Video: Tummy to Tummy Carry (Hip Carry Variation Described)

Here's another very popular newborn to toddler carry. I use this hold for both my newborn niece and my 2-year-old daughter. To accomplish this hold, prepare the sling by positioning the rings at "corsage height" and loosening the rails enough to form a pouch. The inner rail should be close to your body, and the outer rail should be pulled out and down. For a newborn or young baby, place the baby up against your chest/inner rail of the sling as you would normally hold the baby in an upright position (usually a newborn's legs "frog up" and a young baby's legs may straddle your body or bend and cross "indian style"). Next, pull the outer rail up the back of the baby over the shoulders for a newborn, or under the shoulders for a young baby with better head control. Use the tail of the sling to tighten the body of the pouch and then the individual rails. The tail is useful in this carry to block sun, rain, light, or too much action.

To use this carry with an older baby or toddler, instead of having the inner rail against your body, thread both of the child's legs through the sling, and position child with legs straddling your middle. Pull the inner rail up under the child's knees and the outer rail up to the child's armpits. Tighten both rails - the snugger the child is to your body, the more comfortable this carry will be. A variation of this carry for older babies with good body control (around 6 months) and toddlers is for the child to be positioned on your hip instead of on your front. The legs should still be straddling your middle, and everything else is the same. Be aware that many babies and toddlers being carried in this position will arch their backs and throw back their heads. While the baby is not likely to fall completely out of the sling if the inner rail is snug under the knees, it is quite startling for everyone and should be watched for.

As always, for your comfort and security, the bottom of the pouch should be no lower than your belly button, and the baby should be pulled snugly against you. And please observe all safety precautions.