Babywearing Safety Tip: Inspect Your Carriers Before Use
At hope&plum, safety is the number one priority when it comes to wearing our precious babies, and a lot goes into babywearing safely:
- Reading all safety information and instructions
- Tightening your carrier to support baby, leaving no loose fabric
- Ensuring baby is visible and kissable at all times
- Checking that baby’s airway is clear with chin off chest
Did you know that safe babywearing starts before you put your baby carrier on? That’s right! Before you even put your carrier on, you should check that your carrier is still safe to use. This short inspection could be the difference between a successful, snuggly, and safe carry and one where the carrier fails. Read on to learn more about inspecting your carriers before use.
TL;DR: When it comes to babywearing, safety is the number one priority. Give your carriers a quick once-over each time you use them and a more thorough inspection a few times per year. It’s most important to check weight-bearing fabric and seams and any hardware, like buckles and rings. If you’re worried your carrier might be unsafe, DO NOT USE IT! Baby’s safety is always worth the inconvenience of changing carrier plans. If you find something, you can always reach out to our customer service team at hello@hopeandplum.co. They can tell you if your carrier can be used, fixed, or replaced.
Why Should I Inspect My Carriers?
You should inspect your carriers because you want your baby to be safe and snuggly, every single wear. We take our carriers everywhere and use them constantly. For some of us, this means every day, for multiple hours per day. As parents we know accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Maybe you asked your partner to grab your Lark out of the car, but they accidentally shut the door on one of the buckles, brought it anyway, and handed it off to you without reporting the mistake. Your carrier could be fine or you could have a broken or warped buckle. You might not even know unless you check before using it. Maybe your ring snagged your baby wrap, but you didn’t notice that it made a tiny hole that grows bigger with each use. Maybe a seam around the rings has come loose on your meh dai waistband, but it still works so you don’t see it. Our carriers are built to last through many years and even many kids, but that doesn’t mean accidents can’t happen. Your babies’ safety is just as important to us as it is to you, so we strongly encourage you to check your carriers every time you put them on.
Every Time? Really?!
YES! Next question.
Just kidding. But also yes! While this doesn’t mean you have to spend half an hour pouring over every inch of fabric with a magnifying glass before each use, it does mean you should do a quick check as you put your carrier on, use the rings and buckles, and adjust the carrier for baby. You should do longer, more meticulous checks at least a few times per year, and definitely after your carrier has been in storage for several months or more, whether that means neatly tucked away in a closet or tossed in the trunk of your car.
What to Look For
During those quick inspections before each use, you want to check any weight bearing areas of your carriers for wear and tear. These pose the greatest safety risks to baby, so you want to make sure they’re in good working order before setting baby up for snuggles. You’ll also want to check areas on the carrier that your baby may be using as a chew toy. These are prime spots for mold to grow if they're not drying out completely between uses. Read on for some more specific safety checks for each carrier.
Larks
The most important places to check your Lark each time you wear are the buckles and shoulder straps. Check the seams where the buckles are sewn into the fabric. Make sure there are no loose threads or fraying seams. Check your safety loop elastic to make sure it’s still strong and without frays. Check the seams where the shoulder straps connect to the panel fabric. Everything should be tight and secure. Make sure your buckles are fully functional and free of cracks and breaks. If your Lark has been in storage, pay special attention to all the elastic and plastic pieces to make sure they aren’t worn out.
Ring Slings
When checking your ring sling, pay the most attention to the shoulder area. This is the biggest weight bearing piece of your sling. Make sure the rings are secure and check the stitching below the warning label. This stitching keeps the loop of fabric that holds the rings in place. You should also check along the hems to make sure there are no fraying or loose seams. Finally, look over the fabric to make sure there are no holes. Even a pulled thread could be a concern since this can easily turn into a hole.
Meh Dais
Like the Lark, it is most important to check the waistband and shoulder straps. In the meh dai, this means checking the seams on the loop of waistband fabric where the rings are sewn in. It also means checking the seams where the shoulder straps meet the panel. Like the ring sling, check the hems for fraying or loose seams and the entire fabric for holes.
