Sized-Up Snuggles: hope&plum Tips for Babywearing a Toddler

At hope&plum, we believe that - despite the name - babywearing isn’t just for babies. We know that our toddlers and little kids need snuggles too, and wearing them in carriers is a great way to get those cuddles in. But toddler wearing does have some special considerations:

Ensuring your carrier provides the best - and safest - support for your heavier wearee
Navigating your toddler’s fierce feelings of independence one minute and the need to be held like a newborn the next
Listening to your body, being mindful of your ability to carry a bigger child, and making adjustments when you can
Using your carrier to help set boundaries, especially during big feelings

Even if you’ve been babywearing since birth, you may find yourself wondering how to handle the new challenges that come with wearing an older kid. Read on for our tips for babywearing a toddler!

TL;DR: You can babywear into the toddler years by focusing on safety and support. Make sure your toddler can still fit safely in your carrier. If not, size up. Practice maximizing support in your carriers and be patient with your growing child.

A light skinned woman with blue hair embraces a toddler she wears on her side in a ring sling. The toddler sucks her thumb. Standing close to them is a little kid smiling with his eyes closed.

Cuddles and Connection The Two Toddler Stages Toddler Tips and Tricks by Carrier Baby Lark Kid Lark Ring Sling Meh Dai Toddler Tips and Tricks by Carrier Chart What’s Best for Your Body Managing Tiny Expectations and Big Feelings Babywearing a Toddler FAQ Summary

Cuddles and Connection

If you’re new to toddler-parenting, you may be asking yourself, Why anyone would want to wear a toddler? Can’t they walk? For many toddlers, eventually, yes, but that doesn't mean they always want to walk or that their little legs can keep up with yours. So let them walk around the neighborhood with you, but be ready with a carrier for when they're so tired they lay down on the sidewalk at the exact halfway point to home.

Fine that makes sense, but then wouldn’t a stroller be more comfortable? Maybe sometimes, but strollers are often inconvenient to maneuver around, especially when they're not being used. And especially when they're not being used AND your toddler is demanding to be held.

Wearing a toddler is practical in both of these situations. But, more importantly, in those moments when they let you pick them up, wearing your toddler allows them to bask in the fact that they’re still your baby. When babywearing a toddler, they get to be held close and snuggled to you again, which is almost always comforting to them, especially if you’ve been wearing them since they were teeny-tiny. Toddler wearing also brings them up to your level, allowing them to see what you see and easily communicate with you. Toddler strollers, on the other hand, put your toddler low to the ground and facing the world. Depending on where you’re strolling, you may have to stop entirely in order to hear the very important comment they have about the fluffy brown dog across the street or the fact that they need to use the bathroom right now. When worn, your toddler can basically whisper in your ear, allowing you both to share precious moments that would be lost otherwise. These cuddles and connection make toddler wearing worth it.

A light brown skinned man embraces his light brown skinned toddler worn on his side in a ring sling. The toddler leans away focused on something off camera.

The Two Toddler Stages

Taby (12-24 months)

Becoming a taby is a child’s first foray into toddlerhood. Taby, a term coined by none other than another great toddler fan @busytoddler, is a word for those kids from 12-24 months who are technically toddlers but are really just bigger babies. Some of them may not even be toddling yet, and most of them haven’t really started speaking. You may be wearing your taby just like you did when they were a baby and not even realizing that you have graduated into toddler wearing. Congratulations! Almost all of the carriers you’ve been using since birth will still be safe and comfortable for your taby, and you may not even need any extra adjustments. But do check that you’re optimizing support as your taby grows. Listen to your body! If you’re feeling more aches and pains from wearing your taby, make sure all those passes are spread, your carrier is positioned properly, and your posture is good. As your taby grows, small fit errors that you used to be able to ignore could become big pain points. So adjust when you need to!

