We’ll Take it To Go: hope&plum’s Guide to Feeding in Carriers
One of the best parts of babywearing is having your hands free while still being able to nurture your little one. We all know a big part of nurturing a quickly growing babe is feeding them, and there are times when it feels like all your baby wants to do is eat! Learning to feed them in a carrier allows life to keep going. Read on to find tips and tricks for learning to feed your babies in all of your favorite hope&plum carriers.
TL;DR: Feeding in a carrier keeps life moving. In any carrier, follow these three steps: loosen, feed, and retighten. Safety is our top priority: upright, mindful, and mobile. Fed is always best!
General Tips and Tricks
The general method for feeding baby - whether nursing or using a bottle - in any carrier is:
Loosen your carrier just enough to get baby down to the right level
Feed your baby
Tighten baby back up so they’re visible and kissable
That’s it! Now, it’s definitely easier to do this in some carriers over others. And although it sounds simple, in the moment, it can definitely feel complicated. Feeding your baby in the carrier is a new skill! That’s why we recommend that you feel super confident in a regular front carry before trying to feed your baby in the carrier. If you’re still working on getting a safe and comfortable carry without feeding, it could be extra frustrating to try to level up too soon.
Give yourself grace and be patient with yourself - and your baby - when trying to feed in your carrier. Remember, your baby can usually sense your stress and that can lead you both to spiral. If it’s not going well, it’s okay to pause, take some deep breaths, or even take baby out of the carrier and try again later.
Safety First!
With all things babywearing, we want to prioritize your baby’s safety. Here’s a refresher on some babywearing safety basics, otherwise known as T.I.C.K.S.:
Wait! The carrier is loosened, and baby is lowered for feeding. Does that mean you two are automatically in an unsafe position? Yes and no. If you were to walk around like that, going about your everyday life, handsfree and without a care in the world, this would be unsafe. But when you pay extra close attention to baby - this means making sure their airway is clear and assessing the need to support them with one hand and support yourself or the bottle with the other - then feeding in your carrier can be safe.
It’s also super important to always complete the steps listed above to feed baby in any carrier. That last step - Tighten baby back up so they’re visible and kissable - is super important. That’s how we get baby back to that safe T.I.C.K.S. positioning and how we move on with our babywearing day. It doesn’t matter if baby seems comfortable in the feeding position. It doesn’t matter if they fell asleep. Always, always tighten them back up so they’re visible and kissable. You’ll want to see them and kiss them anyway! We live for those sleepy, post-feeding snuggles.
Carrier Considerations
First and foremost - whether nursing or bottle feeding - we do not recommend using a cradle carry in any carrier. We believe that an upright feeding position is the safest option. Plus, it’s faster and easier to get baby into the recommended, lowered upright position. If your baby does not want to feed upright, that’s okay! Keep offering in the carrier with the idea that you may need to take baby out to feed them. Don’t give up. One day, it might click!
Lark
The Lark is one of hope&plum’s easiest carriers to feed your baby in. Start by loosening the shoulder straps. See if that gets baby down to a good height. Watch that the side gaps don’t get too big - this could create a fall hazard. If you feel like you’ve loosened your shoulder straps as much as you can safely, but baby is still not low enough, you can loosen your waistband too and lower that. Remember to tighten everything back up after baby is done! Start with your waistband if you lowered it. Then tighten your shoulder straps in the same down and across, passing-the-slack movement you would use to tighten them when setting up your initial carry.
Meh Dai
The meh dai, like the Lark, is an easy carrier to feed baby in. It may feel slightly more cumbersome than the Lark since you’ll have to untie and retie, but the basic process is the same. Untie the shoulder straps and bring them back to the tightening position - holding each in one hand out to your sides. Shrug your shoulders and bounce baby down, allowing baby’s weight to help loosen the shoulder straps. Once baby is at a good height, re-tie the shoulder straps. Having them looser may mean you won’t have enough length to bring them around your body as many times as your normally do. That’s okay. You can tie in the back or even in the front, under baby’s bottom, without going around to your back at all. Like in the Lark, you may only have to loosen the shoulder straps to get baby down to the right height, but do check on those side gaps. If you feel like you’ve reached the max looseness in the shoulder straps, but baby still needs to be lower, you can loosen and lower the waistband as well. Feed baby and then tighten everything back up! Just like the Lark, start with your waistband if you moved it down. Then untie your shoulder straps and bring them back to the tightening position again. Tighten them in the same way you normally set up the carrier, until baby is high, tight, and close enough to kiss. Then tie again as you normally would.
Ring Sling
The ring sling is a great feeding option, but it can be a little more challenging. Lowering baby is easy, but tightening back up can take some practice. And this makes sense when you think about it! One of the most important steps in setting up an optimal ring sling carry is to start with a super small pocket. When feeding baby, you’re making a really big pocket. Then you’re trying to tighten all of that up with a baby inside! If you’re struggling with this, give yourself grace. It’s okay to feed baby in the carrier and then have to take baby out and start over in order to tighten the carrier back to a safe position again. With that in mind, let’s go through how to lower baby to feed in a ring sling.
