Babywearing While Pregnant

Babywearing has always been an essential part of my mothering experience. As a busy, active mama, it has allowed me to keep my little ones close, while still being able to go on adventures, hike, run errands, and get things done around our house and homestead.

When I found out I was pregnant with my third baby, my middle child was only a year old. Our family hikes often and I knew that I wanted to continue to stay active during my pregnancy. But, I had a lot of questions and concerns about how I would continue to safely wear him in a carrier while pregnant.

Over the next nine months, through consulting the advice of babywearing experts, a lot of frantic Googling, and trial and error, I learned a lot about carrying my toddler safely and comfortably with another baby on the way. This post compiles everything I wish I would’ve known from the get-go about babywearing while pregnant.

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Is Babywearing While Pregnant Safe?

In most cases, babywearing while pregnant is quite safe and can actually be beneficial for both you and your toddler. But, there are some things that you’ll want to keep in mind to make sure babywearing doesn’t negatively impact your health or your growing babe. Here’s how to ensure that you’re babywearing safely during pregnancy.

Check in With Your Doctor or Midwife

If you’re healthy and are having a normal pregnancy, it’s most likely just fine for you to babywear while pregnant. But, you can always check in with your doctor or midwife if you have any concerns. It’s especially important to talk to a health care provider if you have a pre-existing health condition or high-risk pregnancy.

Listen to Your Body

If you wore your little one in a carrier regularly before getting pregnant, then your body is used to carrying the extra weight. But, due to all the changes that your body undergoes during pregnancy, it’s important to regularly check in with your body and pay attention to how you’re feeling. If you’re in pain or are feeling dizzy or exhausted, then it’s time to take a break.

During pregnancy your body releases the hormone relaxin to help loosen your muscles, joints, and ligaments. While this is helpful for allowing your body to grow and birth your baby, it can make you clumsier and more prone to injuries. So, it’s extra important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard during this time.

Even if babywearing felt great before you got pregnant, it may become more difficult for you as your pregnancy progresses. That doesn’t mean you have to stop babywearing entirely, but you may have to make some changes to how and when you carry your toddler.

You might find that you get tired more easily, and that you need to wear your toddler for shorter periods of time. I felt okay carrying my little guy for quick stints up until a few days before I gave birth. But, a few months into my pregnancy I realized I had to stop carrying him on long hikes and let my partner do it instead.

Woman babywearing a toddler in an Ergo carrier — Carrying my son in our Original Ergo Soft Structured Carrier

Benefits of Babywearing While Pregnant

Babywearing is beneficial for both mama and their little one. Here are some of the reasons you might want to babywear your toddler during your pregnancy.

Promotes Bonding with Your Toddler

Babywearing encourages bonding on both an emotional and physiological level. Having your little one so physically close makes them feel safe and allows you to respond to their cues in real time. This helps to foster a strong emotional connection.

Physiologically, keeping your little one snuggled up in a carrier facilitates the release of oxytocin. This hormone helps to reduce stress and promote growth and healing. Because pregnancy can sometimes be a less than positive experience, boosting this feel good chemical is beneficial for mama (and their unborn babe) too.

Babywearing your toddler during pregnancy is a great way to soak up those last few months of one-on-one time together before the new baby arrives. As an added bonus, supporting your bond with your little one before you’re busy caring for a newborn can help make your toddler’s transition to big brother or sister go more smoothly.

Hands Free Activities and Adventures

Babywearing makes it comfortable to carry your toddler and frees up your hands. This allows parents to get outside for a walk, run errands, or even do chores while keeping their little one close. Staying active during pregnancy has been shown to have many health benefits for both mama and baby (in most cases), and babywearing can be hugely helpful in being able to do so while also caring for a toddler.

Keeps Your Toddler Safe

Anyone who has cared for toddlers knows that they can be a rambunctious bunch. Babywearing keeps them contained and can be a great way to help stop them from getting into too much mischief. This can be especially handy when the pregnancy fatigue takes hold and you don’t have the energy to chase after a toddler who constantly wants to grab things they shouldn’t or dart in front of cars.

Logistics of Babywearing While Pregnant

You will want to be sure that you’re continuing to pay attention to the same safety recommendations that apply for general babywearing. Most importantly, your little one should always be well-supported in an upright position, as curling or slumping can close off their airways. Always follow the specific instructions for your baby carrier to ensure that you are using it correctly.

In early pregnancy, you can probably carry your toddler on your front as well as your back. But, as your pregnancy progresses and your belly grows, you’ll probably be using mostly back or hip carries.

