Babywearing Safety Around Water

Water Safety Tips for Babywearing: Protecting Your Little One In and Around Water

As a parent, you want to make the most of every moment with your baby— enjoying the outdoors, spending time at the beach, or just walking by the water's edge. Babywearing offers a convenient and intimate way to keep your little one close, but when it comes to being near or in water, it’s crucial to take extra precautions. 

If you’re a fan of babywearing, you’ve likely seen ads or heard advice suggesting that you can safely take your little one deeper into the water while wearing them in a carrier, wrap, or sling. However, this advice can be misleading, and safety should always come first.

The Rule: Knee-Deep at Most

When babywearing near water, it is recommended to stay in shallow water, no deeper than YOUR body being knee-deep in water. This is because even seemingly calm water can be unpredictable, and the risk of sudden waves, slips, or loss of balance is heightened when carrying your baby. If you’re wearing them in a carrier or sling, it’s even more important to ensure that your baby is kept safe and secure, as their position in the carrier might leave them more vulnerable if you were involved in a water-related accident. 

Why This Matters

While it might seem tempting to wade deeper into the water for a fun experience with your baby (or to play with your toddler), it's essential to recognize the risks involved. Many baby carriers, wraps, and slings are not designed for water submersion beyond a few inches. Even carriers marketed as “water-friendly” are not meant to protect your baby in deep or fast-moving water. Always err on the side of caution and keep your water activities shallow.

There Are No Official Safety Standards for Baby Carriers in Australia

One important thing to keep in mind - especially for parents in Australia - is that there are no specific safety standards that regulate baby carriers, their designs or their uses. As such, not all carriers are built to the same safety specifications, and most are unlikely to be suitable for water-related activities. So, just because a carrier is advertised as “water-safe” doesn't necessarily mean it’s safe to use in deeper water. As a parent, it’s essential to do your research, choose a reputable brand, and follow the manufacturer's guidelines when it comes to water safety.

Avoid Forward Facing Near Water

There is an additional risk of injury to a child that is forward-facing in a baby carrier near water. This is in part because it is harder to monitor their airways when they are facing away from the wearer. In addition, forward-facing (also known as world facing) allows your baby’s body to lean away from your own, changing your centre of gravity and making it harder to maintain balance and hence increasing your fall risk. It is also much harder to monitor the surface in front of you when babywearing forward-facing because your child will generally lean forward into your field of view. 

Always Prioritise Safety

No matter how experienced you are with babywearing, the safety of your child should always be the number one priority. This means not only ensuring that the carrier is appropriate for your baby’s age and size, but also considering the environment you're in. When near or in water, the risks of slipping, losing your balance, or encountering unexpected currents are increased. If you are supervising other children in or around water, the additional distraction can also lead to complacency around the child in the baby carrier. Keeping your baby safe is about making informed decisions and sticking to precautions like staying knee-deep or shallower in water.

Buying The Right Water Carrier

When it comes to babywearing around water, it is important that you are using an appropriate baby carrier. If you are just walking along the beach with your feet in the water then you can be sure you're little one will be safe in virtually any well-fitted baby carrier (especially if they are inwards facing, regardless of whether they are on your front or back). BUT if you are planning to get wet and/or supervising other children around water then there are some important features your baby carrier should have. 

Firstly, there are a number of different baby carriers that are specifically designed for use in and around water. A number of brands have created their own versions of aqua carriers, including mesh aqua slings by LennyLamb and Neko Slings, and neoprene full buckle water carriers by Frog Orange. 

When choosing your perfect water carrier, it is important not only to consider your budget and how much you will use it, but also what type/s of baby carrier you have used in the past and what you are confident with.

Mesh Ring Slings

A mesh ring sling should ALWAYS be wet when in use, and requires a little bit of technique to set it up safely. They're light and breathable, pack up small, dry ultra-fast and can be used in the shower as well as at the pool, river or beach.

You can use a mesh ring sling from birth because each individual portion of the sling can be customised and tightened to support the entire baby, which helps provide adequate support to the spine and to their delicate little airways.

The other benefit to a mesh ring sling is that they are the most budget friendly water carrier! 

Structured Water Carriers

 The Frog Orange 'Explorer' baby carrier is a soft structured buckle carrier specifically designed for use during outdoor adventures. It is made with high quality, fast-drying neoprene material which acts as a natural thermoregulator and provides incredible support - even when wet! It is also suitable for use in wet weather, snow and even daily use (if you live in a cooler climate, as the fabric is quite thick). 

The Explorer water carrier is a quick and easy carrier to setup, but can be fiddly to swap between users, it is more bulky than a mesh sling, and it is a more expensive baby carrier option. 

If you are planning to spend time around water without actually being IN the water, the Boba Air is another option that could be suitable. It is lightweight and compact (great for travelling!), very easy to brush sand and dust off, and dries quickly - although it isn't designed specifically for babywearing whilst submerged in water at all. Splashes are OK, though! 

Tips for Safe Babywearing Near Water:

1. Limit Water Depth: As a general rule, enter no deeper than knee-high in the water with your baby in a carrier or sling.
2. Check Carrier Suitability: Ensure your carrier is water-safe, but remember that no carrier is designed for deep water activities.
3. Stay Alert: Always be aware of your surroundings, such as tides, waves, and the depth of the water.
4. Practice Good Balance: Water can make it harder to maintain your balance, so stay cautious when walking near the water’s edge.
5. Avoid Strong Currents: Do not take your baby near moving water, such as rivers or waves, which can pose additional dangers.
6. Avoid Forward Facing Near Water: It is harder to monitor their airways, to see the surfaces in front of you, and to maintain balance with a baby that is leaning away from your body. 

Conclusion

Water and babywearing can be a wonderful combination, but it requires careful consideration and caution. Stay shallow, stay safe, and always prioritise your baby’s wellbeing. By following these simple safety tips, you can enjoy your time near the water without compromising your baby’s safety. Remember, it’s always better to be cautious than risk an accident. Happy babywearing, and stay safe!