30/05/2026
Hoods, safety and summer...
So if you've been here a while you'll probably know I'm not a fan of hoods on carriers. If you've hired one and it doesn't have an integral hood, you'll find it in the pocket!
There's a few reasons for this.
1. Many people think they need to use a hood to support their baby's head. This isn't the case. Head support mainly comes with good positioning. If baby has knees higher than bum and is seated with the weight in their bum and a gentle curve in their spine, their head will naturally fall onto your chest. They won't be able to push their head back further than they can lift it.
2. When it's warm, it can be tempting to clip the carrier hood up over baby. This can then create some safety issues. Mainly not being able to see baby's face and keep an eye on airways which is the most important part of using a sling safely. But also, it can mean there is very little airflow. If you are using the hood, I would usually suggest to clip one side up so you can still see baby's face at all times and allow plenty of fresh air to baby.
It's totally fine to use the hood if you'd like to. Like in the picture, I'm holding it over her head when we got caught out with some sun. Just be aware and responsive, as always ❤️