Snugli carriers can provide valuable hands-free time while still allowing you to be close to your baby. However, as babies get older, their needs change. Be sure you’re making the best choice for your baby by following these guidelines.
Contributing Editor: Dr. Elise Eliot, Evenflo Safe Baby & Toddler Council
Please select your babies age:
Characteristics & Needs
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Physical and emotional presence of a parent or other caregiver is a primary need |
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Parents should touch and talk to baby as much as possible |
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Baby will use facial expression to engage mother’s attention |
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Babies will have uncontrolled reflexes such as jerking, grasping, and sucking |
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Kicking and waving arms |
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Baby begins smiling and interacting with parents |
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Ability to lift head begins at about 4 weeks, but baby’s head must be supported at all times |
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Baby needs to be held and reassured that mother is close by and will respond when needed |
What to Look For In A Carrier
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Secure support that extends from above baby’s head down the baby’s back |
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Leg holes that can adjust small enough for a newborn and lock into safe, fixed positions |
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Padded seat and padded leg hole openings |
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Ease to get baby in and out with special features like side-entry access |
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Look for a carrier that is comfortable for both you and baby |
Recommended Position For Newborns
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Cradle position |
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Facing-in toward parent |
Characteristics & Needs
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Lifts and holds head up unassisted |
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Vision dramatically improves |
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Begins reaching for objects |
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Babbling begins |
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Baby seeks interaction and outside stimulation: |
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Parents need to walk with her and introduce her to the surrounding world |
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Baby will open up to new experiences when faced out in a carrier | |
What to Look For In A Carrier
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Adjustable for rapidly growing baby |
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Features such as flip or fold-style seat so parents can easily change positions |
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Comfort features for parents such as support panels and padded waist and shoulder belts, since baby is getting heavier |
Recommended Position For Baby:
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Facing-out at parent’s chest (only when able to hold head up unassisted) |
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When sleeping, facing-in toward parent |
Characteristics & Needs
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Able to sit up alone at about 6-7 months |
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May be able to stand up with support at about 7 months |
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Knows his or her name and beginning to understand other individual words |
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Baby still needs his parents’ continued support and reassurance |
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Baby is becoming more independent, should be able to crawl and is beginning to hold parent’s hands to walk |
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Ability to crawl and cruise means that babyproofing is very important |
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Parent’s close proximity, interaction and voice are still important for optimal development |
What To Look For In A Carrier
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Multiple carrying positions, such as facing-out and backpack |
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The backpack position is ideal for: |
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Holding baby high, at adult level so he may interact with his surroundings |
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Provide parents with comfortable, hands-free control over their active baby | |
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Comfort features for parents such as parent support panels and padded waist and shoulder belts |
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For backpack, look for features such as load distributing straps and sternum straps for good stability. The features keep baby close to parent’s back so weight is distributed vertically instead back and away from parent. |
Recommended Position for Baby
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Facing-in toward a parent is best for sleeping |
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Facing-out is acceptable, but baby must be able to hold head up unassisted |
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Backpack position is acceptable, but baby must have complete head and neck control (usually at 6 months) |
Characteristics & Needs
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Your toddler is growing increasingly independent |
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At 12 months, your child is taking his first steps |
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Language skills grow steadily during the second and third years |
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Learning to make friends and share |
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Enjoys being center of attention |
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Needs frequent contact with parents or other caregiver to feel safe and secure |
What To Look For In A Carrier
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The backpack position is ideal: |
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Holds toddler high at adult level so he may interact with his surroundings |
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Frees up parents’ hands and allows a closer physical connection between parent and baby | |
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Baby is getting bigger and heavier; adjustment and support features are important for baby and parents’ comfort |
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Features such as load distributing straps and sternum straps are good for stability and keeping baby close to parent’s back so weight is distributed vertically instead back and away from parent |
Recommended Position For Baby:
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Backpack is preferred |