Baby Wraps
The most important things to look out for when checking your baby wraps for safety are holes. Due to the stretchy nature of the fabric, small holes can quickly become big problems, especially the closer they are to the center of the wrap, since this area provides the most support for baby’s weight. Like with the ring sling, you should also check along the top and bottom hems to make sure there are no fraying or loose seams. The pocket at the end of one side is the area of least concern, but keep an eye on anything that seems amiss there since a problem in one spot of this type of carrier can quickly become a problem throughout.
I Found Something! Now What?
If you’re worried that your carrier may not be safe to use, DO NOT use it! Choose a different carrier, find a new way to hold your baby, or pick an alternative activity for the day. It may be tempting to carry on, but your baby’s safety is worth the minor inconvenience! If you think your carrier can still be used safely, use it! But also double check that trouble spot each time to make sure it doesn’t turn into something more worrisome. If you’re unsure, reach out to our customer service team at hello@hopeandplum.co.Be ready with some pictures of the problem area, and they’ll tell you whether it’s safe to use or not!
If you (or they) determine that your carrier is unsafe, all may not be lost! Some nubs or pulls in ring slings or meh dais can be tied off and fixed before they become holes. Broken Lark buckles can be replaced. And sometimes you can send your carrier back to hope&plum headquarters for a little TLC. Once again, customer service is your friend. Reach out to them with your issues and some pictures, and they will tell you what they can do for you.
Some areas that will require you to immediately stop using and replace your carrier are:
Ripped weight-bearing seams (like where rings or buckles are sewn in or shoulder straps are sewn to panels)
Mold on any part of your carrier
Holes in weight bearing fabric or ANY holes in baby wraps
Broken buckles
Cracked rings
It may be sad to see a beloved carrier retired, but baby’s safety is our top priority! And, if you or your family is really attached to a carrier that must be retired, you can find a way to make beautiful blankets, toys, or clothing out of the scraps.
If you (or they) determine that your carrier is unsafe, all may not be lost! Some nubs or pulls in ring slings or meh dais can be tied off and fixed before they become holes. Broken Lark buckles can be replaced. And sometimes you can send your carrier back to hope&plum headquarters for a little TLC. Once again, customer service is your friend. Reach out to them with your issues and some pictures, and they will tell you what they can do for you.
Quickly inspecting your carriers before you use them is a great habit to get into to ensure the safety of your baby and the longevity of your carrier. Give yourself the gift of peace of mind by giving your carrier a quick once over each time you put it on for those special snuggles!
Safety FAQ
When should I inspect my carriers?
Every time you use them! Give them a quick safety once-over with each use. Do a more thorough inspection a few times per year and after taking carriers out of storage.
What should I look for when inspecting my carriers?
Look for wear and tear on weight bearing fabric and seams. This means holes or loose/frayed stitching. Check the rings and buckles to make sure they’re not broken or warped.
What do I do if I find something?
If you’re worried your carrier might be unsafe, DO NOT USE IT! Choose a different carrier, find a new way to hold your baby, or pick an alternative activity for the day. Reach out to our customer service team for more info on if the carrier can be used or fixed, or if it should be replaced.
Are there any immediate safety red flags?
Immediately stop using a carrier with any of the following: ripped weight-bearing seams, mold, holes in weight-bearing fabric or ANY in baby wraps, broken buckles, or cracked rings.
Summary
When it comes to babywearing, safety is the number one priority. Safety starts with inspecting your carriers before using them every time.
Accidents happen and, sometimes, without our knowledge. A carrier you used yesterday may no longer be safe today. So check every time!
Give your carriers a quick once-over each time you use them. Do a more thorough inspection a few times per year and after taking carriers out of storage.
Check weight bearing fabric and seams. Make sure there are no holes. Ensure that buckles are not broken or warped.
If you find something and you think your carrier may not be safe, DO NOT USE IT!
Reach out to our customer service team with any questions or concerns. They can help you determine if your carrier can be used, fixed, or replaced.
