Everyone knows that wearing your baby is great. Babywearing comes with a ton of benefits for your baby, and there is no dispute about that. But, like everything else, there are also pros and cons of babywearing

As much as we here at Lucky promote babywearing as a great way to bond with your little one, nothing in this world comes without its drawbacks.

The Babywearing setup can be complicated

Especially if you have a wrap. At least, that’s the biggest complaint I hear. But it’s not just the wraps that can be complicated. Depending on the carrier, it may take you a while to get fully secured and ready to go. Baby wraps and mei tai straps can tangle and be difficult to contend with, heavy-duty carriers are bulky, and slings, particularly ring slings, can take a lot of adjustment to get comfortable. Some back carriers can’t be put on without help from a second person! If you’re in a hurry and get delayed further by trying to sort out your baby carrier, it’s going to frustrate you and baby both.

When babywearing every new baby, I’d watch YouTube videos. Wrap You In Love was my favorite.

There’s a Possibility that Baby Doesn’t Like Carrier / wrap / sling

First, I feel that I need to say that ALL babies like to be carried. However, not all babies like the baby carrier and most of the time, it’s just a matter of them getting used to it. If you think this is the case for your baby, keep trying. Do not get discouraged because babywearing comes with many benefits.

It may also be that your baby doesn’t like the position that you are trying to carry them in. For example, when I have tried to carry my babies on my back, they didn’t always like that. You may want to experiment to see what works best for you and your baby.

Below is a great video that offers 5 tips to help with babywearing if your baby doesn’t like the carrier.

Babywearing Can Cause Backpain/ Neckpain

Carrying your little one around is great exercise for sure, but if you’re not adjusting your baby carrier or wrap / ring sling properly, that weight around your neck or on your shoulder can really get you down after a while, and potentially cause pain and injuries. Not to mention, much like during your pregnancy, you have to be mindful of how much space you’re taking up – it’s probably more than you think. You also have to make sure baby is comfortable in the carrier, and not getting sore from all that time, or sitting in a bad position for their body’s development.

Baby In Your Face

As good as it is for your child to see the world from your perspective rather than being stuck with a stroller’s-eye view all the time, inquisitive little hands (and mouths) are in a great position to reach for your hair, jewelry, and face all the time. In addition, hungry little tykes might realize you can nurse them all the time – and insist on not waiting until you’re somewhere more private!

You don’t really have two spare hands

While babywearing does leave your hands free for the most part, some sling carriers recommend you steady baby with a hand whenever possible, making it difficult to lug around heavy shopping or do two-handed tasks while wearing your baby. This can also come back to the weight issue – if you already have a ten-pound baby strapped to your chest, do you really want to carry around the groceries too?

Babywearing Offers an Overwhelming Variety

When it comes to babywearing, the number of baby carriers are overwhelming. Just to mention a few – there are wrap carriers, mei tai carriers, baby carriers with buckles, ring slings… then all of those in different fabrics too. For example ring slings for summer and ring slings for winter.

Some parents might find it easier to take the path of least resistance and buy a stroller, instead of trying to make sense of all the baby carrier options. In addition, parents with multiples might decide against babywearing because they can’t effectively carry both children (never mind all three or more!) at once.

Wearing Your Baby Can Come With Safety Hazards

This can be a big drawback for many parents: When babywearing, there’s always a greater chance that your little one will get hurt because you slip and fall.

Just like when you were pregnant, you do have to be careful how you move when you are wearing your baby.

Despite all the “not so cool things about babywearing”, it’s still a wonderful tool in your parenting arsenal. I’ve offered a few resources, to help you get pass the cons of babywearing.