Is Your Baby Carrier Hip Healthy? A Registered Nurse Explains the M Position
By Rose Martin, RN
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your pediatrician with any concerns about your baby's hip development. Heyday is a retailer of the products mentioned in this post.
With so many carriers on the market, it can be a daunting task for parents to choose the best fit for both them and their baby. There are many things to consider when choosing a baby carrier; age and weight of your baby, comfort for the parent, ease of use, intended activity, and most importantly, an ergonomic hip-healthy position for your baby. At Heyday, we partner with brands whose carriers meet rigorous quality standards and support healthy hip development from day one.
What is a healthy hip position?
The most ergonomic position ensures your baby's legs are in an "M" shape when looking at their backside in the carrier. They should be supported seat to seat, knee crease to knee crease, by the fabric panel, not just by their buttocks. Your baby's knees should be flexed and slightly higher than their buttocks, fully supported across the seat.
How do I achieve the "M" position?
The "M" position is achieved by adjusting your carrier according to your baby's size and carry position. Many carriers have an adjustable seat that grows with your baby from infancy through toddlerhood, and the goal is always for the fabric to extend from knee crease to knee crease.
Positions that support the "M" position include inward facing and backpack carry. Outward facing makes the "M" position harder to achieve as your baby's legs are more likely to dangle, which is why we recommend saving it for short periods only.
Why does this matter?
Infant hip position in the first year of life can influence the development of hip dysplasia; hip instability, dislocation, or a shallow hip socket. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) recommends inward facing carry only for at least the first six months, when your baby's hip development is most rapid and most sensitive to positioning.
After six months, hip growth slows but positioning still matters. Outward facing for short periods is acceptable once your baby can support their head independently. Backpack carry, widely used across cultures around the world, is another great option that supports the "M" position well.
Which carriers at Heyday support the "M" position?
All of the carriers we carry at OurHeyday are chosen with hip health in mind. A few worth highlighting:
The Mabē Monarch features a wide, adjustable seat panel that grows with your baby and maintains the M position from newborn through toddler stages.
The WildBird Aerial Carrier and WildBird Linen Sling both provide excellent knee-to-knee support in a lightweight, adjustable design that makes proper positioning easy for new parents.
Browse our full Baby Carriers collection to find the right fit for you and your baby.