Types of Baby Carriers to Use While Pregnant

There are many different types of baby carriers and finding a style that works for you is important for enjoying wearing your toddler when you’re expecting. Here’s an overview of some styles that can be used during pregnancy.

Soft Structured Carriers (SSCs)

Soft structured carriers, or buckle carriers, are very adjustable and supportive, making them a great option for active parents. They have padded straps that can make carrying even heavier toddlers comfortable.

Some mamas like to put the waist strap under their belly and appreciate how it supports their growing bump. I personally felt like it put too much pressure on my stomach that way and much preferred it above my bump. But, as your belly continues to grow, you may find that the waist strap is just awkward and uncomfortable no matter how you wear it.

There are lots of different soft structured carriers. I personally used an Original Ergo Baby carrier and an AmphibaBaby Neptune carrier while pregnant and found them both to be quite comfortable in my first trimester and early second trimester.

Woman carrying her toddler in a onbuhimo — Carrying my son in an onbuhimo carrier

Onbuhimo Carrier

An onbuhimo is a carrier that is inspired by traditional Japanese babywearing. It doesn’t have a waist belt and is designed mainly for back carries. This style of carrier is lightweight and simple to use, making a great option for quick ups.

Onbuhimo carriers can be great for babywearing while pregnant. Because they don’t have a waist strap, they don’t put any pressure on your growing bump. However, that also means that this style of carrier puts a lot of pressure on your shoulders and upper back. If you aren’t used to carrying a lot of weight with those muscles, it can be tiring and even painful.

Personally, I used an onbuhimo to carry my toddler in my second and third trimesters of pregnancy and loved it. SSCs worked during my first and second trimesters. But, at a certain point, they no longer fit around my bump comfortably and I really appreciated having a carrier without a waist strap.

Woven Wraps

Woven wraps are a super versatile option for babywearing while pregnant. They can also be used to carry your newborn once they arrive. Woven wraps can even be used as a belly wrap to support your growing stomach.

I personally loved wrapping my belly with a woven wrap from my second trimester on. The extra support made it much more comfortable for me to stay active while carrying a large baby.

One possible drawback to woven wraps is that there is a bit of a learning curve when figuring out how to use them. But, once you master a few carries, you have a lot of different options for how you can use the wrap.

Another potential downside to woven wraps is that they can be less convenient for quick ups, especially if you have a toddler who wants to get up and down a lot. It can also be hard to wrap your little one outdoors without getting the wrap wet and dirty.

Woman standing by the river with a belly wrap — Belly wrapping with a woven wrap at 39 weeks pregnant

Mei Tai Carrier

A mei tai, or mei dai, carrier is inspired by traditional Chinese babywearing. The body panel and straps are made of wrap fabric and are secured by tying a knot, instead of clipping a buckle like with structured carriers. This is a versatile and easily adjustable option that is suitable for front, back, and side carries. It can be used from infancy through the toddler years.

There are several different ways you can tie a mei tai. This gives you many options for a comfortable carry that doesn’t put too much pressure on your growing bump. The waist strap can even be tied in a way that helps support your belly, a feature that some women really appreciate about using this type of carrier while pregnant.

Learning how to use a mei tai carrier is not as straightforward as putting on a SSC or onbuhimo carrier. But, once you figure it out, it can be a very quick and comfortable choice for babywearing your toddler during your pregnancy and your infant once they are born.

Half Buckle Carrier

Half buckle carriers are like a hybrid woven wrap and buckle carrier. They have a buckle waistband, but like a mei tai, the body panel and straps are made of wrap fabric. This is another great option for a comfortable and versatile carrier that can be utilized during pregnancy and beyond. It can be used to front, back, and hip carry both your toddler, as well as your newborn once they arrive.

While there’s a lot to love about half buckle carriers, there can be a bit of a learning curve as you figure out how to tie the straps. And because it has a waistband like an SSC, it may not be comfortable with a bigger belly.

Ring Sling

When I asked the other Tales of a Mountain Mama team members what their favorite style of carrier was for babywearing while pregnant, several mentioned they liked using a ring sling. A high front carry or hip carry can be great options for carrying your toddler during pregnancy. These work great for toddlers who are up and down a lot. It’s also a great carrier for littler babies once your newest addition arrives.

While I personally didn’t use this type of carrier to babywear my toddler while pregnant, I loved wrapping my huge belly with my ring sling while in my second and third trimesters. I found it gave me great support which alleviated a lot of my round ligament pain. This allowed me to stay more active and enjoy adventures with my bigger kids right up until my baby was born.