Apology:  In these instructions I refer to the baby as “she” because my babies are girls.  If your baby is a boy and you are deeply offended by this reference, please contact me and I’ll rush you a gender-appropriate copy.

 

 

Read all the instructions before trying your carrier with a child. Silly Goose Baby cannot be responsible for injury caused by misuse or abuse of your carrier.

 When you are first learning to use your carrier, it is a good idea to use a spotter and sit or kneel while getting your child into and out of the carrier.  I have kneeled in the middle of my bed when trying new carries.  Stuffed animals also make good pretend babies while you try to figure out where everything goes. 

 Always use caution and common sense while wearing your baby.  Activities such as rollerblading, water skiing, riding horseback, bungee jumping, walking a tightrope and other similar activities are best left to times when you are not wearing your baby.

Age recommendations we include with each carry are general recommendations.  Every child develops differently.  Use your best judgment.

 When tying knots to secure the child in the carrier, always make sure the knot is secure, much like the knot you use to tie your shoes.

While your baby is small and is still developing head control and body strength, it is recommended to tie the shoulder straps around her back.  This provides an extra safety strap that will hold your tiny baby more securely.

 It is not a good idea to wear your baby on your front while slicing onions, cooking, or consuming hot liquids or foods.

 When your baby is old enough to have her legs out of the carrier, it is more comfortable for you and your baby if the baby’s knees are above her hips.  This is physiologically correct and the baby is sitting in the carrier rather than hanging in the carrier, making the weight distribute more comfortably for both of you.

Remember that this carrier is made of fabric.  It is the nature of fabric to show signs of wear with use and love.  Inspect your carrier regularly for signs of wear and discontinue use if you find wear that affects the safety of the carrier.

If the carrier seems big for your newborn, tie it like you would an apron and you lose a couple inches of height.  Remember to tie the shoulder straps around the baby’s back for a more secure feel. 

Avoid carrying uncooperative toddlers.  Their thrashing can cause damage to the carrier.

Back to top

Adjusting recommendations 
Newborns are generally very comfortable in the carrier with their legs in, tucked up against them as if they were still in the womb.  Adjust the bottom (see instructions below) in to about 12 inches wide for a newborn to create a little pocket for the baby to snug into.  When the baby reaches about 3 or 4 months of age, they begin to stretch out and may be more comfortable with their legs out.  Approximately 8-10 inches across the bottom is a good starting width when your baby is ready to have her legs out.  Experiment with the width until you find one that is comfortable for you and your baby.  Be sure the edges come close enough to the baby’s knees that she is sitting in the carrier rather than hanging in it.  As your baby grows, or you use the carrier for an older child, adjust the carrier as needed.

Adjusting the carrier **Only adjust the carrier when it is not in use** Open the buckle. Pull the strap to gather the bottom of the carrier to decrease the width.  Stretch the bottom if you wish to increase width. Close the buckle, making sure it is secure.

Back to top

Front Carry, Facing In
Back Carry
Back Carry Tying Options
“Hip”Hip (Hurray!) Carry
Front Carry, Facing Out

Front Carry, Facing In This carry has been my favorite since my daughter was born.  As she grew and before she could see out of the carrier, she liked to just look up at my face and I made silly faces at her to get her to smile and giggle.  I honestly believe that in addition to being close to mom, just being able to see mommy is quite thrilling to little babies and that’s all many of them need. After making certain the bottom adjustment is at the appropriate width, tie the bottom straps (the pair of short straps) around your waist about as snug as you would a belt that has a job to do. Place your child against your front. With one hand on the child, use the other hand to bring the carrier body up over the child making sure both her legs are in or out, all the while keeping the child in place with one hand. Grab each strap, hold them firmly and close to your body (see picture); give a little bounce to settle her into the pocket. With the carrier body over the child and still keeping the child secure with one hand, toss the shoulder straps over your shoulders. Reach back with one hand, still keeping your child secure with the other, grab both straps and hold them tight to secure the child against your front. Now using both hands, cross the straps across your back, keeping them taut so your child is secure.  If you want, this is a good time to give another gentle but effective little bounce to settle your child in place some more.  Bring the straps around front and tie securely across the child’s back of a newborn or under her bottom of an older baby.   Getting baby out: To take the child out of the carrier, untie the shoulder straps and loosen  them while holding onto your child.  Lift your child out.

Back to top
Back to Wearing Instructions

Back Carry
There are several different ways to get a child on your back, depending on her age and your experience.   We recommend this carry for babies age 3 months and up.  There are also several back carry tying options. 

