*Please note that all infant carriers will come standard with an infant seat unless it is otherwise noted in the description but can be special ordered without the seat. Toddler carriers do not come standard with the infant insert but this can be added at no additional charge*
Infant Seat- The infant seat or infant harness was added in the summer of 2009. It is both a safety feature and one of convenience that allows you to use the same carrier from birth until you are no longer needing your carrier. It is also a great option if you will need to carry both a toddler and a newborn but don't want to buy two separate carriers. The infant seat is sewn into the carrier for safety reasons so it is not removable but it will not be in your way if you choose not to use it because it is made from the same soft fabric as the rest of the carrier. It uses two small low profile buckles to attach to the underside of the shoulder straps and is sewn into the carrier at the waist band. It has two strips of hook and loop that allows you to vary the depth that your child sinks into the carrier by closing or releasing the strips.
For infants always make sure that the top edge of the carrier falls between their ears and the tops of their shoulders. For infants that do not have head control yet it is essential that they sit low enough in the carrier for their head to be supported by the body of the carrier. You may need to release one or both of the velcro strips to ensure that they are properly supported.
For older children and infants once they have head and neck control, always make sure that the top of the carrier is not lower than the armpit or shoulder blade level when using the seat. If they are sitting up higher than that you will need to release one or both of the hook and loop strips to allow them to sit lower in the carrier. The harness can be used all the way up to 30 lbs if you would prefer to keep using it for a safety feature for back carriers or you can flatten it against the back of the carrier and use it without it.
If you are using a carrier that has the seat but you are choosing to not use it, put the carrier on just like you would a standard carrier. I would recommend sliding your hand inside the carrier to make sure that the seat is still flat against the back of the carrier once your child is seated and that the seat itself isn't bunched up under them, keeping them from sitting all the way down in the carrier.
