Getting the Best Seat in a Soft Structured Carrier
This post is part of our International Babywearing Week 2016 series. Today we focus on getting the best seat and fit in soft structured carriers.
Keep the waistband level and around your hips/lower waist.
Soft structured carriers are designed to carry weight across the top of the hips- similar to a hiking backpack. Unlike mei tais, putting the waistband too high will prevent a soft structured carrier from working as it was designed to. It may also interfere with the wearer’s ability to tighten the arm straps correctly.
Don’t allow baby’s bottom to sag over the waistband.
The seat depth on a soft structured carrier will be determined by the seat darts (or lack thereof). Trying to create a deeper seat by allowing baby’s bottom to sag will cause the arm straps to be too loose, allow baby to lean away from the wearer's torso, and create torque on the wearer’s body.
Make sure baby can freely bend at the knee.
“Knee to knee” is a great tip for making a seat in a woven wrap, but it’s not always possible as baby grows with a soft structured carrier. Avoid hyperextending baby’s knees by making sure that the knees can bend freely. If they can’t, then you either need a smaller carrier or to use an infant insert until baby is ready to size up.
Utilize dual adjust buckles, perfect fit adjusters, and crossed strap options.
Depending on the carrier, you may have all, several, one, or none of these options. Knowing how to use them can help you make the carrier a custom fit. Dual adjust buckles allow you to choose where the buckle lands as you adjust a strap. Perfect fit adjusters (PFAs) are found on the arm straps near the panel of the carrier. They help shorten the strap and determine how the padding and webbing fit to the wearer. Carriers that have the arm straps attached to the panel with a buckle can be worn with crossed straps. This is a good option for people who need a different weight distribution across their back, people who have difficulty reaching the chest clip when it is on the back, and petite wearers who cannot tighten the straps enough in the backpack style position.
Try the chest clip at different heights and settings.
If you’re still feeling pressure points, try moving the chest clip around. The chest clip can help keep straps in the best place for you. A small adjustment can make a big difference.
Don’t be afraid to try a different carrier.
Soft structured carriers are like jeans- each one will fit you differently. Carriers may not fit everyone in the same way. Need help adjusting your soft structured carrier or need to try a different carrier? Our lending library is full of options. We’d love to help you find the perfect fit! Information about our lending library can be found here. Upcoming meetings can be found here.
