Babywearing has a learning curve, and every individual is different. If you are struggling with your Baby K'tan Baby Carrier your first one or two uses, don't fret! You are not alone. Practice makes perfect, and we are here to help. Below are a few baby wearing tips that we have found to be helpful when starting out with the Baby K'tan Baby Carrier. Take a moment to give these a go, practice in front of a mirror, and don't be afraid to start over. If you still have questions after giving these baby wearing tips a try, let us know. We love to help. Contact us at info@babyktan.co.il
 

You got this!

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          General Wearing Tips

• Try your baby carrier when baby is fed, rested and in a good mood.
      If baby is fussing, calmly take him/her out and try again later.

• Baby can sense your mood. If you are stressed, baby will sense this & will also be stressed!
      Keep practicing and stay calm.

• For newborns, baby will let you know when he is ready to move out of the Kangaroo Position by stretching his legs
    and trying to "stand up" in the fabric. At this point you can begin to use the Hug Position. Many babies may prefer to
    skip the Kangaroo Position all-together and begin right away with the Hug Position.

• For the Adventure Position, or any forward facing baby carrier, watch baby's cues.
      If baby seems fussy or over-stimulated, turn baby around.

• For the Hug, Adventure and Hip Positions, ensure that the fabric is spread wide between baby's legs
      reaching the bend in baby's knees - to create a comfortable and ergonomic seat. 

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Tips If Your Baby Carrier Feels Too Tight:

It is not uncommon for the Baby K'tan Carrier to feel tighter than expected when you first put it on, but this does not necessarily mean it is too small. The carrier will stretch with use and as baby grows and gains weight. Try these baby wearing tips to help with your comfort:

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Stretch your carrier: Stretching the loops will help “wear in” your carrier and will make placing baby inside a bit easier. When the carrier is in the "X" position (before adding baby), place your forearms in the two large loops, pushing out to stretch it. You will be amazed at how much the carrier stretches!

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For our cotton carriers: The Baby K'tan Baby Carrier is like most clothing items and will shrink a bit after washing. Luckily, it will also stretch with wear. If you prefer that it not shrink so much when washed, let your carrier hang dry, or partially machine dry it for 15-20 minutes and then let it hang dry. While hang drying, you can also stretch the fabric every so often if desired.

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Take a moment to adjust: Before placing baby in the carrier, adjust and spread open the fabric evenly over your shoulders, ensuring that they are not twisted or bunched up. Pull the loops down so that they are not up by your neck.

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Try the Hug Position If you are starting out with a newborn and find yourself struggling with the Kangaroo Position, give the Hug Position a try. Although the manual says that the Hug Position generally starts around 1-2 months, this is simply an average. Many individuals and babies prefer to start the Hug earlier or even skip the Newborn Kangaroo position all-together. This is based on personal comfort and preference. In the Hug Position, baby's head can be supported by one of the loops at your shoulder and you can adjust the fabric between baby’s legs to spread it open as wide/narrow as needed.

Outer loop: When lifting the outer loop back onto your shoulder, it may feel snug. If it does, spread open the fabric as you pull it up (fanning it out), including the back loops.

 

Flip at your hips: Flip the inner edge of the fabric (between your body and baby) upwards. This will help spread open the fabric at on your hips/side and will provide added comfort.

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Tips If Your Baby Carrier Feels Too Loose:

Wash/dry your carrier: The Baby K'tan is designed to tighten up in the wash, so this is recommended before the first use and every so often. You can try to dry it on a higher setting if you've already done this (wait to do this if you are considering exchanging or returning your K'tan to the retailer at which it was purchased).

 

Flip the fabric: flipping the fabric at your shoulder(s) will help tighten the carrier.

 

Try the Hug Position: See the babywearing tip above.

 

Use your sash for additional support: Tying the sash tightly around you and your baby will provide additional support.

 

Pull down the connecting loop: Pull down the small loop at your back that connects the two larger loops. The will help evenly distribute weight across the wearer's back and both shoulders and will provide a more comfortable hold.