A light skinned woman with glasses and grey hair smiles down at the light skinned, brown haired young toddler she wears on her front in a ring sling

Toddler (24-48 months)

You’ve celebrated a second birthday, and you now have an official toddler! Typically developing children are walking and talking at this point, but they still crave cuddles and connection. So don’t hang up those carriers just yet! But do check that your toddler hasn’t outgrown them:

Weight limits - Our ring slings go up to 35 lbs, while our Baby Larks and meh dais are safety tested to 45 lbs.
Carrier height - The top of the carrier should at least come up to your toddler’s armpits. Any lower poses a safety risk, especially when worn on the back, as a toddler could arch themselves right out of a carrier that’s too low on their back.
Carrier width - The bottom of the panel should ideally support your toddler’s legs from knee pit to knee pit. Aim for this knee to knee support when making a seat in a ring sling. However, the panels of the Lark and meh dai may no longer reach to your toddler’s knees, and that’s okay. Most kids, especially kids who have been worn most their life, will tuck their knees into the spread-squat, “M” position automatically. A carrier with a more narrow panel isn’t hurting your child, but you may consider spreading the passes further or sizing up to the Kid Lark for optimal weight distribution. More on that later!

With these safety tips in mind, you can keep wearing your toddler as long as you both are comfortable!

Bonus - Little Kids (4-6 years and more!)

Babywearing doesn’t have to stop when toddlerhood ends. Our Kid Lark is safety tested to 65 pounds, and it comes in as a lifesaver for when those big feelings get the best of our little kids. Just like toddlers still crave connection, so too do bigger kids. And they have a lot going on! They are navigating friendships, starting school, and doing more activities outside the home and family unit. Their independence is growing, but that doesn’t mean they need you any less. Many kids are experts at holding it together around others, but they fall apart at home because they feel safe there. When you get hit with a temper tantrum while trying to make breakfast, check homework, and get lunches packed for a busy day break out that carrier and let your little kid co-regulate with you while you wear them on your back. That way you can still help your middle schooler find their laptop charger before their world implodes.

Toddler Tips and Tricks by Carrier

We’ve talked about some general tips - optimize weight distribution, check on your toddler’s safety by staying within weight limits and ensuring a safe fit - but now let’s get into some specific toddler tricks for each carrier type.

Baby Lark

As said earlier, the weight limit on the Baby Lark is 45 pounds. This carrier is designed for longevity! It should grow with your baby and toddler. Here’s how:

Move your waistband down
Widen the bottom of the panel
Place your toddler’s bottom closer to the waistband

An infographic of how to make adjustments to a Baby Lark to better fit a toddler. The graphic features two pictures of the same brown skinned, brown haired woman wearing glasses and an empty Baby Lark clipped around her waist. The left image is set up for a small baby; the right image is set up for a larger baby or toddler.

Let’s look at each of these in more detail:

Move your waistband down. When your baby was 3 or 4 months old and just fitting the Baby Lark for the first time, you probably had to wear your waistband right under your chest to get baby close enough to kiss - an important safety checkpoint. Now, if you’re still wearing your waistband that high on your torso, your toddler might be in your face during a front carry. This is also unsafe. Whenever possible, you want to be able to keep your head at a neutral position without a tiny head jutting up into your neck. You also should be able to see over your toddler’s head. Otherwise, it can be more difficult to maneuver around in the world. Try bumping your waistband down. You can really wear it anywhere from right below your chest to your hips. Find a comfortable spot on your torso for you and make sure your child is still close enough to kiss once you’ve finished setting up the carrier. In a back carry, you can still keep your waistband up high as long as it’s comfortable for you.

A light brown skinned woman with long brown hair embraces her young light brown skinned and brown haired toddler worn on her front in a Baby Lark.

Widen the bottom of the panel. For an optimal fit, the bottom of the panel should support your child from knee pit to knee pit without going past their knees; their knees should always bend freely. If your panel is still cinched in and you notice it’s not reaching to your toddler’s knee pits, widen it so it comes knee to knee. If it’s already at its widest setting and it’s not reaching your child’s knee pits, that’s okay! As long as your toddler is still under 45 lbs and the top of the panel comes up at least to their arm pits, they’re still safe to use the Baby Lark. They will most likely tuck their legs into that spread squat position, keeping their knees above their bottom on their own. If their legs are dangling or turned out, you can do a quick pelvic tuck to get them back in place.

