Water Baby Carrier

A water baby carrier is designed for use in either a swimming pool, a freshwater lake, or even the ocean.

Benefits of Water Baby Carrier

• Great way to introduce babies into the water
• Helps the child feel secure in the water
• Hands free care for the baby wearer
• Allows parents of multiple children an easier way to care for all of their children’s needs
• Reduces stress on both the child and the care taker, allowing for each to enjoy the water

Safety Pointers While Using a Water Baby Carrier

• Water baby carriers should only be used if your baby has established proper head control (usually occurs at 4-5 months of age and weighs over 12 pounds)
• Always keep your feet firmly on the bottom of the pool, lake or ocean
• The baby’s head should always be at least 3 inches above the water
• Never use a carrier during boating activities
• Keep close attention on your child’s well being

Water Carriers for Swimming Pools, Lakes, and Oceans

A water baby carrier can come in a variety of styles. It can be either a ring style sling, a baby pouch or a traditional carrier. The difference is that a water baby carrier is made of water friendly fabric, such as water mesh, Solarveil, or sometimes even Neoprene.

A water ring sling consists of this water friendly fabric with one end sewn to two metal rings. The fabric is then threaded between the rings to securely support the child. The biggest advantage of a water ring sling is how adjustable the sling is. Both parents can easily use the same sling, the smaller parent will simply have a longer “tail” to the sling, this is the excess fabric that has been threaded between the rings.

A water baby pouch is the simplest of the water baby carriers. These pouches are simply a loop of water friendly fabric that is worn over the shoulder, around the back, and above the hip. The baby then can sit on either the caretaker’s hip, or directly in front in either a tummy to tummy position, or outward facing kangaroo position. With no straps to worry about, simplicity is the greatest advantage of this style of water baby carrier, however, it’s important to have a pouch that is the appropriate size for the caretaker. Be sure to read the sizing instructions before purchasing any baby pouch, and if the parents are both planning on wearing the carrier, unless they are similar in size, I’d recommend going with a water baby ring slings.

The final type of water baby carrier is the traditional tummy baby carrier, though made of a water friendly fabric such as neoprene. These carriers are also very adjustable, allowing both parents to use the same carrier even if different sizes. Some carriers even allow for the baby to be positioned depending on the depth of the water, so in shallow water, the baby can sit at the hip level, while in deeper water the baby can sit closer to the naval.