9 Tips for Getting Comfy in your Buckle Carrier – Do’s and Don’ts

Need help troubleshooting your buckle carrier? We love buckle carriers because they are quick to put on and relatively easy to figure out. Carriers like the Tula, Beco, Pikkolo (with support belt), Boba, and Ergobaby carriers are our best-selling carriers, and it’s easy to see why- they are comfortable for almost every babywearer, they don’t have dragging straps or fabric, and it’s usually pretty straightforward to get comfortable in them. But that doesn’t mean you will always feel great the instant you put one on!

For anyone who has a new (or new to you) buckle carrier that isn’t feeling quite right yet, don’t despair! Here are our nine top tips for getting comfortable in your buckle carrier!

Tip 1: Make sure the carrier is worn snugly. You shouldn’t feel you have to lean forward to compensate for your baby leaning away from your body. Instead of just tightening the side straps to pull baby closer to you (and more upright) make sure that you are tightening up the whole strap of the carrier, not just the webbing. Sometimes the padded part tends to stay in position (especially when crossed) and all your tightening doesn’t actually change the snugness of the straps on your back.

Tips for Getting Comfy in Buckle Carrier — Don’t: This carrier is being worn too loosely. The baby is too low on the body. The baby is not snug against her body, but is hanging off it. This can cause the baby to feel insecure and also means that his weight is pulling on the shoulders and neck which can be uncomfortable for the wearer.

Getting Comfy in your buckle carrier: Don't — Don’t: Toddler in this too-loose back carry feels insecure. This will also not be comfortable for you.

Getting Comfy in your buckle carrier: Do — Do: Toddler being worn snugly against the back.

Tip 2: On the other hand, make sure the carrier straps are not so tight around your shoulders that it will cause chafing under your arms.

Tip 3: Make sure baby is centered in the carrier. It helps to center the carrier on your body before you load baby up.

Don’t: Baby is not centered in the carrier. One leg is out farther than the other.

Tip 4: Make sure baby has a “good seat” and baby’s bum is sunk fully into the carrier. To get a good seat, grab the carrier behind your baby’s back (or the straps of the carrier if the baby is on your back), give them a good yank and maybe a bit of bounce. Baby’s bum should fill out the bottom of the carrier. If the carrier is too wide for the baby’s bum to fill the carrier, the carrier is too big for him. (This video shows how to get a good seat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVFrOUeK23g)

Getting comfy: Don't — Don’t: Toddler is off to one side. This will become uncomfortable for you both over time.

Getting comfy: Do — Do: Toddler is evenly positioned in the carrier, with both legs parallel to one another.

Tip 5: Make sure the carrier base is the right width for your child. Ideal positioning is for the carrier to come up under child’s knees without scrunching or folding the carrier. Child’s knees should bend naturally and hang down out of the carrier, support to the knee by the base. When in doubt, err for the smaller carrier.

Do: Carrier is the correct size for baby.

Do: This carrier is ideal size for child, supporting his legs in a natural seated position.

Tip 6: Check the position of your waistbelt. It’s important to keep the waistband even from front to back. Try to have the waistband go straight around your body, and tighten the waistband so that it stays there (but isn’t cinched super tightly – there should be a little give!). Most people find the ideal spot for the waistband is at the top of your hipbone, resting on the pelvis. However, there is no One True Position for the location of the waistbelt on your body, so if this position doesn’t work well for you, play with moving it higher or lower (while keeping it even from front to back). You want the weight of the baby to rest on your hips, that way the hips support baby’s weight instead of the shoulders.

Getting comfy in buckle carrier - waistband don't — Don’t: Waistband is front than in the back. Will be less comfortable over time!

Getting comfy in buckle carrier - waistband do — Do: Waistband is even in the front and back.

Tip 7: Check the position of the chest strap. It should be at your collarbone when wearing the carrier on your back. The shoulder straps and chest strap should form an H shape, not an A shape. Wearing the chest strap in the wrong position can cause upper back pain.

Getting comfy in buckle carrier - chest strap don't — Don’t: Chest Strap is too low.

Getting comfy in buckle carrier - chest strap do — Do: Chest Strap is just at the collarbone. and straps are parallel to one another (H position).

Tip 8: Check the tightness of the chest strap. The biggest mistake is in wearing the chest strap too loose so that the straps fall out of the sweet spot is between your shoulder cap and your neck. You don’t want the straps to be on top of your shoulder joint (the ball of your shoulder), as that can cause pain. Likewise, you don’t want the straps to be too close to your neck. If the chest strap is too tight, the straps will dig into your neck or press down on your trapezius muscle – this will get uncomfortable for you. Again, make sure the straps and chest strap are in the H position, not the A position.

Tip 9: If you are having trouble attaching the chest strap when wearing your buckle carrier in the front carry, try this alternative method for latching the back strap in your buckle carrier.

Getting comfy in your buckle carrier: when you can't reach the chest strap behind you! Step 1 — Step 1: Fasten the waistbelt around your waist, and clip the chest strap together (this works best if you already have the chest strap adjusted to your desired position).

Getting comfy in your buckle carrier: when you can't reach the chest strap behind you! Step 2 — Step 2: pick up your child and position him for riding in the carrier.

Getting comfy in your buckle carrier: when you can't reach the chest strap behind you! Step 4 — Step 4: Grab carrier straps and move them over your shoulders and into position.

Getting comfy in your buckle carrier: when you can't reach the chest strap behind you! Step 3 — Step 3: Loosen the straps of the carrier so that you can pull them (with the chest belt connected) over your heads.

Getting comfy in your buckle carrier: when you can't reach the chest strap behind you! Step 5 — Step 5: Tighten webbing on the straps until carrier is comfortable.

Getting comfy in your buckle carrier: when you can't reach the chest strap behind you! — All done!

Well, there you have it. We really hope these tips have helped you! Have any additional ones to add? Please let us know!

Credit and thanks to the lovely Michelle from Dancey Pants Disco for the photos!

Michelle wears a BabyTula baby carrier.↓

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Laurel McCarthy

In 2007 Laurel took over Carry Me Away after many years providing babywearing help & support in her local area. She is a passionate advocate for babywearing and the benefits it provides to parents and their babies.

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