About Babywearing

With all of the other “to-do’s” on a parent’s list, cleaning the baby carrier is likely to be at the bottom, or maybe has fallen off altogether. The wraps, slings and pouches are a bit easier, since it’s a quick toss in the washer and dryer for them. The more elaborate baby carriers do require some effort in a thorough cleaning, and it is really important to keep an item that is used so frequently by your child as clean as it can possibly be.

When you’re ready to clean the baby carrier, the first thing to do is to get all of the proper cleaning supplies ready. You will need two buckets of warm water, one with suds and one without. A clean, flat surface to work on, like a kitchen counter or table, washing cloths or scrubbing sponges and a number of towels.

Prep the baby carrier by removing attachments, belts, extra padding and anything else that is detachable. Be careful not to lose small pieces, and if the design looks like it may be complicated to reassemble, try to make notes of how things were originally. It could be helpful to either take pictures or video of the tricky parts to refer to later!

Now read the label of your baby carrier, and make note if the model you have specifies not to immerse it in water. If your carrier manufacturer advises that the unit should not be soaked in water, you’ll be spot cleaning it in a similar fashion. When the baby carrier base is ready, start scrubbing with the soapy water, wringing out excess water.

If you have a structured carrier, like a frame backpack, wipe the entire carrier structure. Begin at the top and working your way down, using small, circular strokes. Consider using an antibacterial spray cleaner or wipe to clean hard structure parts, like the stand or frame. Get into all of the small, open places where dirt and germs can hide.

Once you’ve cleaned the baby carrier with soapy water, use a cloth and clean water to remove any soapy residue from padding and the fabric. If you’re able to dunk the carrier material in the clean bucket, continue squeezing the clean water through the fabric until all detergent is removed.

Pat the carrier dry with towels, and set aside to air dry overnight.

Now, clean all of the items you removed from the carrier, like straps, toys, buckles and attachments. Wash each piece thoroughly, and check for wear. Check the laundering directions, and if these pieces can go in the washer, run them through a cycle of hot water to kill germs. Consult the laundering directions again, and either air dry these pieces or put them through the dryer as noted on the care instructions.

When everything is dry, it’s time to reassemble. Before doing so, take one last check of all of the belts, buckles and attachments for wear, tears or broken pieces. If the condition of a piece is doubtful, purchase a replacement piece rather than putting a questionable piece of hardware back on your baby carrier. Examine the padding and fabric, if the fabric cover is loose and you can easily pull padding out, by a replacement cover so your child does not have the opportunity to swallow or choke on a tiny handful of fluffy padding.