General Soft Carrier Wearing
Before using your new carrier, hold your baby in your arms the way they like to be held. Notice how you naturally support their head and body according to their physical ability and personal preference. The fabric of your soft carrier should mimic the way you carry your baby in your arms. Keep this in mind as you wear your baby in your soft carrier.
Gentle reminders
Always check your baby carrier for wear and tear before use. Do not use a carrier with an uncooperative child. Use common sense when choosing what activities to do while carrying your child. Put an arm around your child when bending over. Remember that you are carrying extra weight and adjust the way you move, bend, etc. accordingly.
Your baby's knees should always be positioned above their bottom. Do not spread a newborn's legs away from their body if they are not comfortable doing so on their own. A newborn baby's neck and head should be supported in such a way that keeps their airway straight and the area around their nose clear. As the caregiver, you are responsible for the comfort and safety of your baby, check on them regularly even if they are sleeping in the carrier. Do not leave a baby unattended with a carrier.
Tentoes Click™ Wearing Instructions (download PDF)
The Tentoes Click™ soft carrier is quick and easy to use but versatile enough to carry your baby through toddler years. As with all soft carriers, your initial attempts will be more successful if baby is rested and fed before you begin. After a few uses you will quickly find the Tentoes Click™ to be an indispensable way to keep your baby close.
Choose carrying position according to child's age, level of head and body control, and preference. Young babies should be carried on the front until 6 months or when they are sitting up fairly well. Newborns usually feel more comfortable with legs tucked up inside the swaddle pocket. The carrier is sized to cuddle your newborn against your body with the upper edge giving head support. As your baby grows taller you can then seat them with one or both legs through the leg holes and then outside of the pocket as baby gets bigger and their head and body control increases. Babies should always be placed in the carrier facing the parent.
Always check your carrier before use. Check the fit of the waist belt before you start. Shoulder straps should be loose for front carries and tightened for back carries. Listen for the click of each buckle to make sure it is securely in place. Do not use the inner pocket to support your baby's weight. Once your baby is in place, give a little up and down shake, make sure they are centered comfortably and straps are comfortably snug, then get moving.
To take your baby out of the Click™, simply reverse how you put them in.
Wearing your baby on your front with your Tentoes Click™
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There are several ways to put your baby into a front carry. If your baby is very young or has low muscle tone they will probably be more comfortable inside the swaddle pocket. The swaddle pocket is sized to fit most babies up to 20 lbs.
Bed Method
Lay the carrier fashion fabric face down on a safe and level surface such as your bed or a couch with the waist strap near the edge. Hold your baby with their head in the crook of your arm and their bum and feet in your hand. Slide them down into the inner pocket, keeping their legs tucked up next to their body. Without moving your baby, bend forward to fasten the waist buckle around your waist. Slide both hands under your baby in the carrier just as if you were picking them up without the carrier and bring your baby up onto your chest. Keeping one arm around your baby, throw that shoulder strap over your shoulder and then grab from behind with your free hand. Pull the strap across your back and buckle into the opposite side. Pull the strap end upwards to tighten. Hold your baby with the other arm and buckle and tighten the other strap.
Burp Method
You can also put the carrier on with the waistbelt snug and the shoulder straps crossed and buckled loosely. Hold your baby up on your shoulder in burp position and slide them down into the carrier, either into the pocket or not. While supporting the baby with one arm, tighten the shoulder straps one at a time so that your baby is held securely against your body but not so tight that they cannot turn their head if they wish to. As your baby grows you may find it easier to put them in the carrier before securing the second shoulder strap. This is also the fastest and easiest method once you are no longer using the pocket. Once your baby is sitting in the carrier with legs out, always check that their legs are below the side buckles. Their bum should sit lower than their knees, just as if your baby was sitting on your forearm.
Quick and Easy
For experienced babywearers and bigger babies, you may find it simplest to buckle the waistband, leaving the body of the carrier hanging down against your knees. Pick up your baby, holding them comfortably on your chest. Smooth the body of the carrier up their back tightly and then buckle and tighten the shoulder straps across your back one at a time.
You can easily wear your baby on your front up to a year or longer according to your mutual preference.
Wearing baby on your back with your Tentoes Click™
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If you have never used a soft carrier to carry your baby on your back you will find the Tentoes Click™ very helpful in learning the confidence needed to do this. Your older baby or toddler will enjoy being able to see the world from up high. It is highly recommended that you wait until your baby has very good head control and is able to sit up well before carrying them on your back.
Chair Method
Sit the baby down on the carrier (inside the pocket or not depending on age and your comfort level) in the corner of a couch or upholstered armchair or even on the floor. Now slide yourself up to them, lean back and grasp the ends of the waist belt under their legs and buckle around your waist snugly. While still leaning back, start at your baby's bottom and smooth the body of the carrier up their back tightly until you reach the shoulder straps. Grasp both shoulder straps and lean forward, pulling the baby close to your back as you do. You can then click the shoulder straps in place either backpack style or crossed over your chest. Althernately you can click the straps backpack style beforehand and then just slip your arms into the straps and tighten.
Backpack Method
Another way to put your baby on your back is to first click the shoulder strap buckle into the same side buckles like a backpack. Leave the waist a bit loose but unbuckled. Sit on or stand over a couch or bed the first few times you do this. Slide baby into the swaddle pocket and hold both shoulder straps in one hand. For older babies make sure their arms are outside the straps. Slide the baby across your back taking the second strap into your other hand and putting your arms through the shoulder straps while leaning slightly forward. You can then stand up while supporting baby's weight with your hands behind your back. Slide your hands along the waistband pulling it around your waist and up from under baby's legs, click the buckle, then pull the straps snug.
Hip Scoot Method
This is easy with an older baby or toddler who can assist you. Put the waist belt of the carrier on. For backpack style you can leave the shoulder straps clicked but a little loose. Put baby on your hip, lean forward, slide them around to the middle of your back. Using one hand to support baby, smooth the body of the carrier tightly up your baby's back with the other hand. Slip one arm at a time into the shoulder straps and tighten. To wear straps crossed in front simply throw one loosened strap over your shoulder and buckle into the opposite side, then do the other.
Optional Chest Clip
The optional chest clip can be placed wherever comfortable on the shoulder straps. After attaching the clips to the shoulder straps at your preferred height, pull the straps for a snug fit. When you remove the carrier, simply undo the buckle and the chest clip will remain in your preferred position for a quick fit every time.
Sleeping Hood
Keep the sleeping hood completely inside the outer pocket when not in use. If you think that your toddler may fall asleep while on your back you can leave one strap partially out of the pocket to make it easier to pull out of the pocket. To pull over your sleeping child’s head, reach behind you with both hands, grab the ends of the straps and pull up and over your toddler’s head. Pull forward and snap each strap around a shoulder strap or slide under the shoulder straps and snap together. The sleeping hood can also be used in a front carry as a nursing shield.
A Tentoes Click™ is great to have along when you will be doing a lot of walking with a toddler who does not want to sit in the stroller but you know will eventually ask to be carried.
As the parent or caregiver you are responsible for the safety and comfort of your baby. Always check your carrier before use and make sure each buckle is securely clicked and the straps are snug. Do not attempt to put an uncooperative child in a carrier. Never leave your child unattended with any carrier.