The Ergobaby Embrace is built for exactly this moment: it fits from birth, at a minimum of 7 lbs and 20 inches, up to 25 lbs, and it doesn't require an infant insert. The short version of how to use it on a newborn is this — fold the waistbelt inward twice to shorten the carrier for Newborn Mode, buckle the waist high and snug, settle baby's hips into a seated M-shape, then spread the shoulder straps and check the padded neck support sits around baby's mid-ear level. From there, it's a handful of safety checks before you walk out the door.
What "Newborn Mode" Actually Means
The Embrace has three carry positions, and the one you'll live in for the first couple of months is Newborn Mode – Facing In. It's built for babies from birth up to roughly 23 inches, or around two months old. The difference between this and the later Baby Mode isn't a different carrier — it's the same panel, folded differently. Folding the waistbelt inward twice shortens the back panel and narrows the seat, so a body that's still mostly torso and not much leg gets proper support instead of swimming in extra fabric.
This matters because a too-big seat is one of the more common newborn babywearing mistakes — not enough support under the thighs, not enough fabric holding the back in its natural curve. The fold-in step isn't optional or cosmetic. It's what makes the carrier newborn-ready in the first place.
Before Baby Goes In
- Check the minimums. Baby needs to be at least 7 lbs (3.2 kg) and 20 inches (50.8 cm) before the Embrace is a safe fit — not close to it, at it.
- Fold the waistbelt in twice. Do this before you put baby in, not after. Trying to adjust with a baby already in the carrier is how straps end up crooked.
- Have baby awake, calm, and legs able to open. A newborn who's rigid or mid-startle won't settle into the seated position easily. A few minutes of calm skin-to-skin first tends to help.
- Buckle the waistbelt high and tight on your own body before you lower baby in — it should sit above your hips, not down around them.
Step by Step: Getting Baby In
- Secure your waistbelt. Fold it inward twice for Newborn Mode, then buckle it high and tight on your torso, buckle facing out.
- Lower baby in facing you, feet first into the seat, so their bottom sinks deep into the fabric rather than sitting on top of it.
- Rotate baby's hips into position so their knees sit higher than their bottom — the classic frog-leg, M-shaped seat that keeps hips supported.
- Bring the shoulder straps up and over, spreading them across your shoulders rather than letting them bunch into a single narrow band. This is what keeps the fabric around baby's head and neck taut.
- Check the neck support panel sits around baby's mid-ear level, holding the head without pushing the chin down.
- Buckle the straps at your back and adjust until there's no slack — baby should feel snug against you, not loose enough to slump.
The Safety Check Every Single Wear
Babywearing organizations use a simple acronym worth memorizing: TICKS. It applies to any carrier, Embrace included, and it takes fifteen seconds to run through before you leave the house.
- Tight — no loose fabric between you and baby. Slack is what lets a newborn slump, and slumping is what closes off an airway.
- In view at all times — you should see baby's face by glancing down, not by pulling fabric aside.
- Close enough to kiss — tip your head forward slightly and your lips should reach baby's forehead.
- Keep chin off chest — there should be at least a finger's width of space under baby's chin. A curled chin against the chest can restrict breathing, and it's the single most important thing to check on a newborn.
- Supported back — baby's back should hold its natural curve, tummy and chest against you, not arched or twisted.
One thing specific to very young babies: infants under four months can be at risk if their face is pressed tightly against your body, so "snug" means no slack, not baby's nose buried in fabric. If you can't easily check their breathing by glancing down, loosen and reposition before you walk anywhere.
When to Move Out of Newborn Mode
Once baby is around 23 inches or roughly two months old, you can switch to Baby Mode – Facing In without needing a different carrier — just unfold the waistbelt back to its full length. Facing-out mode comes later, once baby has strong, steady head and neck control, and it's worth treating that as a real milestone to wait for rather than a default setting.
If you're still deciding between a structured carrier like the Embrace, a stretchy wrap, or something else entirely, our guide on How to Choose a Baby Carrier: Wrap vs. Soft-Structured vs. Newborn Carrier walks through how the options actually differ day to day. And if babywearing is one piece of a bigger "what do I actually need for the first weeks" question, Best Baby Carrier for Newborns: What to Look for Before You Buy is worth reading alongside this one.
FAQ
Do I need an infant insert with the Embrace?
No. The Embrace was designed to fit newborns without one — the fold-in waistbelt does the job an insert would do in other carriers.
Is the Embrace safe for naps in the carrier?
Newborns nap in carriers often, and the TICKS checklist still applies the whole time they're asleep — chin off chest and face visible matter more, not less, once baby's asleep and can't reposition themselves.
How do I clean it after the inevitable spit-up?
The Embrace is machine washable, which matters more than it sounds like it should in the newborn months.
When can I switch to facing out?
Only once baby has reliable head and neck control — there's no set week for this, it's a strength milestone, not a calendar one.