Push up on the visible ring while bouncing baby down. Like with the mah dai, use baby’s weight to help loosen the ring sling. If you’re bottle feeding or nursing in a front carry, just get baby to the right height and do your thing. If you’re nursing in a hip carry, you may need to shift baby over more towards your middle so they can get access to the goods on the ring side. That’s okay! Your rings may not be in that ideal “corsage” position. That’s also okay! Regardless of how you’re nourishing baby, or whether they’re on your front or side, tighten them back up to that high, tight, kissable position when they’re done. And remember - it’s okay if this is challenging! This part takes a lot of practice. Remember to watch your ring placement, always take baby’s weight off of the rings when tightening, and pull the tail fabric in the direction it’s coming through the rings.
Baby Wrap
The baby wrap is a wonderful option for carrying smaller infants, but it’s actually the most challenging carrier to feed your baby in. In order to get a comfortable and safe carry in the baby wrap, the fabric needs to be super snug before you put baby in. This doesn’t leave a lot of room for feeding. Loosening the fabric with a small baby who doesn’t have good head, neck, and trunk control can be challenging and feel unsafe. To loosen the carrier, untie the knot halfway so it’s in a half knot. Feed slack backwards from the knot to your baby and gently bounce baby into a lowered position, using baby’s weight to your advantage. Retie the knot when they’re at the right height. When you’re done, untie the knot halfway again. Feed the slack from your baby’s pocket to the knot. It may be helpful to do one side at a time, tightening, retying, and then untying to the half knot again for the other side. If at any point this process feels unsafe due to the stretchy nature of the baby wrap, take baby out and finish your feeding session out of the carrier. Remember - the baby wrap is poppable. This means it can be prepped in advance for ease. As long as you start with the wrap tied snuggly around your body before putting baby in, you can pop them out of that snug carry, feed them in your arms while still wearing the baby wrap, and then pop them back in when you’re done. This may not be as on-the-go as some of the other options. But it may be the best choice for you and your small infant.
Bottles on the Go
At hope&plum, we believe that fed is best. We’re all in this together to nourish our babies while meeting the demands of parenting in the modern world. So all of these tips work whether you're exclusively nursing, using bottles at all times or sometimes and - needless to say - whether the bottle is full of formula or pumped milk. You may not need to lower baby as much if bottle feeding, so lower baby to whatever position is comfortable and accommodates the bottle. And just to re-emphasize - always bring baby up to that high and tight position when they’re done.
Know Your Nursing Rights
Speaking of parenting in the modern world, hope&plum is no stranger to judgy side eyes when nursing babies and toddlers in public. But we know it’s natural and healthy to nurse our children wherever we are. Luckily, in the United States, the law is on our side. While there is no federal law about nursing, “...almost everywhere in the US, parents are able to nurse their babies in any public or private place” (Breimer, 2024). This means if you’re allowed to be there, you’re allowed to nurse there. Whether you choose to cover up or not, it’s your right to feed your baby. (And it’s everyone else’s responsibility to mind their own business!) Many other countries offer similar protections, however, in some countries it can be illegal or against cultural norms to nurse in public. Wherever you are, make sure to educate yourself and know your rights, so you are able to advocate for you and your baby.
Feeding your baby in a carrier is a great tool to add to your caregiver arsenal. It can allow you the freedom to nourish your baby on the go or help them get to sleep in the carrier to have a long and cozy nap. Whatever carrier you choose and whether you nurse or use a bottle, let us know how feeding in the carrier helps you!
Feeding FAQ
Can I really feed my baby in a carrier?
You sure can! With a little practice, feeding in a carrier can be a total game-changer. Just keep an eye on baby’s airway, stay present, and always tighten them back up so they’re snug, safe, and kissable afterward.
What’s the safest way to feed while babywearing?
Upright is best! Whether you’re nursing or bottle-feeding, keeping baby upright helps protect their airway. Skip the cradle carry—this position can make breathing harder for little ones.
Which carriers make feeding easiest?
The Lark and Ring Sling are fan favorites for on-the-go feeding. Don't sleep on the Meh Dai though - it's just as easy as the Lark! Baby Wraps work too—just be patient, they take a little extra practice!
How do I actually do it?
Think: loosen, feed, tighten. Gently lower baby to the right height, feed them, then snug everything back up once they’re done. Visible and kissable is the goal every time!
What if it feels tricky or doesn’t go smoothly?
Totally normal. Feeding in a carrier is a new skill for both you and baby. Take breaks, breathe, and try again later. You’ll both get the hang of it.
Summary
Feeding in a carrier keeps life moving while meeting your baby’s needs.
Learn to loosen the carrier, feed, then retighten to keep baby “visible and kissable.”
Always prioritize safety using the T.I.C.K.S. guidelines and upright positions.
Each carrier requires slightly different adjustments for safe feeding.
Feeding upright helps prevent airway obstruction and supports comfort.
Offering a bottle or nursing, fed is best—adapt positioning to your baby’s needs.
Know your nursing rights: in the US, you can feed your baby anywhere you’re allowed to be.
References
Breimer, Y. (2024, September 10). Resource roundup: Nursing in public - La Leche League USA. La Leche League USA. https://lllusa.org/resource-roundup-nursing-in-public/
