Tandem Babywearing Tips and Video Tutorials

If you’re expecting a second baby and have enjoyed babywearing with your first child, you might be wondering if it’s possible to wear two kids at the same time. The answer is absolutely YES! It might seem challenging at first, but lots of moms enjoy the benefits of tandem babywearing.

What is tandem babywearing?

“Tandem babywearing” refers to the practice of wearing two babies at the same time. Tandem babywearing is a great option for twins, but it’s just as useful for carrying babies of different ages at the same time. In tandem babywearing you can use a single carrier or two carriers. Different types of carriers can be used together in lots of combinations depending on your preference and comfort.

There are so many circumstances where it might make more practical sense to carry your children versus using a stroller. Getting through the airport with children, for example, can be extremely challenging. Having the option of tandem babywearing can make a huge difference in a variety of situations like this.

Before you dive into tandem babywearing there are some things to go over, including including carrier choice, techniques for carrying more than one child at a time, and tips and tricks for a successful carry experience.

Let’s take a look.

Do I need a special carrier for tandem babywearing?

Many people wonder if a particular carrier needs to be purchased for tandem babywearing.

And the answer is NO!

You can use almost any combination of carriers to tandem carry. It mostly comes down to personal preference and comfort. Before you run out and buy something new, you might find that the carriers you already have at home will work just fine.

If you’re entirely new to using baby carriers, then the Baby Wearing for Beginner’s Guide is a good place to get an idea of the different carrier options.

Lots of combinations of baby carriers can be used together – two ErgoBaby Carriers, an Ergo plus a soft wrap, or a single woven wrap used with two children at once! These are just a few examples – there are so many varieties of carriers and methods of carry you can use. Most of this depends on how comfortable you are with the different wraps and techniques.

There’s something for everyone, and if you’d like to tandem carry your children there will be an option that works for you.

Of course, if you have a particularly rowdy toddler who wants to thrash around on your back I can’t help you there. You’ll just need to get yourself a new toddler in that case 😉

Babywearing Twins

Tandem babywearing is a great skill to master if you’re parenting twins, for obvious reasons! A stroller isn’t always practical or even possible. Tandem babywearing gives you an added tool in your arsenal.

With twins, you’ll undoubtedly find yourself in many situations where carrying both kids at the same time will be essential. This is clearly true in the newborn and baby days. But even as toddlers, sometimes it’s just not feasible to keep everyone safe if they’re not contained somehow.

Babywearing your twins is a skill you can master. I loved this video from a mom with no previous experience in wrapping. She was able to carry her baby twins with a wrap that anyone could learn to do with a little practice.

Is it possible to wear an older toddler and a newborn at the same time?

Absolutely. It’s just as helpful to tandem carry toddlers and babies together as it for twins. Tandem babywearing can even be used with an older toddler (3+) and a newborn, as long as you’re comfortable!

Whether you want to try tandem babywearing with infant twins, toddlers, or a combo of toddler + baby, there are options out there.

Note: Don’t attempt the back carry position with infants until they’re able to sit up and have strong and consistent head and neck control – this will usually be around 6 months or later. Check your specific carrier for safety guidelines.

Tandem Babywearing with a Single Wrap

I’ll admit this video is a little intimidating for those of us new to the idea of wrapping, not to mention tandem wrapping. But I wanted to include it because it’s very detailed and the end result – two cozy, sleeping toddlers in a single wrap – is really cool.

Tandem Babywearing with Two Carriers

For many people, using two separate carriers (that are easy to put on and take off) is a good option.

Using Two Soft Structured Carriers Together

Some parents successfully use two soft structured carriers at the same time when tandem carrying (i.e. two ErgoBaby carriers). Let’s take a look at how this mom gets her two toddlers into their carriers. It’s not as hard as you might think!

Using a Stretchy Wrap + a Soft Structured Carrier

This combination of a wrap and a soft structured carrier is both practical and comfortable, particularly if you have an older toddler and a baby combo.

I think for a lot of parents this option might be less intimidating than using one long woven wrap. Yet it still allows you to keep both kids close, and is really useful for everything from a long walk to a run to the grocery store.

Carriers Specifically Designed for Twin Tandem Babywearing

Some parents might decide that they’d prefer a single carrier that can hold two babies at once. While wraps can serve this purpose as we saw above, another option is to get a carrier that’s specifically made for the purpose of tandem babywearing.

If this is your preference, the TwinGo Carrier may be worth checking out. It’s highly rated and has the benefit of not requiring that you deal with two carriers at once. I really like the look of the TwinGo (although I don’t have twins myself)!

The TwinGo can be separated into two individual carriers, which is perfect for those times when you have two parents on hand and want to divide and conquer.

This carrier is quick and simple to use on the fly, and requires far less skill than using a wrapping technique. I think I’d be more into this option at, say, the mall, than I would be interested in a challenging wrap!

Getting Babies and Toddlers in and Out of Their Carriers

The idea of getting two kids into carriers may be daunting, but as long as you approach it step by step (making sure that one child is firmly secured into the first carrier before moving on to your second child) you should be ok.

How exactly you navigate this process will depend on lots of factors, including the style(s) of carrier(s) you’re using and the ages of your children.

One great trick: Have your toddler climb onto your back like she’s getting on for a piggyback ride.

First, put on the waist band of the carrier. Then simply squat down and give your toddler the green light to “board!” She can just climb onto your back and hold on by putting her arms around your neck. Once your toddler is clinging on tight, simply pull up the back part of the carrier and clip it in place. This method is fast and easy.

You can also get your first passenger (toddler) on your back using the Superman Toss, as shown below. I never use this method personally, I feel like I’d throw out my back. But I’m kind of weak that way, ha! It might work great for you.

Tandem Babywearing Troubleshooting, Tips + Tricks

• If the buckle from the back carrier is digging into the baby’s head up front, you can slide it up or down to get some distance from your baby’s face.

• If you’re using two separate carriers with waistbands, its simpler to secure both waistbands before either child gets loaded into the carrier.

• Put the heavier child on your back. This makes sense from an ergonomic standpoint, and your older (probably heavier) child will be the one who is capable of being worn in a back carry position first anyway.

• Never thread the shoulder straps of one carrier through the straps of another carrier (i.e. don’t attempt to use a woven wrap threaded through the straps of a buckle carrier). This could cause a safety concern, as the carriers weren’t tested to bear weight in that way.

• Some older children might want to board and un-board the carrier during the course of an outing (Especially if there’s something interesting to see. Which could be a random pebble, because this is a toddler we’re talking about here). If that’s the case, wear that child on your back and put on his or her carrier second for easier removal.

As you can see, there are so many good options for tandem babywearing. With a little patience and trial and error you should be able to find a solution that works well for your family. Good luck!

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