Izmi FAQs

Yes! Almost everyone is able to comfortably carry their child providing their carrier fits them well.

A good rule of thumb is that your child should feel much lighter and easier to carry when held in a suitable sling or carrier than they do when you carry them in your arms. If you’ve been using a carrier and it’s caused discomfort, pain or left you feeling that your baby is ‘too heavy to be carried’ then it’s very likely that the carrier is either unsuitable for you or your baby, or not well adjusted for your bodies.

If you visit your local sling library then a Carrying Consultant will be able to advise you on the correct fit for your existing carrier and help you adjust it so it is comfortable for both you and your baby.

Yes! Sensible babywearing is extremely safe and has been practiced worldwide for thousands of years.

When using a sling or carrier follow the instructions provided. Make sure that your baby’s head and spine are supported, and their airways are unrestricted. This is especially important when a baby is younger than 4 months and not able to support their own head.

It’s also important to check your baby regularly and to watch out for unusual breathing noises or signs of distress. See our basic sling safety advice here: Using Your Izmi. and our more detailed blog post about how to wear your sling safely here: Baby Carrier Safety.

If you have any concerns for your baby’s safety in your carrier then stop using it and seek help from a qualified Carrying Consultant.

Our range of wraps and carriers are designed to let you comfortably carry any child from newborn to preschool. If you have a suitable sling and your baby is healthy you can start babywearing from day one and you can continue until you and your child are ready to stop.

Refer to weight limits for each sling or carrier as a guide, though it’s always best to try things out for yourself to check that a particular carrier will work for your child.

A well-fitting wrap or carrier will allow you to carry for long periods of time, whether around the house or when on the go! As long as you and your baby are comfortable, you can carry your child for as much of the time as you (or they) want.

With some newborns this may be almost constantly; as your baby grows they will want also to be able to practice sitting, crawling and walking and so will spend less time being carried.

No! Many babies love to be carried; this is very normal and demonstrates a healthy survival instinct. Allowing your baby to be close to you is reassuring and supports all areas of development when they are young, it also promotes the healthy emotional development of a confident child.

As your child grows they will naturally start to express their independence when they are ready. The age this happens varies a lot from child to child; most are very enthusiastic about walking when they first reach this stage, though they may return to wanting to be carried when tired once the novelty of walking has worn off a bit!

As your baby grows, they will get bigger and heavier. For most people it is possible to comfortably use a sling or carrier until their child can walk for reasonable distances unaided. If your baby feels too big or too heavy before this then you may find that changing to a different carrier will make carrying more comfortable.

Use our Izmi Carrier Comparison Chart to help you find the most suitable Izmi for your baby’s age and stage. If you’ve been using an Izmi Wrap, then try the Izmi Carrier for more carrying positions as your baby grows. If your baby is over 9 months you could also consider the Izmi Toddler Carrier

Before you look for a new carrier do first check that your existing carrier is properly adjusted for you both as poor carrier fit will make you less comfortable and your child feel heavier. If your child has recently had a big growth spurt you will notice the extra weight; you may find that within a few days your body adjust to this and you can continue to carry them.

The most suitable position in which to carry your baby will depend on the age and developmental stage of your baby, and which Izmi product you are using.

For older babies you may need to change positions for sleeping, or for different activities so when your baby is strong enough to try a new position, mix things up and see what you both prefer! You may find that your baby has phases of preferring different positions.  If unsure, you can use a front, parent-facing carry with any age baby.

0-4 months (your baby cannot support their head unaided. Your carrier should support their spine at least to the top of their neck)
Izmi Wrap and Izmi Carrier: You can carry your baby from birth on your front facing your body.

4-6 months (your baby can stabilise their head unaided as you move around. Your carrier should support their spine at least to the top of their shoulders)
Izmi Wrap and Izmi Carrier: You can carry your baby from on your side/hip, facing your body. You can still carry them on your front facing towards you.
Izmi Carrier Only: You can carry your baby on your front, facing away from you. Only use this position for short periods, while your baby is awake and alert.

