Dear Ryan Reynolds...

Dear Ryan Reynolds,

What a beautiful thing it is to see a celebrity doing what is such a natural, human thing to do, holding their baby close.

To feel their heart beat against yours, to feel little puffs of breath on your skin, a bond that is not only practical but biologically normal. And that's just what we as caregivers feel; imagine the list of wonderful emotions a baby feels pressed against their mother or fathers chest!

Yes, in this instance the way in which you've used this particular carrier is not in line with the manufacturer's instructions.

When it comes to carrying a baby in a purpose made carrier of any type, there's lots of 'rules and instructions' floating around (some that are outdated and just plain wrong) that it can seem pretty overwhelming for new parents and caregivers to navigate. I'll give you some easier ones to follow:

Clear airways. Visible face. No fall risk.

^see that, NO mention of 'correct' carrier types!

​​Now, the uproar over THAT photo of you and your lovely new baby girl has something to do with the waistband. Yes, the carrier was incorrectly used. No, you are not a neglectful parent. No, you will not cause your baby to develop hip dysplasia. Yes, you are one awesome baby wearing daddy!

(I'll refer you here to Lillebaby's instructions for how to wear this carrier safely and advise you to head along to a local sling meet if you need further assistance. I'm sure there will be some very willing people present to help you!)

While it is important for Baby-carrying Educators to advise people when they're using a carrier unsafely, it can certainly be done constructively and with a little tact.

What NOT to say:

You're going to drop that baby! Shame on you! Take it off now! I read somewhere that doing that will cause hip dysplasia and your baby might grow an extra toe! Oh, and any ethnocentric comments and disparagement of traditional/cultural carriers- give that a miss too.

The idea is to help the person to achieve safety, not scare them off ever attempting to carry their baby again. EDUCATE, NOT SHAME!

So, what should they say to you or someone else in a similar situation?

'Hey Ryan, what a great thing it is to hold your baby close! Can I show you some pointers to get that carrier on comfortably and safely so you can both rock it? By doing X it will stop Y from happening or prevent Z.'

See? Less panic inducing rage right? I hope that people in our community can learn from this 'incident' and move forward with an understanding of how to offer useful, practical advice when it's needed.

Now, go forth and continue to carry that beautiful baby close!

Yours sincerely,

One very frustrated Educator.