My baby's legs are blue when I am carrying him in the carrier, is this normal?

Sometimes, red, or blue marks can appear on the baby's legs when they are carried. This generally happens when the baby is worn for a prolonged period and can happen with a wrap, a ring sling, or a baby carrier.

This is related to baby's blood pressure, which is lower than adults' and even lower when they are sleeping. Indeed, the "M" shaped spread-squat position does not necessarily favor blood circulation and sometimes the carrier fabric, the baby's clothing or a nappy which is too small prevents the blood from circulating properly around the body. It is this accumulation of blood which causes these marks on the skin. In most cases, there's no need to worry, but you can talk about this with your pediatrician if you are worried.

To improve your baby's blood circulation whilst they are in their carrier, we recommend that you dress them in loose clothing and check that their nappy is not too tight. It is also important to check that they are seated properly in the baby carrier - the width of the seat of the carrier should be adjusted so that it enfolds the baby from the crook of one knee to the other, but it is a good idea to leave a 1-2 cm gap before the knee fold to prevent the fabric causing too much pressure in this area.