Place your toddler’s bottom closer to the waistband. When your toddler was a tiny baby just fitting in the Baby Lark, you may have centered their bottom on the warning label in order to shorten the panel so they could fit safely. Now, if the top of the panel is landing below your toddler’s armpits or if you notice the shoulder strap buckles are hitting their thighs, you may need to move their bottom closer to the waistband when you’re positioning them in the carrier. This will lengthen the panel to fit your toddler more comfortably and safely.

*Toddler Tip* In either Lark, if you’re doing a front carry and your toddler wants to walk on their own, you can tuck the shoulder straps in the waistband. Now you can chase your toddler without having the straps drag on the ground or worrying about tripping over them. Plus, your carrier is still on and at the ready for when they get tired or try to run into traffic.

Kid Lark

Many toddlers can still fit in the Baby Lark, but here are some signs they could be ready for the Kid Lark:

They weigh at least 25 lbs.
They are wearing size 3T for length.
They have outgrown the Baby Lark (they are more than 45 lbs and/or the top of the panel comes below their armpits).

If your toddler is at the smaller end of the size range for the Kid Lark, you may need to follow some of the same tips we give to caregivers trying to fit their smaller babies in the Baby Lark:

Buckle the waistband right under your chest.
Cinch the panel all the way in.
Center their bottom on the warning label.

You can try any combination of those steps to get you and your toddler a safe and comfortable fit. Remember - the top of the panel should always come below your child’s earlobes but at least up to their armpits, the bottom should go from one knee pit to the other so their knees can bend freely, and - in a front carry - they should be close enough to kiss.

Two light skinned woman walk away from the camera down a sidewalk. They are both wearing their toddlers on their back. The woman on the left uses a Kid Lark, and the woman on the right uses a Baby Lark.

Ring Sling

Our ring slings are great toddler carriers. Once you get the hang of them, they are quick and easy for ups and downs, which is a great feature in a toddler carrier. Plus, you can wear the empty sling as is or you can turn it into a scarf when it’s not being used. Here are some specific toddler ring sling tips:

Spread the fabric
Prioritize ring placement
Try loading and unloading your toddler from the bottom
Consider our hemp blend

A brown skinned woman smiles at her brown skinned and curly brown haired toddler worn on her side in a ring sling. The toddler smiles at the camera.

Let’s look at each a little more closely:

Spread the fabric. Check that you’re spreading the fabric out optimally in several places on your sling. You should still only need to just cap your shoulder joint, but if it’s more comfortable for you to spread the fabric further down your shoulder, that’s fine! This is more of a comfort choice rather than a safety concern. Just keep in mind - if you spread the fabric further down your shoulder, you will have less mobility in that arm. You can always bunch the fabric up on your shoulder for brief moments of more movement and then spread it again. You also want to make sure the fabric is spread out across your back. This will get you the best weight distribution for your bigger kids. Finally, make sure you spread the fabric from knee pit to knee pit when making a seat. This will give your toddler a wide and deep seat with optimal support for you both. The only place you may not want to spread the fabric as much as you can is over your child’s back. Most toddlers want the freedom of having their arms out. It’s perfectly safe to spread the fabric up to your child’s armpits.

A brown skinned woman with long dark brown hair smiles down at her brown skinned, brown haired toddler worn on her front in a ring sling. The toddler looks placidly off to the side.

Prioritize ring placement. Now more than ever it’s important to get those rings in that ideal “corsage” position, between your shoulder and chest. A poorly positioned ring may have been a little annoying with a newborn, but it can make slinging your toddler downright unbearable. So position those rings correctly when you start and be mindful of them the whole time. They like to move! Start with a pocket that’s smaller than you think you need and make sure those rings are still in that correct position after you load your toddler but before you spread the fabric over their back. If your rings have moved, put them back before spreading the fabric. Always take your child’s weight off the rings when tightening by pushing gently up or in on their bottom. Tighten the tail fabric in the direction it’s coming through the rings. For the top hem, that’s straight across. For the middle of the sling, tighten towards your opposite hip. For the bottom hem, pull straight down. All while pushing gently up or in on your child’s bottom. Following these tips will hopefully keep the rings in the right place!

