On Father's Day, Ryan Reynold's wife, Blake Lively, took a photo of her husband while he was carrying their 6-month-old daughter, James, using a baby wearing device. She shared this photo on Instagram, where it received more than three hundred thousand "likes."
In the photo, Ryan had a huge smile on his face, as most first-time dads usually do when they're showing off their baby. However, other parents did not just notice the smile. They noticed the way Ryan tucked his baby inside the gear and their observations created quite a stir. Soon after, Blake's Instagram post was littered with comments from fans and parents who pointed out that the baby appeared to be uncomfortable in her position.
"Poor baby looks so uncomfortable and unsafe. Please have hot hubby read the instruction manual," wrote one to Blake on Instagram. "Guys I'm stressed, the position isn't ergonomic enough for the baby," another user said.
On a community board for parents at Baby Center, the photo was also up for discussion. "I'm not an expert but where is that baby's face? It's gotta be smushed up against his chest, right?" one member asked. They all pointed out that the baby's legs looked awkward.
Beate Frome, the president of the Babywearing Institute spoke with Yahoo Parenting and confirmed that there was actually something wrong with the way James was positioned by her father. "Her legs should be spread apart 90 degrees and 100 degrees up. Having the legs together is essentially like having baby on a cradle board, which can lead to hip dysplasia. In a straight-leg position like this, the hip is essentially pushed out of the socket," Frome said.
The expert also added that James was set pretty low from her daddy's body, as her head should just be directly under his chin or mouth, ideally "close enough to kiss" this.
The height also matters to the way the baby takes air in, said Adriane Stare, an educator for babywearing, in the same Yahoo Parenting report. "A wearer should always be able to clearly see their child's face and ensure that baby's airway is clear."
However, Stare said that despite the snafu from Ryan, he should be given a lot of credit for being an eager dad who was only following his instincts. To the new dad's credit, he was at least trying and perhaps, a little lesson on the proper way to use the device wouldn't hurt.