Using a flat surface Place the carrier on a flat surface, such as a bed, with the waist straps close to the edge. Place the child on the carrier with her bottom above the adjusting strap. (The little model ran out of cooperation, so the older model was substituted temporarily.) Sit on the surface and tie the waist straps around your waist, making sure that her legs are above the straps. Lean back some, grab the shoulder straps, bring them up over your shoulders as you sit forward,  making sure the child is snug against your back. Stand up and give a gentle but effective bounce to settle your baby into the pocket. Tie using your preferred back carry tying option.

Piggy back option
For an older child, you don’t have to lay the carrier on a flat surface.  You can simply kneel or sit and have the child crawl onto your back like she was getting a piggy back ride.

 

 

Using the Hip Scoot Boogie Many babies are very cooperative and learn what their part is in this and other methods quite quickly. Tie carrier around your waist so panel is in back Place the child on your hip. Keeping one hand securely on your child, gently bounce and scoot her onto your back, bending over to accommodate her safety. With one hand still holding the child, grab one edge of the panel and bring it up over the child.  Switch hands and bring the other side up. Still bending over, grab both shoulder straps, making sure it isn’t caught under the child’s bottom.  I actually check to make sure I can see the corners of the carrier before I stand up. Stand up and give a few little bounces to make sure the child is settled into the carrier. Tie using your preferred back carry tying option.

Getting baby out: Sometimes I sit down on a bed or a couch, untie the shoulder straps and the waist straps and gently slide the baby off.  Other times I reverse the hip scoot boogie.  Sometimes my husband will lift her out after I untie the shoulder straps.  Or if your child is old enough, squat or sit down, untie the shoulder straps and then the waist straps and let your child climb off.

Back to top
Back to Wearing Instructions

 

Back Carry Tying Options
There are several ways to tie the straps with a front carry and many factors that determine which one you find most suits you.  Try them all.  And do keep in mind that sometimes your preference changes as your child grows.  Tie it off either under the child’s bottom.  Or, after going under and over each of the child’s legs, tie it around your front.

Across your front just like you do across your back. Women generally prefer the straps over, between, or above the chest, depending on their size.
Backpack-style shoulder straps, no cross.
Use the backpack-style carry and tie the straps together above your chest with a ribbon.  Another option is a Monkey Pockets chest strap (she has some other fabulous accessories as well!)
Tibetan style using the ends of the shoulder straps to tie the backpack-style shoulder straps together above your chest.  Instead of tying the straps around your waist or under child’s bottom, bring them up, thread each strap through the shoulder strap on the opposite side it came from and tie them together at the middle.

Back to top
Back to Wearing Instructions

 

“Hip”Hip (Hurray!) Carry
We recommend that you wait to use this carry until you are comfortably carrying your child on your hip without the carrier.

Tie the waist straps around your waist so the body panel is on one hip. Place the child on that same hip.
Bring the carrier up over your baby and give a gentle bounce holding both top corners. (No, a balloon is not  always necessary, but Calla found it necessary here.)
Bring the shoulder strap that is under your arm up over the opposite shoulder. Bring the other shoulder strap over the same shoulder and  around to your baby’s bottom.
Tie straps under your baby’s bottom.

Getting baby out: Untie shoulder straps.  While holding baby secure, loosen straps and lift baby out.

Back to top
Back to Wearing Instructions

 

 Front Carry, Facing Out
This is a great carry to use for babies 3 months or older who like to see the world (like Esther does).

Tie the straps around your waist just as with the facing-in carry. Place the child’s back against your front and cross her legs.
Bring the body of the carrier up over the baby and toss the straps over your shoulders, holding the child securely.
Cross the straps across your back and tie the straps in a knot around the baby’s tummy or across the bottom, whichever you feel is most stable.

**If you or your baby prefer legs out in the forward facing carry, simply adjust the base down to a comfortable width and follow the above instructions without crossing her legs.**

Back to top
Back to Wearing Instructions

 

Face it, kids are messy.  And sometimes we are too. (Well, I am anyway.) So your carrier is probably going to need to be washed occasionally.

Your standard carrier is machine washable on cold or warm using your regular detergent — no fabric softener.  We do recommend using a laundry bag or tying it in a pillowcase because the straps tend to get  twisted.  Hang it to dry or dry it flat.  I splay mine on the couch at night and it’s dry and ready to go in the morning.

If you have a specialty appliqué carrier, I highly recommend that you hand wash it in cold with a mild detergent and line dry or dry flat.  If you notice any of the fabric coming up (which I don’t anticipate), give it a good once-over with an iron.