An infographic about tightening your ring sling in the right directions. The graphic is of a light brown skinned woman with long brown hair wearing her baby on her front in a striped ring sling. Arrows point out important ring sling directional tips.

Try loading and unloading your toddler from the bottom. For newborns and smaller babies, we recommend placing them up high on your shoulder and loading them down through the top of the sling, feet first. This can get challenging as your toddler gets taller. If it’s too difficult to size your pocket correctly and load your toddler in from the top, consider sizing your pocket, then holding your toddler in your arms. You can then slip the sling over your toddler. When unloading, you can loosen enough to slip the sling back over your toddler. This may be easier than trying to wrestle those long legs out of the top of the sling. Now, it’s totally fine to load and unload from the top like you would with a smaller baby if that’s still working for you. But having an older child lets you try some new babywearing tricks!

Consider our hemp blend. Our linen blend slings are still great for many families into toddlerhood. But if you’ve tried all these other tips and you still want a little more support, try one of our hemp blends. The hemp slings are all double-layered, providing a bit more support. Plus, hemp is naturally supportive. It may be that little extra bit you need to maximize your toddler wearing comfort!

A brown skinned, curly and long brown haired woman smiles at her toddler worn on her side in a ring sling. Her brown skinned, light brown, curly haired toddler looks back at her.

Meh Dai

What meh dais lack in quick ups and downs, they make up for in support. If you’re looking for a toddler carrier for those long, once-a-day toddler naps, the meh dai is your best friend. It is a supportive, two-shoulder carrier that can be spread nice and wide both across your back and over your toddler. Here are the quick tips for meh dai babywearing with a toddler:

Move the waistband down
Spread the fabric
Learn some fancy finishes

Move the waistband down. The meh dai is designed to be worn at your natural waist. In a front carry, as your toddler grows, you may find they’re in your face or you can’t keep your neck at a neutral position. In that case, like with the Lark, try moving the waistband down to your hips. As long as your toddler ends up close enough to kiss and you both are still comfortable, wearing the waistband lower is just fine!

Spread the fabric. Just like in the ring sling, you want to spread out all the fabric you can to optimize weight distribution as your child grows. Definitely make sure the panel is no longer cinched in with the ties. In a front carry, when guiding the shoulder straps down and across your back, pull first on the inside hem only. Then gather the fabric, tightening strand-by-strand, ensuring the shoulder straps are spread out nice and wide over your back. They should also cap your shoulder. As always, maintain tension as you tighten. In a back carry, do your Y-pull and then tuck one side in your legs as you bring the other shoulder strap around your arm.

A close up of a light skinned, yellow haired toddler worn on a light skinned woman

In both a front and back carry, you’ll then spread each cross pass over your toddler’s back, tucking the bottom hem under bum, then gathering and bringing the pass under your child’s leg. Bring that shoulder strap around your body and tuck in between your legs as you spread the second shoulder strap over your toddler’s back, just like the first one. Make sure the spread shoulder passes are supporting your child from knee to knee. These tips will help distribute weight best in both a front and back carry. In a front carry, you finish by tying off as normal in a snug double knot. In a back carry, if you haven’t already, it’s time to try some fancy finishes.

Learn some fancy finishes. It’s still totally safe to finish a back carry with a double knot, but this might not provide the best support. One easy and supportive fancy finish is called Knotless Tied Tibetan. Like in a front carry, this distributes weight by spreading the shoulder straps wide across your body. Other fancy finishes to try include a Goddess Finish, Strangleproof Ruck Finish, and both Salt- and Freshwater Finishes. We have some good tutorials for these in our Facebook group, and you can schedule a fit check to work on them as well.

