gravity do the work.
My baby seems too small for the Baby Lark. What am I doing wrong?
The Baby Lark is not a newborn carrier — most babies fit when they're wearing 3-6 month clothes for length, usually between 3 and 5 months. If the panel extends past baby's knees or you can't see their earlobes over the top, try again in a week or so. In the meantime, the Sprout is a great fit for newborns!
Why does my baby wrap feel loose after I put baby in?
Any slack left in your wrap before baby goes in will feed through as you wear and baby will slowly sink lower over time. The trick is to tie the wrap as tight as a snug t-shirt, bathing suit, or tube top first, maintain that tightness all the way through to your final knot, and then place baby in.
What should I do if I've tried everything and my carrier still doesn't fit right?
You don't have to figure it out alone! Book a free fit check with our educator team for one-on-one support. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes is all it takes to spot a small tweak that makes a big difference.
Meet the Author
Jenn Tolisano
Jenn Tolisano is the Director of Community Education & Content at hope&plum. She has been a babywearing educator for over ten years. Working as a high school teacher before entering the world of motherhood, she has brought her passion for education to all things baby carriers. Babywearing has been such an essential parenting tool in her household that she wants to spread the babywearing love to all families. Jenn believes that every caregiver deserves to have a baby carrier they love and feel comfortable and confident in. She hopes that her fit checks and blog-writing with hope&plum help to achieve that goal!
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