6-9 months (your baby has good torso control and can sit unaided. Your carrier should support their spine at least to their armpits.)
Izmi Wrap: You can continue to carry your baby on your front or your side/hip, facing your body.
Izmi Carrier: You can carry your baby on your front, facing your body; on your side/hip; on your front facing away from you; or on your back.

9+ months (your baby is mobile and growing heavier. Your carrier should support their spine at least to their armpits)
Izmi Carrier: You can carry your baby on your front, facing your body; on your side/hip; or on your back for as long as your carrier feels supportive.
Izmi Toddler: You can carry your big baby or toddler on your front, facing your body; on your side/hip; or on your back.

Yes! You can use any Izmi wrap or carrier either inside the house, for short or long trips. You may find that one carrier or sling works better for you in different places than others; many families find that it’s easiest to have more than one carrier for different situations.

You can continue to use your wrap or carrier in any weather, as long as you and your baby are comfortable. A good rule of thumb for layering baby clothes is that your baby should wear one breathable fabric layer more than you are comfortable in, but everyone is different so experiment with what feels comfortable for you.

Don’t over-dress your baby! When deciding how to dress your baby remember that your sling will count as at least one extra layer of clothing, though you may still need to add extra layers on their head and any legs or arms that are not covered by the fabric of the sling. For small babies, keeping them close to your body without thick jackets in between you is the best way to monitor and regulate their body temperature.

In wet weather, you can wear a waterproof jacket or Carrier cover over yourself or your baby; since your carrier lets you be hands free you could also hold an umbrella! Find out more on our Blog posts Slinging in the Sun and Carrying in the Cold.

Yes, it may be possible to use an Izmi carrier to support discrete breastfeeding, though when and how this works varies greatly between individuals. Before attempting to breastfeed whilst using any sling or carrier, do make sure that you are confident both with breastfeeding and with using your sling.

Breastfeeding with your baby in a sling or carrier is not always possible for everyone and will depend on your baby’s stage and their preferred feeding position, your body shape and the positions possible in the carrier you are using. Do give it a try if you’d like to, but don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t work easily for you at first. You may find it works better when your baby is older.

With smaller babies who can’t support and control their own head you can use a carrier as a breastfeeding aid. For most people is not safe to attempt hands-free breastfeeding with a very small baby; you will still need to use a hand or arm to support your baby’s head when they are feeding. Ensure that your baby can breathe easily while they are feeding; do not use any fabric to hold your baby’s head into your breast and do not cover their head or face while they are feeding.

Always return your baby to a safe higher, tighter carrying position as soon as they have finished feeding. Once your baby has sufficient head control to be able to latch and unlatch unaided (usually by 4-5 months), then many find that it is possible to breastfeed in any sling or carrier with the baby held on their front in an upright off-centred position. You simply need to loosen the sling just enough to lower the baby to the breast. Ensure that your baby’s head is not covered, that they can breathe easily.

Yes! As long as you are following all of our Baby Carrier Safety advice, it’s perfectly safe for your baby to nap in your Izmi wrap or carrier. In fact, it’s been shown that it’s safer for a young baby to be in a sling for their daytime naps than it is for them to nap in a room by themselves.

In their wrap or carrier, your baby may sleep more soundly and for longer. Babies who love napping in a carrier will benefit from having you close to them, and their positive safe sleep associations at this young age will help them to develop healthy sleep habits as they grow.

Yes! Your Izmi wrap or carrier comes with full printed instructions for safe use. You can also view our our instructional videos.

You can call or email to speak to our support team who will be able to forward your query to a carrying expert. We have trained staff at many national baby shows and you’re welcome to pop along to see us at those. There are also many sling and carrier help services across the country, from trained babywearing consultants to local sling libraries. Use our Sling Library Finder to find person-to-person carrier support near you.