Toddler Tips and Tricks by Carrier Chart

Carrier	Look Out For	Toddler Fit Tips
Baby Lark	Max weight - 45 lbs Panel to armpits	Lower the waistband Widen the panel Toddler’s bottom closer to the waistband
Kid Lark	Min weight - 25 lbs Panel not too long or wide	Wait until toddler is in 3T clothes For a smaller toddler, cinch the waistband and place bottom on warning label
Ring Sling	New pain or strain in your neck or back Panel to armpits and kneepits	Spread the fabric over your back and from toddler’s knee to knee Be extra mindful of proper ring placement
Meh Dai	New pain or strain in your neck or back Panel to armpits Too tight on toddler legs	Spread the fabric over your shoulders and back and over your toddler’s bottom, widening the panel from knee to knee

What’s Best for Your Body

When you’re babywearing your toddler, it’s important, as always, to listen to your body. Acknowledge that your tiny baby is now a bigger kid, and it may be harder to wear them the same way you used to. This is especially true if you’ve taken a break from wearing your child and are just coming back to it in the toddler years or if you’re trying a new carrier or a new way to carry your child with a familiar carrier. Give your body grace and time to grow stronger. Take breaks if you need to, choosing instead to hold your toddler’s hand and let them walk or to split time between a carrier and a stroller. If you practice daily, you’ll be able to work yourself up to wearing your heavier toddler for longer periods of time. But it’s also good to know what to do when you need a break.

A light skinned man with brown hair and glasses looks over his shoulder and smiles at the camera. He wears a light skinned yellow haired toddler on his back in a Lark

Managing Tiny Expectations and Big Feelings

Sometimes you know you need a break, but your toddler still wants to be carried. This is a great opportunity to start using that developing language. Explain to your child that your body needs a break and, if it’s safe to do so, give them the option to hold your hand and walk, sit in the stroller, or take a break together. Be patient, give them space to have feelings, and allow some extra time for little walking legs or a short cuddle on a bench before you continue on. You are both growing and learning together. Your carrier is there when you’re ready to reestablish those cuddles and connections.

A light skinned, brown haired woman holds her light skinned, brown haired toddler on her hip in one hand and a meh dai in the other hand. She appears to be speaking to her toddler who stares down at the carrier. A tripod is in the foreground of the picture.

Whether you plan to keep wearing your toddler as much as you did when they were a baby or you need a carrier for the quicker ups and downs of a little kids’ whims, hope&plum has you covered with stylish, supportive carriers that will grow with your family for years to come.

Babywearing a Toddler FAQ

Can I still wear my toddler?

Yes! Many people babywear into the toddler years and beyond.

Can I still use my infant carriers to wear my toddler?

That depends! Check the weight ranges on your carriers and make sure your toddler still falls within the safe range. Also make sure the top of the carrier comes up at least to your toddler’s armpits. If they are too heavy or too tall for your current carriers, consider sizing up to a Kid Lark.

How do I make sure my toddler and I are comfortable in our carrier?

Check your fit! Listen to your body! Make sure your toddler isn’t in your face in a front carry, spread the fabric out as much as possible to maximize weight distribution, and ensure your carrier is positioned correctly on both of your bodies.

Are there carriers I shouldn’t use with my toddler?

The only carrier that most toddlers will have outgrown or that might be uncomfortable is the baby wrap. This carrier works best for infants.

What’s the best toddler carrier?

Larks, ring slings, and meh dais all work well for toddlers for different reasons. Larks and ring slings provide quick ups and downs. Larks are a bit more supportive than ring slings, but meh dais are the most supportive of all for those long toddler naps. If you had to pick one, go with a Baby Lark or Kid Lark depending on how big your toddler is.

Summary

Many people babywear into the toddler years, and you can too with some tips and tricks for supportive snuggles.

Toddler wearing offers your growing child a unique opportunity for cuddles and connection with you at your level.

Younger toddlers may still safely fit in the carriers you’ve been using since infancy, but older toddlers may need specific modifications to your infant carriers or a bigger carrier altogether.

Make sure your toddler is still within the weight range for your carrier, the panel comes as close to knee to knee as possible, and the panel comes up at least to their armpits.

In Baby Larks and meh dais, you may have to move the waistband down and widen the panel as much as possible. In meh dais and ring slings, spread the fabric as much as possible to maximize support.

Listen to your body and be patient with your growing toddler.