My Back Carry Choices

There are so many great options for back carries...these are just the ones I happen to have in my stash.

The woven wrap looks like a Moby wrap but isn't stretchy. It was pricy used, but I can back carry from 6 weeks. A wrap is the easiest to make, just cutting and hemming, but has the biggest learning curve for use. The hardest part about sewing a wrap is finding a good fabric! It can't be stretchy for back carries, and thin cotton kind of digs into my shoulders. The wrap I purchased is a Didymos that is made of woven fabric. It is very soft and strong. Some people use linen and make their own, but I haven't.

My Beco carrier is what we use most for Levi right now. We bought it used for around $35, and it has been an excellent investment. It has virtually replaced our mei tais since buckles are faster than straps. Also it has padded straps...when I made my mei tais I didn't realize how much more comfortable padded or extra wide (4inch or wider!) straps were! 

My mei tais were what we used for back carries before we had the woven wrap or Beco. They are great, versatile carriers. I used this tutorial for my first one. It turned out pretty well, a bit wider than I wanted, and I angled the straps out a bit too much. Very usable but my second one was better. I have one a friend made based on my second one, I'd be happy to loan it to you for a few months if you'd like so you can try it out. It doesn't have padded shoulder straps, but I think that is the only change I'd make! You could easily add a few strips of fleece to the straps to add padding, if you wanted.

If you choose to buy instead, I've heard good things about this one and its pretty affordable comparatively.

Fleece No Sew Poncho

Source: magiccityslingers.wordpress.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Happy International Babywearing Week 2011! 


Here is a great little tutorial for fall... a fleece, no sew babywearing poncho!  I really want to try this... my usual go-to for cold weather babywearing is an extra large fleece zip up jacket... but this looks much cuter and more suited to back carries (I have to wear my fleece jacket backwards and have somebody else zip it up, so...).




Also, have you "liked" the blog on Facebook? Well, if you haven't and you want to, here you go!

Ring Sling Love

I love my ring slings! Right now I'm using them every day, with Levi, who is now almost four months (how?!) and eighteen pounds. :)

My ring slings are all DIY, but here are some available for purchase that I've heard great things about and feel comfortable recommending... feel free to share your favorites in the comments, too!

Maya Wrap

Sakura Bloom

BabyEtte

Guest Post: Newborn Back Wrapping

I'm so thrilled to have Shannon guest posting on newborn back wrapping! Thank you, Shannon! Newborn backwrapping is definitely "advanced" babywearing, but with care and practice it can be so wonderful!  I started back wrapping at 5 weeks or so with Levi, & we love it! :)
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Wrapping a newborn baby on my back? Am I crazy?

While I love the snuggles I can get from wrapping my tiny baby on my front I also need the convenience of having my arms truly free to help my toddler and preschooler with basic tasks and not having to peer over and around the baby. For me, the safest place to put my baby in this situation is on my back.

Getting a newborn baby on your back is much easier than you think it is! One of the best things about wrapping such a small baby is their lack of mobility. Once you get them on your back they stay where you put them until you can get them securely wrapped up.

My favorite method for getting a tiny baby up onto your back in a wrap safely and easily is the Santa Toss method. A terrific video tutorial for this can be found here at the bottom of this page. (Disclaimer: Yes, this is a stretchy wrap. Its a hybrid and one of only 2 brands I know of that are appropriate for back carrying in for experienced babywearers. For safety's sake though, please never back carry any size baby in a stretchy wrap!!!)


Once baby is safely on your back I like to position baby so that his or her head lays against the nape of my neck. I carry my own babies legs out in all carries right from birth so after baby is safely positioned I double check to make sure there is a good amount of wrap over baby's bottom. My preferred carry is the Reinforced Ruck as shown in this YouTube video. 

As baby grows and I am able to start to spread the hips more I just reach up as I am making my reinforcing passes and spread the legs open by pushing up on the bottom of the feet. A snug wrap over them will help keep the legs positioned nice a spread. My own baby is now 4 months old and I still leave my passes open over her legs instead of crossing under them like I do with bigger babies.
Getting the newborn baby off your back is done just the same as with bigger kids. I just unwrap all but the first pass over the baby and then shimmy baby into the crook of my arm and bring her around front. Here is a video demonstrating this.

With a little bit of practice wearing small babies on your back should be just as easy (if not easier!) than wearing the big kids!


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Shannon is the diaper sewing diva at Color Dynamic, mom to 3 gorgeous girls and a Certified Babywearing Educator.
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Wonderful! Thanks again Shannon!

So have you ever wrapped (front or back!) a newborn? Or would you like to learn? Or if you're a wrapper already, what are your favorite wrapping resources?

Introducing... Levi!

Thrilled to introduce Levi! 8lbs 8oz, born peacefully at home with the help of our much loved midwife. Enjoying lots of wearing and baby snuggling!

{BabyEtte Sunayana Woven in Java}

... in the Moby Wrap

ring sling love

Kiddo enjoying having her hands free to "grocery shop" while still taking her beloved Baby along.  Do your little ones wear their dolls or toys?  What do they use?  (Scarves from the dress up bag are a very popular choice around here!)

Babywearing Safety

First off, this is not safe babywearing:


see more Failbook
(Isn't that horribly disturbing?! Sorry...)


Second off, and much more cheerfully, I have a guest post up today at Cole's First Blog on babywearing safety! Hop on over there and check it out. :)