Tushbaby for dads and grandparents: sharing one carrier

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Why sharing works, and where it fails

Sharing works because the Hip Carrier has no constant adjustments to redo from scratch. You refit the waistband, you check the seat is level, and you go. Sharing fails when someone just puts on the last person's fit and hopes for the best. A loose, low waistband will not feel right for anyone, no matter who wore it last.

The fit rule is the same for everyone: high and tight around the true waist, above the natural waist, not low on the hips. The Hip Carrier fits waists from 23 to 44 inches, and the waistband extender adds 23 inches, to a total of up to 70 inches, so a larger dad and a smaller mom can share the same seat with a quick refit each time.

For dads

Dads often come in at the larger end of the waist range, or wear the carrier over layers in winter. If the waistband barely closes, or Velcro is still exposed after you close it, get the extender from the start instead of fighting the fit.

For hands free jobs, like carrying bags, opening doors, or holding an older child's hand, add the Snug. The hip seat alone is not hands free. The 2 in 1 system is 12 to 45 lbs facing inward and 16 to 45 lbs facing outward, and it is not for newborns, so check those limits before you buy it for a new dad.

What I noticed with other hands free carriers is that the weight pulled down on my back. With the seat under my child, that pull felt different, because the seat took much of the weight at my waist. That is my experience, not a medical promise, and every body is different.

For grandparents

Grandparents are often buying for short visits, not for a full day out. That is exactly where the hip seat shines: up, down, up again, with an arms break in between, without learning a wrap or a long list of straps.

Keep the carries short, keep a hand or arm on the child when using the hip seat alone, and use the Snug if you need both hands free. Bring a stroller for long days, and take breaks. I cannot promise this fixes back pain, and no carrier should be sold that way. What it can do is move the weight to your waist for short carries, which is a different feeling than holding a toddler on your arm alone.

For a newborn grandchild, do not use the hip seat upright. Newborn use is for breastfeeding support from 0 to 6 months, and seated carrying starts once the baby can hold their head up. For a newborn, the Pearl Wrap is the Tushbaby option, at 8 to 20 lbs, facing inward only.

How to hand it over, step by step

1. Undo the waistband fully. Do not just loosen it and hope it fits the next person.
2. Refit it high and tight for the new wearer, above the natural waist.
3. Check that Velcro is fully covered, the seat is level, and the child is close enough to kiss, chin off chest.
4. If the Snug is in use, check that it is clipped in fully and the child is seated as the manufacturer instructions show.
5. After a short carry, check the fit again. Waistbands settle, layers shift, and a quick check beats a long, uncomfortable carry.

Questions about sharing

Can a dad and a mom share one Tushbaby carrier?

Yes, with a refit each time. Fit it high and tight for each person, and add the extender if one waist is close to 44 inches or larger.

Is Tushbaby good for grandparents?

It can help for short, repeated carries, because the seat takes weight at the waist. It is not a promise about back pain, and long carries still need breaks and a stroller.

Do dads and grandparents need the Snug?

Only if they need hands free carrying. The hip seat alone is not hands free, so keep a hand or arm on the child when using the seat alone.

More guides on this site

Read the Hip Carrier review, the Pearl review, the 2 in 1 review, the sizing guide, the holiday gift guide, the discount code page, and take the carrier finder quiz.